this is a post by 93EGTinLR from FEOA.net
the link is below all text. this became a very heated and argued thread but the out come was positive.
This was taken from the ERDT Message Board.
Hi everyone.
Lets face it, the majority of Escort owners do no have the ability to come up with large amounts of cash for those crazy race camshafts or other radical modifications that we all want so much. However, I seem to be able to pull about $50 or so from each paycheck twice a month and it's nice to be able to put some mods onto my car, especially with a limited budget. I’m not sure about you guys, but I sure as hell can't save every penny to get a big mod, yet I always want to somehow put mods into my EGT. Unfortunately, the "10 things to do with little to no cash" (courtesy of neuman-your still the best) post is a bit vague (however never unappreciated). I thought I would make another guide for those looking for more of a difference in their cars performance and appearance, but don't have the loot to assist them in their struggles. *This is not just a guide for newbies. We all feel like we can’t afford any mods at some time and this is here just to help with some ideas!*
1. A great mod for the EGT is to pull a shifter out of any third gen protege or protege5 at a junkyard. The protege stock shifter will have shorter throws and is about 1.25 inchs shorter than your stock shifter. You should be able to pick one up for around $10-20, so your basically saving around $120 compared to aftermarket shifters. With the leftover cash you can spoil yourself with a new shift-knob. This will be without a doubt the most noticeable mod you can do with a budget.(courtesy of ne3ek)
2. An entire intake system usually ranges from $120-$200. The majority of the gains however are achieved through using a free flow air filter. To attach this filter however you will need a MAF adaption plate or a good imagination. These filters can be picked up with the plate for under $30 easy off of E-Bay or even your local part store. The intake provides a great sound and will give your EGT a noticeable increase in hp. (maybe 4-
3. Wheel hop can have a devastating effect on your drivetrain overtime. Having solid motor mounts will cause this to occur less and will let you put down more torque to the wheels. You can either buy inserts from zxtuner.com or you can make your own by filling your existing mounts with polyurethane filler. Either way you’re well under $20.
4. By advancing the timing of your distributor you will see a noticeable difference in power. This mod is free unless you must buy a timing light and Adam Christopher has made a great How-To for this listed below.
http://erdtforum.teamzx2.com/viewtopic.php?t=162 5. The MAF sensor equipped with stock EGT’s measures the amount of air being sucked into the engine and adds the appropriate amount of fuel to the air to create a controlled explosion. By using a RX-7 MAF you are able to put more air into the engine which will cause a larger explosion resulting in more horsepower. The gains from this mod will be felt mainly around the redline(5750rpm-7000rpm). It is a good mod and should provide about 5hp. The MAF comes off 1986 and 1987 non-turbo Mazda RX-7’s and can be picked up from a junkyard for under $50 easy.
6. Get rid of those dang orange eyesores. Yes the signal lenses! A new clear pair can be bought from zxtuner.com for under $50 and they appear quite frequently on E-Bay for well less than $50. These will really improve the look of your EGT. Take a look at the 2nd Gen pictures on escortracing.com and you will see why.
7. Ground wire kits create a better grounding for the electricals of your car. Courtesy of GRO Harlem, the link below includes a complete how-to as well as information on where to locate ground wire kits or even make your own. Expected gains are anywhere from a 2-6whp peak gain and at least a 1hp gain throughout the powerband, maybe more.
http://www.protegenetwork.org/pro/1stgen/a...wto/groundwire/ 8. Low temperature thermostats start to cool your engine before it would normally begin to cool down which helps the engine last longer and perform better. They are not very hard to install and the link below will explain everything you need to know. This project is well under $50 so you maybe be able to treat yourself to another mod at the same time.
http://erdtforum.teamzx2.com/viewtopic.php?t=137 9. Through the magic of online auctions such as E-bay, you should be able to pick up a universal performance muffler for under $50. Remember that there are literally hundreds of these being sold for as low as $15 so don’t commit to one unless you are sure that you want it and are willing to pay. The only part that may not fit your budget is getting the muffler installed. I picked up my 5Zigen k/o muffler for $40 with shipping off E-Bay and ended up paying $35 for installation, so I went over a bit on this one…
10. You can paint various parts of your car for very cheap and get a real nice look out of it. The first thing I painted was the gauge cluster with an aluminum colored spray paint. There is tons of stuff to paint including calipers, valve covers and other engine components, interior pieces, whatever! Paint costs as little as $3 a can so have fun!
11. A GREAT mod for the money is getting some energy suspension endlinks for your front and rear swaybar. You can get universal ones from Autozone for 16 dollars a pair. If you shove those on there and replace your stock endlinks you will be utilizing 90%+ of you swaybars potential. The stock bushings (especially if they are still originals) are probably only using anywhere from 30-70% of the actual potential of your swaybars.
Cheap and effective mod. Not too hard to install either!!
(courtesy of Gro Harlem)
http://www.feoa.net/modules.php?name=Forum...opic&t=3915