i want to do some mods for cheap..... - GM Performance Tuning

MyBlkGT · #1 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 03:01 PM

hey.............i have a 99 grand am gt, don't have the best job in the world, i usually get about $200 or more a week, and i want to make my car a little faster and sound better. The borla exhaust comes to mind, i've been lookin at it for a while, but i'm waiting for my income tax money to come back, i'm getting almost $900 back. I'm getting the SD Ram Air Hood from www.pfyc.com which i'm only paying half bc me and my brother got into a fight and he punched my hood so he's paying the other half instead of paying full price for a regular hood. ANYWAYS, i don't know if i want to blow all my money on an exhaust, so my question is....i've been lookin' stuff up and writing parts and prices down, wanted a turbo or supercharger but my bro talked me out of it, i have a couple things written down...here they are, i'd love for someone on here to tell me if these are good parts to put on a grand am

1. ICCU ($329.99) i forget the website, maybe zzperformance
2. A power pulley kit ($250) mantapart, i did not understand the site much bc i'm not an engine buff, alot was also expensive on the site, or i didn't know what it was or could do.
3. MSD Fuel Pump ($129.95) rksport????
4. Polyurethane/Aluminum Engine/Transmission mount ($280) rsm racing
5. PLASTIC K&N Air Intake Kit ($200??) ..couldn't find it, don't want aluminum tho.

This is kind of what i'm looking to get, or a power programmer which my bro thinks i should get to tune some things out first. I've also had friends say to get cams, fuel injectors, NOS (yea right), or gtp engine swap. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR ME, IT'D BE A BIG HELP. I get my hood in pry 2 weeks from tomorrow, and hopefully my income tax check soon, so i'm ordering everything when i get it. If you guys look over this, maybe you could e-mail me...i dunno how i'll know if u guys respond to this. Clay1play3r2@netscape.com is my email address. Maybe if i figure out how to I will get a pic of my car on here. It's really nice lookin besides the *in the process of being gone* knuckleprints on the top of my hope which turns into a big embarrassing dent lol. anyways thanks!

MyBlkGT · #2 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 03:07 PM

again ...... also does anyone have the Tornado Air Management System, is it any good, usefull, or no difference? here are a few others, B & M Transmission Cooler, Walbro fuel pump instead, and Sports Roller Tip Rocker Arms from that confusing mantapart website. THANKS

urweak · #3 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyBlkGT

1. ICCU ($329.99) i forget the website, maybe zzperformance
2. A power pulley kit ($250) mantapart, i did not understand the site much bc i'm not an engine buff, alot was also expensive on the site, or i didn't know what it was or could do.
3. MSD Fuel Pump ($129.95) rksport????
4. Polyurethane/Aluminum Engine/Transmission mount ($280) rsm racing
5. PLASTIC K&N Air Intake Kit ($200??) ..couldn't find it, don't want aluminum tho.

1. I am guessing you are talking about an ECM maybe. Personaly i wouldnt bother with that.
2. a pulley system will add a few horsepower, but mantapart isnt the a really good company. they sometimes take over a year to mail items or longer. if you still want to order from them, do it COD only.
3.you have no use for a fuel pump since you have a stock motor.
4. looks like a good mod, but i dont know what you all get for $280
5. your not going to find one, the only thing you will find is aluminum for the 3400.

urweak · #4 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyBlkGT

again ...... also does anyone have the Tornado Air Management System, is it any good, usefull, or no difference? here are a few others, B & M Transmission Cooler, Walbro fuel pump instead, and Sports Roller Tip Rocker Arms from that confusing mantapart website. THANKS

Tornado is a waste, it will do NOTHING, DO NOT buy it!!! I dont see the need for a tranny cooler since you dont have any mods, and your not towing anything. no need for a fuel pump since your on a stock motor. rockers are probably to much for you at this point per experience.

Check this site out.
http://www.milzymotorsports.com/

GMTuners.net · #5 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 07:19 PM

i agree with the above comments except one. you may not be able to buy a plastic intake but you can build one with pvc piping and its not that hard to do. personally i would go the route of a doctor speed stage III with aluminum but its your car. drop by a mendards, lowes, or home depot and dig into the pvc piping. it'll take more work but it can be done.

for exhaust you might also look at the slp, its a bit louder at idle and acceleration than the borla, and over $200 cheaper. some even swear that you get a bit more power gains from it than borla.

you might also consider looking into the 62mm TB, getting a port/polish (these can be found at the milzy site linked above), and definitely a DHP PCM which is currently $215 on pfyc although rumor has it that the price is gonna be dropping soon. Magnecore wires and NGK Iridium spark plugs will also help you a bit (and are quite affordable).

