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Should I stop before I start?

GMDealer

GMDealer

New member
Hi everyone. Been reading for a few days and am starting to learn alot about the car I have.

My 99 GTP has about 170,000 miles (about 265,000 KM im Canadian).

I bought it with 190,000 KM on it about 1.5 years ago for $1000 Canadian.

It had been well looked after by the previous owner.

Thing is it's my only car and I put on a lot of miles to get to work.

I recently needed all new exhaust and was lucky to find a guy to sell me a next to new Borla Cat back... likely worth $1400 Canadian. Bought it for $300 even and a local muffler shop put it on for $100.

The same guy also sold me a 3.4 pulley and a puller for $100 which I thought was better than half price.

Now, due to all the reading I've done on this site I have the bug to modify.

But should I?

I will need....

1) Headers
2) colder plugs
3) Tstat
4) cone filter(I have already but like the mods I seen on this site)

and the sticky for modding suggests I also do the Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets/Coolant Elbows (2) ...

THis all sounds costly for a 170,000 Mile car doesn't it?

What shoudl I be doing?

a) nothing
b) mod it and if it blows up strip all the parts I bought(headers, borla, plugs, etc) and wait to find a nother car.

I am a car salesman at a GM dealer so it's not unreasonable to think another GTP could come along. I really like the dark forest green I have though.

Headers will cost me abotu $300 min plus $50 shipping... I'll have to pay someone to put those on, pay someone for the gaskets and etc...

I think the labour is going to be twice the cost of the parts!

I shouldn't do this on such a high mileage car should I?

By the way the tranny went at 225,000 KM and I had the GM dealer drop in a used one that had about 80,000 miles on it(125,000 KM)
 


honestly if the motor was well taken care of then it should be fine. these motors take a ton of abuse and smile about it the next day. that being said, you will need to monitor what the car is doing once you start modding it. in stock form the car can pretty much take anything you can do to it, but once you start running more boost the car may or may not care for it. every one of them is different so you have to scan it to make sure everything is healthy.

now, as far as you blowing up the motor and then having to find another grand prix, its much cheaper to replace the motor. just dont look towards the dealership when this time comes because they will rape you, even if you work there. im surprised you sprung for a transmission from them even. i am also a huge fan of the dark green (i had one too) on these cars and its not something you see everyday like the other colors. therefore, id hope you would decide to keep the one you currently have.

the next step for you is to decide if you want to go shade tree mechanic on this stuff and tackle it yourself or go the route you said and have someone else install it. doing it yourself youll not only save a stupid amount of money, but youll also learn about the car during the process. the knowledge you pick up may help you to fix it one day.

hopefully this helps you decide on what you want to do.
 
Kitchener Waterloo area.

Thing about the headers and such is that I don't have a hoist or a torch if needed to weld... I've been looking at OCX stainless headers for $300 and word is they are good but require welding and cutting, etc.

and as per doing the work myself I don't even have tools.

or the time really... I can't afford my car to be down and out for a few days. NOt only that I don't have the space... I live in an apartment building with outdoor parking.

I'd love to learn all this stuff..

Maybe one day when I get a house and a second car I will start learning myself.
 
you could do a plog and dp with minimal time minimal tools and a set of ramps

ANd yea these engines can take a beating if well maintained
 
yeah, if youre not looking to go that far with the car i would almost recommend a downpipe and powerlog setup over headers just because they are a MUCH easier install.
 


is going to a 3.4 pulley too far?

so downpipe and Plog along with the 3.4 is just as good as the headers and the 3.4?

Don't some headers come with downpipes? WHy not do them both?
 
Headers come with down paipes

PEM's are just ported out stock manifolds and then you add the dp

3.4 is fine with pems and a dp as long as you do colder plugs and a tune aswell

its all about freeing up the flow and you would probably be good with just the front mani changed out

if 3.4 is as far as you want to go
 
headers will come with their own downpipe to fit them. the normal bolt in downpipe will not work with headers.

a 3.4 setup is not too far for a DD or out of the range of usefulness of a 3" downpipe.
 
so yea ocx? i assume u meant obx headers..dont get that brand waste of time n money...get ssac headers...349 shipped to the us..due to that your in CA. i am not sure how much it would cost you..id look into ssac..no cutting no welding..perfect fitment
 


ok then..if u plan on staying at a 3.4 pulley during the life of your car..sure go with PEMS and DP. but since u got the bug to mod.. ur wasting your money considering your going to want headers to drop pulley sizes
 
I vote leave it alone and drive it. Wait til you can afford another car. Look for a low mileage car or a blown motor car to rebuild and learn on. With your GTP being your only source of transportation I wouldn't risk puking the motor from mods. Also without the proper tools, know how or a garage of your own forget it. Just my .02
 
I bought my GTP for only $1000 a year and a half ago and I have not come across another one yet.

I like the forest green... I'm inclined to put some work into it... certainly I am going to need some body work... but a lot of the following stuff is basic maintainence stuff which will help me get another 100,000KM + I already have the 3.4 pulley in the trunk waiting to go on. Just need the Plog and downpipe I suppose yes?



Throttle body gaskets $14.99
Coolant elbows $9.99
Lower intake O-rings $4.99
injector O-rings $9.98
Intake gasket $54.99
NGK Spark Plugs $14.00
OEM plug wires for GM 6 cylinder $37.99
Thermostats180 drilled $14.48
Strut top plates $35.00
High flow fuel filter $14.99
Sub Total: $211.40
 


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