Just got a sweet looking red, 1987 GTA Trans Am, with less than 35000 miles on it. Its got the 5.7L 350 V8, which correct me if i;m wrong was standard for GTAs.

Anyways the car is stock, which gives me the opportunity to work with it, and learn alot about cars. I think the car is between 225HP to 240HP stock, i get different replies.

Plans for the Fall, and Winter, since it will be garaged kept, AWAY FROM SNOW!

What u think of this planned setup, starting from getting the first to last thing.

Cat-Back Exhaust
Headers with Y-pipe and Hi-Flow cat
SLP Cold Air Induction
52mm Throttle Body
Siamesing Intake Runners
160 Thermostat
Performance Chip

I'm hoping i can get this stuff done before next summer, cause of money, and of course i have payments for the car now

So how much performance increase we talking here, my guess is anywhere from 50-100HP increase. What u guys think? Maybe some other "must do" mods that i'm missing that u guys can tell me, thanks!

 

i say that's a good start for modifications...however i think the 50-100 hp is, shall we say, very optimistic. I don't know too much about GTAs and what numbers they run stock (HP/TQ), so you should wait for someone more knowledgable than me. Other things you should look into is possibly a new rear end and suspension work if you are considering putting some more power in it. Either way, welcome to the boards, and i'm sure you'll soon find lots of ways to spend your money

 

well.. the performance chip should be a custom burned one..
and if u don't have emissions laws, remove all that crap. and u shuld think about replacing some engine internals.. Cam lifters etc..

just research everythign before doing it, if u want real power you'l stay away from some of the "popular" stuff. like flowmaster and crappy 'performance' chips etc..

SLP is a good brand for exhaust all the way back. and i would make my own cold air intake, the SLP CAI is kinda a waste of money since it just replaces half of what u already have..

 

Hey thanks, feels great finally getting my dream car. Been waiting 2 years! Anyways as far as how much power im shooting at, well this is what i prefer.

Primary goal - At least faster than say...stock GTPs and Mustang GTs

Secondary goal - If its reachable, to be very close or at speeds of new LS1 F-bodies.

Thats it, i'm not a guy who wants a 10 sec monster, i just want to be at where people who pull up next to me thinking they can smoke me with there new LT1 engine cause i have a 3rd gen F-body, and all of a sudden we gun, and guess what, that LT1 guy beside me aint feeling to lucky.

 

Hey breathment, u basically have the same car i just bought, looks good. I see the mods u put, those are some i wanna do, what kind of performance have u gained so far from stock to where u at now?

 

headers definatley gave me the best performance gain, however they did take some of my low end torque, but more then made up for it in high end HP... u will notice he biggest increase in power doing all he exhaust... porting the intake made throttle response more stappy too!

oh, and if u want more info on GTA's visit frankie rider's awsome website. www.gtasourcepage.com

 

My guess is that you'll get 40-50 horsepower at most. First of all, you can't siamese the stock runners without much cutting and welding. Secondly, a boxed performance chip and the thermostat are not really going to help much at all, unless the chip is custom. I wouldn't run a lower thermostat unless you're car is getting too hot. A larger throttle body is unneccesary. For the cost of that 52mm tb you could buy a new camshaft and all the tools you need to install it, or have your headers ceramic coated. The cold air is a good idea, since your stock intake is pretty restrictive. That alone could be as advantageous as half of the exhaust, and definitely moreso than anything else.

 

yes Cat-Back Exhaust
yes Headers with Y-pipe and Hi-Flow cat
no SLP Cold Air Induction
no 52mm Throttle Body
no Siamesing Intake Runners
no 160 Thermostat
no Performance Chip

Here's a new list for you

Do the exhaust and get the headers ceramic coated
Welded in subframe connectors
Strut tower bay brace
K&N Filter
Make your own cold air intake or cut out holes in air cannister
Port your plenum
(take out the ridge right behind the throttle body)
Adjustable Fuel Pressure regulater
Corvette Servo


The stock injectors in our cars suck (IMHO) so start looking for new injectors. When the time comes to replace them get SVO 24lb injectors then get a new chip at that time.

Mustangs should't be a problem but LS1's will take a bit more.

 

You should pull off the heads and port them out, also siamese you base and get some SLP runners and siames those a little more than they are. Also you will want an AFPR and just buy the stuff to tune you own proms. Also something that is VERY important if you want to keep that car as sweet as it is subfram connectors. I would do that first, make sure you get them done that way.

 

and u also need to think if u want more high end HP or low end torque. these cars came with an awsome 330 ft lbs of torque. And alot of those mods will change that around, lowering low end torque, but more then making up for it in higher end torque. Also, as 91'firebrd was saying, your gonna need to stregthen up a few things to help put that power to he pavement and stop stressing ur body more then it already is with that 350 under the hood..

