Thread: Should I stop before I start?

Hi everyone. Been reading for a few days and am starting to learn alot about the car I have.

My 99 GTP has about 170,000 miles (about 265,000 KM im Canadian).

I bought it with 190,000 KM on it about 1.5 years ago for $1000 Canadian.

It had been well looked after by the previous owner.

Thing is it's my only car and I put on a lot of miles to get to work.

I recently needed all new exhaust and was lucky to find a guy to sell me a next to new Borla Cat back... likely worth $1400 Canadian. Bought it for $300 even and a local muffler shop put it on for $100.

The same guy also sold me a 3.4 pulley and a puller for $100 which I thought was better than half price.

Now, due to all the reading I've done on this site I have the bug to modify.

But should I?

I will need....

1) Headers
2) colder plugs
3) Tstat
4) cone filter(I have already but like the mods I seen on this site)

and the sticky for modding suggests I also do the Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets/Coolant Elbows (2) ...

THis all sounds costly for a 170,000 Mile car doesn't it?

What shoudl I be doing?

a) nothing
b) mod it and if it blows up strip all the parts I bought(headers, borla, plugs, etc) and wait to find a nother car.

I am a car salesman at a GM dealer so it's not unreasonable to think another GTP could come along. I really like the dark forest green I have though.

Headers will cost me abotu $300 min plus $50 shipping... I'll have to pay someone to put those on, pay someone for the gaskets and etc...

I think the labour is going to be twice the cost of the parts!

I shouldn't do this on such a high mileage car should I?

By the way the tranny went at 225,000 KM and I had the GM dealer drop in a used one that had about 80,000 miles on it(125,000 KM)

Miles don't mean a thing if the car was well maintained. Where do u live in Canada?

Kitchener Waterloo area.

Thing about the headers and such is that I don't have a hoist or a torch if needed to weld... I've been looking at OCX stainless headers for $300 and word is they are good but require welding and cutting, etc.

and as per doing the work myself I don't even have tools.

or the time really... I can't afford my car to be down and out for a few days. NOt only that I don't have the space... I live in an apartment building with outdoor parking.

I'd love to learn all this stuff..

Maybe one day when I get a house and a second car I will start learning myself.

is going to a 3.4 pulley too far?

so downpipe and Plog along with the 3.4 is just as good as the headers and the 3.4?

Don't some headers come with downpipes? WHy not do them both?

I vote leave it alone and drive it. Wait til you can afford another car. Look for a low mileage car or a blown motor car to rebuild and learn on. With your GTP being your only source of transportation I wouldn't risk puking the motor from mods. Also without the proper tools, know how or a garage of your own forget it. Just my .02

That catback is worth 1100 at crappy tire or partsource.

Ontario Quebec Club Grand Prix • Index page

Should be more than a few people in that area that might be able to help you out with the install.

Everyone else covered most of the important aspects.

I bought my GTP for only $1000 a year and a half ago and I have not come across another one yet.

I like the forest green... I'm inclined to put some work into it... certainly I am going to need some body work... but a lot of the following stuff is basic maintainence stuff which will help me get another 100,000KM + I already have the 3.4 pulley in the trunk waiting to go on. Just need the Plog and downpipe I suppose yes?



Throttle body gaskets $14.99
Coolant elbows $9.99
Lower intake O-rings $4.99
injector O-rings $9.98
Intake gasket $54.99
NGK Spark Plugs $14.00
OEM plug wires for GM 6 cylinder $37.99
Thermostats180 drilled $14.48
Strut top plates $35.00
High flow fuel filter $14.99
Sub Total: $211.40