Thread: Future upgrade advice (already read safely modding)

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I'm making my own intake as per this thread : http://www.grandprixforums.net/simpl...res-33351.html

And I also stumbled up on this thread which confused me: http://www.grandprixforums.net/quest...ake-43943.html

On the second link, what will happen to that odd vacuum tube when I'm bolting on the new intake? It's right before the air box, so I'm not sure now if I'm removing the air box and putting the intake where it used to be, or if I start farther back past that vacuum tube and fashion a new hole for it to sit in.

I hope this isn't too simple of a question but I couldn't find an answer in the threads I looked through and most writeup's tend to be for 03 and earlier GP's
^------------------------Original thread-------------------------------^

Additions: I almost made a new thread but realized that it would make more sense to just make this my "upgrade" thread if you will. I thoroughly read through the "safely Modding" thread so that's really where I got all this info

So far I plan on getting (in order):

1) Custom made intake (details or in other words, idiotic problems above)
2) 180 Thermostat
3) ZZP HV3 Insert
4) Headers (Or plog/u-bend/downpipe if headers won't help a N/A) Any good bolt on's? Probably Speed Daddy's but I heard they leak. I did find these but I can only use bolt-on's as I can't weld Pontiac Performance Racing Products for International Sales from SSAutochrome Inc.
5) ZZP ER Rockers (Split 1.85 intake and 1.80 exhaust I believe; unless 1.9 will give more hp) with LS6 springs and better retainers (push rods necessary?)
6) PCM tune from Overkill that I'll eventually dyno tune at a shop (doing this at the same time I finish actual engine "internals")

Actual questions for those who don't wanna read all that crap^
Overall the only problems I have are (1)the intake (written above, probably simple) (2)whether it's more worth it to go with headers or the "others" (I think I found good ones below), (3)if the ER rockers will give the most hp, and if push rods, springs, and retainers are necessary.

I'm just looking to make my dd more entertaining while keeping it N/A. I may have to eventually work on my transmission, either due to more hp^ or because my pressure control solenoid very infrequently (once a month) makes my transmission clunk.

Any help is really appreciated, I'm only 18, working a job and in college, so I don't have time for something in depth that requires a lot of skill like cams, but I want to start gaining engine knowledge with beginner's upgrades (rockers being on the top of that "scale").

If anyone has advice I appreciate it very much, and if anything doesn't make sense or is to unorganized I understand (I realize now that I asked a lot of questions to try to keep this to one thread), let me know and I'll fix it.

Also, none of this is time critical as I'm also retrofitting HID's, tinting, and getting new rims before/during this, so money will be sporadic to say the least.

Links to parts:

Intake: Top of post^
Thermostat: INTENSE-Racing.com: INTENSE™ High Performance 3800 Thermostats
ZZP HV3 Insert: http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_p...=214&catid=113
Headers: No decision as of yet, maybe Pontiac Performance Racing Products for International Sales from SSAutochrome Inc.
Rockers: http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_p...=555&catid=104
Springs: INTENSE-Racing.com: LS6 Medium Load Valve Springs
Retainers: INTENSE-Racing.com: Manley Performance Valvespring Retainers
Pushrods: INTENSE-Racing.com: INTENSE™ 3800 High-Performance Pushrods
PCM: :: Overkill Motorsports ::