Acer2428

Ok, after a few days on this site I have managed to read the first 10 pages of the 4.6L forum. After reading all of this, I have my basic mods list. Keep in mind I'm 16 and just PAID for my car, a 1998 GT w/ 53,000 miles on it. Here goes:</P>


3.73's or 4.10's (Despite reading, I haven't made up my mind)</P>


BBK Long Tube Headers</P>


Magna- X pipe</P>


Magnapack Cat-exhaust</P>


C&amp;L MAF</P>


My exhaust question: People urge getting off-road cat systems and X-pipes, but aren't they...hemmm... Illegal? Do youhave to drag your stock exhaust out from the basement everytime you go in for emissions? (every other year around here)</P>


Also, is there any cheaper way to do the exhaust and still get good HP gains? I feel like I don't know any other HP mods besides exhaust and intake (ok, pulleys and SC, but come on, I'm 16). </P>


I don't have too much money to spend, let's say under $1500 or so. </P>


What are your opinions on my list? Anything in there that shouldn't be or missing?</P>


All opinions will be greatly appreciated.</P>


</P>


Thanks in advance,</P>


Sam</P>

Brian18034

Acer, the $1500 will spend itself fast enough... </P>


I like the gear idea, 3.73 are good, 4.10 may be a little steep. Next help it breathe. Cold air in (K&amp;N filter)and less restrictive exhaust out (muffler)plus a chip (to correct the speedo AND HP). Drop the car one inch and you just beat 65% of the cars on the road. Keep it simple. Dont remove your cats (the PCM adjusts fuel/air ratio based on readings from the oxygen sensors before and after the cats)</P>


<IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0"> If you have any money left, buy your girlfriend an ice cream.</P>

callmecobra

get the 4:10's, bbk long tubes w/shorty off road h-pipe, and just get an mil eliminator, if you want. i dont have them, and havent run into any probs, with my long tubes and off road pipe. any aftermarket muffler should do you fine, but ide recomend spintech. any cold air intake would help, bbk is nice, but they are all pretty much the same.</P>

vfast

ace..congrats on the car...I'd say move to richmond j/k..I wouldn't do the long tube deal..if you want to be legal it will cost a lil more just going to a 2.5 inch exhaust will help greatly with cats..don't be afraid to buy used like new cats but need to be 2.5" it could save you 100.00 also flowmasters can be had for 45.00 a piece.the tail pipes I would buy new with the 3" tips

put on the 3:73 a bigger maf, 14 degrees timing,some drag radials, 1.7 rockers.shorty headers, syth. oils and pull a 100 pounds out the car will be a good start
this will knock about .5 sec off the car<edited><editID>vfast</editID><editDate>37994.9018865741</editDate></edited>

Acer2428

Thanks guys, although I'm still confused about the off-road pipe question. Do they just weld or bolt onto your stock cats? Or by going to an off-road pipe, you eliminate cats totally? I guess that's the real question. Thanks for your support on the 3.73's. i was tempted by 4.10's, but my parents pay for gas (lucky me) and I don't think they'd be too hot on super-duper (as opposed to just super) poor gas mileage. Ohh... now I want 4.10's again!</P>


Can someone give me a suggestion on a full exhaust system, I'm kind of confused here. Can I use my stock pipes new mufflers and headers? I guess I don't like the $1000+ price tag to do headers + X-pipe + cat-back system. Can someone PLEASE explain this?</P>


Thanks Again,</P>


Sam</P><edited><editID>Acer2428</editID><editDate>37994.9370023148</editDate></edited>

BLKSTANG9879

Sounds like a start. Do that then make another list.

USAMuscle

OK here's the deal on the exhaust. The pieces of the exhaust (headers, mid-pipe, and cat-back) all bolt up to each other, so no welding is involved, unless you are doing your own custom thing. Off-road mid-pipes do not have cats on them. Yes it's illegal to drive on the street without cats, but I'll tell you from experience you'd be surprised how many people don't have cats on their cars. <IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">I would get an off-road mid-pipe just to get rid of the restrictive cats, because it doesn't take long at all to swap out the exhaust when you need to smog. </P>


You can use any of your stock components with whatever aftermarket parts you buy, as long as you get a mid-pipe that is made for stock exhaust manifolds, since you probably won't be getting headers. An aftermarket mid-pipe will bolt up to your stock manifolds and cat-back, and an aftermarket cat-back will bolt up to a stock mid-pipe. Just buy whatever brand you like best and piece it together.</P>

Acer2428

Thank you, USAMUSCLE. That explains a lot. So, when emissions time come, I just throw back on my stock, catted H-pipe? Sounds easy enough. </P>


Should I consider shorty headers, despite the perfromance loss, for ease of install and ease on my wallet? I'd really like to get those restrictive exhaust manifolds offof there. Will headers effect the sound much? At all?</P>


Thanks for answering all the questions.</P>


Sam</P>

vfast

yes...with your set up using long tubes you won't see any benifit..you could use equal length shorties I have them on my s/c car no problems