HELP with my Pontiac Solstice PLEASE...turbo/supercharger advice.

[SolsticeSoul]

Okay guys, I picked up my 2007 Pontiac Solstice for almost exactly $1000 several months back, drove it home from 4 states away, and am now looking for ANY inexpensive, less "intrusive" way to horsepower. There's both "turbo kits" and "supercharger kits" for the 2.4L Ecotec, but they range from $3k-$7k AND neither are what I'd call "bolt-on" and require quite a bit of work to install. When I found Alex's "650hp electric turbo parts list" video, I thought it might be an option...UNTIL I heard him mention a "Torqamp" for cars with less than 200hp and, since mine has just below 180hp stock, now I'm SUPER CONFUSED and not sure WHICH of the options is right for me...if ANY of them are. Because I'm physically disabled and money is tight, I'm looking for a relatively cheap way to add horsepower to my car...WITHOUT replacing the engine OR heavily modifying it. So PLEASE, to anyone with similar experiences and/or more knowledge than I, help me accomplish this if you're able. Thanks!

 

[AlexLTDLX]

The Torqamp is pretty weak - it's only 5kW. You'd see some power gains, but not much - mostly a boost in midrange torque. To support 300 hp (for example), you'd need about 8kW minimum. That said, sometimes power adders aren't your friend. There are a lot of tricks you can do to see improved performance. The first place I would start is just getting everything right, and the power related wear items replaced (plugs, etc). A friend just picked up an '84 Foxbody Mustang, and immediately called me talking about all the parts he wanted to throw at it (it already has a bunch of stuff done to it). I asked him what the timing was set to - he didn't know; I asked him what the tire pressure was - he didn't know; I asked him what weight oil it has in it - again, he didn't know. So we talked about maximizing what he's got before he started throwing parts at it. I know Mustangs much better than I know Solstices, but I'm sure there are a bunch of things available for them too.

Whatever you do, don't put an open element air filter in the engine bay - that's a quick way to lose power.

 

[r.brown.bayliss]

Whatever you do, don't put an open element air filter in the engine bay - that's a quick way to lose power.

the old classic first mod, remove the factory cold air intake and replace it with performance harming hot air intake

 

[maticulus]

the old classic first mod, remove the factory cold air intake and replace it with performance harming hot air intake

I've given this wakeup call to members on another website I frequent explaining that I have data logged inlet temps and noted little more than 1 deg difference between inlet air temps and ambient temps on the same car. The stock airbox has a snorkel that pulls up along side the headlight area and can't get any cooler air. The only time those temps start to climb is when the car is idling so the only improvement that could be made would be insulating the outer surface of the air intake system and perhaps a performance air filter and even that is questionable without knowing how well the stock air filter flows.