Thread: I've got $800 to spend on my GP GT...

I bought an '00 GP GT off eBay for what I hope ends up being a good deal. It has 85K miles on it, so I'm taking it to a local shop for their 100K service to start my own vehicle history. The brakes are a little spongy, so I'll either worst case be getting new brakes or best case just having them bled. It's too cold outside to do it myself, and with the other work that goes along with 100K service, including a Virginia inspection, I'll let the shop do it.

Anyway, excluding the service costs, which after what I paid on eBay will still likely put me ahead, I've given myself a $1000 budget for mods and upgrades. This is going to be my commuter car, as my "performance" car is an '04 Impala SS that is already modded pretty good.

Short story long, I'm already down to $800 left. I HAD $1000, but I got a K&N CAI off Autoanything for $200. I had a P0128 code right off the bat, so I've already put in a 180* thermostat. I don't really count that $10 I paid for it, as it was due to be replaced soon anyway. So what could/should I spend the remaining $790-$800 on? I looking mainly for bolt on upgrades, and I'll probably upgrade this piecemeal to keep the impact on my wallet down. I've seen the following as suggestions:

High Velocity Throttle Body
Powerlog/PEMs and coated crossover
high flow cat/u-bend delete

Pricing things out on ZZP, I can get those items and still stay within budget. I've thought of heat shields, but I don't know if I'll really notice the benefits with it. I know a PCM and/or custom tune are in order as well, but I want to run on 87 octane and still get some performance boost. Comments?

HV3 insert, rockers, PEMs/Plogs, maybe something else if you can afford it.

Buying some of this stuff used can cut down on the price a lot. Look in the for sale sections.

rockers, TB, PCM, downpipe are a MUST!

ZZP 2.5" downpipe w/cat, ER rockers, HVTB, and PCM upgrade should put you right around $800 and really wake up the car.

Supercharger, PCM, TB, Id say downpipe but your budget may not allow. U Bend delete would be an option instead.

Originally Posted by David99GTP

Supercharger, PCM, TB, Id say downpipe but your budget may not allow. U Bend delete would be an option instead.

If he has the mechanical ability to do the top swap then he might be able to do that for $800 if he uses the SS pulley kit that ZZP offers and he sticks with the 4.2" pulley. Otherwise there's no way $800 will get him there.

Parts/fluids/gaskets should be right around $800, plus that's assuming he already has a way to tune the car.

Originally Posted by Coogles

If he has the mechanical ability to do the top swap then he might be able to do that for $800 if he uses the SS pulley kit that ZZP offers and he sticks with the 4.2" pulley. Otherwise there's no way $800 will get him there.

Parts/fluids/gaskets should be right around $800, plus that's assuming he already has a way to tune the car.

Or, I could just drive my Impala SS if I want a supercharger. I spent 3 or so days modding out my SS when I replaced the entire exhaust, plugs, and cables, so I do NOT want to spend that much time on the Grand Prix. That's why I've set my sights and workload low - mainly just bolt on stuff.

Question about a Powerlog and a ported rear manifold. I've read that a Plog in place of the front exhaust manifold gives a significant improvement. But is it worth it to get the rear manifold ported, or should I just save that $100 and apply it elsewhere? I was also looking at the coated crossover, and that is cheaper than a rear manifold.

Also, is it worth it to get the ceramic coating on the powerlog if I only intend to use this as a commuter car? Will I take it to a track? I don't want to say NEVER, but I'd take my Imp before I take the GP. In a sad way, I don't want to do too much to the GP that I can't quickly UNDO if it dies on me sooner rather than later and I have to get rid of it or get another 3800 engine car and move the parts over to it. I got my GP so I could drive it into the ground, with regular gas. So a SC is out of the question. The only car I want that takes Premium will be my Imp.

You don't need a throttle body on your car if it's a DD. Only benifit you'll get from it is a slightly better throttle response. Here is a list I put together from ZZP that should get you started.

