Does anyone know whether a Hypertech Power Programmer for a 3800 II is worth the money? Is there any noticable difference in performance from stock, and with modified intake and exhaust?

 

The HPP units don't have a good reputation for producing the gains that they advertise.

 

While they do not provide the gains they advertise, there is some gain especially for automatic equipped cars as it firms up shifts etc. Also, the programmer allows you to recalibrate the speedo for gear changes and also to turn your cooling fans on sooner. Those are both valuable features.

 

While those features you mentioned are beneficial, I still don't think they justify the cost of the device. Especially considering a tuner out there can do those same things for half the cost.

 

Moot point really since Hypertech doesn't make one for his '98.

Go with Texas-Speed or PCMforLess mail-order tuning.