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3.8 series III mods! HV3 and cold ar intake advice?

tomasz26

tomasz26

New member
I have a 2004 Grand Prix GT (naturally aspirated) w/ a tuned PCM. I was looking into installing an HV3 but I heard there are low end losses and high end gains in power, is this true? Would you recommend this upgrade or no? I'm looking for faster acceleration NOT top speed (It's more fun to toss your head back on the entrance ramp then to get a ticket for doing double the speed limit:th_thumbsup-wink:).

Also I was looking into installing a cold air intake. What brand would you recommend? It seems like the Spectre is a good bang for its buck. But I would like to know more before going any further.

Please let me know what you think and if there are any other mods that would give my whip a little more kick.

Appreciate it!:o
 


HV3 you don't necessarily lose bottom end. It changes the powerband to higher RPMS. Not really noticeable to be honest. As for accel, NA already have decent accel. Top end is what kills em though. CAI, make your own. Buy a $20 spectre cone, do some plumbing and done.
 
Search. Button.

Cone. On. TB.

Look on ebay, you can get a 60 dollar dryflow AEM filter for 20 bucks shipped, cant beat it. You can get a rubber coupler or 2 at Lowes or Home Depot, whole thing might be 40 bucks tops and will be easier, and work as well if not better as a 200 dollar vendor abomination.

/thread

hv3 is awesome... no loss in low end, I had a noticable gain above 4k rpm, car used to fall off and not make anymore power after that point, now I pull hard all the way to 6k
but when you do it, make sure you double and triple check the plenum bolts.. in fact use thread locker.

Mine came loose on the tb side where coolant flows, I had a huge leak and didnt know it until I revved my engine and heard bubbles in the dash.

Those ones I got to stay tight but it seems like 2 of them in the middle of the plenum keep coming loose, cant get em to stay tight, I think it's making vac leaks... gunna do threadlocker on them this week.
 
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Just buy a Z3 kit and leave it at 5-6 PSI.

Much better gains.

Long story short: Without boost, you won't gain much power.

HV3 is only worth it if you've got some sort of valvetrain mod installed as well.

Like ER rockers or a cam.

Even with all of the bolt ons and a cam, 240 CHP is about all you'll see.
 


NegativeOne13 said:
Can't do cone on tb on 04+ homeslice.

/thread not closed.
Click to expand...

Ok well

IMG_2575.jpg


Cone on MAF on tb, dawg.
 
if its low end power you want then get a L32 motor or top swap your current one

I wanted more top end power so stayed n/a and did the basic upgrades. If I can find a PLOG cheap enough I will do that one too.
 
tod1d said:
if its low end power you want then get a L32 motor or top swap your current one

I wanted more top end power so stayed n/a and did the basic upgrades. If I can find a PLOG cheap enough I will do that one too.
Click to expand...

did you notice a big gain in your mods from stock?.....also for the pricw of a plog and dp u better off getting ssac headers for cheaper...which would make both front and rear banks safer
 
No big gains from my upgrades from what I can tell so why go overboard with headers. From what I understand the front manifold is the biggest restriction on my car and I don't have a u-bend in my downpipe.
 


tod1d said:
if its low end power you want then get a L32 motor or top swap your current one
Click to expand...

This wouldn't be a "cheap" bolt on part...nor quick...that's time consuming and would require at the MINIMUM a grand the way L32 pricing is going for a full setup. You could top swap for half the price...but then a custom tune would be needed, along with supporting mods...so it would close in on a grand as well.

tod1d said:
I wanted more top end power so stayed n/a and did the basic upgrades. If I can find a PLOG cheap enough I will do that one too.
Click to expand...

I want to know what top end you're talking about? My N/A car was modded, and top end didn't exist...hell, even I didn't have much "top end" on my XP'd/3.25"/Headers blower car. 3800 =/= top end unless you go the snail route.

06PONTGP said:
did you notice a big gain in your mods from stock?.....also for the pricw of a plog and dp u better off getting ssac headers for cheaper...which would make both front and rear banks safer
Click to expand...

Not really anything you have to worry about "banks" wise without boost...you could knock the pee out of an N/A motor on crappy gas and a clogged cat and it probably wouldn't chip or pop a piston like a boosted car would.

