Thread: Improvement Questions.

alright guys, i have a few questions about getting a little more power out of my 2001 GTP. right now the car is completely stock. so it has 240 hp, 280 ft-lbs torque, as you all know. it runs 0-60 in about 6.5, as far as the rest goes, i don't know because i haven't done any testing with it. what i am wanting to do is increase the hp, and TORQUE to get it to run a little faster, to be able to back up its looks a little better. i'm not the most mechanically inclined person, i just have the general knowledge about it.

question: how much smaller of a pulley can i put on, without putting to much pressure on the engine and supercharger. and how do i know what the engine and supercharger handle?

so if i wanted to put say a 3.5" or a 3.4" pulley on it, would adding a borla exhaust and cold air intake be enough. or would i also need to upgrade the headers? also a few other questions, what about putting in a performace chip( i dont actually know how to do that or where it goes, but i've heard of people doing that to get a little more power.) another question, i've read some other posts about exhaust systems, and they were talking about a downpipe and ubend, what is that? and ive seen post about scanning for KR, what is KR?

so overall would adding:
borla exhaust
cold air intake
header upgrade
performance chip(maybe)

be enough to handle a 3.4 or 3.5" pully.

as i said, all i'm wanting to do is add a little more power to get it closer to 300 hp/tq and closer to under 6 second 0-60. i just want it to be able to back up its looks a little better (i will be adding a ram air hood, new wheels, chrome grill, and a new paint job with effects, have already put LED taillamps, and clear corner lights and new fogs). right now it has 72000 miles on it. its in pretty good shape, haven't had any mechanical problems since i got it with 50k on it. i do all the routing maintenance myself, and i dont mash the pedal all the time(just half the time, LOL. and when im in the front of the line). i dont want to put too much strain/pressure on the engine, and i dont have the money to upgrade everything, but i dont want to anyway. just a little more power is all i need. ANY comments or questions, and for sure any suggestions are welcome. THANKs for your time.

also, to anyone who has done exhaust system, what have you done? im looking for a deeper and louder sound, but not like a rice wagon cherry bomb

and does the downpipe go in place of the u-bend?

First off...thanks for the book

KR is bad lol...read here: http://www.grandprixforums.net/f18/w...here-1507.html

Another thing is these cars don't have "chips" they have PCM's and they are tuned. You can get one from:

3800 Performance - high performance aftermarket car parts for your Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Impala, Regal, Bonneville, and V6 F-body!!
INTENSE-Racing.com - G8, Grand Prix, Bonneville, Regal, L67 3800 Supercharged Performance Products.
:: Overkill Motorsports ::

Any of those are great PCM's...just be sure not to buy PCM's from ZZP as they don't have a reliable tuning source anymore. They are junk.

Pulley drop...go read some threads...that is the last basic bolt-on mod you want to do.

As mods go...if I could do it all over again...I would get in any order really...

180* Thermostat
Autolite 104 Spark Plugs
PRJ 10.4mm Wires
SLP/ZZP/Pacesetter/SS Autochrome Headers (Any of them work)
Some form of Intake (K&N is junk and the SLP/Wizaird/MSP aint great either)...make your own for $50 or so...
Tuned PCM of your choice.
3.5" or 3.4" Pulley. If you want to mod past this then opt for the ZZ Performance Modular Pulley System.

Hope this helps.

and just remember thats crank horsepower. its not putting that down to the wheels. maybe 200ish to the wheels. but im sure a basic 3.4/3.5 set up will net you the gains your looking for.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

how much smaller of a belt would i need to use the 3.4"

same stock size belt will work

You're supposed to go to a smaller belt with a 3.4.

really? i heard that you could use the same belt on a 3.4

I'd be afraid the tensioner wouldn't be applying enough tension.

true i could see how you may end up with the belt slipping a bit

this is what i found on ZZP
667 stock S/C belt for GTP, GS, SS

658 GTP, GS, SS S/C belt for 3.5-3.25 pulley

650 GTP, GS, SS S/C belt for 3.2-3.0 pulley
ZZ Performance

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

if i put a 3 inch exhaust system from zzp or anywhere else, does that delete the ubend

3" exhaust is a waste. And no the catback exhaust doesn't affect the u-bend. The u-bend is part of the downpipe.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

and add a new downpipe,

Downpipes are either sold with a set of headers or sold separately if you want an upgraded replacement to the stock.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

and would i need to add headers, cuz the stock are only 2.25" aren't they? i sound like a idiot, but im just getting really confused

The most constrictive points in the stock exhaust system are the stock downpipe (to include the u-bend) and the front manifold. The catback is fine as it is. Depending on how far you want to go in modding you could get a downpipe and Plog. If you want to go further than you should get a set of headers.

Here is a link that shows the entire stock 3800 exhaust. Should help you visualize some of these parts:

http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules.php?...hlight=exhaust

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

3" exhaust is a waste. And no the catback exhaust doesn't affect the u-bend. The u-bend is part of the downpipe.



Downpipes are either sold with a set of headers or sold separately if you want an upgraded replacement to the stock.



The most constrictive points in the stock exhaust system are the stock downpipe (to include the u-bend) and the front manifold. The catback is fine as it is. Depending on how far you want to go in modding you could get a downpipe and Plog. If you want to go further than you should get a set of headers.

Here is a link that shows the entire stock 3800 exhaust. Should help you visualize some of these parts:

http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules.php?...hlight=exhaust

thanks for the post! pics really help. and just to be sure, PLOG is basically and upgraded manifold, but not as good as headers right? and is the crossover pipe fine as is, or would i need to upgrade that with the headers, cuz the one in that picture doesnt even look right. sorry to keep adding questions, just tryin to learn.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

thanks for the post! pics really help. and just to be sure, PLOG is basically and upgraded manifold, but not as good as headers right? and is the crossover pipe fine as is, or would i need to upgrade that with the headers, cuz the one in that picture doesnt even look right. sorry to keep adding questions, just tryin to learn.

that is correct a PLOG is basically a ported manifold which is a upgrade but not as good as headers, if you get headers they come with the crossover to connect the front and rear, but if you go with a PLOG you have to order one separately although i know some people that get a PLOG and just keep the stock crossover

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

thanks for the post! pics really help. and just to be sure, PLOG is basically and upgraded manifold, but not as good as headers right? and is the crossover pipe fine as is, or would i need to upgrade that with the headers, cuz the one in that picture doesnt even look right. sorry to keep adding questions, just tryin to learn.

The crossover is fine if you just want to get a bigger DP and the Plog. Not sure what you think isn't right about the crossover in the pics since they're all the same. There is no upgraded version available (only headers if you want to go that route). I currently have a ceramic coated crossover to help keep the radiated heat down and to keep the exhaust hot as it leaves the engine bay.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

i think when it comes time to do it, ill do headers, dp, ubend delete, and borla or magnaflow exhaust. probably take it to a shop and tell em that and see what they say.

If you get headers, it comes with a DP and thus the u-bend delete.

Originally Posted by IrishNation24

where can i get a scanner, or is it pretty cheap to just take it to a shop to do it?

You'll want something permanent in your car so you can keep an eye on things. Either an Aeroforce or Scangauge II is the sort of thing you want.