ChevyLuva3

Alright greatly considering to mod up my car, this spring. But there is just so many things to do, and I am on a budget, I don't want to be broke. Theres a couple things I'm considering... 1)getting headers, but they are usually overpriced; 2) or getting sub frame connectors, seem to be excellent good price, just don't know which ones to get; 3) or getting aftermarket pulleys, haven't really looked into them (I don't need to take my engine out to change them do I?); 4) or just waiting until when I get a tune-up, and upgrade the ignition, plugs, etc. with aftermarket ones; 5) or lastly a CD player head unit, I still have stock speakers, stock stereo is garbage, I wanna hear my music, my CDs. So whatcha think is the best choice, and most worth my money to buy? Any other advice of different mods? Thanks.

Mark A Shields

I voted headers, as you will see a noticable HP gain. However, when's the last time you did a tune up. There's no reason saving up $60 for plugs and good wires should be hard, or if it is, then get new wires, just not performance ones. New ones are better than old ones as long as the old ones have a lot of miles on them.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

IROCZTWENTYGR8 was here.


Voted Spohn SFC's. I know your car has alot of miles on it and they would be a good idea before adding more power. U should have already had a tune up though.

Mark A Shields

I understand a lot of people are voting for the sub frame connectors and I'm not saying they're a bad idea. But am I missing something, obvisouly my car is putting out more power and about 2 seconds quicker than stock, and it SEEMS to handle good for me. Now is this just because I've never had a car with SFC and know how much they affect the car.

8Mike9

Well, you really should ask "in what order" do these things need to be done.

If it's been awhile or you don't know when the last one was done, first you should do a tuneup. This isn't a mod, but a necessity and part of owning a vehicle, upgrading ignition components to aftermarket, isn't really needed.

SFC's are good for any 3rdgen, Mark ask's "why"..well, start looking closely at 3rdgens, up behind the doors at the top of the roof, many develop stress cracks there. Also, look at fender alignment, many are off..mainly due (IMO) to the twisting/flexing of the body in just normal driving. SFC's should help or stop this. Since eventually you'll want more power, it'd be wise to stiffen the chassis now.


But hey...chicks dig tunes

82camaro

Every thirdgen's first mod should be subframe connectors. I could tell the difference driving around town, in and out of driveways. Driving it hard you can really tell. I had no complaints before I installed them. My complaint after the install was : Why didn't I do this 5 years ago when I bought my car.

ChevyLuva3

As for the tune-up thing, I know its mandatory. But the previous owner said that it would need one in May, but dunno he could have been bull sh!ttin. But since a tune-up is almost considered a mod, I added it, plus I'd upgrade to like digital ignition or whatever like better plugs and stuff. But my car does still seem to be runnin fine, but mpg is bad, but maybe thats my drivin??
--oh btw I have TTops.

ChevyLuva3

BTT

breathment

well, do the headers and plugs etc at the same time, its alot easier

GOLD85

id put a set of gears in. they would make the most differance in perfomance, and they wont brake the bank

ChevyLuva3

I dunno man, I kinda like being at like 2000rpm at 70mph .
Sux I have such small gears tho, I personally thought the 2.77s would be good for gas mileage (guess not), and also good for top end speed. Thanx tho, I'll add it to my possible mod list.

Joel Geerling

I voted for underdrive pulleys. They may only free up a few HP and they may cause charging problems, but those few HP are high-quality and you can't beat revving the engine at a stop light and watching your lights get brighter and then dim again.



Seriously, go with the headers. While you can have somebody weld the SFCs on for you, headers are something you can install yourself. Don't think of it as a long annoying install, think of it as a right of passage. Oh, and headers make your car go faster, SFCs don't (if that matters to you). Do SFCs later, when you run out of mods that get you psych'd for speed, IMHO.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, do all your high power mods 1st and twist your car all up. Thats a good idea.

Put SFC's on before u do things like that. They improve handling and strengthen the car. Handling does have an affect on how fast your car is. A car with T-Tops needs these especially. I have seen the results of others cars with lots of power not having them. U don't want that. Get the SFC's and then I'd get those 2.77's out of there.

Joel Geerling

Hey, lighten up a little.

Really, the guy's got a 230hp engine, a little more power with his mods and after headers... I don't think his frame is in danger of being twisted to shreds just yet. I'm not saying that SFCs aren't a good idea, but let's not have scaremongering about people's cars twisting apart if they don't put on SFCs right away

Then again, you're probably the conservative guy who gets the last laugh while guys like me end up messing something up by jumping in head first.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Yes. The point is to try to help some1, to prevent something from going wrong with their car. With our cars SFC's shoud really be there even if the car has no mods, especially T-Top cars. Its not only high HP that does it, sharp turns don't help either with flexing, they are a must in alot of cases. Then add the fact that his car has high miles. Its a good time to put them on.