If I had an N/A car, like I said...I'd do it this way...

Intake of whatever kind, doesn't matter...probably whatever is the cheapest they all do the same thing...
L26 UIM + HV3
Catless Headers/Stock Catback + Whatever mufflers/tips you want...they don't matter...just make noise...no gains.
ER Higher Ratio Rockers or GT2 Cam with L76 or Crow 105 Springs
Ported Lower Intake
Ported/Polished Heads

Then, enjoy beating stock or small bolt on GTP's...because that's about all it'll net you until you boost it. Expect in the range of 210-230 FWHP.
 
My car feels faster now when going WOT then it did before. I have no way of proving that though.
 
bluegtp91 said:
If I had an N/A car, like I said...I'd do it this way...

Intake of whatever kind, doesn't matter...probably whatever is the cheapest they all do the same thing...
L26 UIM + HV3
Catless Headers/Stock Catback + Whatever mufflers/tips you want...they don't matter...just make noise...no gains.
ER Higher Ratio Rockers or GT2 Cam with L76 or Crow 105 Springs
Ported Lower Intake
Ported/Polished Heads

Then, enjoy beating stock or small bolt on GTP's...because that's about all it'll net you until you boost it. Expect in the range of 210-230 FWHP.
Click to expand...


Would these set of mods be very cheap either though? I looked into doing a top swap but the L26 is a little trickier than the L32 and quite expensive. Then not to mention the problems I could run into top swapping a motor that isn't commonly supercharged. And I would never drop a L32 in it. Might as well save your money sell the GP with the L26 and buy a GXP.

Also, my 04 GP is at 100k miles and as much as I want to do modifications to increase my performance, I don't want to lessen the life of the car because it is a daily driver.

To be honest I am a broke college kid that just likes to work on my car when ever I can. It definitely is not a cheap hobby so that's why I am looking for modifications that are on the low end of the spectrum when it comes to price and stuff that I could do my self with the help of some mechanic buddies if necessary. I think it's all fun and interesting but unfortunately I am not in a position to really go all out. If I was I would be telling you guys my quarter mile time after installing a twin turbo and if the car broke it's ok because I have a truck and trailer to pull it home and play with it some more :o.
 
tomasz26 said:
Would these set of mods be very cheap either though? I looked into doing a top swap but the L26 is a little trickier than the L32 and quite expensive. Then not to mention the problems I could run into top swapping a motor that isn't commonly supercharged. And I would never drop a L32 in it. Might as well save your money sell the GP with the L26 and buy a GXP.
Click to expand...

Wait...

Yes, just as expensive...but you don't get the headaches of top swapping. How is an L26 "trickier" than an L32? They are essentially the same exact engine minus rod strength and compression ratio...and an L26 isn't commonly top swapped? FTLULZ...plenty of '04+ cars and L26's are top swapped; research guy...research. Why wouldn't you just drop an L32 in? And even more LOL's at the GXP...you want to talk about expensive aftermarket with minimal gains and a dumb setup...then sure...go buy one.

tomasz26 said:
Also, my 04 GP is at 100k miles and as much as I want to do modifications to increase my performance, I don't want to lessen the life of the car because it is a daily driver
Click to expand...

100k miles is nothing. The longevity of these motors is simple maintence, don't drive like I do all the time...and break everything...bolt-ons, a cam/heads setup all motor...or a bolt-ons top swap isn't going to "lessen" the life of anything 3800 wise.

tomasz26 said:
To be honest I am a broke college kid that just likes to work on my car when ever I can. It definitely is not a cheap hobby so that's why I am looking for modifications that are on the low end of the spectrum when it comes to price and stuff that I could do my self with the help of some mechanic buddies if necessary. I think it's all fun and interesting but unfortunately I am not in a position to really go all out. If I was I would be telling you guys my quarter mile time after installing a twin turbo and if the car broke it's ok because I have a truck and trailer to pull it home and play with it some more :o.
Click to expand...

One single turbo > Twins anyways.

To add...you give me a budget...I'll tell you the best bang for your buck mods...PM me if you want. Or discuss it here...don't care, I'll help.
 


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