When modding a car from the start: (order of mods list for best results!!!)

[dark]

this seems like a more effective table to me

what do you all think?....(i put my changes in bold)

Stage 1
Dual Exhaust (2.25" for Naturally Aspirated Cars and 2.5" for Blown Cars and some big strokers)
Rear End Gears & Traction-Lok (3.73 for Manual & 4.10 for Automatic)
Cold Air Intake
Underdrive Pullies
Rims and wheels

stage 2
Short Throw Shifter (5-Speed) or Shift Kit (Automatic)
Torque Converter (Automatics)
Suspension Upgrade (Lowering Springs, Shocks & Struts, Rear Sway Bar and Strut Tower Brace).
Throttle Body (94-98) with crossover tube matching.
new braking system

Stage 3
Ported and Polished Upper Intake, Lower Intake & Heads
Custom Ground Camshaft
Pushrods and Springs
Ignition System (Only needed if Forced Induction or Nitrous is used)
Fuel System Upgrades (190/255 lph fuel pump, bigger injectors & adjustable fuel pressure regulator)
Custom Chip necessary at this level for max power! Usually worth at least 10-15 RWHP and mucho low end torque.

Stage 4
Built 3.8 or 4.2L Engine (big bore best)
Supercharger, Turbocharger, Nitrous
Forged Internals (sic) Forged rods and pistons are a good idea.
MAF (all years) and TB (99^) stock MAF is adequate before this

[silverford96]

where do can you find the 2.25" pipes? All i can find is the 2.5. I dont want the 2.5 because im only planing on a catted H pipe or an X pipe, LT headers, and CAI.

or would the 2.5 work, i dont want to lose too much back pressure. I have heard a lot of debate on the backpressure topic

[97Stallion]

2.5" will work just fine because you are keeping your cats. Also they will look better sticking out the back. i think it's funny when you see honda and such with little 1" pipes sticking out the back.

[KyleUSAF]

yea, and some that are so rusted and look like they've been through a grease fire and have holes all over 'em

[RGR]

Quote: Originally Posted by 97Stallion 2.5" will work just fine because you are keeping your cats. Also they will look better sticking out the back. i think it's funny when you see honda and such with little 1" pipes sticking out the back.

Ditto, and in fact, going 2.25 to the muffs and then 2.5 out the back is really
cool cuz it keeps things stepping up and the tones seem to deepen as the pipes
grow. That one MAC setup has 3" tips and sounds really hot even on stock V6's
on sound clips I have heard. It steps up like that.

[Rick0636]

I think its funnier when you see a riced out honda with dual stove pipe sized fart cannons out the back, that is way over kill.

[cjd10]

my buddy stuck an apple in one of those

[Rick0636]

Would be interesting to see if the Honda engine could build up enough pressure in the exhaust system to blow the apple out!!

[Danger Dude]

I know a Toyota Pick-up with a R-22 engine died after blowing up a platex dish washing glove to the size of a beach ball. It cold not bust the glove. My supervisor twice started the car and drove till the car would die. Me and a few of my co workers were following laughing are asses off. Finally after he took off the second time a passing car yelled at him to look at the big hand flopping around on his Exhaust. He stopped and was cutting the glove off when we pulled up behind him and just laughed. He was so pissed for about 5 minutes then he started laughing

[lowflyn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude I know a Toyota Pick-up with a R-22 engine died after blowing up a platex dish washing glove to the sizze of a beach ball. It cold not bust the glove. My supervisor twice started the car and drove till the car would drive. Me and a few of my co workers were following laughing are asses off. Finally after he took off the second time a passing car yelled at him to look at the big hand flopping around on his Exhaust. He stopped and was cutting the glove off when we pulled up behind him and just laughed. He was so pissed for about 5 minutes then he started laughing

Haha..I've done that with condoms...but it was on a dodge ram with the 5.9, didn't take long to blow em lol

[RGR]

Just buy your muffs and get custom pipes...
The takeoffs are a waste, you get the muffs and pipes, for probably more $$$
than custom. Takeoffs + Shipping is usually more than custom pipes.

[kyl3]

can you post an estimate on how much each stage would cost?

[lowflyn]

Quote: Originally Posted by RGR Just buy your muffs and get custom pipes... The takeoffs are a waste, you get the muffs and pipes, for probably more $$$ than custom. Takeoffs + Shipping is usually more than custom pipes.

Only if you dont' wait for a deal. I got my exhaust, mach 1 take off's for 50 bucks, and 50 bucks shipping from new york

[RGR]

Quote: Originally Posted by kyl3 can you post an estimate on how much each stage would cost?

Good idea, I can get prices new from my 2 buds that have sites and
also list a decent used price. I could post it rhight on the list...

[RGR]

Quote: Originally Posted by timpryor gears dont add H.P. they just help you get up to speed faster however it will lower your top speed and you will need a gear tooth to adjust your speed.

ACTUALLY:
With Rev and Speed limiters removed, certain higher numerical gears
will actually increase top speed. But you need a chip to get that removed.

With stock gears the car will stop accelerating before peak HP RPM is reached
in high gear, so more rear end gearing will increase top speed to a point by
allowing the engine to rev higher in top gear towards the HP peak. Not sure
exactly what gear this is for a stock V6, probably 3.45's but perhaps 3.73's
for a good cammed V6 I need to do some figuring for this.

Anyone know what RPM you can hit at top speed in a chip tuned car?

[dark]

i had my limit raised to 5500. i haven't taken it above 100mph. but it was around 2700rpm at that point. that's on stock gearing

[Danger Dude]

My rpm limiter was rasied to 6000 rpm

[Rick0636]

The real way to come out GT takeoff exhausts is to get some from a junk yard or from a GT owner who has upgraded, then you come out for real cheap, got the one I had on my 94 V6 vert for 50 bucks from a local junk yard and they took them off. They even threw in an off road H which I gave the muffler shop guy and they had Borla Mufflers on them, hehehehe.

[RGR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rick0636 The real way to come out GT takeoff exhausts is to get some from a junk yard or from a GT owner who has upgraded, then you come out for real cheap, got the one I had on my 94 V6 vert for 50 bucks from a local junk yard and they took them off. They even threw in an off road H which I g the muffler shop guy and they had Borla Mufflers on them, hehehehe.

That is a good way to go, GT-Takeoffs if you get them cheap, Rick.
I got a set free and set up a local guy with them, it sounded GREAT!

Very mild engine setup too. Nearly dead-stock. Just had a Stage1 Upper and
1/2 shafted, ported TB, K&N in stock airbox, the duals and 3.73 gears. 95 auto...

Then an idiot in a truck wrecked it

I just hate to see people paying for GT takeoffs and ditching the
mufflers, buying some overpriced aftermarket stuff and just using
a set of stock pipes that they paid (possibly) more for than just
getting custom pipes bent at the muffler shop. That does happen.