Want to boost your car’s speed and performance? Whether you’re aiming for quicker acceleration on the track or just want a more exhilarating daily drive, upgrading specific car parts can make a significant difference. The quest for speed doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank. Here, we explore five of the best parts to make your car go faster, ranging from simple, budget-friendly tweaks to more advanced modifications for serious performance enthusiasts. You can find all these performance parts and more at eBay Motors.
1. Cold Air Intake and Cat-Back Exhaust System
One of the most accessible and impactful ways to increase your car’s speed is by improving engine airflow. Upgrading your car’s intake and exhaust systems works in tandem to allow your engine to breathe more efficiently, leading to a noticeable boost in horsepower and throttle response.
A cold air intake replaces your vehicle’s restrictive factory air box with a less restrictive system, often featuring a larger air filter and intake tube. By drawing cooler air from outside the engine bay, a cold air intake increases the density of air entering the engine. Denser air means more oxygen for combustion, resulting in a more powerful explosion in each cylinder and, consequently, increased engine output.
Complementing the cold air intake, a cat-back exhaust system enhances performance by reducing backpressure in the exhaust flow. Factory exhaust systems are often designed to minimize noise and emissions, which can restrict exhaust gas flow. A cat-back system replaces the exhaust components from the catalytic converter back, typically including larger diameter piping, a less restrictive muffler, and sometimes performance resonators. This allows exhaust gases to exit the engine more freely, further improving engine efficiency and horsepower.
Together, a cold air intake and cat-back exhaust system provide a relatively simple and cost-effective upgrade that can noticeably improve your car’s acceleration and overall speed.
2. ECM Programmer or Engine Tuner
For a quick and effective electronic upgrade, consider an ECM (Engine Control Module) programmer, also known as an engine tuner. Modern cars are controlled by sophisticated computer systems, and the ECM is the brain of the engine, managing everything from fuel injection and ignition timing to turbo boost and transmission shift points.
An ECM programmer is a handheld device that plugs into your car’s OBDII port (On-Board Diagnostics II). It allows you to access and modify the factory settings within the ECM. These devices come with pre-loaded tunes or allow for custom tuning, enabling you to optimize various engine parameters for increased performance.
By remapping the engine’s software, you can adjust settings like fuel-to-air ratios, ignition timing, and rev limits to unlock hidden horsepower and torque. Many tuners also offer features like speedometer recalibration for different tire sizes and diagnostic code reading. Whether you’re looking for a more aggressive throttle response, increased horsepower, or optimized shift points for faster acceleration, an ECM programmer is a versatile tool to enhance your car’s speed and overall driving experience.
3. Forced Induction: Supercharger or Turbocharger
When you’re ready for a significant leap in power and speed, forced induction is the answer. This involves using a supercharger or turbocharger to force more air into the engine cylinders than naturally aspirated engines. More air means more fuel can be burned, resulting in a substantial increase in horsepower and torque.
Superchargers are mechanically driven by the engine’s crankshaft, providing instant boost across the RPM range. They deliver linear power delivery, making them responsive and predictable. Superchargers are often favored for their straightforward installation (relative to turbos) and immediate power gains.
Turbochargers, on the other hand, are driven by exhaust gases, spinning a turbine that compresses intake air. Turbos can be incredibly efficient and produce massive power gains, especially at higher RPMs. Modern turbo technology has minimized turbo lag (the delay in power delivery), making them a popular choice for both performance and efficiency.
Adding a supercharger or turbocharger is a more complex and expensive modification compared to intakes or tuners, often requiring professional installation and supporting modifications like fuel system and cooling upgrades. However, the dramatic increase in horsepower and acceleration makes forced induction one of the most effective ways to make your car significantly faster.
4. Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit (NOS)
For a potent and rapid burst of speed, especially for racing applications, a nitrous oxide injection kit (often referred to as NOS) is a classic choice. Nitrous oxide is a chemical compound that, when injected into the engine’s intake manifold, decomposes at high temperatures, releasing extra oxygen. This additional oxygen allows the engine to burn more fuel, creating a significant surge in power.
Unlike superchargers or turbochargers that provide continuous power gains, nitrous oxide is typically used for short bursts of acceleration. NOS kits range from simple “wet” or “dry” systems to more sophisticated direct port injection systems. “Wet” systems inject both nitrous and extra fuel, while “dry” systems rely on the car’s existing fuel system to compensate for the added oxygen.
Nitrous oxide provides an impressive horsepower boost on demand, making it ideal for drag racing or track days when you need maximum acceleration for short periods. However, it’s important to note that nitrous oxide is a consumable, and bottles need to be refilled. Proper installation, tuning, and safe usage are crucial for nitrous oxide systems to avoid engine damage.
5. LS Engine Swap
For the ultimate speed freaks and those seeking a radical transformation, an engine swap, particularly to a General Motors LS V8 engine, represents the pinnacle of performance upgrades. An engine swap involves replacing your car’s original engine with a different, often more powerful, engine.
The GM LS engine family has become incredibly popular for engine swaps due to their readily available parts, robust performance, and relatively compact size that allows them to fit into a wide range of vehicles, even smaller cars. LS engines are known for their high horsepower potential, reliability, and extensive aftermarket support.
Swapping to an LS engine is a complex and labor-intensive project, typically requiring significant mechanical expertise and modifications to the engine bay, drivetrain, and electronics. However, the reward is a massive increase in horsepower and torque, transforming your car’s performance capabilities. An LS engine swap is the most extreme option on this list, but it offers unparalleled potential for making your car incredibly fast and powerful.
For any of these upgrades, from basic bolt-ons to advanced engine swaps, eBay Motors is your go-to source for finding the parts you need to make your car go faster and achieve your performance goals.
