Performance Tech

One of the most common calls we get at SBR Performance on Ecotec engines is low fuel pressure. Before you start throwing parts at it, check this one overlooked vacuum line first.

If you've ever watched your Ecotec-powered car pull hard through the lower RPM range and then go soft at the top end, you've probably blamed a lot of things. Maybe the tune. Maybe the clutch slipping. Maybe the intake. Here's something most people never check: the fuel system isn't keeping up.

If you've got a 2003-2005 Cavalier, Cobalt, Ion, or any other early Ecotec-powered car, here's a question worth asking yourself: when was the last time you thought about your wiring? Not your spark plugs, not your injectors — your actual wiring harness, connectors, and grounds.If the answer is "never," you're not alone. Wiring is one of those things that nobody thinks about until it becomes a nightmare. And with these cars pushing 20-plus years old now, that nightmare is closer than most people realize.Time Is Not Kind to WirePlastic insulation hardens and cracks with age. The factory loom wrap breaks...

You may have noticed that some crank trigger wheels on the market are drilled out with holes to reduce weight. On the surface that sounds like a performance upgrade, so why don't we do it? The answer comes down to where these parts actually live: submerged in oil. In a dry environment, cutting weight from a rotating part is a clear win. Less rotational inertia means the engine revs faster and responds quicker. But once that wheel is spinning in an oil bath, those holes stop being weight savings and start acting like tiny paddles. They scoop oil, carry it...