Thread: Tuning 99 GTP stock

Originally Posted by tomtom123

Maybe if I can save up some money over the summer when I have the summer off of classes I'll see if I can get a N/A 3800 and do the top swap. If I can get a reliable good shape engine, I want to get a tune so I can drop a pulley size or two. I was thinking going to a 3.5 on my car because a lot of guys say it doesn't make it much less reliable than stock. But right now I a tune and a MPS away from that

curious who is giving you all this information here in michigan.

Which part were you curious about knowing where I got the info? I get about 90% of my information from posts on this site

I have read multiple threads stating that with a tune, downpipe, and colder plugs you can get away with a 3.5" pulley. Is this false?

There are certain general guidelines to go by as far as what you can get away with but honestly you don't know what you can get away with until you start scanning...

Originally Posted by tomtom123

I have read multiple threads stating that with a tune, downpipe, and colder plugs you can get away with a 3.5" pulley. Is this false?

Maybe a tune commanding 8* of timing and low 10 AFR.
You'll be slower than stock though.

And on an NA shortblock you won't even be able to do that much.

Originally Posted by tomtom123

Maybe if I can save up some money over the summer when I have the summer off of classes I'll see if I can get a N/A 3800 and do the top swap. If I can get a reliable good shape engine, I want to get a tune so I can drop a pulley size or two. I was thinking going to a 3.5 on my car because a lot of guys say it doesn't make it much less reliable than stock. But right now I a tune and a MPS away from that

I needed a full size intercooler and headers to run a 3.4 pulley on a top swap.

Oh I understand. No, I'm not top swapped right now. I have a stock GTP with AL 104's and a 2.5" catt'd ZZP downpipe. I see hardly any knock except random spikes up to 6.5° but again, that's every now and then and not really at one particular speed.

Why do you have AL 104s on a stock car? You should be running a stock plug.

catted 2.5 isnt really much of an upgrade for a GTP either... if you have other mechnaical issues the extra air isnt helping anything. The 3.8 pulley is on a stock GTP because it wont cause much damage when you have other issues.

I've seen a few stock GTPs have fuel issues to cause 14:1 afrs at wide open... bad pumps, dirty injectors, bad maf, etc

Originally Posted by SnowFlake

Why do you have AL 104s on a stock car? You should be running a stock plug.

Because at one point I had a lean condition and my spark plugs were being destroyed over and over and I was talking to a few people that are mechanics who told me I might be better off for the time being to get AL 104's since they burned colder. Now that it isn't running lean, I could go and pay the ~$45 for the set of stock AC Delco's, but is it actually hurting the car to run the AL 104's?

Originally Posted by darkhorizon

catted 2.5 isnt really much of an upgrade for a GTP either... if you have other mechnaical issues the extra air isnt helping anything. The 3.8 pulley is on a stock GTP because it wont cause much damage when you have other issues.

I've seen a few stock GTPs have fuel issues to cause 14:1 afrs at wide open... bad pumps, dirty injectors, bad maf, etc

I have a lot of work to do on this car and I don't really have the money to do it. It is leaking oil slightly and every once in a while I see a bit of coolant leaking out under the SC so I'm pretty sure that's the coolant elbow. Just have to get some time and cash to figure out what's wrong with it and how to fix it. Had a stalling issue for a while but it doesn't seem to do that anymore. This thing has stumped me a few times

Originally Posted by tomtom123

Because at one point I had a lean condition and my spark plugs were being destroyed over and over and I was talking to a few people that are mechanics who told me I might be better off for the time being to get AL 104's since they burned colder. Now that it isn't running lean, I could go and pay the ~$45 for the set of stock AC Delco's, but is it actually hurting the car to run the AL 104's?

a mechanic told you to get colder plugs after your pistons exploded?

I feel like people are interpreting this as me saying, "oh I bought a supercharged car and now I'm going to slap a smaller pulley on and not pay attention to maintenance issues". I have been slowly working on getting this car in good working order so that I could do a pulley drop, but if the engine is going to need replaced then I am clearly not going to go full retard and drop a pulley size. I was unaware that the AL 606's were the same as the stock AC Delco's so next time I go into town I'll probably buy a set of those and swap them.

Darkhorizon, can you define "piston exploded"?
Also, everyone talks about how the downpipe/u-bend is one of the most restricting pieces of our exhaust, so how is a 2.5" catt'd downpipe not much of an upgrade? I'm not saying that since I got that downpipe I am now good to go, I understand there is much more that can be done to the car, I am not looking to make a racecar, just learning things that can be done and when they can be done.

I get enough nagging from the girlfriend xD
But yeah, I do understand everyone not wanting to see mistakes re-made, especially when there is so much information on how to prevent those mistakes. I do want everyone to know that I don't plan on going to a smaller pulley without doing the proper supporting mods AND the proper maintenance updates =P
Since my friend is in town, I'll see if he can pick me up a set of 606's and bring them to me when he gets back. But again, if this engine is basically screwed piston wise and I'm going to need a new engine, then I'm just going to try and keep this one on the road until I can afford a new engine =/

I do appreciate information and help I receive from everyone as well!