ChevyLuva3

Alright I'm probably screwin the headers... maybe I'll get em for graduation. So far I'm looking forward to the SFCs. Just not sure which ones to get. And I'm also thinkin of getting CD player, cuz I aint cant keep poppin in the same tape all the time. And gears is a great idea thanks GOLD85. My 2.77 are rather small. But for the power I have I figured they should be just fine. But I'm curious being that I had 2.77 and not like 3.23 or somthin, that obviously kept my rpms down, like 2000rpm at 70mph. Being that those gears allowed me to drive fast and stay at low rpm, I actually abused the engine much less, and also abused the tranny much less. Because it stayed at a lower rpm, possibly making my engine and tranny very endurant. So my question is this, wouldn't getting bigger gears put A LOT more strain on my engine and tranny, being that for the past 13 years theyve been connected to 2.77s? Because now they will be pushing harder to keep my speed up. BTW, how much top end speed do I lose with bigger gears, is it drastic like 20mph or nothing like 5mph?? Thanks.

NEEDAZ

A tune up isn’t a mod, it is maintenance and if you car needs one do it. Let me say that again, if your car needs a tune up do it. With that said, if you have a hard top get the headers. If you have T-Tops get the Spohn SFC. But before you do any thing, do a good tune up, you don’t know when the last one was done. It is a good idea to get the good stuff when you do the tune up to.

Mark A Shields

Gears I wouldn't think would put a strain on your motor. If anything it might help. If you're only doing 2k rpm at 70 you're not at your HP peak and thus putting strain on the motor. However, if you went with lower gears your rpms would increase more closely to your peak HP. Or am I thinking wrong.

Joel Geerling

I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like you might be concerned about your engine's longevity, with high miles and all -- I think you're right to think that doing your gears would decrease this. For a daily driver car, I don't think sustained highway driving at 3k+ is gonna do your engine much good long-term. At your HP peak, your engine is doing more work per unit time than at, say, 2k... if you have it doing more work all the time, it might not last as long (and yes, you'll lose some top speed, but you have a speed governer anyway, and your highway gas mileage will suffer significantly).

ChevyLuva3

BTW, I have 107,xxx miles on my engine, and tranny, and the whole car pretty much. And it is still running great, very strong, maybe I have to thank my 2.77rear for keeping my car so endurant and healthy.

Gta-Paladin

You must already know that your car isnt the most structurally sound vehichle on the road.. as are all third gens... My l98 creates enough torque stock that i can notice flex on a launch at the track, i put exhaust on and im regretting the sub frames since my car is mint.. If your car is mint get the subframes and preserve whats there.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Yes.

ChevyLuva3

Yeah thanks everybody for all the advice, I WONT be getting headers. I'm gonna start looking more into SFCs! <cheeeer> I still will try to get a CD player, and now the thought of gears have came into mind. Although I may not get bigger gears if my "endurance theory" is correct. And ofcourse I will get a tune-up, like Spring.

--BTW, why exactly Spohn SFCs? I've only heard of them from this site, with their ad on the top. How are they the best compared to others? Convince me Steve

Gta-Paladin

First off the deciding factor in my books is, price to ratings to loyalty ratio. In that i mean, how expensive they are, how good they are, and how highly the consumers think of the product.

FACT, Spohn offers incredibly tech support and stands behind ALL of his work.
FACT, Spohns work is most excellent!
FACT, With the exception of a few rotten apples i think everyone on this board LOVES spohn.
FACT, Spohn is activley involved in the third gen community, trying to cut everyone on in some good deals. Just look at his warehouse order going in.
FACT, All Spohn products are extremely reasonably priced for what they are.
FACT, you should support someone like this, afterall he's one of the main reasons we have a site like this (Dirk you're great too).


Fact, what are you waiting for?

ChevyLuva3

Fact? Looks more like a question to me.
What am I waiting for? Warmth!

Gta-Paladin

everyone orders in the spring, spohn products will have a 2 week backorder by then

ChevyLuva3

Hmmm... I'll consider that thanx

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

I agree, Spohn is probably the best. Ask this on the Suspension board and thats the answer you'll get from people with them or have had other brands too.

Gta-Paladin

Irocztwenty im quitting the boards, any time anyone asks for me you can answer!
Then you can go on a board vacation and we'll switch in 6 months

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

LOL.

SFC's as I see u know, are important. The more people u can get to realize this the better for them and their cars.

89_RS_Mike

Just to let you know gears for a 9 bolt are expensive $300 and I have only found one place to get them.