newbie from arizona signed up to learn more about my new 04gtp

**Boostedvet** · 01-31-2015

So, I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Dange from Arizona, I just bought a 2004 grand prix gtp comp g as a daily driver.
I"m new to Pontiac, the 3800 and even fwd at that. so I signed up to learn more about the car to fix it up some, and maybe snatch up some used parts in the forsale section its a 11 year old car so it needs some touchups here and there. but so far im enjoying it.
my other car became a wee bit too much for the street and I needed something that i could fit more than 2 people in, get more than 8k miles to a set of tires, able to go over speedbumps. and load myself, at least 2 others and some snowboard gear but not be so much a slouch that I could still pass and maintain speedlimit (+5) going up the mountains. well its tax season and my buddy just upgraded and listed this for sale as it was his daily for a price i couldn't argue with so I snatched her up!
currently bone stock, im thinking at most ill do intake, downpipe and tune leave the stock exhaust because I actually really like how quiet it is. and a stereo.
I already repaired the keyfob that i guess wasnt working for the past few years, and found the HUD fix how-to, and realized thats whats wrong with mine.

**theaceofspades** · 01-31-2015

Welcome! Nice clean black comp g the guys on here are very knowledgeable and I think once you learn the 3800 you'll love it even more

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-31-2015

Welcome brah.

**SgtMarshal** · 01-31-2015

Instead of a downpipe, you should pick up a set of headers on eBay. Speed daddy headers run like 225. Welcome to the club.

**timboku** · 01-31-2015

Looks Clean. Welcome!!!

**wowitsfast** · 01-31-2015

I love black on black. Nice ride. Welcome

**BrandonHall10** · 01-31-2015

Welcome! Another Tucson member! I'm curious what the other car is?? "a wee bit too much for the street" has me interested...

x2 on the headers BTW.

**Boostedvet** · 01-31-2015

Are headers really worth it? I really like the fact its quiet and unassuming but still plenty quick for stock. . i want to keep it as reliable as possible, its main concern is daily driving and roadtrips, so i dont want to dump too much into gofast goodies. all my mod money goes to the vette and im not too worried about much speed because if i want to go have fun i bring out the big girl.

Brandon I have a ever so slightly modified Corvette. but between the blower, 2 seats, and drag radials in the rear its a blast but Not at all street friendly, cant clear most apartment speed bumps, the drag-radials don't last long on the street and unless its dry out they get no traction on wet roads and limits me to about 45-50 if there is any standing water otherwise you can feel it wanting to start to hydroplane in the rear.

**selliott** · 01-31-2015

Good looking car. Personally id just stick with the simple bolt ons (headers,downpipe,intake, etc) and enjoy your ride.

**NebTurboST5** · 01-31-2015

welcome you ever take the vet to SWIR?

**SgtMarshal** · 01-31-2015

the headers wont change how the car sounds much. the 97-03 Grand Prix have a "U-Bend" in the exhaust just before the converter and doesn't help the efficiency. a downpipe will fix that problem, but headers will help the engine breath a lot better. the only problem with the headers is that the downpipe hangs down a bit lower than what I am comfortable with, so I cut out the interlock flex section and welded in a shorter one. there are a lot of "how to" on this site, so welcome to the club.

**theaceofspades** · 01-31-2015

Just do a 3inch zzp dp a tune and call it a day only do headers if you live in a no emission state

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-31-2015

Keep it simple, skip headers because they are never a "bolt on" and go mod unless you spend big bucks on made to fit units. The cheaper speed daddy headers require modding to even make them work perfect and to keep them quiet.

Just do a 3in downpipe, it will help enough with exhaust flow and you could always add a power log front manifold someday in the future to keep it simple still. The only downside is the cat converters that those downpipes come with, they are considered high flow units. Those tend to set the check engine light and in some cases cause poor fuel mileage. The spark plug non-fouler trick is known to work well and or replacing the high flow cat with better one or chopping the old converter from the stock DP and welding it into the new downpipe.

**blueguy** · 01-31-2015

Or you can just run it catless and tune the car to shut everything off and make it simple and on top of all that never have to worry about a cat clogging down the road...even with a catless downpipe you'll hardly notice a noise difference out back.

**Boostedvet** · 02-04-2015

Originally Posted by NebTurboST5

welcome you ever take the vet to SWIR?

not since the big round of mods including the blower install.. ive been going through fixing all the weak links before i really beat on it.

and as to the 3" downpipe, I thought it didn't match up with the stock exhaust and so i had to go with the 2.5" down-pipe? I don't mind going catless, i will be tuning it for sure to firm up the transmission so itll get rid of the CEL, just as long as it doesnt add any rasp HOWEVER the loss in MPG is more of a concern than the power gain..

btw thanks for the info so far!

**theaceofspades** · 02-04-2015

Originally Posted by Boostedvet

not since the big round of mods including the blower install.. ive been going through fixing all the weak links before i really beat on it.

and as to the 3" downpipe, I thought it didn't match up with the stock exhaust and so i had to go with the 2.5" down-pipe? I don't mind going catless, i will be tuning it for sure to firm up the transmission so itll get rid of the CEL, just as long as it doesnt add any rasp HOWEVER the loss in MPG is more of a concern than the power gain..

btw thanks for the info so far!

You can tell Zzp to put a 2.5 inch flange on so it'll match 👍👍

**SgtMarshal** · 02-04-2015

running without a cat will lower your gas mileage. you can do a catted downpipe that will open up your exhaust and not affect your emissions.

**theaceofspades** · 02-04-2015

Originally Posted by SgtMarshal

running without a cat will lower your gas mileage. you can do a catted downpipe that will open up your exhaust and not affect your emissions.

False IRRC it's 01+ that actually rely on the O2 and if the cats deleted hell dump fuel and run rich as hell even with the catted he will most likely need to foul the O2 ask me how I know lol

Well false about the catted part not affecting emissions

**GTPpower** · 02-04-2015

I've really grown to hate the header options for these cars. All the cheap ones are not as cheap as they seem. They require work and money for them to work properly.

I would just buy a 3" catted downpipe, and leave your stock manifolds alone. You will never have to worry about it again.

That is what I did on my 04 comp g, and that car made more power than 99% of the cars on here.