Thread: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap?

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  1. #1 Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    Hey guys I need some advice. I no when I was a teen I would just throw a $50 fart cannon on my little Cavalier, and go about my day. But now that I have a Grand Prix, I'm clueless as to what I have to do. I've googled it, and keep getting like $1,000+ exhaust systems. So whats the cheap way of doing it? I'm not looking for a fill kit to gain hp, and what not. Thanks in advanced.

    2001 GTP Coup.
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  2. #2 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    I AM PEWPIN! rynoman03's Avatar
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    Honestly leave it stock. I have magnaflow mufflers. While I like them they also have terrible drone at certain rpm's. Mainly 1500rpm to 1800. Terrible.

    If you want just a little bit more throatyness you could replace the resonator with a glasspack. But do like a 24 or 32" I'd leave the mufflers alone if your on a budget.

    A good muffler for non drone and good WOT noise is Dynamax VT. But they are pricey.
    1999 GTPHP Tuned, Ported SC/TB, 42#'s, SSAC's, ZZP Modded 1.9's/LS6 Springs/Manley's, TransGo Shift Kit, Poly Uppers, KYB GR2's/Springtech's. - 231k and traded it in. - Gone
    2000 GTP: XP, P&P'd Heads, N*\Lq4 MAF, GenV, 42#'s, PRJ Rails\FPR, Racetronix, TEP w/ 3.29 Gears, 300m, 7/8" chain, SSAC's. - Collecting dust in my garage.
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  3. #3 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    GTX Level Member EJOUIE's Avatar
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    There is no cheap way of making the 3800 sound nice. The sound problem is with the engine, not the exhaust. It will sound like poop unless you cam it.

    Better than stock, but still poop: modded 02' Grand Prix GT with Magnaflow mufflers - YouTube

    Only way to make the 3800 sound nice: GTP Big cam warm idle - YouTube
    97 GT white 4 door-SOLD

    Cherry 2005 Impala LS- Front and Rear GMPP Strut Tower Braces
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  4. #4 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    Hmm ok maybe I'll just leave it stock. One more question, I'm reading the how to safely mod your 3800 thread right now. But my car has 161k on it, 150k when I bought it. Is that to much to start modding, and adding HP? The guy I got it from was some old guy who took care of the car he had it all written down. It is on its 3rd tranny though, all replaced by him, which is weird to me. Also is a 3.4 pulley setup even a noticeable gain in power? Because I don't plan on going any lower.
    Last edited by dirtbikeryzz; 01-08-2013 at 04:06 PM.
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  5. #5 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    GTX Level Member Neil98gt's Avatar
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    161k isn't too much to start modding. Just make sure you take care of all the maintenance items listen in that thread before you mod.

    And with the transmissions, they are weak and break parts often. He either sucked at rebuilding them or put all used transmissions in and didn't treat it any better.
    98 GT 2dr 116k, Sold
    07 Lexus ES350 Obsidian Black. Premium Plus package, sold
    2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
    2002 Grand Prix GT 4dr
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  6. #6 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    The Blue One blueguy's Avatar
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    Link in signature.

    Read, research, get at it broham.

    This was my car with Flowmasters, catless headers, factory resonator, 3" piping, and an XP cam: GTP Exhaust - YouTube

    This was my next setup with catless headers, a long glasspack for a resonator, then a bullet style proflo muffler before the "Y" with 3" piping to 4" tips and a much larger cam and ported heads: GTP Big Cam Idle/Rev - YouTube

    Then before that out the back, I had it dumped without the proflo muffler: Big Cam GTP Idle & Rev - YouTube

    It was fun-ish. Still sounded like crap because it's a FWD, 90* V6, 3800.
    Sold WBody's: '03 Blue GTP/'98 Green GTP/'98 Silver GT/'05 GXP
    '99 Chevrolet Silverado Classic Z71 4x4 - K&N Intake/Gibson Exhaust #TRUCKTHINGS
    '12 Buick Regal Turbo - ZZP CAI/20% Tint/HID's
    '89 Ford Mustang LX Notchback - LM7 5.3, 4L80, 9", HX40
    '04 Chevrolet Corvette MRM A4/LS1 - TSP LT's, 3"O/R X, AFE S2 CAI
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  7. #7 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtbikeryzz View Post
    Hmm ok maybe I'll just leave it stock. One more question, I'm reading the how to safely mod your 3800 thread right now. But my car has 161k on it, 150k when I bought it. Is that to much to start modding, and adding HP? The guy I got it from was some old guy who took care of the car he had it all written down. It is on its 3rd tranny though, all replaced by him, which is weird to me. Also is a 3.4 pulley setup even a noticeable gain in power? Because I don't plan on going any lower.
    No amount of mileage is to high to mod. I started modding mine with 190 ish on it. A 3.4 is a noticable gain. I noticed a lot with just headers.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  8. #8 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    GTP Level Member wa04compg's Avatar
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    Do headers or dp plog with stock mufflers...then drop to 3.4
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  9. #9 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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  10. #10  
    I live here. DirtDog's Avatar
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    From what I've read overkills pcm's for 3800 are way better. He's slow at returning emails and takes a little time to ship but their supposed to be the best