HV3 High velocity intake insert
Option 1:Add throttle body rubber gasket - $200

ER ratio rocker arms
Core charge:rockers & pedestals core - $324.99

Rocker install kit
Engine:L36 or L22 $39.99

ZZP downpipes
Model:2.5 inch bolt in With Cat
Option 2:None selected
Option 3:Add rear 2.5 inch gasket
Option 4:Send me a prepaid return label - $173.99

Total before shipping = $738.97

Originally Posted by VinnieGTP

HV3 High velocity intake insert
Option 1:Add throttle body rubber gasket - $200

ER ratio rocker arms
Core charge:rockers & pedestals core - $324.99

Rocker install kit
Engine:L36 or L22 $39.99

ZZP downpipes
Model:2.5 inch bolt in With Cat
Option 2:None selected
Option 3:Add rear 2.5 inch gasket
Option 4:Send me a prepaid return label - $173.99

Total before shipping = $738.97

Great, thanks. That looks about right. I can spread out the damage as well this way, $200 at a time, so my wife doesn't get suspicious. But she's already a little pieved at all the work the Impala got and her Mustang has nothing other than a CAI. But since her Mustang is a stick shift and I can't drive a stick well, why should I invest time and money in a car I can't drive?

Originally Posted by VinnieGTP

You don't need a throttle body on your car if it's a DD. Only benifit you'll get from it is a slightly better throttle response. Here is a list I put together from ZZP that should get you started.

HV3 High velocity intake insert
Option 1:Add throttle body rubber gasket - $200

ER ratio rocker arms
Core charge:rockers & pedestals core - $324.99

Rocker install kit
Engine:L36 or L22 $39.99

ZZP downpipes
Model:2.5 inch bolt in With Cat
Option 2:None selected
Option 3:Add rear 2.5 inch gasket
Option 4:Send me a prepaid return label - $173.99

Total before shipping = $738.97

I'd lay off the HV3 for the time being. Those ER rockers MUST have LS6/105# springs on the intake side or they will experience valve float. In my opinion he would also be better off with a ZZP PCM prior to the HV3. A L36 with the HV3 and stock PCM will be short shifting so badly that the intake insert would probably hurt performance.

I ran a 14.9 @ 92 on an intake, SR rockers, 3" downpipe and DHP. Pretty cheap and noticeably faster than stock.

You probably know more than I as you have/had a GT. I only left the PCM out because it put him over the $800 mark.

Originally Posted by Coogles

I'd lay off the HV3 for the time being. Those ER rockers MUST have LS6/105# springs on the intake side or they will experience valve float. In my opinion he would also be better off with a ZZP PCM prior to the HV3. A L36 with the HV3 and stock PCM will be short shifting so badly that the intake insert would probably hurt performance.

I may be getting that HV3 sooner rather than later. I just got the report back from the shop I took it to for a Virginia inspection and to take a look at the spongy brakes. It would have passed inspection, but there were several other things that they found that need to be fixed almost immediately or very soon. Here's a list of what I can remember

* Front sway bar cracked - I bought the GMPP handling kit for my 04 Imp SS, but it already has it so the GP will get the kit.
* Leaking power steering hose - going to get it replaced
* A few other assorted crack/leaking hoses - as expected, as I was told this car sat for a bit before I bought it
* Tie rods loose - going to have them replaced
* Brakes - Low on brake fluid; rear rotors rusted, but likely due to sitting and they said any problems with them should be gone soon.
* Dry rot on tires - I noticed this when I took it in. I'll get new ones in a few months

Finally, I'll have to check their report for sure to confirm, but I believe he said the intake manifold was leaking due to a bad gasket. So if I'm going to replace that gasket, might as well go whole hog and put the HV3 in and do it myself.

Exactly, no better reason or time to install that. Be sure to pick 2 packs of injector o-rings when you order it. That's a total of 12.