And you mentioned a gtp engine swap. Its been done but its not cheap. You will have to run both the gtp and gagt pcm's side by side which will require some programming. A new transmission will also be on the list of things to do. Due to its size it wont be easy to fit alot of things back into the engine bay. And cost wise...its just not feasible if you want to go with cheap performance upgrades. The GTP engine swap is only really good for a show car or track car, if your car is a daily driver then I would stay away from this.

eric99gt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 08:58 PM

PCM can be gotten directly from DHP for $100 at the moment. If all you have is $900 at the moment I would start with some form of a CAI and the SLP exhaust.

eric99gt · #7 (**permalink**) 02-26-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urweak

1. I am guessing you are talking about an ECM maybe. Personaly i wouldnt bother with that.
2. a pulley system will add a few horsepower, but mantapart isnt the a really good company. they sometimes take over a year to mail items or longer. if you still want to order from them, do it COD only.
3.you have no use for a fuel pump since you have a stock motor.
4. looks like a good mod, but i dont know what you all get for $280
5. your not going to find one, the only thing you will find is aluminum for the 3400.

The ICCU is not an ECM. It is an in control car unit that allows fuel and timing adjustments on the fly. And since your car is practically stock I would not be worrying about this at the current time. And if it got to the point where you did need it I would go with the DHP powertuner over this.

Danmuzicman · #8 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 12:15 PM

honestly i would do intake exhuast and tuning for better shifts. get the hood and be done, or get some rims. the car is not going to go fast until you boost it. even if you did a cam and heads your looking at 20hp there and tis alot fo work and so expensive for 20hp. i dont see why you need a fuel pump either unless your rebuilding the whole motor or doing boost. do the pulleys, but loose the pump and the moutns. dont change your moutns out until they need to. even if you did youd gain a whopping like 1lbs of tourque.

urweak · #9 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 10:36 PM

You dont need to make 3 different threads on the same topic

phat_ridegt · #10 (**permalink**) 02-27-2006, 11:46 PM

nitrous is the best hp/per dollar you will ever spend, do it correctly and you can run it VERY safely and run 14's in your grand am. get a full exhaust custom (not slp or borla) for about 400 including mufflers and tips, make a cai, i made mine from a prelude 95-95 intake, took about an hour, and a zex kit and fmu would run you 450-500. so theres 1000.00 to run 14's in your gagt. or course some gauge will be needed, oil pressure, EGT (a/f would be ok i guess but egt is better) and trans temp gauge will be a good idea w/ nitrous. i ran 14.8 in my 98gagt, you have 20more hp to start with, id say a zex kit would be perfect for you, and can be hooked up in about 3 hours or less

MyBlkGT · #11 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 01:45 AM

thanks phat, maybe i'll think about that then ....urweak THANKS bro lol

Danmuzicman · #12 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 07:51 AM

you can get guages from cheapguages.com thats where i got mine i got a full pilliar and two guages for 130 bucks.

jeremy96gase · #13 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 02:00 PM

You should also check out
http://www.fastfwdperformance.com/
for an Underdrive Pulley. Its just the crank pullie, and I had a noticable gain on my Grand Am.

edit: Oh, and cheapgauges.com is no more.

MyBlkGT · #14 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 07:21 PM

ok i have a few ?'s ...looking on fast forward performance, might consider getting the pulley...i know i've said this b4 BUT, what about those billet engine mounts, says "What does this mean for you? Harder launches, crisper feeling shifts, and longer engine mount life." also these rocker roller tip arms or somethin from manta for like $200 or somethin, my friend said that'd be a good cheap buy for a little noticability? and maybe the slp exhaust and get borla exhausts tips later? pulley, mounts, sports roller tip rocker arms, and slp exhaust? is this possible for $900 and capable for my car. hopefully SOMEONE is not going to bash me for saying engine mounts again lol. ok thanks

MyBlkGT · #15 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 07:23 PM

oh ..will those engine mounts fit my 99 gagt? or no and is all this stuff going to cost me an arm and leg to install ..i could pry spend maybe 4-600 for the install, is that too cheap? lol, do i HAVE to spend alot to install this....? and with these parts if they're ok, how much hp will i get at the wheels