Thread: Newb Questions, Ahh, Run for your Life'. 7.9lbs of Boost, 14.9 at 92mph, Bose Radio?

Ok quickly about me, we just picked up our first family sedan, a 2000 GTP. I am really amazed at how great this car is for how big and heavy it is. I am really loving it. The car is 100% pure stock down to the paper filter and OEM plug wires. My introduction thread is here, http://www.grandprixforums.net/hello...gtp-62524.html

I took it out today and ran a baseline with Android Torque, 14.9 at 92mph which kinda shocked me. Does that sound about right for a stock GTP? Attached image.

The Head Unit is a Bose System, with HUD, Steering Wheel Controls, AMP and 12 disc CD Changer. But Ack the deck is a Tape Player, what is the best upgrade route. All we really want is to be able to play MP3's easily. I actually do like the audio quality. Its not exactly a booming system but great for stock. Does anyone on here do the MP3 jack mod for stock decks. (solder in a jack into the head unit)

Oil, we are in Western Canada, average temp is 55F if it hits 70 for us its hot, if it ever hits 90f its a heat wave. So should I stick with the 10w30 or drop it to 5w30. I know the basic rule of thumb is run the lowest grade of oil you can while still maintaining min oil pressure at hot idle. In a Fiero its 5-8psi at hot idle. Why in the world does this car have EVERY OTHER OPTION, but No Freaking Oil Pressure Gauge?

Spark Plugs, Autolite 606's are what I plan to go with, as I usually change my plugs every 3rd or 4th oil change.

Thermostat, 180F sounds about right, for here, we don't want to sacrifice fuel mileage so I think a 160 might be too cold. What would you recommend.

According to Android Torque, with my OBDII Bluetooth adapter, we are at 7.9lbs of boost at wide open throttle, does that sound about right?

Supercharger Oil? I read on here that it should be changed, honestly I have never even heard of that before. Let alone what the proper procedure is for changing it. The drive on the front of the blower looks to be newer than the rest of the unit so I am assuming it has been replaced. How often should the blower oil be changed?

I looked at the plug wires and they appear to be OEM, so I'll be replacing those, cost on OEM here in BC is about 60 bucks, MSD 8.5mm Superconductors are 75, so we will probably replace them with the MSDs.

Head Lights are really hazed, whats the best way to deal with that, polish or replace?
Ok Technical questions.


The Traction control, how does it reduce power, is it a timing pull, fuel pull or?

Performance Shift option. From what I know of transmissions, it would seem that leaving it in performance shift mode, would actually be better for the trans in the long run as it reduces slippage and decreases trans temp / wear. What exactly does get changed when you put it in performance mode. Increased line pressure, alters shift points and what else.


We have already burned though $70 in fuel, (1 tank) after a long freeway run I did get a single instance with a cyl 4 misfire, I cleared it and it has not came back. I also got an evap emission code, which I again cleared and it has not came back. I am hoping that the new wires and plugs will cure that slight possibility of a misfire, as for the evap, I am at a loss.

I hope I did not freak anyone out, I am a car guy, my personal car is an 87 Fiero GT 5spd with a 4.9 V8 5spd and 125hp Nitrous Shot. I also have an 88GT Fiero that I am keeping stock for collector plates, my wife has an 86 Fiero with a V8 plus and 85 Fiero show car. Our previous Family car was a 1996 Chevy Blazer AWD model, 4.3 Vortec motor, great for the winter, but after dumping more money into it than it is worth and find out it needs another $1200 worth of fuel injection parts due to a GM mistake when they designed it, the spider injectors fail and are really costly to fix. We decided it was time to find something in between a V8 Fiero and the Blazer, the GTP has always been on my list of "Cool" cars, and we found this one on Craigslist, went out looked at it and brought it home.



Well here are all the pics I have taken of the car. We had not even washed it when I took these pics, I assure you it is much cleaner now.

Dang looking at your car brings back memories. Looks identical to how mine was bone stock the day I bought it. 14.9 sounds about right. I ran 14.7 with an cone filter the week i bought my car.

Originally Posted by BoostenGTP

Dang looking at your car brings back memories. Looks identical to how mine was bone stock the day I bought it. 14.9 sounds about right. I ran 14.7 with an cone filter the week i bought my car.

