...if this was your car?

eBay Motors: Pontiac : Trans Am (item 4643106245 end time May-25-06 14:46:15 PDT)

I've been waiting since June to ask this question, mostly because I'm female, but even worse, because I know very little about cars. All I know is that I love my new girl probably more than I love my fiance! Lol!

This week, I'm putting in a Borla performance exhaust system (okay, I am paying a custom shop to do it for me, but you get the idea). They are scrapping the converter and welding a stainless steel (3") straight pipe from the headers back to the muffler. It will Y into a dual-pipe system out the rear into dual tips on each side.

I'd like to make this car as aesthetically pleasing as possible, keeping in mind (some) authenticy, but I certainly wouldn't mind waking her up a little. I hope you guys might be willing to help me with your expertise and creativity. My fiance is a vette fanatic and does not appreciate my passion for these cars.

Needless to write, I desperately need your help. Please, any ideas? I think the next thing that has got to get an upgrade is the audio system, but that's another day and entirely a different topic. Lol! Hey, thanks in advance...

 

Does it really already have headers, or were you using that term generically?

If it's all the stock exhaust, then get headers while you're at it. Other than that, subframe connector are always a good first mod, especially with a T-top car.

(Just curious, how'd you get it without bidding on it?)

 

You are starting with the exhaust. Good! Next, you need to open up the intake side. Do alot of searches on K&N air cleaners with a cold air kit. You will be surprised how the car wakes up....

 

It really has headers, long (I think) though I couldn't tell you if they're Edelbrock, Hedmans, or Pacesetters, but they're definitely not Borla or stainless steel. I'm half-tempted to change the headers, too.

You're quite astute, as I never bid on the car. I saw her, fell madly in love, called the dude up and wired a check over and above the buy-now price. The auction ended early.

My favourite years, though, are 1985-1990 and I think its the ground effects that turns me on, so I almost wish I had held out for those years. It was difficult to find one in good shape, at least during that time when I had money burning a hole in my pocket.

 

Is this written in English!? Lol... I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about (I warned you). Okay, Pinky, I did as suggested and looked up K&N air cleaners with a cold air kit. This is what I found:
K&N Cold Air Intakes - Leader in Performance Air Intake Technology
Is this what you're talking about? This is cool! I'm so excited! What a simple fix! I couldn't find the cold air kits you were talking about. Can you help me out with that, too?

This is what I'm talking about! Thanks so much for your advice! LOVE IT!!!

 

Go here.... SLP Performance Parts, Inc.

Look up your year of car and click on induction. The K&N air filter will come with most cold air kits. Intake runners are another good item. Basically, your exhaust work will allow the engine to get rid of the spent fumes faster. Now, work on the intake side to get as much air as possible into the engine. The computer will respond by putting in more fuel and you will make more power!!

 

Nice car. You should get some jet hot coated hooker 2055's to go with that borla. Also get the kn cold air. Also make sure you get some subframe connectors prefereably weld ons as they greatly increase the handling of the vehicle. Also welcome to the board!

 

Thank you Pinky! I know it's been a little while since you posted the suggestion to add the K&N air filter, and I'm sorry I'm late replying, but I did exactly as you wrote and wanted to write to tell you about the results.

I thought she sounded nice with the Borla, but this is ridiculous! Thank you! I'm getting a lot of compliments. I pulled into the gas station this morning and two different guys approached me to ask about my car. Lol! I imagine it's not too often a girl can impress a guy with a car, but it does happen. Thanks for your help, Pinky!
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Huh?

Thanks for the welcome, CrazyBear.

 

Subframe Connectors ( Bassicly self explanitory) Its a Reinforcement structure that go's from the front subframe And in most cases to the lower control arm mount in the back of the car( Under your floor). They stiffen up the chassis of the car ( Makes it handle better, feel tighter, Handle more power, And if it squeaks and groans ( Theres GM for you) It May help with that.

 

Do you happen to know if any of the GTAs with the WS6 suspension package came with this modification already built-in? Is there a way to tell if I've got a "subframe connector" already? The car handles like its on rails, so I'm suspecting the chassis has already been stiffened, but I'm not sure, of course, about anything. Thanks for any help.

