Here's the scenario:

I'm going to have available between $500 and $1000 to use for the car, a '99 WS6. It has all of the suspension mods needed to handle more power, and now is the time to start tinkering with the engine, which is stock.

Given this scenario, what would you do to get the most power for the buck?

I'm not sure what is the most effective improvements would be, so ideas are greatly appreciated!

 

If it were me I'd start with cat-back exhaust. Not knowing what your ultimate plans are though makes it a little hard to decide precisely where to start.

 

Forgot to mention that I've got a Borla from the cat-back currently.

Nitrous is great, but I'd like something that gives a permanent power boost.

 

Most people start off with a lid, K&N, and a catback exhaust. If you have these items already then a set of Pacesetter long tubes with off road y pipe and a tune.

Pacesetters/ORY from TSP=$500

Tune=$400 for first time and about $75/hr for dyno time with future retunes.

 

just what sstowerman said... go get some pacesetter longtubes and ory and and get an slp loudmouth exhaust... they sound great after that i would sit down and figure out how far i want to go on the car but u need those mods sooner or later

 

go with NO2 as far as best buy for the buck !!!

 

1000 bucks? If that is all you have to spend on the car, and don't plan to do anything else? I would go with pacesetters, ory, and find a used 03-04 LS6 cam and springs. Providing you can do all the work yourself, that will keep you under 1000 bucks, and put you in the 360-370 rwhp range. Do the free mods, port your tb, cut the airbox..blah blah. Find and ls6 intake and you could see in the low 380's with a good tune, but thats getting out of the price range a bit.

 

Get a dremel tool and some sand paper and port your throttle body. I couldnt believe how much a difference it made. I already had a dremel sop it cost me like $20 to do. I'm gonna pull it again this week and port it farther and polish it with a higher grit sandpaper. If you had a $1000 I would buy headers and true duals or a catback and ORY.

 

Hoss, this is not to say that improvements won't be made in the future. I'm a final year Ph.D. student, and cash is hard to come by (at least for one more year), so the improvements that I make now will be added on to later in steps...once I have a job, lol.

 

Headers, ORY, cutout. A used cam could be in there too.

 

headers and a ORY.my car picked up 20+ rwhp after install and retune...

 

Kooks long tube headers, I gained 25rwhp & 15rwtq. Could go with pacesetters & ORY, and have money left for a tune.

 

If thats the case then, work on your basic bolt on mods. Headers, ORY, LS6 Intake, and go from there. If you want the car to be more fun to drive, spend some money and put a new gear in the rear. Good luck on the Ph.d

 

I tore the **** out of a 05 Evolution from a roll and a digg with the mods in the sig. Basic but very effective.