bytal

i got myself an xmas bonus and time to spend some of it.. i'm wondering what best bang for my buck would be for around $200. asides from a dynomax exhaust, my car is stock. Many will say k&n filter, ignition coil and an air foil, but others say that such mods are rather a "plecebo" horsepower... imaginary. not noticable gains... would a pair of headers or rocker arms be a better bet?

GKK

For $200 I would First get either the Spohn or Alston subframe connectors unless you already have them. Headers will cost way over $200 especially if they're ceramic or Jet-Hot coated.

3rdGenBlackBird

Yeah get some subframe connectors.

If you can get good headers for 200, go for it. That, or a new cam would probably get you the most power. Or perhaps some new sticky rear tires?


Laters.

MdFormula350

suframe connectors would be good, but need a welder most likely.

umm maybe a nice set of lower control arms, new poly tranny mount.

MrDude_1

what aspect of the car are you currently working on?

$200 can

help you get a lil better launch.. rear suspension pieces

more "pep" off the line -- gears

more power -- cam

lil better steering/suspension movement with poly pieces


or you could just find the few tiny things that bug you about the car and fix them... like if a power window switch is annoying at times, get a new one... or your coolent tank looks too yellow to you... or if you wanted a new bowtie grill.... ect..


you have to kinda narrow down what your plans are for the car...
if you have a well thought out plan, you end up not needing to ask questions because you already have a list to choose from.. (and the list usually keeps growing hehe)

bytal

well i wanted a little bit more power... i'm holding off on getting subframe connectors becuase i have a couple friends who are machinists/welders and they are in the process of copying a pair of them now... once they try out their ones that they made at work, if they work good, i'll get just get a pair off of them, cuz if you get the right material and the right sizes and stuff, shouldnt be too hard to duplicate a pair... i dunno

MrDude_1

ok..

well you could get a set of uncoated headers... or install a new cam... thoes are my two top choices...

and if you can scrounge together the tools and abrasives, you might as well port out your intake manifold while you have it off.... wont be nearly as good as swapping to a LT1 intake, or aftermarket stuff, but it will help some.... and its somthing cheap to do

omcrider

If your bone stock for $200 go with a K&N filter and a decent exhaust. Opens up both ends slightly but you will be happy with the difference in feel and sound.

MrDude_1

id like to point out, that contrary to what most people seem to do...

headers give a better power increase then catback...

..its just that alot of people would rather have minimal power increase and the sound then have headers and still have the stock catback.

omcrider

Mr. Dude you are correct but he is getting neither complete catback or headers for $200. You may be able to find a cheap set of headers without Y pipe, but without the Y-pipe there won't be much gain the stock Y's have quite a bit of restriction.

TPI-Formula350-

get a set of headers next. you might want to get alittle more money together and get a good set.

OMINOUS_87

She was about 5'6", wavvy red hair, tight all around, with silicon.

Sorry, dont ban me, I couldnt help myself!

Tom91RS

I am kinda new to this so no negative comments.

When you talk about adding the K&N filter are talking simply take out stock type air filter and replace with K&N or do I have to change the air cleaner set up.

I have already cut the snorkel back close to the air cleaner and re attached the plastic intake hose which really opened the air flow and also added test pipe and flow master.

omcrider

Yes you just remove stock air cleaner and drop in the new one! Easiest mod in the book.

Tom91RS

I wasn't sure, sounded too easy. The K&N's must be very different in design

Thanks for the info

omcrider

It will be the same shape and size as your stock paper filter, there just made with much better material designed to flow more air, last longer, and be servicable (cleaned).

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

Looks like you are just starting out on your mods. I agree with the above on the exhaust system as a fist step. K&N air filter would not hurt either. Back to the exhaust one of the worst restrictions is at the "Y" where the two pipes come together. Just not a good design. I would get that squared away for a good flow. Then later on a good set of headers and then a 3" cat back. Then you can move on to the intake side like a cold air intake box. This way you will see the most gains from each mod.
If you do the intake first then the flow out the exhaust will be the restriction and you will not see the gains that you would with a free flowing exhaust. Allen.

no1kicker

how bout a set of pulleys and gears.

pre

Sweet how about straight blond hair though.

I would suggest gears like 3.42 or KN with new ignition wires and coil.

Wait to get a good set of headers and Y pipe.

He already mentioned he has dynomax exhaust!!!!!!!!!

bytal

thanks for all the advice guys... maybe for now I'll just throw the money into getting my RRSP's started... everytime I go to the bank they bitch at me about opening my RRSP.. think about retirement,,, i guess when i'm old this way i can still have a wicked car or too. My car is gonna be uninsured until May anyways so maybe i'll just hold off until then, I've already got a couple little things to do anyways. give her a good cleaning inside, find a couple interior replacement pieces... also one of my friends said a decent relatively cheap mod is a fuel pressure regulator... anyone have any suggestion as to who's is better? bbk or crane? becuase my friend is planning on getting one and he wants to know... thanks

Kontrax

sub frames. hands down

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

:hail:

Yup!

Ominous, you da man!

3.1EyeCandy

iTrader: (3)

sub frames should be the first mod on ANY THIRDGEN regardless of engine size, transmission selection, or condition of vehicle.

Kontrax

i strongly agree

bytal

well i found what i'm getting... i think.. on a local board found a pair of used kinda rusty edelbrock shorty headers for $100, gonna check em out on thursday, if they're good, gonna get em, sand blast em, clean em up pretty good.... if everything works out fine, hopefully i can get the ceramic coated. my buddy knows a place that ceramic coated a pair of headers for 50 bucks... and if the headers are crap. i'll get subframe connectors

formula350sd

iTrader: (2)

Personally i would go through the car and replace all the stupid stuff as our cars are getting older alot are falling out of sevice so as always a good first thing to do is plugs wires a cap and rotor and o2 sensor just replaceable silly parts but they are all key to it working properly

bytal

could do that too.. car isnt getting insured until may anyways. so i got 4 months to get her road ready... but i'd rather pay 100 for a used pair of headers n fix em up rather than pay like 350 or for a new pair later on

bytal

well picked up the headers last night... theres only abit of surface rust on them, so after a acid bath at my friends radiator garage and a good sandblasting and header painting, should be almost as good as new. plus i got my tax return comming back in a couple months, should be about 700 bucks or so. fix all those little silly things thanks guys

A88GTANotchback

Lucky guy. thats a good buy.

AJ_92RS

Ya know......

I forgot her name.