99 3.8 L Performance ideas

[Fredless]

If you have an A4 like me...

GET A STALL converter if you're not in a high traffic area all the time. My high stall dropped me about .3-.4 ALONE...and I still have a 3.08 open rear that I waste it on because I don't have the money to install my 3.42 gears+posi.

Get yourself a whisper lid, do the free ram air mod, leave you MAF in...and get a catback + high flow converter.

[borispeed]

If you want to run really fast and you can afford a supercharger in a couple of months don't buy a CAI, whisper and things in which you'll spend money not getting much HP. Instead, start saving for a supercharger and a good exhaust system (including a high flow catalyc converter). You'll quick their *** if you WAIT!!!. (sorry ny grammar, I'm ESL)

[grayman]

supe it if you have 3 grand.

2 grand or less for a used but good condition powerdyne/rksport kit.
1000 more for catback, gauges, misc.
do the free air intakd / air box mods and integrate that into your super charger intake.

you will haul *** without even having to remove the timing chain cover.

the weakest link in the chain (not knowing much else about your car) is your stock LOG style manifolds. If you can install the powerdyne correctly as extensivly detailed on my web site then you could also install headers and vice versa.

if you don't have a garage or if you are not a mechanic type person then i would recomend against all of the above. I am heavily biased against paying other people to 'hot rod' a car....other than the muffler guy to put in some welding time.

[Janko]

can you have a CAI kit and a supercharger?

[shenanigans]

I'd look into a used rear...

you can find a used 3.42s rear with lsd for like $150+

[phoenix6]

http://www.ftpp.net/V6Main.htm

Intake:
-RamAir hood (SLPs would be a good one for stock airbox set up)
or
-SLP CAI kit
-K&N Filter
-Home Depot Smooth Bellow mod (do a search)
-Remove the MAF Screen (some might flame me for this suggestion, I did it and have no problems)

Exhaust:
-Pacesetter Ceramic coated Headers
-3" in/out Carsound High-Flow Catalytic Converter
-3" Cat-Back exhaust set up (recommend SLP Loudmouth)

Drivetrain:
-Camshaft upgrade
-Valvetrain upgrade (springs, lifters, pushrods, rockers, ect.)

-Aluminum single piece driveshaft (look on ebay, they come off of T/As and Z28s)
-3.42 or 3.73 Gears and a Zexel-Torsen LSD
-Polyurethane Transmission mount

-Short Throw Shifter (if its standard that is)

-Suspension upgrade all around (I havent researched this one much so I dont know what everything will need to be done)

Forced Induction:
-Turbo, has to be a custom job, no kit currently exists but some custom ones are for sale on this site.
-Supercharger, 2 kits I believe, RK Sports being the most known. It uses a powerdyne SC and is around $3400.
-Nitrous, Id go with NX. Its a nice kit for around $600.

Fuel delivery:
-Fuel Pump, go with a 255.
-Fuel Injectors, I think what most get are the 42# injectors.
(Id say only get this if u decide to go with forced induction)

Tuning:
-HPTuner $500, high price but worth it.(if u know what ur doing) www.hptuners.com
-DHPTuner (Same thing as the HP just a different company, both hook up to the car and u use a computer to tune)
-Hypertech III Programmer $300 (Simple interface, no computer needed to tune, just plug in and answer yes or no questions.)

Thats all I can think off the top of my head ATM, Im sure everyone else will fill in anything I missed.

Also, I recommend doing the Intake and Exhaust mods in a close time proximity of eachother. Reason being, alot of us do Intake first and then do Exhaust later when we have the cash. Sure you will get good gains with just intake, but thats alot of extra air being taken into the engine that itll have a harder time letting out with a stock exhaust.

[ June 07, 2005, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: phoenix6 ]