 

No they dont come from the factory, maybe on a firehawk but im not sure


You can just look under your car hopefully i can get a picture of a normal floorboard in a few mins for you

 

Would you really!? That would be awesome! Wow! Thanks!

 

Tell you what i can promise one for you tomorow Ill take one before i head of to School in the morning and send it to my email hope fully itll be light enough out

 

That's really kind of you to offer, but I think I finally figured out what you are talking about. Hey, I found this link: http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/in...ROD&ProdID=858

Is that the one I should put on her, you think? I want the best because my fiance is really irritating me because he thinks Firebirds are junk. I can appreciate a nice vette, but my car is not a piece of junk just because she's a GTA. By the time I'm done with her, I'll take his vette into the ground. He thinks I'm joking. Of course I'll probably be flat broke, but I'll beat him till he succombs to the knowledge my car is not junk.

Thanks for your help.

 

It really depends, Alot of people Recommend alot of different Brands

Although from what ive seen SPOHN Weld in's are the on a sponser here and are top rated

Those will work just fine and are easy and will bolt in, Although its best to get them welded in After

I believe there are a few threads discussing this in the suspension/chassis board you may try searching but all the people i have seen install them say it makes a major differance in stiffness and feel of the car if you got the cash go for it.

On another note to blow his doors of ( depends on the vette i suppose) l98(350) i take it? Id check out FIRST Injections intake manifold ( 900 bucks unpainted). This intake is said to keep up with the Superram, and the stealthram ( Not sure if you know what they are) And retains the stock look. www.firstinjections.com ( check it out).

That Since you have a open exhaust will make a nice differance and set you up for future mods In my opinion If you have the money, Grab a Set of cheap but good heads or have your stock heads ported, Throw the FIRST setup on there with a little bit of porting and put maybe 100 shot of nitrous and i bet unless its a newer Vette you would be able to blow the doors of your husbands car, Depending if he has modded it or not.

Hopefully i havent packed your brain with to much info at this point, But feel free to Ask any questions, These guys on this board really know what there doing so You could always make a different thread in TPI and rely on a few people who have modded theres up to show you a way to destroy a vette.

 

Hey congrats on getting a third gen! From the pics I'd say that the car looks to be in great shape.

I know that there's a lot to learn about modding these cars, and the truth is that it takes a LOT of mods and money to ever make a 5.0 engine fast enough to compete with a Vette, so I think that you should not make that be your goal. Still they can be pretty quick, and a lot of fun to drive!

If it were my car I'd try to get a little more air/fuel mixture into and out of the cylinders, the cheap and easy way. Put some 1.6 ratio rocker arms on the heads. That will lift the valves open a little further to improve the goesinta/goesouta (intake/exhaust) part. You could add Nitrous too, and it would be pretty fast then, but I think that you should go one step at a time with this.

It sounds like you already have the exhaust system covered, and the K&N's are a good thing too.

Rocker arms are something that a mechanic would have to install for you at this point since adjusting valves is probably a bit much for someone who's not done much engine work.

Here's a link to show you what I'm talking about:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

I think your man needs to get his head straight and appreciate your passion for cars(NO MATTER WHAT MODEL IT IS). Sorry had to vent a little. Nice ride by the way.
My vote is for full exhaust & SLP cold air kit(I like the dual air filter look) and all spohn suspension upgrades. Your 305 won't out run his chevette, but it will sound better and handle better. Thats were I would start. -Nick.

 

Hey Hionspeed, nice 91 GTA. There are tons of mods to wake your car up. You can check my sig for some of the mods I've done to my 91. There are a few cheap/free mods you can do to your car. Probably the biggest bang for the buck (other than nitrous) would be a quality torque convertor.

Your car came with 2.73 gears from the factory, I would upgrade to 3.42s. You will love the improvement in performance but you may have to put up with a bit of gear whine. Installing a cold air induction system will net you two tenths or more in the quarter mile. I bought mine from Thirdgen Resource (now Fbody Motorsports). A lot of people on here have had problems buying stuff from them though, you might be able to build your own.

http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/inc/sdetail/1760