BLKZ28VERT

Alright, i have been saving for over a year now and have approx. 2K to spend on mods for my 1998 Z28 Convertible. Up until Monday i had my mind made up on purchasing some American Racing Headers (W/EGR/AIR) & Catted Y pipe. I do have the option of deleting this, as it is not a requirement in my state, however i am skeptical at removing it. Anyway, after conversing with a few of you, it sounds like i would be limiting myself on the Intake side if i were to keep the EGR/AIR as the LS6 does not offer this (unless i want to buy a new one at $670.00).

So at this point, i am back at square one wondering what the rest of you "experienced modders" would do? What would you do to your bone stock (other then a lid) LS1 w/ $2000.00

Thanks,
BLKZ28VERT

Tobias05

iTrader: (1)

I think I'd go ahead and get the non emission ARH 1 7/8s headers with ORY. Very nice quality headers, have seen them in person.

-roughly 1300$ for the ARH stuff from Speed Inc.
-Used LS6 intake, 200-300$, depending on luck
-Frost Mail Order Tune, $150
-Some sort of 3" catback, 400$

If you didn't need the catback, I'd get a cutout, an UDP, and then send out the TB to be ported. Or, if you're an auto, keep the leftover cash and save up a bit longer and get a good stall converter.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

Goals for the car? You care about fun on the street/sounding good/best bang for buck/best et per mod?

For exhaust... I recommend TSP 1 7/8 with the Ypipe. Get your choice of muffler and/or a cutout. You will have around 700$ in this exhaust setup and will outflow any 1 3/4 setup. If you really want to do it right and have a bad *** exhaust, get a flowmaster merge instead of a normal y pipe.
Get rid of all the emissions bull **** and don't go catted if it isn't mandatory.
Ls6 intake 300$
lid 50-90$ (slp brand new for 90$, used for cheaper.. a lid is a lid)
sub frame connectors!! 150-250$ish

You will want a tune after this.. If you plan a cam swap soon after this, get a mail order... If you don't, I suggest a dyno tune. Frost does good mail order tuning.

This will be very close to 2K, you will have a little left over. It will be a nice bang for the buck.
If you have an auto, I recommend a PTC converter and a trans cooler in place of the ls6 intake.. That will use all your money but a converter is THE mod you HAVE to have for an A4.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

what trans do you have?


i like ARH LTs.

BLKZ28VERT

.............its an M6.

As for my goals. I intend on owning the car for the rest of my life. I purchased it from my uncle being the only other owner of the vehicle (10,400 miles on it). So i want the best of everything, and i am in no hurry to get there. I just figure that a nice header/y pipe combo would be a good start.

It is by no means my everyday driver, but i like to have fun with it.

Not sure if that helps.

I have done a little research on the Catbacks, and the only one that i really like the look of is a CME, but i think this is more of a Mod that you do to your exhaust with the tips? Am i correct on this, or is the center mount exhaust a whole cat back system like say magnaflow?

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

ls7 clutch is a nice upgrade.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

In that case.. I recommend kooks 1 7/8 with their new xpipe setup.

BLKZ28VERT

is the stock clutch not good?

garygnu

do poly motor mounts when you do the exhaust.if you need any help give me a call.with that low of mileage the stock exhaust should come out really easy.

colospgsTA

Not that I have any big work done myself, but if I started over with $2000 I would do headers, y pipe, and hooker/magnaflow (what I have now-cheap, sounds great!) exhaust. Save the LS6 intake, get 4.10 gears, Lou's Short Stick, sub-frame connectors, and a mail order tune!

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

if its ok leave it but its a good upgrade.

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Headers, Lid, Catback, LS6 intake/PTB, mail order tune is a good start

BLKZ28VERT

I am fairly new to this, so forgive me if this is a stupid question............but why change the motor mounts to poly motor mounts? Is there something wrong with the stock ones.

zracer323

iTrader: (12)

Nothing wrong with the stock ones, but some people have trouble with their y-pipe banging the floor board and poly mounts will help alleviate that.

cpo

iTrader: (13)

Other than a mail order tune, lid, and an axle-back exhaust, I'd put the money in the interior (seats, shifter, audio) and stiffen-up that convertible chassis as best as possible.

udienow

iTrader: (18)

$2000 is not really that much money, esp if you are not doing the work yourself, and you want the best parts. Good headers and a cat-back can easily cost $2000+ on their own... I know my system did (luckly it came with the car). I have ARH LTs with a catted Y, Magnaflow quad tip cat-back, and an e-cutout. Easily over $2000 in parts alone.

Nando92

If you want the best of everything i suggest you save the 2k and wait till you have like 5k or more.
If you really want to get something done now i would just go with an SLP lid, smooth bellows, and a Catted Y.
I would leave the internals alone until you have more money.

geoffreymexico

iTrader: (5)

If you are going with the best of everything route you can easily spend that on just the headers, ory, and catback.

I would prolly do that and then start saving for an intake, clutch, rearend, and then a heads/cam combo.