They're a 2.6L, SOHC inline four, iron block, aluminum head. Retaining the stock cam, more often than not, yields big torque numbers. The style of fuel injection, throttle body, is their main downfall. Most guys serious about making big power switch to an MPI setup with a standalone; Megasquirt, SDS, and Haltech are common in the community. Stock numbers are 190hp, 210tq at the crank. 300whp is achievable with TBI but sacrifices driveability in most cases. MPI and a nice turbo will get you 400+whp without terribly too much trouble. There's a few guys on the boards making over 500whp and even fewer that have made it up over 600 and near 700.
These two cars are the more publicized ones, both make pretty serious power:
Starion v. Camaro
Starion v. Roush GT
I think this one holds the record for highest HP 2.6 car on the boards:
Rank's 700hp Conquest
Setups similar to mine yield around 225-250whp and 250-275wtq.
My extended mod list is something like this (pulled from an online magazine interview I did last year):
Drivetrain:
- 70k mile stock longblock
- Balance shaft elimination
- Jet valve elimination
- Powder-coated; turbo heat shields, valve cover, oil pan
- Delphi 65lb primary, 95lb secondary fuel injectors
- Ported & polished throttle body mixing bowl
- MK1 intercooler hard pipes
- HoseTechniques 4 ply silicone couplers w/SS t-bolt clamps
- Knockoff RFL BOV
- Hallman Pro RX boost controller w/heavy spring
- All vacuum lines replaced with silicone lines
- TD05-12A (stock) turbo @ ~18psi
- LSP SS braided turbo oil feed line
- LSP SS braided turbo coolant feed line
- Modified Honda Prelude intake
- 1g DSM MAFT w/3″ GM MAF
- Jolyrgr full 3″ straight exhaust
- BLSG short shifter
- Delrin spherical shift knob
- RX7 spec clutch
- Lightened stock flywheel
- Redline MT-90 trans fluid
- 3SX SS braided clutch slave line
- Jolyrgr 3 row, cross flow aluminum radiator
Chassis:
- 16×8 “SHP” front rims, 16×8 standard rear rims, PC’d black
- 245/45/16 tires, front & rear
- ST sway bars, front & rear
- MK1 performance gas struts, front & rear
- Cosmo “dual spring” coil-over sleeves, front & rear
- MK1 front “pillow-ball” camber plates
- MK1 rear “flat” camber plates
- TEP rear strut tower brace with battery tray & brace
- 3SX one piece SS braided brake lines, front & rear
- Semi-metallic brake pads, front & rear
- Dimpled & slotted rotors, front & rear
Misc.
- Full AC delete w/duct, firewall plug & alternator bracket
- Cruise control delete
- ABS delete
- Rear seat delete
- Charcoal canister delete
- EGR delete w/block-off plate
- Sparco 4pt harness’
- Manual seat belt center console
- D_Venable LED 3rd brake light
- LED dome light & door lights
- HVAC controls relocated
- AEM UEGO wideband mtd. on gauge hood
- Hand made center mounted gauge cluster
- Autometer Phantom gauges; Boost/Vac, Oil psi, Water temp
- Battery relocation
- Custom CNC plasma cut intake heat shield
- 1983 Starion hood
- 1983 Starion tail lights
- MK1 fiberglass upper hatch spoiler/sun visor
- Custom made polished aluminum center caps by Starquestrims
- Custom fender stripe by Ron @ Moto-On.com
- Zipties
- Heli-coils
- Electrical tape