Light mods for high mileage

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

I have a 1998 gtp with about 171k on it. The engine is solid and so is the transmission. I am looking into some light mods, but I wasn't sure where to start. I was planning on getting an slp high flow catback, but after some thinking I remembered that my model year has a poorly breathing airbox. If I did both it would probably be a good amount of time between both mods, so which should be done first. I love cars and I know a lot about them, but I'm new to the modding world as far as where to start. Thank you!

**tms8582** · 07-03-2013

Most start with headers or at least u bend delete, intake, smaller pulley and a pcm. A shift kit is cheap mod with noticeable results too.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-03-2013

Adding a cat back adds nothing to the performance. Stock cat-back systems can handle nearly 350 WHP which is 150 over the stock output to the wheels.

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

Thing is I don't want to do any severe mods, especially to the engine or tranny. Yes, headers would be cool, but I don't really need it, same with a smaller pulley, it scares me as far as how my engine will react. But a cai is recommended? Also, I've heard of the u bend delete, but how exactly does it work? The reason you do it is because the u bend restricts flow though right?

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

I'm not aiming to make my car fast as balls lol. I just want it to run better? Maybe a little quicker, but not crazy. Know what I mean?

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

And sound better!

**tms8582** · 07-03-2013

Intake might add a couple ponies and let your hear the super charger whine. U bend delete does help limit the restrictive exhaust. Im sure you can search this site on how to do it exactly. To be honest the cat back will do nothing performance wise and will only sound different. To add a chunk of hp you'd need to increase air flow with intake and exhaust and pulley down.

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

I know zzp makes good performance parts, could a zzp downpipe work as well instead of just a u bend delete?

**riceburner2006** · 07-03-2013

yes. a downpipe will delete the u bend...

**goldgp** · 07-03-2013

I have a ZZP downpipe on my 2000 and i would recommend it.Gets rid of the u-bend (and cat if you decied to) and its easy to install.

The front exaust manifold is also very restrictive on our cars,You may also want to look into a powerlog from zzp. (Of course that and a downpipe cost more than a set of headers which would flow much better)

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

I was looking at the powerlog actually. Thing is I'll probably get rid of my car in a few years, so is there really a point of putting high amounts of money into it? lol I just want to give it some better flow, which should give it a little more kick, right? Did that zzp downpipe do a whole lot from what you could tell?

**goldgp** · 07-03-2013

Meh, it was hard for me to tell because i had a high flow cat before that,So my u-bend was already gone.Its been so long since i had a u-bend on that car that i really dont remember how it felt before.lol.Now u-bend to headers on my 98 gtp made a noticable diff.

NOTE: My 2000 is non-supercharged, so you would probly feel more of a difference than i would have anyway.

**ILoveAudi** · 07-03-2013

Thanks for the info. I need the best bang for buck for now though. I feel as if a cold air intake should be the first priority for my car considering the airbox problem. Also, what headers would you recommend, I know the price really varies, but I'd need something durable considering I live in Ohio if I decided to do headers. And headers shouldn't really put stress on my engine should they? If anything they should help relieve stress because of the better flow shouldn't they?

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-04-2013

Avoid the catback..if anything have a shop weld in mufflers of your choice if your just wanting a different sound then stock.

Ubend delete, DIY intake, downpipe or headers and a tune.

**goldgp** · 07-04-2013

The first thing i would do is a cold air intake.Really the way to go is to make your own vs spending close to 300 bucks on a pre-made k&n or something.Lots of guys here just do a hot air intake (slap a 45* 3inch piece of pvc and a filter on the throttle body) but you could also do a fenderwell intake for a little more work and pull cooler air from outside the engine bay.There are writeups on here for both methods.Waay cheaper, and have just as much flow as a namebrand CAI.As far as headers go, yes, all they do is help.They remove all the troubled areas of our exaust system in one mod.I had good luck with ebay headers.I got either speed daddys or a knockoff of them.Some have had fitment issues, some havent.Also ive heard that the flex section leaks sometime but again, mines ok.

**ILoveAudi** · 07-04-2013

I want a cai with a box though, salt and a vulnerable intake scares me lol

**ILoveAudi** · 07-04-2013

any recommendation on mufflers?

**REDCRAPGP** · 07-04-2013

Originally Posted by ILoveGM

any recommendation on mufflers?

YouTube is your friend. Muffler choice is purely opinion based so your gonna get 3 million different choices. Find something you like a YouTube and go from there.