As stated in the Subject line... what are the best mod's to perform that do not cost thousands of dollars... somthing I can do say for about $500.

I have already completed all of the free mods and some other of the regulars like Lid and Filter, cat back, as well as the whole suspension minus SFC's. What I am looking for is somthing that will give me a little more power without killing the street ability... I would like to do cam and headders but with the wife still in school for one more year and I do not have tons of $$ to throw around. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

Well I would say finish off the exahust with a budget set of headers and Y-pipe then when you want to do the cam you have that part all done. Goog luck

 

how bout a set of underdrive pullies, maybe a ported tb.

how bout gears?

computer tune to maximize the fuel curve.

 

tuning and a ASP pulley would be my suggestion

 

What kind of gains do you guys see with an underdrive pulley? and the ASP Harmonic Balancer Crank Pulley?

 

oh another thought would be the new electric waterpumps. thunder racing has them i beleive.

for a little over $500 you could do 1.8 roller rockers and the required valve springs. i was priciing them out, and to buy the rockers and sping kit, plus the spring compresser..will run you about $600.

problem is that you can't run those with most aftermarket cams...

 

Ofcourse if you dont have them yet a set of tires like a nitto Drag Radial would give you of a more performance increase than anything else.

ASP Pulleys <--- Must have mod defintly worth the money
Pacesetter headers <--- very inexpensive like 260 uncoated (350 coated) but headers give very nice gains.
FTRA or other ram air <--- These have been shown also to give 1 tenth + gain and 1-2 mph in the 1/4

As stated above a set of nittos would really do the most I if you already dont have a sticky tire)

 

As for the electric waterpumps.. I had one on my LT1. I will never get one again.. OMG they didnt flow what I needed..

At IDLE they do out flow the stock, but under extended high load (highway cruising) it simply couldnt flow enough and the car would just get hotter and hotter.

 

i know you said you have the "small stuff" done already...

but have you put a lower thermostat on?

how bout gutting the cats?

 

Thanks for all of the advice I only have a few more Q's though.

As far as the computer tune.. what kind is the best kind to go for.. I have seen the do it yourself Hypertech Hand held Power Programers out there... but the I have noticed that several people get them tuned at various companies/shops. Which is the better way to go? When I get the computer tuned I will be installing a 160 degree thermostat.

Final question is about the ASP pulley. Looking at the room I have under my car do you have to drop the radiator out to install the new ballancer? Also what other pulleys do most other replace? Alternator, Water Pump?

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

i would go with something like www.pcmforless.com or something from one of the vendors, or madwolf

hypertech is crap...specially on lightly modded cars...lot of guys lose hp from them.

as for the pulley. the asp is only the crank. it is a pulley and balancer in one, not a piggyback like on the LT1. i think you can buy a pulley for your alt. in case you run a big stereo

you don't need to remove anything to install it...other than the pulley

check out my webpage, on page 2 i have a liink to a "how-to" with pics and i aslo have pics on my page

 

I'd personally shy away from the Hypertech, but a low temp thermostat and a manual fan switch will make a difference. When I had my 97 Z28 I changed to 3.73 gears (another GREAT bang for the buck mod....under $600 for everything if you install them yourself.) Anyhow, I had an auto trans, so I got the Hypertech and thermostat with the gears. Afterwards, I tried different computer tuning variables at the dragstrip. What I found out was that the computer program for the Hypertech netted absolutely no gain in trap speed or 1/4 mile ET. Resetting the cooling fans to run at a lower temp DID net a consistent .2 increase in ET and +2 MPH. I'm fairly confident that the LS1 engine would respond in a similiar fashion.

So...... I'd personally recommend the low temp thermostat and the manual fan switch.

If you do your own installs....headers or taller gears (depending what you already have) would yeild the biggest gains that can actually be felt. Always a plus when spending your $$

Good luck whatever option you choose.

Schantin
2002 Camaro Z28 M6

 

I have my GMMG cat-back on order and also a lid. Thinking about getting headers installed by fall this year. And a Comp cam for a winter project for next winter. Everything else is pretty much stock on my '98 Z28. Any thoughts or suggestions? Would I need computer tuning for all of it?

 

stealth...

you wont NEED a tune untill after the cam install

you MAY benefit from a tune, tweaked a/f ratios and things liek that...but it isn't requered for just exhaust and intake

 

Thanks Teke........not sure if there if anyone I know who could do that or has the tech. to do it anyway. Would a GM dealer do it? The computer stuff really makes me nervous. They are so sensitive and exspenive. Thanks again Teke for the info.