94 sw1 performance upgrades?
 

i have a 1994 sw1 with the automatic. the car still runs great, nice and quiet and no oil usage. i am looking to get a bit more power in the low-mid range, up to maybe 4500 rpms. is this possible and if so, where do i get parts to do it. i've been wrenching for 25 years now so doing the work is no problem at all, it's just that this is the first fuel injected, computer controlled car i've ever owned/worked on. it still get3 between 30 and 33mpg on the highway but it would be really niice to have enough power/torque that when traveling at highway speeds so that it doesnt have to downshift while in cruise. i also pull a small, light single motorcycle trailer with it.

a dohc swap is a good starting point as it gains you about 40 hp....finding a donor engine in as good a condition as yours (no oil burning) that doesn't require a rebuild may be a bit of a challenge......

believe it or not, i'm about to turn 450,000 miles on it. the only time the motor was opened up is when i had to replace lifters at 189,000 miles. the trans is excellent too. doing the dohc swap, what else do i need to gt other than the motor? i imagine the ecu and engine harnesses at least?

geez! i guess you've been religious with your oil changes. Congrats.

see swap guide at Saturnfans.com

every 3000 miles it gets mobil 1
it has never had anything BUT mobil 1 since the break in period ended. it uses NO oil at all between oil changes, doesnt smoke, knock, leak ir rattle. it doesnr run right on anything BUt 87 octane. i also use nothing but shell gasoline. it keeps valves and fuel system cleaner than any other gas. i knew that because i also use nothing but shell in my motorcycles and i recently pulled a head off of my bmw airhead with 44k on it and the intake valves were spotless.

the only problem i'm having with the car right now is if i'm hard on the accelerator at highway (75+) and its warm out the check engine light goes on then shuts off when i let it drop below 60 for 30 seconds or so. i have an auxiliary oil pressure gage so i know i'm not losing oil pressure

what's the code? or can you not get at it easily since the light is out when you are trying to read (ODB I)?

Are you sure you want to mess with something that has run so well for so long?

You might actually be better off just buying an S car with a DOHC for not that much more than the engine would cost for a swap. You're still getting a DOHC of lesser maintained stature than your current SOHC, but, on reconsideration, if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Oh, by the way...450K on the timing chain?? Maybe a testament to Mobil 1 but did you change that when it was opened up for the lifters?

the chain was replaced at approximately 250k or so. about time to replace it again. the reason i want to just get more power from this car rather than get a second one is i like the wagon, alot. i brought 1 complete suzuki titan and most of a second one home from ohio a few months ago, all in the back of the car. i've seen maybe 2 twin cam wagons since i moved here to sc in 99.i figured to get a new motor and trans and rebuild those while still driving the car with the original 1.9l single cam. i've been told that an ecu re-flash might give me the little extra "oompf" i want. any opinion on that idea? again this is the first computer controlled car i've owned or messed with.

dunno about a PMC flash/oompf adjustment.

If you are gonna re-build a DOHC out of the car, then you will definitely want to check the swap guide at

http://www.saturnwiki.net -- it's actually an organized transcription of the one from saturnfans.com, which originally came from turbosaturns.net.......this should help you determine compatible donor car engines, etc.....

this car is bone stock,with the exception of a k+n panel filter (no cold air kit made for the tbi cars as far as i know, right down to the muffler (i hate driving a noisy car on long trips) i'm not looking for massive power increases really just enough of an increase that when the cruise control is set it doesnt downshift several times on a long uphill grade. i'm also likely going to eliminate the catalytic converter as it seems to be a bit plugged up, not alot yet but it's starting to get there. i AM buying a twin cam motor and matching trans and i'll slowly rebuild/lightly modify them as money allows (on a fixed income here after breaking my neck/back) then when the high mile original motor/trans go i'll have the new one to drop in along with the ecu and harnesses i need. i've just put a bunch of money into the car with new struts and mounts, new axles, new tie rod ends, new radiator, new muffler, new tires and alighnment and i rebuilt the power steering pump.