Quick/Affordable mods to get horsepower out of a 22RE? ANYONE?!?!

[RayDogg30]

Hey Everyone,
My name is Ray and i have a 22re. I was wondering if anyone knows a quick and cheap way for me to gain a few horsies. I just want a little more power so i can tow more stuff. Anything helps with a 4 banger. Thanks

-RAY

[Nick]

a cold air intake is pretty cheap to make and would give you a bit more cheap power

also if you havent changed your spark plugs, ignition wires and distributor cap in a while those could help, pretty much a basic tune up never hurts

[RayDogg30]

When it comes to cool air im an idiot. I am intimidated by that little black air sensor and i think that if i mess with it i will fry my computer..how do i get the cool air intake on and not disrupt that sensor?

Thanks

-RAY

[Nick]

as long as its in the airflow it shoudl be fine

others just drill a bunch of holes in the dirty air side of their stock air boxes (not really the best idea though)

[RayDogg30]

I have also heard about this kind of "restrictor" or some thing that plugs into your mas air flow censor...it makes your computer think the air is a lot colder than it really is? Or something like that. I was wondering if you could explain that to me so i can try it if it really works. I guess it makes the comp think it is a lot colder air being sucked into the intake..so it sucks a lot more, a lot faster. Is this a bunch of B/S? Thanks.

-RAY

[RayDogg30]

Also i was wondering if a header would mess with the computer in my truck. Just a thought. Anything helps. Thanks.


-Ray

[Nick]

header shoudln't do anything,

those resistors that make your car run rich, well they're pretty much a waste of money

[redfox435cat]

do u have a cold air intake that really increases horsepower? I've been tuning vw's for a few years and every cold air intake would simply create a cool tone but lose about 1 hp

[turbo17]

1st off what vw's have you been tunning? You can lose power if you constantly suck in hot air...which is probably what your intake on your vw was doing. Depending on the year most don't have a (air ram system) that allows COLD air to go to the intake filter. A cheap way of doing it...get some flex tubing about 3" run it from the grill or tire (fender wheel) then up right by the filter. This will allow a ton of COLD air to the intake and you should actually gain hp. Atleast 10hp maybe up to 25hp depends on engine, weather, etc.

[mbradbury]

Ram air starts to become effective (IF properly designed) at speeds ABOVE 100 mph

Cold air intakes are NOT ram air.

[johnisenglish]

Having your intake open to the front of the car won't force more air into the intake, it violates the laws of fluid dynamics. What will happens is once air is filling your intake faster then the engine can draw it in, the intake will be a high pressure area relative to the air around it. As a result, incoming air will flow around that area into the surrounding, lower pressure areas. You'll never be able to get the air pressure in a naturally aspirated intake above 0psi, or atmospheric pressure.

When you hear about Automakers or racing teams talking about "Ram-Air" they're referring to a process in which the size and shape of the runners in the intake manifold can cause very small, very fast pressure waves that can actually slightly increase the air pressure of the intake charge right at the intake valve(s) at a certain rpm. That can't be applied to the whole powerband without variable length intake manifolds (as seen on the new RX-8), and has nothing to do with making the opening on the intake face the front of the car.

As far as cold air intakes go, there is power to be had there, but you're going to be very hard pressed to be able to get any large power gains by moving the filter and putting in a metal pipe. The Toyota engineers would have to be pretty incompetent to so poorly design the stock intake that it reduces the power of the engine by 15 - 20hp, and as a result gives it worse gas mileage. True, there are other factors involved such as ease of access for maintenance, sound reduction, etc, but its simply not going to be that much of a power drain.

For other easy and "affordable" power mods, it depends on what your definition of easy and affordable is. Opening up the exhaust from the engine back (header, cat, exhaust) is always a good idea, but its only going to go so far. If you're looking for big power chances are you best bet (and cheapest) is going to be to do an engine swap or go with Forced Induction.

[96tacoma]

Originally posted by mbradbury
Ram air starts to become effective (IF properly designed) at speeds ABOVE 100 mph

Cold air intakes are NOT ram air.

Thats true, but what the tube does bring cooler air to the the intake which increases the horsepower.

[mbradbury]

Originally posted by 96tacoma
Thats true, but what the tube does bring cooler air to the the intake which increases the horsepower.

Which may or may NOT increase the hp.
Fact is, most seem to think it's a sure thing, it's not. Opening a bigger or more direct path SEEMS like it would have to help. But if it instead opens up a path for hot underhood air INSTEAD of cooler outside the vehicle air, then it isn't going to help at all.

[96tacoma]

Originally posted by mbradbury
Which may or may NOT increase the hp.
Fact is, most seem to think it's a sure thing, it's not. Opening a bigger or more direct path SEEMS like it would have to help. But if it instead opens up a path for hot underhood air INSTEAD of cooler outside the vehicle air, then it isn't going to help at all.

Thats very true, the only reason I said that was because i did it to my tacoma. I put the k&n intake on it and ran a tube from the opening in the air dam to the side of the inner fender were the snorkel used to be.

[mbradbury]

Originally posted by 96tacoma
Thats very true, the only reason I said that was because i did it to my tacoma. I put the k&n intake on it and ran a tube from the opening in the air dam to the side of the inner fender were the snorkel used to be.

ahhhhh