Looking at your hood, I really like that. I really don't like the hood on the car now. Off the top of your head, do you know what other years would interchange with this car that would have at least some sort of hood vents? I don't really want to cut this one up, but I have seen some nice aftermarket hood vents and my angle grinder is always happy to zip a few holes in when needed.

Originally Posted by OH4CompG

For the oil, just stick to 10w-30. Dead on with the spark plugs and thermostat. As for the supercharger, the snout is powder coated and the housing is not. That's why it looks newer. To change the supercharger oil you remove the fill plug, suck the oil out, put a little less than 2 bottles of GM supercharger oil in and plug it up. It's full when it comes to the bottom of the threads of the plug.

Originally Posted by OH4CompG

Also, in the stock tune, traction control will pull timing, and disable injectors.

Thank You, I saw the plug, and was not sure. I do have a suction tank that I use for draining trans axles and cooling systems, I'll pick up some new fluid for it tomorrow.

The only hood "Vents" that came factory on the GP from 97-03 is the 2001 Special Edition, 2000 Daytona Edition, and 2002 40th Anniversary Edition. There are a few threads where people used those vents, or you can buy a scoop of your choice and mold it to your hood. Otherwise there are a ton of options for aftermarket hoods. Such as mine. Mine is a Carbon Fiber F1 hood from PFYC.com.

You have bose with a casette player? thers not a good picture of the speakers but I dont see bose on the speakers anywhere.

160 thermo is too cold, get 180 if you think you need it, I run stock.

Traction control pulls timing IIRC.

I see that you love MSD, DO NOT buy their coil packs for these cars. stock are better. I run stock wires too but I think the MSD wires are ok.

Originally Posted by BoostenGTP

The only hood "Vents" that came factory on the GP from 97-03 is the 2001 Special Edition, 2000 Daytona Edition, and 2002 40th Anniversary Edition. There are a few threads where people used those vents, or you can buy a scoop of your choice and mold it to your hood. Otherwise there are a ton of options for aftermarket hoods. Such as mine. Mine is a Carbon Fiber F1 hood from PFYC.com.

Thank I checked out that site and there are tons of things for the GTP that look cool. Its added to my Bookmarks.

Originally Posted by JoRoW99

You have Bose with a cassette player? theirs not a good picture of the speakers but I don't see Bose on the speakers anywhere.

160 thermo is too cold, get 180 if you think you need it, I run stock.

Traction control pulls timing IIRC.

I see that you love MSD, DO NOT buy their coil packs for these cars. stock are better. I run stock wires too but I think the MSD wires are OK.

Yep a Bose tape deck, I honestly could not believe it. There is the factory 12 disc CD changer in the trunk, but who listens to regular Cd's anymore? If I burn a CD it has been an MP3 CD for the last 6 years. I went to a car audio shop yesterday and was basically told I am screwed, because of the Factory AMP and HUD+Steering wheel controls, upgrading the head unit will be a nightmare. I may just get an FM Modulator and run the music off my phone.

At least in the Fiero world a 160 thermo is a bad idea because the computer does not like to see the engine that cold, so Thank You for that. I'll stick with the 180 thermostat.

Yes I am an MSD junkie, I did some research and saw that the MSD coil packs for this car barley last a year, so I'll go ahead and stick with the stock coils. However the MSD 8.5mm wires, have always been good to me, so I'll pick up a set of those.


Alright this may be a dumb total newb question, but removing the plastic cover on the engine, is it just as simple as it looks? Remove the nut at the top then pull? I see it looks to be attached to the oil/crankcase fill port, does that just slip off? I have also seen that some people remove it and leave if off, is that "better" for engine cooling.

The sound deadener under the hood, I would like to remove it, and can't see a reason not too?
Your all going to chuckle at the next question.

My wife said she was really expecting the supercharger whine to be louder and wants to be able to hear it. She says they sound cool. I am assuming the Air box quiets it down alot, so a cone filter should make it louder, is that right?

the extended oil neck spins off, then remove cover.

that thing on the inside of the hood is there for when the motor starts on fire and it would drop down and MAYBE help put it out, but really its useless, and any car owner should have their car leak free, so such event does not happen.

