What performance parts can I add to a 06 toyota solara motor for extra speed , horsepower and all around added performance without causing the engine and tranny to wear out prematurely?
That car isn't designed for power. Get a platform that is meant for power, BMW 355i, 350z, etc.
You can add an aftermarket COLD AIR INTAKE (not a short ram intake and stay away from oiled filters) combined with a throttle body spacer to give yourself some extra power. You'll probably get a maximum of 5-10 horsepower and torque because of the colder air the intake draws in as well as the less restrictive design (cooler air is more dense = more oxygen in the same volume = better combustion). They actually do make a noticeable difference...I've done this setup on my 2008 Mazda 3 and it made me happy.
But realize that spending all that money and time for a potential 10 horsepower increase may not be worth it for you...but go for it if you're that type of person.
Meh, on a Solara I would probably just stick to a cold air intake and exhaust. It would cost a small fortune to really put a lot of power out with that car.
I would skip the throttle body spacer as they are mostly placebo and do not really add anything as far as performance. We tested out multiple spacers on our dyno and literally gained nothing. A good intake, likely an Injen or AEM for your car, and a decent exhaust will get you a little pep with a lot more sound. But there is no cheap way to get horsepower, and the Solara is more of a really nice cruiser than a stop light bruiser.
Have you tested the spacers with an aftermarket intake?
We have. Still showed no gain even when custom tuning the specs for it. Some make neat whistling turbo noises, but in actual gains? Nothing.
Yeah, the one on my Mazda makes that cool turbo induction sound. But thanks for sharing your experience with it. I guess it doesn't really do anything, oh well lol.