Chick w/ ?'s - Help

I bought my new Z28 about a month ago... and have been reseaching mods and all that good stuff. This has resulted in several questions... please stick with me - I did a search, but none of the threads I found seemed to answer quite what I am inquiring about.

1) Where can I get my car Dynoed (I think that is what they call it)? I live in central WI and have looked but found nothing on it? I have read they make systems that you personally can do this - but while browsing other Camaro pages I see people with a standard printout - I want to know what I am starting at so I can see improvement after mods.

2) I am considering getting the SLP CAI, but am curious if I should get that or the SLP hood with air box upgrade instead. This subject is where most my questions are.

2a) Is the hood and air box upgrade essentially ram air (for sake of length I will assume it is and when I refer to ram air to express the hood upgrade)?
2b) Can you have both the ram air and the CAI?
2c) Is the SLP air filter the standard K&N air filter or is there something about the one offered on their website?
2d) Obviously the ram air upgrade is a bit more costly than the CAI - but is it worth it to purchase the CAI (meanwhile) when I can go for the ram air upgrade this Spring?

3) What is the best exhaust for the buck?

4) What mods will I be able to do myself - like in my garage and which will I have to take to someone?

As stated in the title - I am a chick who digs Camaros. I, personally, am determined to do as much work on my car as I can - just so I can have the pride in saying I did it myself. With that - please have patience with me - I may ask some stupid questions, but that is a given! Thanks so much for your help in advance.

Originally posted by sonya4
I bought my new Z28 about a month ago... and have been reseaching mods and all that good stuff. This has resulted in several questions... please stick with me - I did a search, but none of the threads I found seemed to answer quite what I am inquiring about.

1) Where can I get my car Dynoed (I think that is what they call it)? I live in central WI and have looked but found nothing on it? I have read they make systems that you personally can do this - but while browsing other Camaro pages I see people with a standard printout - I want to know what I am starting at so I can see improvement after mods.

2) I am considering getting the SLP CAI, but am curious if I should get that or the SLP hood with air box upgrade instead. This subject is where most my questions are.

2a) Is the hood and air box upgrade essentially ram air (for sake of length I will assume it is and when I refer to ram air to express the hood upgrade)?
2b) Can you have both the ram air and the CAI?
2c) Is the SLP air filter the standard K&N air filter or is there something about the one offered on their website?
2d) Obviously the ram air upgrade is a bit more costly than the CAI - but is it worth it to purchase the CAI (meanwhile) when I can go for the ram air upgrade this Spring?

3) What is the best exhaust for the buck?

4) What mods will I be able to do myself - like in my garage and which will I have to take to someone?

As stated in the title - I am a chick who digs Camaros. I, personally, am determined to do as much work on my car as I can - just so I can have the pride in saying I did it myself. With that - please have patience with me - I may ask some stupid questions, but that is a given! Thanks so much for your help in advance.

ill do my best to help....
1. if there is a performance shop by you ask them where a dyno is by you.... theres one bout hour north of me that by buddy owns...if u wanna make the drive then chekc it out....www.dynoproauto.com

2. get slp cai...its cheaper that way and works bettr.... i have ss hood and have whisper ram air....whisper is the same thing as slp cai
b. yes u can have both but its not a good idea
d. the only "true" ram air is ws6...ss ram air sucks
3. best exhaust is probably slp loudmouth.... the sound is unbeatable....if u want one i have mine with 900 miles on it in good condition with chrome dual tips that ill sell for 230 shipped
4. depends what u can do.... i have done mostly everything in garage....except nitrous....and welding stuff

hope that helps:D

got any pics of your new ride:D

dynojet dynos in WI here (http://www.dynojet.com/maps/autodynos/wi.htm)

You're a girl?

Beware the leg humpers!

:D

The SLP Loudmouth is from what I have been told a great flowing exhaust.. but be willing to have a LOUD car. It is also about the loudest exhaust. If you want one that flows well and will wake up your neighbors everytime you give it a rev that is your exhaust. If you want something not so loud you should do more searching.

