10.90streetcar

I just bought a 2002 T/A with an automatic. It will be my wifes daily driver. It is complety stock and was wondeing what would be some simple mods to do. Like maybe a K&N air filter and maybe a 160* stat. But dont really know what else to do. Im not wanting to make it really fast, Just gain a few Simple HP if possible. Also the owners manule says to run 91 octane. Is that really nessasery. Here are a couple of PICS

camaroz28_97

cat back, air lid, 12 bolt ( becasue the 10 bolt is crap ), shift kit short or mid headers

9T8W66

If you don't run premium it will run like Crap.
And an Air lid + K&N and a good catback exhaust should be enough for now.

Eric @ DMS

To start...definitely an air lid, followed by a catback (for performance). For suspension...SFCs first!

10.90streetcar

The dealer I bought the car from filled the tank for me so I dont know what they used. I doubt it was 91 but the car seems to run ok.

Plague

From the owners manual for an 02 Firebird, you can use 87 but will suffer perfomance loss. so yes, you can, but I am sticking with Premium. Really, it is like 20 cents more than regular. at a 13 gallan fill, that is all of 2.60 cents more. Not too bad in my opinion.

Plague

Also, for the F-Body ethusiast newbie (me), what is the 12 bolt you are speaking of.

DanBUCF

12 bolt = much stronger rear end.

darrens99formul

Nice looking car

Do NOT get a 12 bolt rear end. Usually I would recommend it but in this case it would be a couple grand wasted. Automatics on street tires with minor mods have zero chance of breaking the stock 10 bolt rear end. If you ever put heavy suspension mods, lots-0-HP mods and run slicks in the back, then you should consider the investment. But until then just keep the stock rear end and you'll be just fine.

My recommendations for minor mods are:

1). Lid
2). Catback
3). SSRA ram air kit or FTRA
4). SFC
5). 3.73 gears if you have 2.73 (GU2 code) but stay with 3.23's if you have them (GU5 code).

If you want to keep it simple and inexpensive then you can stop there. If however you/she decides you want a little more grunt off the line then you can pick up a TCI 3000 torque converter with tranny cooler for about $500 and you still will be plenty streetable, lose the dead spots and still be fine on the stock 10 bolt.

Grats on the wifes new ride and good luck.

10.90streetcar

I know all about the rear end. I have a 3rd gen Camaro that runs 10.02 @ 133. That car started breaking rears at the mid 11s with 1.54 60ft times. So the 10 bolts are stronger than most give credit for.
However I am new to the ls1 and will do just a few mods .
1. LID Yes
2. Maybe a Cat Back
3. What is SSRA ram air kit or FTRA
4. SFC are a maybe
5. Has 2.73 dont think ill change them yet
6. What about a Mass airflow sensor?
7. What about an 80 MM Throttle Body?
10.02 @ 133

camaroz28_97

I was kinda jokeing aobut the 12 bolt but if i where you and i had the extra cash i would probably throw one in anyway. I blew my 10 bolt twice since i had my car but i do have an M6. The 10 bolt is very weak, some say no but look how many people have blown them up on on a stack TL1. Do some searches and you will learn alot about your car, what mods are right for YOU and what are the parts that break alot.

D James

I run 87 in mine for daily driving, and it runs fine, yes it suffers performance and i don't reccomend driving it like a madman with 87, but its good for daily commutes. Play around with it, if its to hot maybe higher octane will run better. Also the gas tank holds 16.5 at least for my 01. That works out to be 3.30 more per tank, so you will loose almost two galons of gas per tank, or I should say you could get almost 2 more gallons with that money, depending on how much your gas is. If its only a weekend driver, then might as well go 91 or higher but for a daily driver I'd stick with 87 if your not gunning it everywhere.

As far as modes I would get a lid for sure, maybe one of those cold air units, unless you plan on upgrading to a new hood with ram air. I wouldn't get a K&N, they haven't been proven to produce anymore horsepower over a paper filter, even if they do give 2 more horses, it isn't worth the 50-60 bucks that it costs. I like the idea of 342 or 373 gears, they make a good difference especially for that auto. Its very easy to find used stock 342 geared rears. Hell if I wasn't so far I'd sell you my for 200, so I'm sure there are others that are just as willing., torque convertor and trans cooler would be a good option as well. Id also consider some mid length or full length longtubes and a cutout, this way she can close off the sound when she wants it quiet, and the cutout will give her as much or better power than a catback.

darrens99formul

Catbacks usually open up 7-12 rwhp but more importantly they make the cars sound so much better. If cost is an issue you can just do the dynomouth setup. You buy a 12" bullet race muffler for $40 and pay an exhaust shop $100 to remove the muffler, fab a pipe where the muffler used to be and weld the bullet muffler in the I-pipe. This makes the car sound deep, mean and adds around 8 rwhp for $140.

SSRA = super sucker ram air

FTRA = fast toys ram air

They are both nice ram air kits for those of us who didn't get a WS6 or buy a functional RA hood. They attatch under the airbox and bring cooler air in which of course creates more HP. The FTRA draws the air from the front of the radiator while the SSRA brings the air in from outside the car (just under the front bumper). They add 8-10 rwhp when traveling at speeds of 45+.

MAF is a waste IMO. Throttle body will give you a few HP and so will a ASP underdrive pulley. After that you really would need to look at gears, torque converters or LT headers for more "noticeable gains". I drove a friends Z28 with a TCI 3000 stall torque converter in it and I immediately bought a TCI 3500 for my car. If you only do one mod it should be a torque converter with tranny cooler. It's a night and day difference. But since it's your wifes car maybe not.

If she ever complains about how "slow" the car is at 30-45 mph when you gun it then tell her a 2800-3200 stall TC will fix that right up. If you stay in the 3000 stall range she wouldn't even know it's there until she goes WOT.

Good Luck