Here's the deal...
If he is going to make some power, get some tranny mods, or don't drive fast or hard. I blew up two trannies on stock power (210bhp)
With the limited availability of 3g forced induction, go with the DDP kit. Ryan (Mr Raced) has video of a 2.4 layin it down to a modded SRT-4. And it's a better looking car anyway, right Enes?
If he just wants to catch up after everything beats him, and doesn't wanna get too serious about oil lines, water pumps, injectors and so on (which all should be re-done with the DDP kit), then throw some happy gas at it.
The weak link in these cars is the transmission. The car is underpowered, and overweight. Tell him to gut the car, I went from 15.6 to a 15.0 just on weight mods, and I still had the 6 disc, all the speakers, the bumpers, full stock exhaust, A/C, power windows and locks, leather power drivers seat, etc. Talk to Raptor about weight reduction.
Some of you may know Peter (purple 3g with Altezza's). He's got some nice forced induction, on some really nice supporting mods, and he'd beat just about any SRT on the street, Stage 1 or 2. I won't divulge as to how modded, as that's not my place to say, but it would suprise the hell outta most of you guys too.
-JDM