I have a cone filter attached to the MAF but it's not a real CAI setup. Should my first mod be CAI or 1.85 RR's or catback and resonator removal?

Those are just the 3 main ones I have heard of. Feel free to give other suggestions too

Also if you recommend a tune please let me know who is the best tuner out there.

Tim

 

i would go with exhaust

 

Headers!!!

 

Shift-kit.... Plus it is probably the cheapest to do. 50 - 60 bucks for a Trans-Go kit.

-Mike

 

one thing you can do that will change the vehicle noticeably would be the torque arm bushing flip, aka motor mount flip (its free) or buy a poly bushing for the torque arm. Biggest improvement vs price mod i've done so far.

also my CAI, but it didn't really have any noticeable effect till i made fog light scoops for it.

 

First off if you plan to mod this car you better be prepared to purchase a new transmission! These cars are very fun till the trans goes south! Several have gone with as little as 10,000 miles, others with 100,000 miles, but it seems that around 50-60,000 miles they start to go downhill fast!

I ask you this: what is your main purpose for this vehicle? Daily drive that will pass offending traffic in a hurry? Or a sleeper that you want to use to kill older F body's and sn95 stangs with? That will be your true testament to what you should do first.

I myself was having fun with mine till my second child came along. But then again I purchased CPO with 7,000 miles on it so the warranty was till 100,000 miles powertrain. I ended up letting it go at 38,000 because I couldn't get a carseat in the back without tilting it 90* or so. I loved the car and had no issues with the trans. My mods where, shift kit, K&N cai, Hogan DP, Magnaflow exhaust, DR st braces and Diablo tuner.

I ran it at the track a few times, but it started to shift oddly! Acted ok on the street, unless I was utilizing the power. I was about ready for a trans! As so many of us where.

So my suggestion is do an upgraded trans first! Then go for the power adders!

 

only if you put them on

 

yeah I agree with lunchbox its free and it works and like he said if you purchased a poly you will enjoy it the improvement! I still can't believe how much that poly improved acceleration and response!! I JUST installed about a week ago! I love it!!

 

I first removed the mufflers (retained the Cat and Res). Had a guy at the gas station the other day that asked if had a Vette engine in it. Sound is sweet but, the 4 Cylinder drone will kill you.

2nd ... due to the noise on the hwy in 4 cyl mode, I applied a Trifecta Tune which turned off DoD, Extended the shift points to prevent OD under 40mph, and removed the rev limiter. MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT!

3rd ... I did the Motor Mount Flip. You can seriously feel the difference in responsiveness.

I use the car as a daily driver. Love the car now.

Here is the current pic:


Here is what I want it to look like after being lowered, new wheels (Boss 318), new headlights and blacked out trim:

 

The only two mods that make a big difference are a swap to an ls6 intake or putting headers on.

If you do a cold air and exhaust then your gas mileage will go up a good amount. Also you will gain about 10-15hp. and obviously you will make it sound a lot better.

Do NOT do any mods except the intake and headers and expect to notice a big difference.

As far as the springs go....you can do them but it wont make any kind of difference, it is just a support mod.

 

id say a tune, from a knowledgeable person will net you pretty noticeable results, as would a set of rockers.

 

first mods: polymount and transgo shift kit

 

rockers are the last thing you want to do in a daily driver i have found this out first hand, they will always need to be adjusted and its never when you have the time to do it

 

Shift kit,trans cooler,& the sonnax kit.

 

i had 1.9 ratio rockers on my GTP for about 40K miles with not one issue. i checked them twice in that time and hadnt moved a hair from when they were installed. so i wouldnt say that description is accurate of all rockers. Granted the type of rocker makes a difference in this as well. a stamped steel, stamped steel w/ roller tip, or full roller are all going to act different.

i plan on putting rockers on my car at some point because a cam swap is a bit too much for me to do in my driveway by myself on my only car. but rockers are a cinch on a weekend afternoon.

 

Best bang for the buck is the STB's Front and Rear from Don Rome. It improved the cars handling significantly. My GXP corners like it is on rails.

 

actually i forgot about that^ The braces made a huge difference for me too.

 

DonRome STBs
Resonator Delete
Flip Motor Mount
Trans Cooler/Shift Kit
KandN
DP
DiabLew Tune

Something like that...

 

best mod ive done by far is a cutout thing sounds amazing

 

you know, i never heard an ls4 with a cutout. I was debating whether or not to get one.