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Boosting horsepower is one of the main goals of modifying cars for every car enthusiast.

One of the main differentiators in terms of a car’s performance is its horsepower. While a lot of exotics and top-tier muscle cars come with impressive amounts of horsepower, they require even more impressive amounts of cash; that’s one of the reasons modifying cars is desirable.

A lot of modern cars are equipped with decent power plants these days. But no matter old school or modern, car enthusiasts would always look for ways to make their vehicles quicker, stronger, and overall better in terms of performance. Here are the most efficient steps for you to take if you want to modify your car to boost horsepower.

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As much as your car needs gasoline in its cylinders, it needs air. That’s why installing a cold air intake is a popular option to start with when modifying cars. Air Intakes usually are very cost-effective (depending on their manufacturer and the model) and are easy to install; a few hand tools in an average-equipped garage can do the job.

A cold air intake adds a sequence between the air filter and the engine so that the air that reaches the engine is cooler. The cooler the air is, the more oxygen it contains. More oxygen means the fuel can burn more effectively and move the cylinders with more power.

Installing a cold air intake doesn’t cost much but can significantly boost horsepower. It usually results in a horsepower gain of about 5 to 20 ponies in most cars for around $300 to $900.

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Now you know how important air is to the engine. Another way to improve the airflow in the engine is to force air into the engine; so instead of sucking air into the engine, you can blow air into it by installing a supercharger or a turbocharger into your car.

Superchargers are belt-driven, meaning that they require engine power to work. On the other hand, Turbochargers rely on the gas that goes through the exhaust to spin their turbines. Each of them has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Installing a supercharger is more manageable, and the power it provides is bolder and more instant. But in terms of drawbacks, superchargers can be more expensive and put more strain on your vehicle’s engine than turbochargers.

Turbochargers can be a bit more affordable than superchargers (though still expensive) and put less strain on the engine. But, they usually can’t boost HP as much as superchargers; plus, since they rely on leftover exhaust gasses, they create a delay (aka turbo lag) in increased energy.

Both turbochargers and superchargers can put a lot of strain on your car’s engine, so it’s best to upgrade the clutch and/or add cooling systems to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Forced induction can increase your vehicle’s HP by fifty percent, but don’t expect to spend anything under $3,000 for it.

We mentioned that air is as essential as fuel for the engine. But receiving oxygen is only half of the story; the other half is to omit carbon monoxide. The quicker your vehicle’s engine can get rid of carbon monoxide, the better it can receive oxygen.

A performance exhaust system can do that better than a stock exhaust system by having a larger pipe, which allows the engine to get rid of carbon monoxide quicker.

Besides helping the airflow, a performance exhaust system can be a few pounds lighter than a stock system and provide a better roaring sound. A performance exhaust system can cost you anything between $400 to $1,500.

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A popular way to unleash the true potential of a vehicle is to tweak its ECU (engine control unit). The computer in your car is there to maintain your vehicle in the most efficient and eco-friendliest way possible. By tuning the chip, also known as remapping the chip, you can change how much fuel goes in the engine by pushing the gas pedal.

It is recommended to tweak the ECU after installing a turbocharger and some other mods. Because your car already has a somewhat adequate chip to its stock engine. Remapping your vehicle after installing a forced induction system can significantly boost the system’s efficiency, which results in a significant horsepower gain.

Remapping your car can cost you somewhere between $500 to $2,000.

If you’re ready to spend a fortune and the ways mentioned above do not satisfy you, you can swap parts of the engine with heavier-duty ones. For instance, you can swap cylinder heads with beefier and bigger ones or upgrade pistons to make the engine more capable than the stock version.

Such upgrades can be tricky, so it’s best to make sure you know how to disassemble and reassemble the engine. If you’re not comfortable with pulling the guts of your car out, you’re better off leaving it to a mechanic who has experience in building engines. And also, at least put $5,000 to $7,000 aside if you’re serious about choosing premium parts. (Remember, you’re going to pay an awful lot to the engine builder as well if you can’t do it all yourself.)

Hamed is a literature student, writer, musician, and car enthusiast. His favorite topics to write about are cars, tech, and gaming. When he's not writing, he's either playing music or listening to it.