Need help with new car!!!

[hunterpoehler22]

So i just bought my first car, a saturn SC1, I know most of you are rolling your eyes and mummbling "what a stupid kid, he got a SOHC". It was all i could afford so accept it. I really need help with some stuff to do wt it. I want rims, bodykit, neon, exaust, intake, maybe a turbo/blowoff valve, and headers. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks!!!

[DeCaff2006]

It's been said once, and I'll say it again...

Swap that SOHC for a DOHC. You'll have to do some serious mods just to make up for the SOHC hp loss compared to the DOHC.

THEN, worry about turbo, body kits, and all that other good stuff.

[andy_95sl2]

there was a kid that started a thread not that long ago with the same thing you wanted to do. Read it

look for the thread in the mods section called "souping up a 98 sl" or something to that effect. Its by russell98SL

[944obscene]

Just be sure to get the blow-off valve before you do anything.

[Monkius]

Just be sure to get the blow-off valve before you do anything.

LOL, I hope you're kidding (assuming you mean get the BOV before the turbo)...
This forum needs a "laughing" emoticon...

[tjd83]

Ok, here's my $.02 worth...

I'd start with a set of 16" rims. 17" looks good, but the only tires I've been able to find have no warranty. You can get a really good Goodyear or comprable 205/50-16 that fits nicely, and comes with a 50K mile waranty. Also, 17s are heavy and ride worse than stock.

Another biggie is the rear disc brake swap. Do it for looks. Do it for ease of maintenance. Go to a junk yard and pull the rear calipers, caliper brackets, e-brake cables, backing plates, and all associated bolts from any S series car (except the early 91-94? coupes). All the ABS equipped cars had 4-wheel discs. Take the calipers to AutoZone and exchange them for rebuilt ones. Just do it, trust me. Buy a set of rear hoses for a disc equipped S Series. (I usually tell them it's a 94 SL1, but it really doesn't matter). After you take the rear drums apart, the hubs come off by removing the 4 bolts from the back side, spraying in plenty of WD-40, and being persuasive with a hammer and/or a screwdriver. Be sure when you put the hoses on that you route them behind and under the suspension, not over it like I did! I blew a hole in a hose after 1300 miles.

While you're in the junk yard, look for an Sx2. Pull the rear sway bar and brackets, and the front bar if you can get it. They're beefier than the Sx1, which didn't come with a rear sway bar.

As for body kits, neon, etc, you're on your own. I know there are kits available, but personally I don't like them. I'm not much for the rice look.

If you ike it noisy, there are plenty of exhausts available. Again, not my taste, so I haven't paid much attention to them.

I'd suggest a set of lowering springs. On the advice of others here, that will likely be my next mod.

If you want a turbo, you're in for some custom work. You can check out therob.com, but really, why bother? For the money, you're much better off swapping out for a DOHC. With the right parts, you can get 145 HP witout anything aftermarket. That's a 50% boost for half the cost of the turbo. Put the MP3 manual trans in with the engine. You'll lose some economy, but it'll be more fun to drive.

Remember, a Saturn is a fun, reliable, economical car. It's not a 'Vette killer. Stay with the theme, and you'll probably be happier in the long run.

[Uzzy]

If you want it to go faster swap in a DOHC first, then play with it. You'll spend just as much, if not more trying to get the SOHC to the power of a DOHC. I have a 2002 SC1, and there is no point in making it a speed machine, so I just made it look nice. :cool: :yes:

[Dimundave911]

Not trying to flame here...

Fist off, if your happy with your car, then good for you, thats all that matters.

Speaking financially, doing a proper setup with a turbo (if you still want it) is gonna cost you a lot, probably a few grand or more. Whether or not you knew that going in or not. If you have that kinda money you would have been better of buying a faster car (if thats what you want in the end).

No one is gonna flame you for buying a SOHC, they are a good choice for a econo-box, or daily driving etc. But definatly not a good platform for performance mods.

Just my $.02

[S3aturnR]

So i just bought my first c.ar, a saturn SC1, I know most of you are rolling your eyes and mummbling "what a stupid kid, he got a SOHC". It was all i could afford so accept it. I really need help with some stuff to do wt it. I want r.ims, b.odykit, neon, exaust, intake, maybe a turbo/blowoff valve, and headers. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks!!!

an sc1 will make a great first c.ar for you. take it easy on the ricing, tho, your c.ar is domestic. you can do some cool things, tho, without making it look really dumb. my suggestion is that when you do any mod to your c.ar, do it right. don't put a sweet set of wheels on it before you fix the m.uffler from dragging on the ground or get those primer spots off the body. that just looks trashy. make it so the car looks nice BEFORE you put the wheels on. clean it up, make necessary repairs, perform routine maintenance, etc...

sounds like you're just into making it look cool, not actually having it able to perform well. (that's not a dig, by the way, just face it; you can look cool or be smoking fast. it's rare to have both). stay away from turbos until you've been around mods for a little while. you will burn an engine if you don't. don't know of any place that does sohc headers, either. maybe you can find a local place that can fab some, tho. with the rest of the exhaust, do the same, get a local place to bend you up one. don't go bigger than 2.25" pipe, tho. stay away from cheap m.ufflers, too. don't let them clamp it on, either, make them weld it. intakes you should still be able to get at www.spswebpage.com they are GREAT people that have forgotten more about saturns than you or i will ever know. b.odykit? not for me, but i'm sure someone here can comment. DON'T drive around with a primered up b.odykit, tho, that's also 'trailer-park'.

good luck...


s3aturnr

[cloud819]

Can't afford an twin cam, but you can afford to mod a single??? Something seems messed up there.

The mods you have listed on top of the car you have can easily buy a twin cam and turbo it.

I say save your cash. Unless you find pride in high MPG there isn't a whole lot of things you will be able to feel proud about a SOHC about that other people will understand. They are the low end Saturn. Enjoy the nice MPG, save up the money and buy something cooler next time. With the amount of money you can save driving a SOHC (and not pooring money into modifications) you will have a pile of cash to buy a cooler car in no time.

Since it is your first car, I say enjoy it how it is.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess you are in highschool and want to have a cool car. Here is the best tip ever. Don't try to turn you car into a cool car. Make your car cool by what it can do; and what you can do in it. Find your local SCCA chapter and try autox. While other highscool kids have Mustangs, Camaros and Hondas with neon tubes and LEDs everywhere, You'll be actually racing on the weekends. It may not make your car instantly cool, but once it gets around that your car sees real race use they'll respect you.

Even the lowly SX1 cars can be good autox car if they are kept in stock class.