OK,,i finally got my dream car (2000 Z28) but i wont it souped were do i start? i have read threw some articles but i dont understand anything..all the numbers abbreviations on anything,, i feel so dumb,,i never realised how engine dumb i was....were can i go to start with beginers..??/

 

Everyone has to start somewhere, this site is a good place. As far as modding your car, you should set a goal for yourself. Do you want to achieve a certain HP (horsepower) number or do you want to run a certain 1/4 mile time? (I would go with a better 1/4 mile time but it's up to you). Do you want a daily driveable car or a track car? Or do you want a show car with mostly appearance mods? You should ask yourself these and a few other questions (other members should chime in with their own). Creating the plan should always be the first thing that way you don't waste money on useless mods. If you're still unsure, start with an air lid and a catback. Thats basically what I have done to my car because that is all that money allows me to do right now. The air lid I bought from MTI at http://www.motorsporttech.com/ and my catback from www.ajusa.com . Of course you should shop around and see what deals you can find. There are often many group purchases going on. Go to www.ls1sounds.com to hear some of the catbacks to help you decide. I recommend Magnaflow unless you have the cash for the GMMG. Hope that helps.

 

Pick out two or three simple things to learn a day. You'll be amazed at how fast you learn.

For instance, your car does not have the LS6 intake manifold that the latter year models did (01 and 02). Swapping to this intake could get you 10 or more hp at the rear wheels.

Your car has an aluminum block and aluminum cylinder heads- something only race cars had at one point in time.

Your window motors will die in the next few months as our window motor suck.

See, there's three things to learn in the new few hours. You can pick tomorrow's three.

Just do a lot of reading and ask questions. There's a list that has what a lot of the abrieviations we use translate to. If you don't understand something just ask.

Don't buy ANYTHING for your car until you've spent hours and hours reading about modifications.

Good luck,
Ben T.

 

there are 3 basic things to start any modification process....easier air in, easier exhaust out, and better traction (either lateral...curves, or straight line...launching).

if you read through (and i highly reccomend you do) the first 5-10 pages of this forum you'll see alot of information on those topics. go to the suspension forums for the other stuff.

some common abreviations and terms:

SSRA - super sucker ram air, a great mod for non ram-air equipped cars
lid - the top part of the air box, stock sucks....

FRA - free ram air, a mod that involves cutting the bottom of the air box out to allow easier intake of air into the lid

FTRA - another aftermarket "ram air" that isn't really a ram air...just a cold air intake...SSRA is far superior in my opinion

TB - throttle body, no need to mess with it untill you are well into the mods

LS6 intake - the intake manifold from the LS6 motors, flow better than the LS1. all 01/02 camaros/firebirds received the LS6 intake instead of the LS1, they are interchangable except for one of the emissions provisions.

cats - catalytic converters

ORP - off road pipe, the junction piece in the exhaust that Ys the 2 sides together, however it doesn't come with any cats, hence it's "illegal" and can only be run "offroad" BIG

LT headers - long tube headers, the collectors end under the car, they require totally different exhaust components. yield the best hp gains, but are "illegal" in all states...technically

mids - mid lenght headers, collector is positioned up a little bit, better clearance under the car, gains are close to that of the LTs, and since they also move the cats, are technicallly illegal too.

shorties - short tube headers, exact replacement for stock exhaust manifolds, least gains, DO NOT move the cats so they are legal in all states. most say they are not worth the $$ or hassle.

now for suspension parts:

SFC - sub frame connectors, stiffen the chassis to reduce flex...very good idea
LCA - lower control arms, help control axle rotation under acceleration and cornering, another good upgrade
PHB - panhard bar, controls side to side movement of the rear axle in curves

i know there are more...but my fingers are tired

 

Best mod and it costs nothing. Learn to drive it.

 

You know i got mid headers on my car and I didn't have to move my cats so mids are legal if you get the right ones.

 

aha couldnt agree with you more there

 

thanks everyone,,, im going for the typical street car.. but somethig 99mustang vert said im confused on " do u want to run a certain 1/4 mile " well wouldnt that tie into more hp and actually be the same thing? any who the lid sounds simple and cheap great idea....however the cat back im not sure about yet....Apperance is a must i think anyone should have.....i thought about my car alot and something i regreat not doing is doin a car fax im going to the my chevy dealer to find the previous owner to see if they have already done some mods before i go any further..... thanks agin guys for the abbrev help and steps to take i will be back when i learn more info,,,btw when will my window motors die its got 69,200 miles on it.....

 

My driver's side window motor died and I just turned over 40,000 miles. Depends on how much you use them. The only time I don't put my windows down when I get in my car is if it's raining.

The 1/4 mile/horsepower difference is that you can get a better 1/4 mile time by upgrading the car without actually increasing your horsepower. For example: by upgrading your clutch (if it's a manual) or getting an aftermarket torque converter (if it's an auto) you will improve your 1/4 mile time but not increase your horsepower, and usually you will do a better job of lowering your 1/4 mile time by increasing your traction first and then, later, increasing your horsepower.

Best mod of all, no matter what you do with the car (racing, commuting, grocery getting) is what Greed4Speed said: learn to drive it right.

As far as modifying your car for performance: start with a lid. It's inexpensive, makes the engine bay look better, easy to install, and it's not illegal no matter what state you live in.

Abe

 

mid lenght headers move the cats.

one of the cats on the LS1 bolts directly to the collector on the exhaust manifold. i'm not sure how you "extend" the lenght of the exhaust primaries (making them mid lenght) without moving at least one cat.

i think MAC sells headers under the title of "mid lenght" when in actuality they are shorties.

 

he's got an lt1.y-pipe bolts to the cat.

 

You would think it would and it does make sense to think that, but like TransAmAbe said, an upgraded clutch or torque converter would definately help you out without increasing horsepower. A lot of cars with less HP can beat high HP cars just based on traction. Tires are a must and so is a good suspension. Not sure how much lower you 1/4 mile time would be but it should be good for at least .5 of a second, probably more if you know how to drive the car very well, I have yet to do the mods so I'm not sure. Cars with high HP and no traction will spin off the line bad, if you have traction you can beat them. Learning how to drive the car properly definately should be the first thing. Have fun and be safe with the car, don't wreck it doing something regretful.