3) The best bang for the buck in exhaust is the Dynomouth mod.
Mine was $140 installed and the sound is awesome. Much more refined than the LM, deep and muscular. It is on the loud side if you have your foot to the floor, otherwise it is docile.
I have links to pics and clips, as well as general info on the Dynomouth on page 2 of my website... in sig.
Good luck
Dave

Yeah! We need more girls here! :D

I bought my 98 Z28 in April 98 and had Flowmaster exhaust installed at Bobby Gentry's in Denton, TX for $150 in August 98. It may not be the most expensive exhaust out there, but you can hear me coming and I get lots of compliments on it. (mostly from the leg humpers ;) ) Personally I like it better than Borla and I haven't heard the SLP LM in person yet.

Here's another girly question for you boys: I'm also thinking of getting the SLP CAI. Does this require the 160* thermostat? I've been told not to install a lower temp thermostat unless I get the HPP. My question is, can the SLP CAI be installed alone, or does it require any additional mods?

TIA
Stephanie

Hey Stephanie,
I'm sure the reason you were told not to lower the operating temp of the stat until you got an HPP3 is because you need the HPP to turn the fans on sooner than stock.
The thermostat mod won't consisently lower your engine's temp unless the fans come on sooner and get air flowing. In town your temps won't change, on the highway with air flowing over your radiator the stat will lower the temp.
Anyway, you can get around the expense of the HPP by doing one of several fan mods.
My favorite is the auto fan mod. It is fully automatic like the HPP and doesn't require you to remember to turn the fan on or off. It also doesn't require you to run wiring into the cabin of the car like a manual fan switch. It runs around $20 for the mod...
The auto fan mod and free thermostat mod keep my car running about 175* consistently. These 2 mods combined with the TB bypass have cured my KR as well.
http://ls1info.com/article.php?sid=180
http://ls1info.com/article.php?sid=222
Good luck
Dave

Thanks Dave! I've got a cheesy manual fan switch that I bought on eBay, rigged up next to the fog lamp switch. Should I switch to the automatic or will this be OK as long as I remember to switch it on?

Originally posted by ls1camarogal
Thanks Dave! I've got a cheesy manual fan switch that I bought on eBay, rigged up next to the fog lamp switch. Should I switch to the automatic or will this be OK as long as I remember to switch it on?
Not remembering to switch it on is not nearly as detrimental as forgetting to turn it off. Lots of folks leave it run when they park and kill their battery.
Dave

I only turn mine on when I'm in heavy traffic or in a drive-thru, when the temp gets noticeably higher but still doesn't trigger the stat. And I always remember to turn it off when I shut off the car or get on the highway. I don't race so it's not helping my ET's or anything, but I still like to haul a little a$$ around town. ;)

Then you have it covered. If you lower the temp of your stat you will be fine.
Dave

i got an optima battery to help in case i forgot to turn it off... first i have to install it.......its been sitting in my back seat for about 3 months

Thanks Dave, you've been a great help! All my buddies are import guys and aren't much help when it comes to my ride. Your exhaust sounds great, too! :)

Speaking of Optima batteries, this is more of an audio question, but I'm running an 800x4 amp to my 6 Kenwood-upgraded stock sized speakers, and an 800x2 amp to my 3 Fosgate 10's and my headlights dim terribly when I'm at idle. Would an Optima help with this? The guys at the stereo shop were really pushing them, but, being a girl, I get salesmen trying to get me to buy unneccessary things all the time.

well i dunno.....itll help a lil bit but what u really need is a cap their about 100


a battery will help if u wanna bump when the car is off for a bit....

ive got 3 12s and i need a cap

if u wanna chekc out my 12s i have pic in sig:D

3 jl audio 12s bump like no other:D

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by stik6shift98
1998 Camaro Z-28 M6
ZR1 17 by 11 chrome

100 shot NX:FLP headers:Chrome ZR1 17x11 w/315 NITTO:Lid and K&N Filter:BMR Torque Arm:BMR SFC's:BMR Adj. Panhard Bar:BMR STB:BMR DSL:4 Baer Eradispeed Rotors:Star Spec Stage 3 Ceramic Clutch: DVD with screen:3 jl audio12" subs :etc...
AOL SN: stik6shift98
DYNO@375HP @434 TQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK so I'm full of questions today. Do you have T-tops? My import buddies keep telling me not to get the BMR suspension upgrades and to go with the G2 STB/engine brace, and double diamond SFC's because I've got T-tops. What do you think?

