Im looking to start modding my 00' gt 3800 series II, ive already taken off the stock air filter and replaced with a spectre, and i replaced the stock mufflers with thrush welded. but thats not much more than rice modding. assuming i can get 1000 dollars, give or take, what would you reccomend i do. cams, new headers/whole exhaust job, port and polish (i already have the tools) possibly a top swap for the L67, performance chip? i need ideas, simple starter stuff that makes a difference but doesnt require a total overhaul, and isnt going to be impossible for a couple of slightly experienced dudes to work on.

its an automatic, totally stock aside from what i mentioned.

P.S. first post, so forgive me for any mistakes, or if i dont understand some terms, im not entirely new to grand prixs, but im not an expert.

First and foremost welcome. Now the most important thing you can do is read and search...search...search. I can't stress that enough. Before you start modding your going to want to now how our motors work. We can only provide you with so many tips but if you have no idea what where saying or how it works it's going to be difficult.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/safely-m ... 17482.html

^ Very good info.

*Cams going to cost around $1000 and it's far from simple.
*Full exhaust isn't necessary our stock exhaust are good to around 350hp then it becomes restrictive. Only good at this point if you want a different "sound" compared to stock.It's not restrictive till around 350hp which unless you do some serious modding you won't have.. The manifold is the most restrictive part...ill go into a list toward the bottom.

**** Make sure your maintenance is up to par and check your spark plugs and wires. No point in dumping money into modding a car if maintenance isn't kept up. Change your cabin air filter/fuel filter whatever needs to be replaced****

*headers $200...replace stock manifolds. Ebay...speed daddies are good and cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAINLESS-RACIN ... 174wt_1054
*HV3 $200
http://shop.zzperformance.com/store/p/9 ... nsert.aspx
* Already made your own intake so that's good.
*180 Tstat.
Also available from Zzp site but, you really need a tune to maximize it.
* A tune!!!! Can't stress that enough you can get one done local if you know a place or anyone who can tune or go through and order a vendor PCM

_________________

^^^ that list is pretty much it for n/a cars unless your planning a power adder

_________________

I would think you could topswap with rockers and tune if you can do the install yourself. For your budget

Or at least topswap and some good maintenance to

They are all auto btw. There have been a couple custom installs but the factory never did it in this body


Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

_________________

2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

^^^ i know of one car

the g8 concept car

_________________

thanks a ton, ive heard the 180* thermostat wasnt always reliable? or it was only necessary if i was gunning it from a cold start?
also ive seen cams for 300-500 on zzp, is there a lot of money spent on hardware for installation, where else does the 1000 dollar figure come from?
and as far as PCM, ive never heard any positive feedback on zzp PCM's or PCM tunings, is there a particular pontiac PCM tuner to go to, or maybe just a performance chip?

180*tstat is a great mod IF you tune the car for it i.e. fan turn on points changed, have timing advanced to take advantege of lower operating temps, etc. If you run a 180* without a tune, it will gain you little to nothing. You shouldn't be gunning the car from cold start anyway. ALWAYS let the car get up to operating temperature (whatever temperature thermostat you have installed) before going wide open throttle.
The 1000 dollar figure comes mostly from install since the engine has to be lowered in order to remove/replace the cam (singular by the way) and the overall nature of the job and the gaskets and such that need to re replaced to do it.
Don't get a ZZP tune. There tune isn't the best and their torque management settings are none existent so it will kill your trans faster. Do NOT get a "performance chip." There is no such thing that will net you results with this type of engine management. They are all bascially gimics to trick the "ricers" into thinking they have a tuned car when all the "performance chips" do is just skew the signals like MAF or intake air temp so the PCM dumps more fuel. You need a tuned PCM like an Overkill one or find someone locally to do a custom tune using HPTuner of DHP.

_________________

Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Maybe your talking about a 160* stat that gives problems unless it's tuned in the PCM. A 180* is fine for a stock car. If you plan on going with a cam, go with a gt1 cam. Gt2 and above are pretty lumpy in idle for a daily driver car.

