Thread: Starting to mod

3.4 doesn't NEED a tune. It recommended though. also get some kind of scanner to scan for k.r

Skip the 180 thermostat, not needed.

Plog and 3in downpipe is fine if he doesnt want to do headers. Downpipe already gets rid of the u-bend.

Air fuel wideband and scangauge are a must in my eyes. A tune is wanted for sure, I'd never run a 3.4 pulley without a tune but I'd also never run a vendor's canned tune either. Every car is not the same and does not accept every mod the same way, so a tune for one car doesnt work the next all the time.

Ported TB would require a custom tune no matter what, no canned tune could ever get the MAF readings correct. It's impossible to guess at that stuff. And you won't be outflowing the stock throttle body yet anyway.

headers or dont bother modding

Plogs are a waste (IMO), functionally 1/2 a header. Seeing as the exhaust manifolds are the biggest restriction, plus that UBend, I would suggest headers as a first mod. It will set up not only what you want to do, but anything in the future too.

Good throttle gains, feel, result from TB and SC housing opening... But as mentioned, any change in air intake, exhaust, or sc rpm (3.4) should be addressed in the PCM in order to ACHIEVE the best results from adding/changing those functions.

A Wideband isn't necessarily needed up front and is a big investment, but will give the most accurate reads of that your combustion is doing. But that said, if you plan to drop pulleys, you'll need to monitor for KR in some form. The cheapest, easiest is an Android Phone with an ELM/BT OBDII reader along with the Torque App.

You shouldn't drop thermostat temp unless tuned for it in PCM, again, no gain unless fan on/off settings are changed as well.

Plugs... Eh, @3.4, not sure they're really needed to be cooler. But add 1.9RR's to that mod group and a range cooler would be set for sure.

Keep in mind the benefit/cost relationship...

CHEAP/FAST/RELIABLE

You can only have two of them at any time, chose wisely. Read the modding your 3800 thread, read it again, then some more.

But yeah, with just a few simple, easy, safe mods, you can give your GP a little punch. A word of caution though, it'll leave ya wanting more. Then a little more, lol...

It can't be stated enough, scan scan scan..... don't make assumptions. I had a GTP that had knock on a Gen3 3.5 / headers / 180 t-stat / AL104's / HAI before I tuned it.... even though the forum parrots stated that I should have been good to jump straight to 3.4 on my mods.

Thermostats and a solid tune-up are some of the most over looked things.

A mechanically crappy car (gaskets, vac leaks, fluids, etc.) isn't a good way to start things, either.

Originally Posted by blueguy

Thermostats and a solid tune-up are some of the most over looked things.

A mechanically crappy car (gaskets, vac leaks, fluids, etc.) isn't a good way to start things, either.

Came in here to quote this. I would much rather do a complete tune up on the car than throw go fast stuff at it first and then have to tear it back down in a month.