To mod, or to rebuild? That is the question.. The $2000 question

**98ctd** · 07-08-2013

It wouldn't be that bad taking the heads off, getting the valves ground, some port matching with the lower intake. You'd have new head gaskets and a little better airflow. But I think the bolt on mods that everyone talked about before me is the way to go. That's my plan for my car.

**comatoast** · 07-08-2013

OK well now I'm just back to square one. All I will have for a while is just my shift kit, 180 stat, AL 605 plugs, and an intake. Had a random thing come up that hosed me for $1000. So with just those things I listed above will just wills PCM do anything for me? I thought I asked this before but didn't see it in the thread.

Other than kicking the fans on earlier, having cooler trans temps, what exactly will I gain?

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-08-2013

http://getoverkilled.ca/3800sc.html

Look at the description.

I ran wills tune (still am actually even though I modded further) with a near stock car that only had a intake, tstat, plugs and that's all and noticed quite a difference and had about 6* knock and after wills tune had 0*.

Just contacted him last week do I can have the PCM retuned for the cars current mods.

**tms8582** · 07-08-2013

I dont think you will gain much at all until you get exhaust and pulley down. The intake and shift kit will sound and feel different.

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Well I just ordered it. Hoping everything goes smooth. I just done have the time or money to do headers now so I just listed my mods of intake, shift kit, 180 stat. Sucks shipping is $25 each way but what I am going to try to do is get the headers and 3.6 on within the 45 day return period of my original PCM so I can use that until he re programs. Or should I just have him tune it now for headers and the 3.6 and just wait it out to install the pcm until after the 3.6 and headers go on?

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-09-2013

I would go ahead and save yourself some money and tune for the headers and 3.6.

Matter of fact..the tune I've been running from him I had for awhile and it was tuned for the basic 3.6 set up..headers,intake,tstat etc. and I was running stock manifolds, stock 3.8 pulley etc and still noticed a big difference.

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

I would go ahead and save yourself some money and tune for the headers and 3.6.

Matter of fact..the tune I've been running from him I had for awhile and it was tuned for the basic 3.6 set up..headers,intake,tstat etc. and I was running stock manifolds, stock 3.8 pulley etc and still noticed a big difference.

I just sent him an email to tune for the headers and 3.6. And I was just going to ask you guys that too , about running a PCM tuned for headers and a smaller pulley on stock Mani and pulley. I'm guessing it would run quite rich?

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-09-2013

Ran fine for me or a good 3 years or so until I modded further. That same PCM is in the car right now of course now I added a few more mods to it but will be sending back to will to retune in the next few weeks.

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Good deal. Is he has pretty good with returning emails? I don't know why I just didn't add the headers n pulley to the mod list. Durrrr. I just am not looking forward to the header install or paying someone $400 to do it

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-09-2013

Took him like 3 days to return the email I sent him. Header install isn't to bad. Set aside a weekend and do it yourself. I wouldn't pay $400 to have it done but I do understand if guys do end up just paying someone.

I did however kept my stock pcm to make the retuning a bit quicker.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-09-2013

I'd do the install for some lunch.

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-09-2013

^ bingo there you go

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Lol. What kind of lunch?? McDonalds or a $300 steak?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-09-2013

A couple pizza's.

Wouldn't take more than a few hours going at a decent pace.

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Ha. You work pretty cheap! Might have to make a trip down to Rogers!!!

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-09-2013

Wish someone would of offered to do mine for lunch. Hell I would of brought them some good lunch too!

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

Lol I'd pay him. I couldn't have someone I've never met do 3 or so hrs of work on my car for some pizzas

**Bio248** · 07-09-2013

a bunch of us worked on his car, he owes some time.

**comatoast** · 07-09-2013

I might order the headers soon anyways. Only reason I didn't was because with my work schedule I didn't have the time to do it myself and I dropped $1000 on the girlfriends car this past week. If he wants to do it that would be pretty damn cool, if not at least I will have them here for when I'm ready. I'll also need to get everything else I'll need lined up to. Does the downpipe on the SD headers hang low? It looked like it in a members pic where a speed bump could really mess something up. So all I'm gonna need would be a new flex, o2 extension , better clamps from Napa or zzp, some rtv, and pizza? Anything I missed?