Looking into getting a 2000 SC2 for a starter project car, have the 5-spd manual and the 1.9L 4 cyl, and performance upgrades for it? I've looked and I can only find clutch kits, and cold air intakes, or the companies no longer exist lol, and how far would a port and polish on the head go? Not sure I'm new to this, thank ya.

 

The 124hp under the hood is more or less what you're gonna get unless you want to buy a turbo kit. Retail or off of someone who turboed their car back in the 90s.

Just about now aftermarket performance support back in the day and obviously even less today.

Change oil at 3,000 MI and keep the level topped off if it is already burning. Since it is new to you, check the oil level every 200 miles until you get an idea of how much oil it goes through.

NGK 5643 plugs=stock plug=use them or use them
Denso O2 sensors, Delphi ECTS

 

No matter how much you polish a turd, it's still a turd.

 

If you want something to mod, don't get a Saturn

 

I gotta agree with derf 100% on that statement. Maybe find something in the Red Line family?

 

Red lines are awesome when the ECM is not pulling boost because one reading or another from the sensors is not right.

Parts for them are very rare to find because everyone else has already scavenged them.

There are companies that you can buy a custom tuned ECM based on your vehicle's operating characteristics. However, this becomes even more temperamental because if something is not right according to the ECM, it will kill boost or not boost at all.

Maybe a sky. I don't know what all the turbo version comes with so I don't know how much room there is to upgrade

 

i will be that one guy who disagrees with everyone else.
The SC2 platform is a perfect car to MOD and upgrade. For aftermarket stuff, you will struggle, as it was far and few when new, even more today with big daddy EPA going after companies.

the SC2 has independent suspension, is light weight, and has great balance. If you can fabricate, then this car might be perfect for you. The stock motor is fine, and I've heard, handles boost, but it might be easier to swap in a newer powerplant from the redline sky's? (YouTube may help, as I've seen a bunch of SC2 builds)

random info- i thought that there is a Bilstein - B8's set which works on the SC2, but it's not listed. You will need to get the exact shock specs and compare them.

 

Two year old thread, man. I don't think you're going to get much of a response.

 

Clearly you've never owned an SC2, as you speak in theoreticals.

If you can fabricate: I don't have that skill, that equipment, the time, or the money to devote towards that. Neither does the avg sc2 owner.

Engine swap: not terribly straightforward in any sense. Fabrication fabrication and fabrication as well. If you've never swapped like for like, this is a bit much to take on. Have people done it successfully? Sure. Anything can be done with enough willpower and money.

Boost. A stock SC2 can handle about 8 lb of boost before you need to worry about swapping out the internals for their forged equivalents If you are keeping the stock engine. Anything higher than that needs forged internals, larger injectors, a standalone controller working in tandem with the original PCM. Has it been done? Many times.

Springs. I believe they stop selling those about 10 years ago for this vehicle.

Do I love my '95 SC2? Damn straight. Does the thought of modifying it to get more out of it ever go through my head? It has. Is it realistic and/or cost-effective in any way shape or form given the anti-support from both the automakers and the aftermarket folk? No. Sometimes it's hard enough just to find parts to keep it running.

You're not the first to come along and suggest such a thing. But if you have no hands-on experience with said suggestion,
you may want to do a bit more hands-on research before suggesting a particular platform.