_________________

Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

i have the tools and know a few people who have experiecne with cams (and motors in general) and could install it, so its a possibility. and i dont get on it from a cold start, ever. but as far as bumpy cams, i actually like a noticable cam when idling, but is a gt2 and up still not a good idea?

Honestly the 3800 really goes farther with a power adder. You can put a ton of work into an n/a and all someone else has to do is do a top swap and they'd catch up with you. Just do your search. The most you'd get ou of it n/a is maybe 230 max whp.

I have an N/A 3800 myself too... Not on the G8 though

_________________

Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

The other part of the price with a can usually comes with things like new springs, locks and retainers, most do a double roller timing chain, then gaskets and such.

You could spend 3x the money and still be dog ass slow to a mildly modded topswap car.

I know a couple guys that where down to running like 14.5's with a n/a setup with stock cam. Spending 2-3,000 then spent about a grand and was running 13.5's basically overnight. With way way way more potential for power.


Like I said if you can do the work I see a grand taking you pretty darn far.

$300 - 400 used topswap parts.
200 ish for gaskets and stuff like coolant
300 for 1.9 rockers
100 - 150 pcm flash / tune

Granted that is not for shipping but I would say you could do it for about that

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

_________________

2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

or do all the n/a mods and save up for a turbo as you can use the hv3 and the cam too

_________________

There is that too

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

_________________

2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

Besides 30 percent of the time ppl end up going turbo anyways

Kindle Fire: The Keyboard Sucks, So Please Forgive Mass Misspelling

_________________

so, basically, l67 top swap, with new headers, and a PCM tune, cam or no cam? i also just found a place 10 minutes away that tunes for about 150.

Cam or no cam will depend on what you want out of the car and what your budget will allow.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

_________________

2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

These guys nailed it. Wasn't sure it you wanted to stay n/a and you said basic so I didn't say top swap even though it really it's that difficult. Just like Steve said a cam is really gonna depend on what power level your wanting to reach. Yea its only around $325 just for the cam but to make it reliable you'll want to new springs, locks and retainers, double roller timing chain, then gaskets and such plus the cost of install so it'll get up to a grand if not more quick.

_________________

i guess i should have specified that 1k is the most I'm gonna be able to save up and buy parts with this year, and then make another grand next year. regardless. after this discussion, i think the top swap, headers, t-stat and finally a PCM tune is this years goal. and next year the cam with rockers, valve springs, push rods, and all necessary replacements.

is it possible to make all mods and do the PCM tune last? or will certain ones, (like the top swap and cam), make my car un-drivable until reprogrammed.

Anything major like a cam or power adder needs a tune unless you want problems in the near future.

_________________

Why have more money than brains? Cuz RACE CAR :

then i'll just tune after my top swap and my cam. i'm asking around and might have found a person who knows how to tune and is a friend of friend, so id get multiple inexpensive tunes, if im lucky

whats inexpensive?
i can get a session for 70$

_________________

I seriously cant believe no has said suspension/brakes first. What good is power if you can't stop it or put it to the ground?

_________________
1997 TGP

That's goes into maintenance imo so I didn't directly highlight that more or less common sense.

_________________

My thoughts too. If struts need replacing then the car can be unsafe modded or not. But for a basic topswap without can or anything crazy it will be like having a peppy gtp, and the gt and gtp have the same brakes so i don't see where the issue is really.

The only reason I changed my struts or brakes is that i was lowering and wanted new struts, and I still rock stock size eBay cheapy drilled / slotted rotors. But they where not manditory

Bottom line is don't drive with head up ass, and all is good. ESP when only Modding the car to be a little over the "quicker " version of the same car.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

_________________

2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

im lowering mine soon, within a month or two, but i didnt figure that would be essential.

just an estimate, but what kinda power would i be lookin at if i did all of the mods above, with a tune. im not expecting a 10 second car or anything, but would i be pullin my buddys 02 trans am (stock) or just keepin up with the stock GTP's.

and by inexpensive i meant basically free, unless he needed to dyno it.