Depends on what performance gains you're looking for. I went purely for acceleration initially LOL! So I had a CAI/Tune followed soon by a tlock and 4.10s. The gears provided an equivalent PUNCH off the line as the CAI/tune; possibly slightly more.

I went cai/tune first though because the tuner allows you to adjust for all future mods. So when I got the 4.10 gears, I simply changed the gearing setting from 3.31 to 4.10 on the tuner and viola.

Once you accomplish these two steps, everything else N/A will be adding bits of hp/tq here and there, but these two will provide prolly 90% of the acceleration improvement that you can achieve N/A on our motors.

Good luck bro!

 

BTW one side effect of the gearing is that since your car will be held in its power band longer (higher rpms) the sound of your car (motor/exhaust) will be that much louder so it's almost like a 'cheating' exhaust mod if you catch my poor phrasing.

 

CAI/Tune - American Muscle's 93 Race tune is pretty badass. Throttle response and shift points are improved, along with all around drive-ability. Best starter mod IMO
8.8 rear and/or gears/t-lok - probably my favorite mod. Love the 2 wheel traction/burnouts and the gears really liven up the car
Exhaust - You can free up some hp with duals/headers, but it's mostly for sound and appearance
Sway Bar(s) - Since you don't have the Pony Package, you most likely don't have a rear sway bar. Adding an aftermarket bar (or GT takeoff) will tighten up the handling and reduce body roll. "Riding on rails" feeling. Great mod for the $$
Aluminum Driveshaft - Not only safer and stronger than the factory 2-piece clunker, it's lighter which frees up rotational mass = less hp loss in the drivetrain
Tires - A very underrated mod. Improves handling, traction and looks badass if they're wide enough
Shocks/Struts/Lowering Springs - All around handling

Since you also have a 5-speed you might want to look at a short-throw shifter

Then there's always nitrous, turbo, supercharger, heads, cams etc if you want to go big

 

Aftermarket TB: no gain
Spacer: No gain but ridicule from forum members
CAI & tune: your biggest bang unless you go FI

Some mods ADD RWHP. Others reduce drivetrain losses (i.e, aluminum DS) and accessory losses (i.e. electric water pump). It all depends on your wallet.

 

CAI and tune is the best place to start. They are the intro mods. Also you will have a tuner to do any adjustments if necessary. If you get tunes from AM/Bama, you get free tunes for life so they can adjust your tunes to any other mods you decide. I use Brenspeed and am satisfied with them, but unfortunately they don't provide the free tunes for life, but they have worked with me in the past.

4.10's will give you a better delivery of torque but it's a bit more complicated on the v6. Plus you have an auto, you would need a tune for the gear swap since the shift points need to be adjusted. The tuner (handheld) only adjusts the speedo per the gear ratio.

 

Yeah, I forgot to add that. I only changed to correct for the speedo and odo (don't forget you'll be racking up more miles than actual until you set this!). I had Bama resend me an adjusted 91 Race tune for the 4.10s. +1 on the AmercianMuscle/Bama shop!

 

Ok, so it sounds like I should get the tune and CAI first.
Then do gears. I'm sure this has been ask a million times, but which gear is best for daily driving and the occasional taking it to the drag strip?

 

All about choice really. Most people do 3.73's, but some do 4.10 even on their DD's.

 

Depends if you drive on the interstate alot.... 4.10 will give you more of a punch but at 70-75 you're at 3000k in 5th gear... 3.73 is a good blend between good acceleration and wont have your RPMs as high when cruising on the highway...

Me personally I am going with 4.10s since it will allow me to build boost quicker! But I am also buying a DD soon....

 

As for drag strips, I'd say 3.73's would be better. With 4.10's you'd be shifting, a lot, and you really want to push for redline at the finish line, not be forced into another gear right before.