Stock air box baffles everything. Add a intake you'll hear everything from blower whine, to IAC noise and lifters and injectors. 3800's are very noisey cars, so hearing ticking and such is pretty normal, but if its really loud or something, then maybe its an issue.

Last summer I ran a 15.2 1/4 on a bad day, was too humid, most people were complaining of running slower than normal. Completely stock.
Get headers, open cone intake, 3.4 pulley and a good tune and see where you sit then. It will really surprise you how quick these cars could have been factory if GM would have done just a little extra.

If you want whine then open cone is the way to go. Easy to make with parts from Home Depot. Fender well intake will give a bit better results (temp. wise) or if you have $$ get an aftermarket "Thrasher" style intake box. I use a large syringe with a hose attached to syphon out the s/c oil-- be careful not to spill any of it-- stuff smell like crap! One thing to do is get rid of the restrictive "ubend" on the exhaust-- section by the rear 02 sensor-- gives you a few more horse and can clear up possiblr "kr".
btw-- a lot of people keep the oem wires unless you're upgrading to expensive race type wires- iirc someone tested them and found they had less failure rates than MSD's.

stereo is easy. get an alpine (or one that works w/ the adapter) with a pax add on and bypass the factory amp

I like the Spectre Open cone, used their polished elbow, etc.

For what it's worth, start with the modding 3800 thread here, it will answer a lot of questions.

You can replace the stock head unit with an aftermarket, you're not screwed. There are more than one aftermarket solutions as well for maintaining steering wheel control with the newer stereo's so no worries there either.

Get new headlights, the quick fixes don't work, got mine for $75 per at Rock-Auto, your tails look shot as well. Unless of course you want to retrofit HID's, that a different animal altogether.

180* Tstat is fine...

I used Taylor 8.5mm wires and they're a decent upgrade without spending $ on a name (MSD), I paid $45 for the Taylor's.

606 are stock, 605's are good to a 3.6/3.5 pulley for the most part.

Your car looks nice and clean so everything else is easy.

Do a tranny pan drop to change oil and filter. I put a shift kit in too while it was opened. I don't remember reading how many miles your car has.

Ultimately, the car has been around for a while, and pretty much everything that could be tried on them has been. So, do some research and make a plan with what you want to do or how far you want to mod it. THEN go for it.
lol

Anyways, welcome aboard and good luck with it.


my project, and joy...
http://www.grandprixforums.net/my-ba...gtp-57086.html

For your radio just get a tape adapter that hooks to your mp3 player. It's not perfect quality but it's cheap.

We tried the cassette adapter, bought a Belkin adapter. Don't ask me to explain this as frankly I can't. This goes against everything that should be "right" When we put the tape adapter in, the left front channel drops out and only the left front. When we put a regular tape in, or listen to the radio all the speakers work fine.

There should be no way for the head unit to distinguish front to rear. If the entire left side or entire right side went out, that would be understandable, but just the left front? I am going to pick up a good quality FM adapter and try that. It won't be as good as a hard line wired adapter, but it will make do for now.

Ok rather than repost the same info again, here is a link to a new thread, that covers the plug change, install of a cone filter, using the stock intake tube, new wires, and my results while I am in the middle of a 1000 mile road trip. We have gone about 500 miles so far, and are tweaking things as we go. The old plugs had worn down to a .120 gap, I can't believe they were even firing. Explains why I got a misfire on cyl 4. Also has a pic of a speaker showing the BOSE logo.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/120-g...tml#post802646

To loudest whine go with a FWI, it helps to echo the sound and make it sound loud. When I was supercharged I ran 10w30 year around. The coldest we get here is 20-30 degrees and the hottest is about 105+. Since you live in Canada where it's mostly cold(well what I consider cold) then I'd probably run 5w-30. If you wanted you could always move to a synthetic or synthetic blend oil. However, 5w-30 and 10w-30 are so close it's really a moot point IMO.

3800's are solid engines and w-bodies are just overall decent performers. I'm considering retiring my turbo GP to weekend/show warrior status and picking up another GP or a Regal for the old man comfy as hell daily driver. My wife has a 08 base GP and the interior is a million times better than the 97-03.