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Check out the thread for Safely Modding your 3800 in the General Tech section I wrote up. Performance or "stage" kits are junk, and even with a tune I don't think you'd be knock free with a 3.4" Pulley with those mods...read that thread and have fun modding ;)
I've read a lot of write ups, but I'll make sure that I check yours out. Thanks!
I forgot to mention that I was going to go with a 3.5" pulley, not a 3.4" because I can't get any fuel greater than 91 octane here.
The "stage" kit really is just a set of common pieces that most people buy anyway, but you get a discount. I was looking at getting the ZZP downpipe, but making my own FWI, beyond that, the other pieces are common mod pieces, nothing that seems be be "junk" from my understanding... Except of course the ZZP PCM...
So, with that info (3.5" not 3.4" pulley), what is a good PCM to get, or am I just stuck with holding off on a pulley until I can manage to find someone to scan/tune my existing PCM?
Well...I didn't mean junk products...but most stage kits like 3800 performance or the ones thrasher used to sell were just a T-Stat, 3.4" or 3.2" Pulley, CAI, and Catback...not good things to buy for sure.
You might be able to get away with the 3.5" without a tune if you scanned for knock but it's one of those toss-up deals becuase some cars could handle it...and other couldn't ya know? PCM wise...get one from 3800 Performance.com as they are still using the original DHP 1.0 PCM bin files...best 3.4"-ish and supporting mod mail-order tune you can get. I had a base DHP PCM and ran a 13.8 @ 98 in the 1/4 in 80* humid MO weather with 1.84 Rollers, 3.5" and 3" Exhaust with PEM's and a DP. That's just IMO though ;)
Makes since. I am also about 3/4 of the way through your write-up. Good and valid points in there, especially the parts about the "before you do anything, do these maintenance items first" things.
I think that I will start with those that I haven't done, hit the intake and downpipe, and then hold off a little while on the pulley and rest of those pieces (including the PCM) until later this fall. Scan as I go, of course. Thanks for the "point" to 3800 Performance for the future.
Get hp tunners, or look for a old dhp.
Got my new motor today. Seems like darn near everything on it has to be switched out. But thats ok I'll use the old motor for parts. Also thinking about keeping my s/c cuz idk what condition this new one is in. I'm selling one of them if anyone is interested. Anything else I should do to this new motor?
(I'm getting it tuned as soon as its running. No more ZZP PCM)