BETTER PERFORMANCE FROM A 2.4l 5 LUGGER

I want to know what are some things to "maximize" the performance of the 2.4

im not looking to start adding performance parts to "hop it up" but I just want to know if there are any simple nearly free things that can help give it more pep?

im wondering if there are intake and exhaust restrictions I can remove to gain power? I ask because the deck plate mod is to solve a restrictive intake system and the cat back oversized exhaust is for restrictive exhaust systems and these mods seam to suggest these are issues to be concerned about.

I know on motorcycles they have very restrictive intakes acting like restrictor plates and small restrictive exhaust pipes to control emissions by restricting the amount of flow through the engine so the gas burns more completely so through relatively "minor" mods, you can get a large jump in horsepower and torque by doing intake mods, rejetting, and larger exhausts so im wondering if these engines might also be in need of "breathing better"

thanks for your help

 

nothing ???? crickets chirping lol

 

lol I hear ya

I was thinking along the lines of the cold air intake (my own version not the deck plate) and exhaust but the cat back exhaust says its for the 6 cylinder, is there one for the 2.4 and 2.4 engines?

what does the throttle body spacer do and why would I need one?

 

well just to be clear, im an old man so im not caring about quarter mile or spinning tires to impress the girls but I do want to be sure I get all I can from it to maximize gas mileage and power for towing without really doing anything to it.

im not inclined to spend money on a pavement princess that wont see the pedal pressed very hard.

by the way I did some reading on the throttle body spacer and it only benefits engines where the throttle body mixes in the gas, engines like ours where its direct injection through the manifold to the intake valves, it does absolutely nothing to help them. in other words it would just be decoration. it does do wonders for older engines without direct injection where the gas is mixed at the throttle body.