Auto Racing: Just Getting Started, cold air intake, gas mileage

Question
Thanks for the advice. I think I may hit the parts store this weekend! One more question though. I've started to do a little shopping around, and Steeda has a kit that includes a high flow intake, a gear (your choice), and a super chip. What's your take on getting a prepackaged set like that, what do you think about the chips, and what's the best gear to go with considering I still have to drive it everyday?

Answer
Adam-

  Please, steer clear of any parts stores that aren't speed shops.  Almost all of your big chain stores carry "performance" parts, but their quality is sub par which is usually reflected in their pricing.  The Steeda kit is a little questionable on the whole.  The cold air intake and gears are definitely a good start, but a chip that isn't burned while your car is on a dyno is almost worthless.  To burn a good chip you need to know what a specific car is doing and what it needs.  Buying a chip online or over the phone won't give you these specifics.  Also, in general, the most you can hope from a chip on a relatively stock car is 10-15hp or so.  Chips are great for forced induction cars like blown or turbo'ed cars or very highly tuned naturally aspirated motors...but they won't do much for a car that's pretty much stock.  Gears...if you've got a manual I'd go with either 3.55 or 3.73 gears.  If it's an automatic go with 3.73 or 4.10 gears.  Expect the swap to raise your cruising rpm by a few hundred rpm and you *might* lose a fraction of a mile per gallon in gas mileage.  Hope this helps.

Steve