 

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I was thinking of strut tower bay brace, just i didnt think i would need it so soon, still, it can only help, so why not.

Well i like torque, and would hate to lose it on the low end, but i'm still getting headers, ceramic coated for sure. Overall a whole new exhaust system would be alot better than stock.

Dont get SLP cold air induction? Do they suck? Other than money whats the difference between home made ones. (and how would u "home make" it yourself)?
And when u say K&N filter u mean just the filter, still keeping the stock air box?

Siamesing runners, whats wrong with that idea? How about i just some SLP Long Tube Intake Runners?

52mm throttle body waste of money? Well i see that SLP has this thing called a High Flow Booster that give 5-7HP, and i think it goes into your stock throttle body.

Should i just leave my thermostat alone, maybe a 180 would be better than a 160?

Anyways for this year i wanna focus on just bolt-ons, no serious engine work yet....


And again, primary goal is to beat those Mustangs, if i'm at that level i will be very happy. LS1? hmm...maybe next year

 

the slp CAI doesn't suck, its just not worth the $$. do a search on Cold air intake and see wut comes up, there are many great designs that are just as good, if not better then SLP that u can build using PVC pipe and such for about $20

Get rid of the air box, u can take it off and mount the K&N filter directly to the intake hose. I can get u a picture if u need.

There is nothing wrong with the idea, its just not possible to siamese the stock intake runners, since they are seperate tubes, however u can siamese parts on them, near the ends, there was someone who attempted to siamese the stock runners by cutting them and welding on some pieces, looked pretty good. but probably takes alot of work\skill. The SLP runners might be a good idea, or you might do a search for MiniRam and SuperRam, also take a look at the TPI board at Holleys new StealthRam.

While $300 might be better spent on somethign else besides a T.B.. If you DO have the $$. upgrading the stock T.B. is a good idea in my opinion, especialy when\if you do start making alot of high end H.P. so if u have alot of money, then go ahead and get the 52mm.. if not its not that important yet. And as far as the "high flow booster" aka air foil. it goes between the two holes in the throttle body and is supposed to help air flow. and what SLP doesn't tell you, is the 5-7HP gain is on a 400HP engine... Its been proven that it does pretty much nothing on a stock engine..

A 180 would be the best unless u reprogram the PROM for the 160... Cause 160* is a little too low, especialy in the winter..

Good luck. and enjoy ur GTA, they truely are awsome cars..
Also, are u planning on any suspenion mods?

 

Alot of info there, thanks.

$20 for cold induction? Wow if i can do that and get the same performance that why not, save $180, and put that towards headers.

I think i might know what u mean with the K&N, but if u can get me the pic that would be great. Any good performance increase in that?

SLP runners seem like the best choice for me, maybe i might change my mind later. Heres what i saw about these siamesing runners, go here and scroll all the way down to the bottom: http://www.thunderracing.com/index.c...ategoryid=1125

Well considering i wont reaching 400HP any time soon, that flow booster might not be worth it. I think when i get all these bolt-ons, then in the end of the year, before next summer i;ll get the 52mm throttle body, when my car is running stronger.

This car is not gonna see snow, so i dont have to worry about cold weather, but i dont know if i want the hassle of a 160, i think 180 would be good, i'll be satisfied with that for now.

As far as suspension, i havent given it to much thought. So far i like how the car rides, have no complaints. Though i'm sure when i'm done with the engine, the body, and rear-end, suspension would be a good idea too.

 

Here are a few ideas to get some ideas rolling as far as cold air intake for cheap.. Or you can get the BOX ONLY from SLP.. its only around $60 i think..




http://www.geocities.com/jonathan_badgett/coldair.htm

http://exit3.i-55.com/~davidlt/air_intake.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/transam/cai.htm


and if u get a new T.B. it will have the flow booster built in.

and those runners are a pretty good choice.. u might wanna search for other people who have them on here..

 

Thanks breathment, alot of good stuff there. Your engine bay looks real good to. Now did u "home make" it too? What kind of pipe are u running there, it looks chrome and polished.

Later, tired....need sleep

 

ok heres a list to make it simple..... of what i would do

-new intake.... not the slp but find some intake cheaper than taht or make one

-headers and exhaust

thast the first 2 things always

-new runners..... ported plenum
-new 24 lb injectors
-msd box and coil
-cam with about a 278 duration and about a .494 lift ....and lifters
-hardened pushrods with roller rockers
-subframe connectors and tourque arm
-2500 stall converter
-3.73 gears with locking diff
-custom ported heads to the intake
-custom....chip
u'll be flying

 

oh no, its not my engine, i got that off of another post about cold air intakes.. but i thought it was the nicest ones iv seen.