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
    http://www.grandprixforums.net/my-06-gp-gxp-72403.html
    OBX headers, TEP tranny cooler, ls1 IM fuel rails and injectors, ls2 TB, ls7 MAF, full custom exhaust, Quad retro headlights, full out front and rear suspension work, tuned by HPT by me 8====>

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  11. #11 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by marines542 View Post
    From what I've read overkills pcm's for 3800 are way better. He's slow at returning emails and takes a little time to ship but their supposed to be the best

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
    I can just buy one of these PCM's instead of tuning the stock one right?
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  12. #12 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    GXP Level Member txslow6's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtbikeryzz View Post
    I can just buy one of these PCM's instead of tuning the stock one right?
    Yes, ZZP, Intense Racing, DHP. You name it.
    85 Corvette
    01 TA
    03 Z06
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  13. #13 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by txslow6 View Post
    Yes, ZZP, Intense Racing, DHP. You name it.
    Thanks, sorry if i sound dumb lol I don't no anything about cars, I'm just trying to figure out if my budget of around 5-7 hundred is enough to make some more power or not.
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  14. #14 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    Think this thread died but maybe someone will see this. Few more questions, the cone filter on the end of the throttle body idea from the mod thread, seems odd to me wouldn't that just lower torque with all that hot air?

    2nd, Lower thermostat, spark plugs, are all easy to grab offline but when it comes to headers I'm lost. The thread says around 200+ for them, and all I'm finding is $500 plus deals online, could someone please link me to the best bang for buck purchase? Along with the ZZP manifold I'm suppose to get, the site looks like spanish to me. Once again sorry for the extreme noob questions, I just need some links so I can buy the stuff, and have more experienced people put it together for me .
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  15. #15 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    Ebay
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  16. #16 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    SE Level Member harner's Avatar
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    Watch for Speed Daddy's to come back in stock. They're ~200 shipped.

    FWI > Overpriced CAI > HAI > stock air box.

    Little gains are to be had over an expensive CAI vs a cheap cone mod. I have $20 invested into mine and it functions fine.
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  17. #17 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    GXP Level Member txslow6's Avatar
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    And be prepared to modify the cheap headers in some way shape or form.
    85 Corvette
    01 TA
    03 Z06
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  18. #18  
    GTP Level Member dazedandconfused's Avatar
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    Its been debated and debated about open cone intakes. Take a look under where the throttle body is. It's a exhaust crossover. Heats the air in the throttle body no matter the intake system you go with. Its been proven on a dyno that open cone vs cai there isn't hardly a difference.

    Sent from my iPhail
    97 gtp, cone filter mod, downpipe and glasspack to stock muffler mod, 180* t-stat mod, bad driver mod
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  19. #19 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
    Donating Users Nickell's Avatar
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    earplugs, that will make it sound better, and they are CHEAP!
    1998 GP Daytona - PLOG, 104's, PRJ Wires, Lucas 42.5's, DHP 1.0 Tune, DP, Full Borla, GPO's, Roof Rails, Gen 2 Spoiler, 04+ Needles, Menards Intake, 3.5 Pulley, SSC Springs, Corn-fed
    2000 Bonneville SSEI - 212k+, New Gaskets and Stuffs
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  20. #20 Re: Idea's on how to make my car sound better for cheap? 
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    97 03 04 08 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3 8L Exhaust Header | eBay

    or

    SS Exhaust Manifold Header Extractor Grand Prix GTP Regal Impala 3 8L V6 Wrap | eBay

    If I read the mod thread right, one of the above purchases should cover everything under the exhaust section.
    Last edited by dirtbikeryzz; 01-12-2013 at 05:08 PM.
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