Originally posted by ls1camarogal
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by stik6shift98
1998 Camaro Z-28 M6
ZR1 17 by 11 chrome

100 shot NX:FLP headers:Chrome ZR1 17x11 w/315 NITTO:Lid and K&N Filter:BMR Torque Arm:BMR SFC's:BMR Adj. Panhard Bar:BMR STB:BMR DSL:4 Baer Eradispeed Rotors:Star Spec Stage 3 Ceramic Clutch: DVD with screen:3 jl audio12" subs :etc...
AOL SN: stik6shift98
DYNO@375HP @434 TQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK so I'm full of questions today. Do you have T-tops? My import buddies keep telling me not to get the BMR suspension upgrades and to go with the G2 STB/engine brace, and double diamond SFC's because I've got T-tops. What do you think?

well IMPORT buddies....:rolleyes: ya i have import buddies but dont listen to them cuz they dont have camaros.....if u wanna spend the extra cash on g2 stuff then do.....bmr is awsome...

i have a black stb for sale....maybe.....

but ya just get bmr it has nothing to do with ttops

That's why I was asking because an Integra driver doesn't really know how a Camaro handles. I'm not dissing BMR at all, I've been shopping them for a while now, but haven't really gotten any good advice from an actual Camaro driver yet. My Integra buddy seems to think that since I have T-tops that I need the 3-point SFCs rather than 2-point. :confused:

BTW, how on earth did you fit 3 12's in your trunk? I saw that one pic you have but I couldn't really see the whole set-up. I helped put my subs in and it was tough squeezing 3 10's in that tiny little space. And I'll admit I don't know what you're talking about when you said I need a cap. Where can I get one?

3 12s hehehe

ill take more pics right now....

id get a digital cap on ebay

search for cap
buy it now for like 109

a sfc is a sfc 3 point.....maybe a lil more advantage but in my opinion 2 pt does all the work anyway

for the ladies...

Check out www.raceher.com for women seriously into drag racing..

ok.. now that i did that shameless plug, to address the originator of this post...
I for one think you are going about this the right way.. I actually have had 2 different dyno runs.. Will be at the track this Jan 6th (gotta love Texas with year round racing!) and have scheduled to rent out a dyno for personal use in one week.. its not cheap but I am hard headed and want answers to things that go on car..


The print out sometimes includes the air fuel ratio.. you will want to make sure you get that since it helps you see if you are too rich, too lean or just right.. (I watched a Ferrari 550 dyno and it was flawless.. stayed perfect throught the pull that was just sweet to see and hear!)

Go BMR

Personally the G2 stuff is over priced.

I have all BMR and Lakewood stuff on my car

I'd like to second that comment about BMR and Lakewood. Those are the brands for me too. Quality stuff for the right price.

Maybe I misunderstand, but it sounds like your friends are telling you not to strengthen your car because you have T-tops...
Well if that is so, then they are way off base. When you have T-tops it is all the more reason to strengthen your car's structure and suspension because there is less strength to start with in a car with roof modifications. A car that is less rigid will not only handle less consistently, but they also tend to develop creaks and rattles sooner in life. Prevent this by getting your subs first, then proceed to a STB, then go crazy with the rest of your suspension mods.
Good luck
Dave

no the import buddies want 3 point sfc and not 2 pt.......


thats whats goin on


BMR ALL THE WAY

3 pts = More weight and clearance problems

Originally posted by ratio411
3 pts = More weight and clearance problems


ya but i bet they support a tad bit more