Thread: Just Starting to Mod...Questions....

For a background, my wife and I have owned an 04 Comp G since 2006. Its bone stock, been her car all this time, and is in near-flawless condition with 62k miles. My family has owned Grand Prixs since 1995, and this is the last one remaining I changed jobs, so I now have a demo allowance instead of a demo (Sales Manager for a Chrysler dealer). The Comp G was too good to let go, so we bought my wife a new 2013 Charger R/T with the Road and Track Package and the Super Track Pack. We have a fresh 6 year loan...then the car will be mine and we'll get her a new one. Until then, the Comp G is mine to love and nurse for the next 6 years. No reason to think I cannot...

But, I would like some more power, the safe way. I am looking at ZZP's Stage II kit and an Aeroforce gage to start. I have access to 93 octane gas at all times (I know this is a problem in certain parts of the country). I am not opposed to headers, but am wondering if they had that much more advantage over a PLog for a non-drag car. I would like a cat back, not so much for increased performance, as I know the OEM one is good up to 300 WHP or so...I simply want something throaty. I do NOT want something obnoxious and "drony," however. I am considering the ZZP 3" as well as the SLP (I also own 3 Camaros, 2 of which have SLP exhausts...I'm a big fan of SLP). I am hoping a Stage II kit, full exhaust (headers if need be) and the right pulley with 93 octane gas can get me on my way. Will this get me much over 300hp, or do I need to do more?

While this will be a daily driver first and foremost, I would love to have a car that if I went to the track, I could be in the upper 13s. I know stock these appear to be about a 15 flat car. I know KR is a big deal on Gen IIIs...my last DD years ago was an 01 GTP coupe that I never modded. I've already done a lot of searching and have some good ideas...just would like to hear from those more experienced than I with W Bodies. I've been an F Body guy for years, but have never modded a W car.

Thanks!!

You're not going to get the 3800 to sound "throaty", like your F-bodies. Just not possible. You want more sound remove the resonator and stick a glasspack in its place. I'd def. read through the "Safely modding your 3800" thread a few times. It should get your ride where you want it without blowing it up.

Let me rephrase a couple things...

1) I know 3800s often sound about as sexy as lawn tractors!! That is why while I'd like to do a cat-back, frankly its low on my list. I've heard some sound pretty sweet with cams, but opening up the bottom end of this engine isn't too appealing to me at this point. I haven't even replaced a cam in any of the F bodies!

2) How much difference is there in HP between headers and a Plog, at the level I'm looking to be at? Are we talking 10hp? 20hp? Just curious. I'm big on setting the car up right, and not cheaping out.

3) Anyone know of a good shop in MA/CT to carry out the above work, plus something like RRs? I work 65 hours a week...I just don't have time to work on cars anymore.

4) Finally, how much different will the car sound with, say, headers, a DP and the stock exhaust? Will there be any real change in tone?

5) CAI vs. open cone vs. FWI...any final thoughts? I'm intrigued to think I could just throw a filter on the end of my MAF...but that seems so cheesy....

Please avoid the glass pack ! U will sound like a bumble bee!! Flomasters are great to make them sound more "throaty", but it still won't be quite as loud as a z28, but almost!!

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Didn't realize you were just up the road. I'd do the work if you need someone reputable.

Personally I don't believe you'd notice a difference between headers and plog on the level you are looking to go. I had plog/DP when my Regal was SC'd, Gen V and 1.9's....Never held it back at all, actually that setup led 05CompGman to cam and others to do stuff as well.

Sound.. there is a slight difference, morso a little louder in the cabin as you get rid of the double wall stock downpipe.

CAI etc.. I've toyed with this in various setups/cars that I've had. I dislike the noise of a cone when the car is cold, and yet run one. I've also run the stock airbox with the Gen V/Rocker setup mentioned above and never had an issue getting enough air.

Thanks for the heads up! I saw you were in Enfield and Googled Purple Dino Motorsports, but didn't find a site for you? Can you send me a private message with your contact info? I wanna do something soon, and would like to speak with you directly!

Originally Posted by Swarzkopf

Looking for a reliable high 13 second daily driver, I'd do:
- Colder spark plugs (AL605s or 104s)
- K&N drop in panel filter
- Either headers (more effective, more work, better bang for buck) or 3" downpipe (effective enough, less work, more expensive per gain)
- PCM tune
- 3.5 pulley
Done-zo

You could throw 1.9 rockers and a fenderwall intake into the mix too, if you want.
I'd skip the PLOG. I had one on my Regal - saw no gains at all from it honestly, even after tuning - when I swapped the parts above from my '00 GS to my '06 GP GT I left the PLOG on the Regal. LOL

Anyway, those basic mods really wake the car up, make it a lot more fun to drive in my opinion, and don't really muck with it's ability to be a daily driver. Anything beyond that starts to compromise daily driver reliability in my opinion. You could throw an intercooler on it and keep boost low, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of intercooling, etc[/COLOR]

Isn't there a major disadvantage sticking with a panel filter vs. a CAI or FWI? If not, I'm all ears...would love to have something I have clean less often!

Reviving my old thread...still waiting to hear from BillBoost...may just have to send a PM!

After a couple months spent doing some research, and thinking about how long I realistically want to keep the car, I've kinda decided I'm gonna go all out! I like having FWD for the winter, and I have an 07 Sierra Duramax I'll be paying on for the next 3 years. This thing is paid for...time to have some fun with it!

So here's the plan...

Powertrain:
-Cone on the end of the TB...if anyone knows the part # K&N that fits, that will be my first mod
-ZZP 1.0 PCM
-ZZP downpipe
-ZZP Plog (don't feel like spending the time/$$ on headers unless I find an awesome used deal on some stainless ones)
-3.5 pulley
-SLP or ZZP catback
-Colder plugs (haven't done enough research yet to know for sure)

MAYBE I will get into some RRs...not sure yet. Maybe if/when the valve covers start to leak, it'll be the perfect excuse!!

Appearance:
-Changing my 42% legal tint to 35% illegal (been able to get 35 through MA inspections ok on my Camaros, dark enough to make a difference...)
-SE front lip
-Silver Refective concept Pontiac inlays on front and rear bumpers...black arrowhead overlay on nose

Suspension/Chassis:
-4 of these bad boys...
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand
-4 235/50/18s...either Continental or GY Eagle F1s
-ZZP STBs front and rear

MAYBE getting into something like 1" lowering springs...considering GXP-spec OEM Bilsteins, unless someone has a better idea. I don't want to go too low because I'd like to keep some ground clearance for winter use and not destroy the SE lip on icy snow piles...yes, I can see that happening.

The car is mechanically perfect the way it sits, however I will be doing the second round of fluid changes next Spring (did them all in 2009...owned car since 06). I've never done the plugs before, so that will be the perfect time to do it. Thoughts on this setup is appreciated...wondering what might be out there for a good sway bar upgrade for a Comp G?

I would never recommend to anyone to put headers on a daily driven car, unless they are TOGs or S&S. Otherwise, they are a headache.

If I were you, I'd keep your exhaust completely stock, throw on an intercooler, 3.4ish pulley, injectors, and a tune. That will make more power than anything you have listed thus far.

Also, you can't put an air filter on the the tb of the 04+ cars, because they have an external maf. You will need some couplers.

Because they are always a maintenance issue.