to soon to mod?

D.Jones · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 07:05 AM

Hey everyone bought my first car about a month ago (GTP) and just joined the forum and have a few questions. I want to start modding but am a little confused. I want to buy the following....CAI, reprogrammed pcm, 3.4 pully, and the gatorback belt. Since i cant afford headers or exhaust right now, am i safe to get these without the risk of knock? Will i need to get the scanner before i mod or is it safe to run the mods w/o scanning it then scan it later. Or should i wait and save more money and get the headers and scanner first? Thanks everyone!

1993 SLE · #2 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 09:11 AM

with a Comp G, you will want a 3.6" pulley instead of the 3.4. The Comp G has the more efficient Gen V SC......almost every L67/L32 on the planet has KR. its a fact of life

What i did First, and i Recommend is a Scanner first. I bought a Aeroforce, and recommend that gauge to everyone looking to get a scanner. I had my Aeroforce way before any mods went on the car so i could see what the car is doing stock

D.Jones · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 05:21 PM

yeah i was looking at the aeroforce and liked it. is there n e way to eliminate knock retard? and can i run an intake on the car totally stock, in that i mean, with no reprogrammed pcm or n e other mods? or will it just not be worth it and be wasting fuel with no performance increase. thanks

Louvered97GTP · #4 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 09:27 PM

The scanner should be your first purchase. It is imensley helpful to help you start learning how every mod affects your car. For example, you will know how much KR your car gets while stock and under what different circumstances. Then you will see how your cold air intake, headers, etc... will affect as you progress with your mods.
A cold air intake now is a safe mod and you can jump on that right away. Don't buy one of those intakes that's just an open cone filter in your engine compartment. These suck hot air in from your engine. Commonly referred to as Hot Air Intakes. It should be sealed in a box or in your fenderwell for best efficiency.

D.Jones · #5 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 10:16 PM

yeah, i was looking into the intakes and dont want to go with the fenderwell because of the maintenance involved with cleaning it every month or so and the risk of hydro lock. I like the thrasher CAI with the sealed box but really cant throw down that and the scanner, so what i am thinking is buy a cone filter, some sheet metal, and plexiglass and make my own sealed box with the cone inside and plexiglass on top like the thrasher's and replace the stock air box with that setup...will that work just as good? and oh... does the box need to be completely sealed around the edges?

nuclearxp · #6 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 10:36 PM

D. Jones I don't think the fenderwell cone maintenance is as bad as you think. You live in FL with generally good weather. I've seen Todd's Bonneville (he works at intense) and I assure you his is closer to the road and half exposed under the front fender than anyone elses ever would be. We live in MI and get our share of rain and snow and his hasn't hydrolocked yet.

Louvered97GTP · #7 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 06:11 AM

I agree with Charles. How many times do you drive through deep puddles. even then, there is a protective plastic keeping water out of your fendwerwell. You get the best blower whine out of a fenderwell intake. Have you looked under your car lately? Unless you drive through a huge puddle that is 12" or more deep, you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise they wouldn't make these kits. you're just being overly paranoid, probably from stories of people who don't even own or have ever installed these kits. "blind leading the blind" comes to mind. However, if you really don't feel comfy... make yer own box, limit the engine heat that gets into the box, seal it on all sides except for the side against fender where the air is pulled in from obviously.

1/4mileHOR · #8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 07:03 AM

Skip the gator belt and get a Gates(Napa) one.
A thrasher intake is not a sealed box by any means and kind of a waste when considering the cost of them. look in the Intake section for more ideas on cheap effective air intakes.

D.Jones · #9 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 07:22 AM

more than likely ill go with the CAI and build my own sealed box. Probably some sort of sheet metal for the box and i got plexiglass at the house and ill use that for the top. I was also thinking of put styrofoam in the box to insulate it from the heat, because that metal or tin will get hot from the injen bay. how will that work, maybe gluing it to the sides or something? but i dont know if it will get hot enough and melt the styrofoam and glue.