First Mod: Intake or Exhaust?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 69
From: Winnipeg, Canada
First Mod: Intake or Exhaust?
I'll be getting an LT1 F-Body in the next month or two, and i was just wondering for a first mod, what would yield more gains. An intake, or a cat back exhaust. I'll kind of be on a bit of a budget for mods, as i'm only 18, and this will be my first car, which i'd like to add, i'm buying myself. I'll also most likly be making some free mods to it, as well as swaping in some 3.73 gears. But anyways, if someone could answer my first, that would be great. Thanks.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,628
From: Pgh, PA
Cold air intake. Doesnt matter too much which brand, jsut try to get one with the Big K&N filter. I dont know what all brands have that filter, but im SURE the FIPK from K&N has it, as well as the Lingenfelter Cold Air Intake. I got the lingenfelter, worth every penny as far as im concerned. Did make a step on the pedal difference.
Get a M6 if you can, you'll get bored with an auto I think. Drive it around for a while and get the feel for a RWD car before you go flooring it and stuff. And the first time you drive it in the rain/snow, find a parking lot and get afeel for it when its wet. RWD is AWESOME, BUT you gotta learn to drive it somewher safe before you go flooring it on the street and wrap it around a pole. You gotta learn to respect the car for what it is. And NO im not some old guy lecturing you. Im 17 lol. I bought mine totaled, rebuilt it, and know how much my car means to me, I dont wanna see anyone totaling a car cause theyre not used to RWD and arent thinking. And if your friends tell you to punch it to see what it can do, DONT do it without making sure you can safely ...
Get a M6 if you can, you'll get bored with an auto I think. Drive it around for a while and get the feel for a RWD car before you go flooring it and stuff. And the first time you drive it in the rain/snow, find a parking lot and get afeel for it when its wet. RWD is AWESOME, BUT you gotta learn to drive it somewher safe before you go flooring it on the street and wrap it around a pole. You gotta learn to respect the car for what it is. And NO im not some old guy lecturing you. Im 17 lol. I bought mine totaled, rebuilt it, and know how much my car means to me, I dont wanna see anyone totaling a car cause theyre not used to RWD and arent thinking. And if your friends tell you to punch it to see what it can do, DONT do it without making sure you can safely ...
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 69
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Yeah i'll definalty be careful with the car, get used to RWD, and the power, not show off or anything. I''m gonna get some winter tires for it, since the snow here gets pretty bad. Also how much of a differance willl the 3.73's make in my 1/4 mile time, i've heard they can make a few tenths differance, and will i need to do any reprogramming for the 3.73's.
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my first mods to my car were a cold air intake, borla cat back and 373's . but the biggest gains would be with a set of long tubes. headers really wake these cars up.i dropped 6 tenths with my hookers. save up, do your exhaust first. lt1 love to breath
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,628
From: Pgh, PA
97 ANN. Z is rite, Long tubes will make the biggest difference, I jsut was thinking that a CAI is cheaper so it would make a nice first mod. Long Tube headers are a pain in the *** to put on on these cars, Thats what im saving for now though 
Jet Hot long tubes, emssions legal ones 
As for gears, If you swap out the rear end gears, it will screw up your speedometer, But thats the only thing that is effected. Im not sure how much of a difference it will make in a 1/4. If its on an Auto, there was a debate about this a few weeks ago and they said the best gears were 3.73's. If you get a manual, im not sure what gears would be the best though... Maybe make a new thread about gears and see what some of the people have gained from it in the 1/4 and what gears they used, if its an M6 or auto too ...
If you get an auto, another major mod that will make a big difference is an after market stall converter
Jet Hot long tubes, emssions legal ones As for gears, If you swap out the rear end gears, it will screw up your speedometer, But thats the only thing that is effected. Im not sure how much of a difference it will make in a 1/4. If its on an Auto, there was a debate about this a few weeks ago and they said the best gears were 3.73's. If you get a manual, im not sure what gears would be the best though... Maybe make a new thread about gears and see what some of the people have gained from it in the 1/4 and what gears they used, if its an M6 or auto too ...
If you get an auto, another major mod that will make a big difference is an after market stall converter
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,620
From: Saginaw, Michigan
My opinion? CAI first. I personally like the K&N FIPK because it's plastic and won't heat soak as much as a metal one.
Exhaust adds up quickly, but gives great gains too.
I think 5-7 rwhp is about right for a CAI.
10-12 rwhp for a good catback
Another 15-25 rwhp for headers on top of all that.
Dan
Exhaust adds up quickly, but gives great gains too.
I think 5-7 rwhp is about right for a CAI.
10-12 rwhp for a good catback
Another 15-25 rwhp for headers on top of all that.
Dan
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 92
From: Elkins Park, PA
I got an airfoil for you. I took it off of my 95 when I put my Holley 52mm tb. I will sell it to you for $25 shipped if you are interested. I also have a Hypertech power programmer, Borla 2 3/4" y pipe w/ high flow cat for sale too. Also have 3.42 gears. Let me know if you are interested in anything
