A quick question to those with Modified cars -

[inheritthefire]

Like the title says -

Those of you with modified cars, and this includes anything and everything, did you do the work yourself?

I have a 2000 Firebird, and I've been slowly adding and tinkering, but I've been hesitant to delve into some of the more complex things such as a turbo build, internals, heck, even swapping my driveshaft for an aluminum one.

I'm fairly knowledgeable with a wrench, and at the very least I know I can do it with a little direction, but this car is my baby, and I'd be devastated if I hurt my baby.

Just looking for feedback from people who've done their own modifications, or if I should just pony up the extra cash for every mod I want.

Also, as a last note - I would most definitely want to try to do AS MUCH of my own work as possible... I like knowing I built the car up myself. Hence my curiosity!

[Fondle]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

diveshaft is probably the easiest mod you could do, litterally takes like 30 seconds

my car is my baby too, so i make sure i am positive on what im doing, or having someone who has done it before i do something big

[venom3300]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

most of my mods have been done by me and my dad. had a shop do the exhaust bc we didnt have a welder/pipe bender.

i would say to try it urself with the help of some online guides or w/e. just have the money so that should u get stuck, u can get a shop to do it.

however, with something as complicated as a turbo build, i would get someone who has done one to help me or take it to a shop.

[inheritthefire]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

That's what I figured, but I wanted to get a feel of if the forum members were DIY guys or just had deep pockets. Either way, I don't care. A nice car is a nice car.

As for the DS, I have the cash for DS, just looking to buy it and *hopefully* have time to get home (I'm at college) to install it and play a bit before the snow flies (I live in Iowa)...

And now I just got finished reading an LS1 swap thread, and my thoughts are rolling off onto a tangent of doing that... It's a never ending cycle!

[cam98aro]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

diveshaft is probably the easiest mod you could do, litterally takes like 30 seconds

my car is my baby too, so i make sure i am positive on what im doing, or having someone who has done it before i do something big

30 seconds?

it took me about 25min to do it

[truekoa]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

That's what I figured, but I wanted to get a feel of if the forum members were DIY guys or just had deep pockets. Either way, I don't care. A nice car is a nice car.

As for the DS, I have the cash for DS, just looking to buy it and *hopefully* have time to get home (I'm at college) to install it and play a bit before the snow flies (I live in Iowa)...

And now I just got finished reading an LS1 swap thread, and my thoughts are rolling off onto a tangent of doing that... It's a never ending cycle!

I know what you mean.

Right now I'm in the process of buying parts for a cam swap but everytime I read different posts here and there I go wait should I go turbo? and then I post on ls1tech as well(good place for parts) and I'm like dang I could swap in a ls1...

but when it comes down to it, ima keep my car forever and I mean it, so I'ma just do what makes me happy if I break it I will find a way to rebuild it cause thats how passionate I am about my car.

[mestupryan]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

if you car is already up on jackstands/lift, its like 2 bolts to unhook the driveshaft lol..

dont be scared to work on your car. youre gunna be safe on the majority of the stuff. the only thing would be internal engine work, you can destroy your engine if you make a mistake there

[inheritthefire]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

if you car is already up on jackstands/lift, its like 2 bolts to unhook the driveshaft lol..

dont be scared to work on your car. youre gunna be safe on the majority of the stuff. the only thing would be internal engine work, you can destroy your engine if you make a mistake there

Okay... That's what I figured, but it's still scary. So far I've only done my exhaust, an air silencer delete and smoothed air box, then just last weekend i put in a FIPK (totally awesome, but the silencer delete was a good hold-me-over).

So, if I ever decided to go with a cam, I should probably just leave that to the professionals?

[flamingchicken]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

im 20 years old, as with most members of this site, we are mostly young, and broke with the passion in our bloods to make our six bangers fly. i have installed my own headers, removed and replaced an engine, ( i had a shop build a short block) done heads with the engine in the car, its all based on your experience, and how comfortable you feel doing the procedure

but dont let comfort fool you, my brother decided one time he wanted to help his buddy replace his cv axle in his car, he ended up haveing to get my dad to help because he was in too deep.

just be experienced enough to know your own limits.

[inheritthefire]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

im 20 years old, as with most members of this site, we are mostly young, and broke with the passion in our bloods to make our six bangers fly. i have installed my own headers, removed and replaced an engine, ( i had a shop build a short block) done heads with the engine in the car, its all based on your experience, and how comfortable you feel doing the procedure

but dont let comfort fool you, my brother decided one time he wanted to help his buddy replace his cv axle in his car, he ended up haveing to get my dad to help because he was in too deep.

just be experienced enough to know your own limits.

Hey, I'm 20 too!

Haha, yes.. broke is a part of life for me at this point.
You piqued my curiosity though, what engine did you replace? Did you do just a 3800 to 3800? Or did you actually swap in a bigger engine?

The reason I ask is because I had a whimsical thought that I could put the engine from a Z06 into the firebird... Would that fit?

[vr4gasm]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

hell yah it would fit.. but it would be in over your head at this point..

[inheritthefire]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

hell yah it would fit.. but it would be in over your head at this point..

Ohhh yeah it would be...

If I live my life the way I want to, I'll eventually end up with a ZR1 Corvette... That's my dream car at the moment.

Just googled corvette engines too, and the base runs about 12 grand.

Oh well, another dream to put in the file.

[vr4gasm]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

no maybe brand new used with tranny 3-4ish depending on everything..

[vr4gasm]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

a local guy is actually selling a ls1 for 1500 with pcm and harness

[flamingchicken]

Re: A quick question to those with Modified cars -

Hey, I'm 20 too!

Haha, yes.. broke is a part of life for me at this point.
You piqued my curiosity though, what engine did you replace? Did you do just a 3800 to 3800? Or did you actually swap in a bigger engine?

The reason I ask is because I had a whimsical thought that I could put the engine from a Z06 into the firebird... Would that fit?

i just rebuilt my 3800. i bought a truck at one point with a 5.3 in it and i was gonna try to swap it out, but i spent too much on the truck and didnt have enough to buy the k-member/intake/steering rack/oil pan/other crap to complete the swap. i gave up and rebuilt the 3.8.