Noob with '99 camry needs help - where to start - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

c@mry · 09-30-2005, 12:40 PM

Hello all. I have a '99 Camry and it needs work now. It is a family car so I do not intend to trick it out to high hell, but I would like to improve the car's overall performace, looks etc.

Where do I start?

I would like to improve the power as much as possible, but I would like to do it so I can get the most bang for my buck. I heard upgrading the ECU is one of the best upgrades you can do, but would it be worth it on a stock car?

I know the usual stuff like Air intake, headers, Exhaust blah blah blah, vut we all know those power gains those manufacturers claim are a little exaggerated. So I am skeptical about doing this first.

My plan is to upgrade the ECU, then add components like intake, exhaust, ignition etc and then adjust the ECU accordingly. Then move on to the suspension.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks all,

Sid

Cyorke · 09-30-2005, 12:54 PM

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t6831.html

I would start here first. The best thing you can do is search. Alot of the things you are looking for have been covered many many times and it is very easy to find the info if you search. THere is not a lot of aftermarket support for the Camry due to its family car status. However you can find some things to help with performance and looks.

Do a search on CAI, lowering springs and struts, exhaust, and things of that nature. As far as programming the ECU the general consensus is that it is a waste of money. For some cars it may work but for the most part withth e Camry it is not really worth the amount of money you will pay.
You always have the option of ging full blown with turbos and superchargers and things of that nature but you ahve already said that is not really your intention, but if you ever get the urge there are several people on these boards that have done that and some ahve given very good info that you can search for.

Last of all welcome to Toyota Nation.

CamryRacer · 09-30-2005, 12:59 PM

i got an AEM cold air intake and it realy did help alot. ive been told to do a custom Y pipe cus it is the most restrictive part of the exaust but if you search for free mods there are a coupl that are realy good that i have used and they accually make a diffrence... incliuding how to make your own cold air intake..

c@mry · 09-30-2005, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the advice and thanks for the link. As for searching well I would, but everytime I try to click the button it moves away from my mouse. lol :]

Thanks again.

By the way, why would an ECU upgrade be a waste of money? Is it because it's a waste on a stock engine? Coz on a modified engine I hear it is a great upgrade.

Cyorke · 09-30-2005, 01:45 PM

I am just telling you what I have read on these boards. I am not very familiar with any of the companies that do it. I think one of the things is the Toyota ECU is hard to reprogram or something like that. I am not sure of this but seem to rememebr reading it on here.

terrastrife · 09-30-2005, 01:53 PM

you wanted to know where to start.

start with looks.

if its staying a family car, your family isnt going to like a bone jarring ride or unforgiving engine modification.

as for power/price, nitrous is the only reasonable option.

Gary_602Z · 09-30-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrastrife

you wanted to know where to start.

start with looks.

if its staying a family car, your family isnt going to like a bone jarring ride or unforgiving engine modification.

as for power/price, nitrous is the only reasonable option.

Yea and then see how long it will last!

Gary

***zoni*** · 09-30-2005, 02:59 PM

do you have a v6 or a 4 cylinder?

i ask because you are so close that you might be a good candidate for being a gen 4 test car for our turbo kits... for fitment mostly.]

keep a good eye on the new york and the mass sections of the meetings and events forum, we just had a nice sized meet this past weekend in yonkers

c@mry · 09-30-2005, 03:57 PM

I have a four cylinder. I would like to see some of the rides out there. Do you have more pics of yours? That front bumber is nice. I like the extremedimensions one I've been seeing around. The whole body kit looks good cept for the rear bumber they have. Still, I feel stoopid hookin up the body and havin a stock engine.

Thanks for the info, I guess I will look into th eECU a little more to see if it is a good idea. Otherwise it seems like I might do a simple intake exhaust set up to start.

Thanks all.

yosh · 09-30-2005, 09:20 PM

You can't reprogram the ECU. You can get a piggy back fuel controller if you want, although it probably won't do much good. There is no great bang for the buck with the 4 cyl. Most gains with bolt-ons you can't feel. You can go the route of the custom turbo but then it won't be the same reliable family car.

skewe · 09-30-2005, 09:46 PM

what r u looking for?

how about performance or handling?

performance, look at cleaning out the intake does help.
spark plugs, ignition wires, pcv valve, air filter and fuel filter.

handling, rear strut bar, strut bar, tein or pro-kit springs and TOKICO struts..

c@mry · 10-01-2005, 12:34 PM

Thanks all. I guess the ecu is out of the question. I thought I'd be able to reprogram the restrictions off the car and let loose a few more ponies. Guess not.

Thanks skewe, what I think I will be doing is:

Cold air intake.
Full exhaust system. Headers on back.
I just changed the plugs, but I will probably upgrade them
Then upgrade the wires.
PCV valve - which is over due by now.

Then I will move on to the suspension.
struts, sway bars, springs, bushings

New front calipers - my left side is busted
new brakes - nothing fancy

New wheels

Then a decent body kit. I like the Extreme Dimensions one I saw on one of the links cyorke posted.

Thing is the car feels sluggish on the top end. Would the exhaust upgrades fix this? Does anyone have experience with this? I guess I'll search this topic too.

Thanks all - How's my plan sound?

***zoni*** · 10-01-2005, 01:11 PM

the front bumper that is on my website is no longer on my car.

keep with the body kit idea, and some basic engine mods for now, and if you are interested, i would be more than happy to turbo your car as a test car for the cost of parts only, no labor, and no profit. This is after we would do testing on a gen 3 5sfe first... the only difference would really be the fitment.

c@mry · 10-01-2005, 04:32 PM

Cool Zoni, I would definitely be interestd in talking about the turbo. I like the front bumber on your car. I like this one too.

http://www.visracing.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=3060

I will email you so we can talk some more.

Thanks man.

***zoni*** · 10-02-2005, 12:17 AM

for gen 4 i suggest the r34 kit... ive always liked that on the gen 4.