Since I got my Magna I've been focusing on the look and sound, once I got it up to scratch with an oil change and a new air filter and crap like that I've changed the headlights and sound system, I'm working on getting it lowered and I have a lot more on the list to do.

But I haven't though about performance at all. Mainly because I know what I'm doing when it comes to making things look beautiful, I don't know much about performance, well, I can build a computer to put NASA to shame, but performance in cars I know nothing about.

I know it's ricey as hell, but the only thing I like about turbo is that spine-tingling sound of a blow-off valve. But I can't afford a turbo system, plus I'd only want it for the sound.

Now that I'm done rambling, what performance parts should I get? Keep in mind that I am on a budget and that I wont be racing or anything like that, I'm pretty tame, I just want my car to be as good as it can be.

What motor does your 2nd Gen have? You are pretty limited with performance without spending top dollar. Especially on a 2nd Gen. If you wish to stay N/A then it would be the usual, Cold air intake (A well designed, well implemented example. Not a Pod Filter with a autobahn heat shield), extractors, hi flow cat (or De-cat, I'm not advocating :3) and a mandrel bend exhaust system with as little bends as possible.

After this stage, you would look at getting the heads shaved and decked a few mill, ports polished and enlarged and a some larger duration/lift camshafts. Also, at this point, your motor will need a tune, so an after market programmable piggyback ecu will be needed.

Some where about here, you stop, and think for a minute. Mostly about why you are chasing performance on a Magna. There are mods which can make you feel like your car is going faster, but without lots of time and effort/money you wont be able to actually GO faster. The money you spend on headwork/tuning could be spent on new bushes all round, good tyres, and all the JDM parts made for your model.

Magna's are fantastic cars, and my old mans second gen is a great car. But, you need to think about what mods you do, and impliment them in a cost effective way that will make you and your wallet happy. It's horses for courses mate, if you want speed, get an R33 Skyline with a 25DET. They are the most cost effective performance car on the market today.

The best performance upgrade for a second gen 4 cylinder is . . . . . to do nothing to the engine. If it starts, runs smoothly, and gets you around you are doing well. Save your money for something with some performance from the factory, like a 3.5L manual third gen. Or if you want to go to a different make, there is a lot to pick from. Just stay away from ex hoon driver Silvia, Skyline, WRX etc.

Hey Plutonic,

Being an owner of a 4cly 2nd gen myself there is not much in the way of performance gains to be had without a heap of $ poured in.

Best bang for buck is to get a highflowing exhaust system. The cat convertor on the 4 cyl are a bit restrictive so upgrade of that helps Maybe a lukey or magnaflow muffler on the end.
Small gains had from these upgrades but the simple enjoyment of keeping a 4 cyl going smooth i think is still worth it.

If you really must go for turbo setup then forget the stock 4g54 engine as youd need to swap it out with something more robust for boost. 4g63t engines are possible interchange with some modding to fit ive heard. Someone here has done it if i recall correctly. otherwise go for a DOHC 3lt 6g74 which also i know has been done on a TR/TS.

Without shaming the 4cyl 2nd gens i went an bourght a 3rd gen 6G72 v6 TE Magna manual also of which i wont be modding for turbo setup as its still not strong enough without heavy engine mod's to handle it well enough in my opinion. However i pulls a lot harder than the 4cyl astron 2nd gen and should keep me happy for a while longer.

Cheers

If you want the best bang for bucks performance mod - buy a 3rd Gen Manual.

If you start modding your TR you'll have spent several times the amount of the car by the time you're done and you won't have much to show for it.

I've easily spent alot more than the amount of my car itself, as everyone on AMC has lol

Don't want to rubbish the 4cyl 2nd gens, but at the end of the day it's almost 20 years old and has a 4 banger in it, not much you can do to squeeze performance out of it unless you rebuilt and forged the engine and turboed it or something ridiculous like that.

The 4 cylinder 2.6 first appeared as a 1.85 L engine in the early Sigmas. The design is now about 40 years old, there have been many improvements in its design over those years, but they were for reliability. In the end its still a 2 valve per cylinder with internal weights too high to be able to rev high and reliably, even with better exhaust and cam.

Just drive it into the ground over the next few years and buy a more modern car.

Mad max, I must disagree with you about "Hoon Driver Silvia's and skylines" Just because a minority of drivers have given these cars a bad name, does not mean that they are bad cars. They shit all over Magna's in terms of performance ability in every facet. A 4 door R33, Cefiro, Laurel, JZX100 or a JSX90 will still haul the family around, with far greater enjoyment than a Magna could ever bring.

Anyway, Plutonic. Don't throw too much money at the old second gen if you don't plan to keep it for a long time, or bring it up too show car level.

Mad max, I must disagree with you about "Hoon Driver Silvia's and skylines" Just because a minority of drivers have given these cars a bad name, does not mean that they are bad cars. They shit all over Magna's in terms of performance ability in every facet. A 4 door R33, Cefiro, Laurel, JZX100 or a JSX90 will still haul the family around, with far greater enjoyment than a Magna could ever bring.

Anyway, Plutonic. Don't throw too much money at the old second gen if you don't plan to keep it for a long time, or bring it up too show car level.

lol, minority

It's the same minority that have given commodores a bad name. It's the same minority that have given P platers a bad name. It's hard to drive a modified import without getting labelled a baby killer or rapist or a murder.

if you want power you need to **** your budget of. Fu7ly h3tic bro jst got 1 of dem eletric super chargerz from ebay bro. But yeah. DOHC, Manual Conversion = >5k

It's the same minority that have given commodores a bad name. It's the same minority that have given P platers a bad name. It's hard to drive a modified import without getting labelled a baby killer or rapist or a murder.

maybe not that far, but a hoon yes, im not having a stab at you, im still waiting to get my r32gtr so i can join the club and be a real hoon, its not the minority, its the car, too much power and people regularly abuse power if given to them, and im not talking about commodores.

Anyway if you want performance you got to have big wallet or buy a car that has performance parts for it :) Everything for magnas are a one off part or rare :(

Just because you have an R32 GTR does not immediately make you a hoon. Having a powerful car does also not immediately make you a hoon. Stereotyping like this will be the downfall of society.

They love their cars, just like you (I don't know) might love your magna.

Anyway, if we must continue this debate, it shall be done elsewhere.