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"Tune up" performance, exhaust, possible mods and Seafoam?

C

CycoPuppet

New member
Ok so I have posted here before with a list of problems I got from Firestone while back during a oil change/inspection spring deal. I followed the advice I got here for most of the issues and ended up spending a 5th of the cost they claimed it would be. I still have exhaust issues, o2 sensor bad and after this awful winter my car is feeling suicidal. I have a few questions. 1 is "tune up" I want to bring life back into my car. I read some articles and such to get ideas on what is involved. I changed the air filter, k&n. Oh before I forget, my car is 2001 gp gt. No mods at all. Anyway, I don't want to do any top swapping or turbo mods or anything drastic. I'd like to know what are the best plugs and wires for my car, How hot or cold, fuel filter and any other parts involved in a tune up that actually perform well. Also I have no idea how bad my exhaust is. Pretty sure I need new mufflers and there's exhaust coming from under the driver side door. Since I do want to increase performance somewhat, what is recommended for a car not going for major mods? Should I do the ubend delete? Is there simpler ways and parts for under there? Not looking to be loud and flashy but more cheap and economical. Any advice about restoring and or increasing power/perfomance would be awesome. Also, seafoam, snake oil or worth it? I know that it should be done before tune up but should it be done at all? Another thing is when I try to accelerate faster, my car shifts at higher rpms. Like between 3-4k upper 4k and at times 5k.

I will have more to ask later as advice comes in. Thanks for your patience.
 


do the seafoam first, then do your tune up, get acdelco or ngk iridium plugs, (stock heat range is what they will give you) some parts store brand plug wires, new oil and filter.

the exhaust you can find on e bay for like 200 or so for a full cat back. thats all new res, pipes and 2 new mufflers, all stock replacements.
 
While looking at mods and such I saw performance fuel filters at zzp or whatever it's called. Are most performance parts unnecessary in my case?
 
being you got a n/a engine theres not a whole lot of gains to be made easily for that engine.

a fuel filter from a local parts store is just fine. get a delco o2 sensor.

depending on the condition of your tranny fluid you could also service it as well. filter and new fluid runs about 50 bucks. dont flush it, just drop the pan change the filter add 8 new quarts of new tranny fluid. you could add a shift kit while doing the tranny service, they help keep the tranny a live a bit longer. some one found a transgo for like 40 bucks on line. cheap and easy enough to add yourself.
 
Most of this I could probably do myself, maybe? What about pcv valves and other things? I'd like to do a nice work over. So and easy adjustments I could do myself would be great.
 
by all means this all very doable yourself. we do all we can here to keep you from going to a shop. the more you learn about your car the better off you are in the long run. if you dont mind turning wrenches that is.

theres a how to here for most every job you could think of under the hood.

the pcv is a easy change out as well. if it rattles still when you shake it you can clean it with brake cleaner and reuse it 99% of the time.
 


Being as you are from Michigan I would suggest against getting the $200 ebay exhaust, it will most likely be mild steel and will rot out in like 2 years, get stainless it will outlast the car.
Isn't a new PCV like $3? Just replace it with a new one if you think its giving you issues.

After you fix the issues with your car and you want a little more out of it and you don't want to top swap here are a few things you can do.
  1. I would suggest buying a HV3 insert, supposed to be the best mod for a n/a car. This would be the best time to replace your lower intake manifold gaskets with the new metal ones.
  2. Maybe some rockers or a cam. Rockers would only be a few bolts further on from changing your lim gaskets.
  3. Get a 3" downpipe maybe a front plog.
  4. Get a dhp tune and run premium.

Just browse the for sale section you can find a lot of these items for good prices.
 
Last edited:
CycoPuppet said:
Ok so I have posted here before with a list of problems I got from Firestone while back during a oil change/inspection spring deal. I followed the advice I got here for most of the issues and ended up spending a 5th of the cost they claimed it would be. I still have exhaust issues, o2 sensor bad and after this awful winter my car is feeling suicidal. I have a few questions. 1 is "tune up" I want to bring life back into my car. I read some articles and such to get ideas on what is involved. I changed the air filter, k&n. Oh before I forget, my car is 2001 gp gt. No mods at all. Anyway, I don't want to do any top swapping or turbo mods or anything drastic. I'd like to know what are the best plugs and wires for my car, How hot or cold, fuel filter and any other parts involved in a tune up that actually perform well. Also I have no idea how bad my exhaust is. Pretty sure I need new mufflers and there's exhaust coming from under the driver side door. Since I do want to increase performance somewhat, what is recommended for a car not going for major mods? Should I do the ubend delete? Is there simpler ways and parts for under there? Not looking to be loud and flashy but more cheap and economical. Any advice about restoring and or increasing power/perfomance would be awesome. Also, seafoam, snake oil or worth it? I know that it should be done before tune up but should it be done at all? Another thing is when I try to accelerate faster, my car shifts at higher rpms. Like between 3-4k upper 4k and at times 5k.

I will have more to ask later as advice comes in. Thanks for your patience.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't have changed a K&N filter if its cleanable. That's the point of a K&N you just clean instead of replacing. I'm not even sure how to comment on your question about RPMs and acceleration. That is a fundamental concept of performance, when you accelerate hard your car's engine will shift at higher RPMs to harness the higher power output found at higher RPMs. Every engine and transmission do this; did you phrase your question incorrectly?



coolone said:
Tune up would cost next to nothing if you do it yourself. Sea foam, Oil change, new plugs, wires, clean map, maf, new PVC, air filter, fuel filter, tranny pan drop and filter, flush cooling sys
Click to expand...

^^^Quoted from another recent thread; I think these are the items you should be concentrating on. I can't see any reason to buy anything "performance" related. I'd go straight to rockauto. com or the local parts store.
 
No I meant I got a k&n filter. And as far as rpms, it seems like since this winter my car is working harder. Almost seems like something is clogged if that makes sense.
 
could be a clogged up cat.

clogged cats make the engine sound like a vacuum with a full bag or your hand over the suction hose. the cel will flash when floored most of the time if its clogged enough.

or its just begging for a tune up.
 


That's funny. When you said clogged cat I thought of a kitty cat. I was like man I gotta fish out another dead animal from my car. I has my heat on one day and heard a loud thud and the blower sounded wrong. I turned up the fan speed and my dash was vibrating hard. Thought my blower fell. Took apart the dash and blower was in tact. Put my hand in the vent thing and felt something fuzzy. Ended up pulling out a mouse.
 
I know but past experience made that my first thought. Guess I will do the minor things first and then see where it goes from there. Also my mpg dropped by 4 gallons city. But you know, winter.
 
Plugs / ac delco 41-101
plug wires / ac delco 746BB
fuel filter / wix 33311 or ac delco GF578. Wix is better
oil filter / wix 51040 or napa gold 1040mp. same thing
pcv / ac delco CV892C
LIM gaskets / fel-pro MS98014T. since you are staying stock
o2 sensor / Denso 2344087 downstream - Denso 2344018 upstream OR ac delco AFS109 upstream ac delco AFS141 downstream
direct fit cat converter with no u-bend / Bosal 0795130
Overkill PCM for better performance and MPG
 


Billboost also recommends the denso 02 sensors. He was telling me that from his experience they are hands down a better sensor than the Bosch.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........
 
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