Currently 20 and my camaro is by far the fastest thing I've owned...had an 03 focus before this, haha. Very new to cars, engines, racing etc; starting to look into modding and i came up with a short list of things to do and was wondering if I was making good choices.

1. Hooker long tube headers
2. TSP rumbler true duals
3. SLP lid
4. Pro 5.0 short throw shifter + lou short shifter
5. Possibly a programmer a few paychecks down the road, only one i could find for my year (98) was a hypertech power programmer III

Any suggestions? I also don't pay for anything to be installed, one of my life-long friends and his dad own a shop and install anything for me, I just have to listen to the bitching from them

 

congrats on getting a nice car finally, LT's first for sure stay away from pacesetters i own 3 sets and they all have flaws,TD's on your car might be louder than you want i would do a catback with a cutout and stay away from hypertech biggest waste of money i ever spent if you cant afford 400ish for a tune ill sell you my hypertech for a 100 lol its ok if you never go past bolt on's and bigger tires

GL with your install

 

Exhaust/Lid would def be a good starting point. If you get the Hooker LT's, I would get the coated ones for longetivity esp. if its your dd. The handheld is a waste of money unless you pick up a used one very cheap. Your better off getting a dyno tune or getting HPTuners if you are up for doing it yourself.

 

A full exhaust is probably the best place to start with these cars. Just keep it simple from the getgo. Don't worry about bigger MAFs, oversized throttle bodies and other junk that isn't worth putting on a mild car. I put Pacesetters long tubes on mine and went from running 13.4s to snagging 12.9s.

I will say you can save a ton of money by hunting for bargains on here and locally. If you combine my full exhaust, torque converter, gears, wheels and subframe connectors, I've only spent about a grand. This includes some of the stock parts I sold in exchange. There are a lot of things you can buy used for half of what they'd cost new. Things like wheels, exhaust, appearence mods, shifters, suspension, ect.

This website has the biggest F-body parts classifieds section I've ever seen. Good choice on the car, hell of a start and welcome to the family.

 

Thanks for the replies and welcomes all, it feels good to be here

I'm glad I'm heading in the right direction with the exhaust/lid, it's my DD and while I plan to take it to the track I'm thinking major things like heads/cam/nitrous/etc are a long ways off. Thanks for the heads up on the hypertech, saved me 400 bucks!

 

You were all good until #5. Don't mess with the computer until you put a cam in it, and then you'll want a real tune (street/dyno/mail-order).

If you don't have an '01 or '02, start looking for a ~$300 LS6 intake used on here.

 

Thats pretty good, what kind of converter? TCI?

OP, welcome Hooker makes a nice header, TSP rumbler will be pretty loud for a DD.

 

lid, headers, exhuast, intake. skip on the programmer and get a dyno or mail order tune

 

I'm currently running a SLP LMI catback, have any idea how much louder the header/TSP combo will be? I honestly don't mind it being very loud, I just can't stand the drone through SLP's with headers/ory (browsed ls1sounds a bit).

 

LM1 with stock exhaust manifolds is not too bad. LTs and TDs with bullets is a whole different deal. It will basically sound like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CATYjAZ7pqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W59xRdjOotk

Windows up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkOnR3vbNSI

 

No no.. It's an older Yank 3500 I bought used for $200 from a local member. I paid $255 for my headers and Y-pipe after selling the factory cats, $225 for my wheels and tires after selling the stockers, and $175 for a 3.73'd 10 bolt after selling my stock rear. I did pay like $215 for my 3-point subframes, which was a mistake. Doing my own labor probably cut what I did spend in half.

Other than my headers and subframes, I've bought everything used and haven't had a single problem. I could've come out a few hundred cheaper if I didn't get those things used and if I knew then what I know now, I would have.

My next mods will be a dry kit, drag radials, a tune. I'll more than likely pick them up second hand.

 

Look at doing a 4.10 gear. The gains will be greater than headers, for a similar cost. Probably less if you don't have to pay for install. Headers, full exhaust, and lid would be the next best bolt-ons for performance gain.

If you do all those things at once, you will honestly beleive that you have a new car. You think it's fast now being stock, it'll feel like a rocket for the first little bit after those mods. Then, you'll get used to the power and be ready for H/C/I.

 

Shop around for a lid, the one you mentioned is expensive with marginal gain...imo

Also I see that your 20, I'm 21. -Avoid tickets, has negative effects on cash flow...

 

there is nothing wrong with pacesetters. I run them and clearance is good, install was easy. make sure and spend the extra and get them coated. You will love the TD's if you want a loud car. They sound great pm for more info.

 

Start with a tune up(depending on mileage), then a lid, long tube headers and a less restrictive exhaust.

 

Dont waste your money on a handheld tuner, you can get a mail order for 1/2 the price and it will help you alot more.

 

Look up 'Frost' on here, seems to be a pretty reputable mail-tune guy and I'm sure he can answer all of your programming questions, when the time comes. I'm about to use him for a gear/tire size/speedo change..

 

I would do all bolt ons like an air lid, longtube headers, and a catback for starters. Since you are an M6 i would go and get your rear end beefed up before doing more mods.

 

Remember, if you go the TSP TD route, you'll have to make sure your area allows it as far as emissions go. Since they dump before the axle, they may be illegal in your town. I know they are here in PA but they sound friggin' amazing. Check your local laws on that or you could even try finding someone to "overlook" that come inspection time. Good luck!

 

if your an m6 plan on a rear end