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What should I do? New car questions

rocafella2032

rocafella2032

New member
Well most of you probably know me around here... I have an 03 limited edition GT. However it's a GT!! sucks huh? i thought so. Anyway it has 106xxx on it and im looking for something new. I love my car (see sig) and i put a lot of work and money into apperance only. I havent touched anything performance wise because well...its a GT. I want to do performance work but its not worth it on a GT..turbo? no im 17 and not engine smart. I would do small stuff like exhuast, intake, and other junk..

Now heres the scoop, im in love with anything boosted or with a v8. Ive considered many times top swapping but i dont know how to and im not sure if i can have a shop do it? also motor swap but that seems to be more expensive. Also i would be missing a hud, boost gauge and other GTP features. Ive also considered buying a GTP and parting my work from my gt to it and selling it stock..what do you think about that? i want a coupe, 4 door sucks.

However buying a GTP would mean blah black leather interior, i love my limited edition interior and gauges.

Would that be smart? buying a gtp and trading my appearance mods?

Another option would be just straight up getting something new. There i would need sugestions, i want either something supercharged of turbo'd (from the factory) or something with a v8. Remember im 17 and cant pay too much maybe around 7k for a new car.

So help me out you guys, all opinions are welcome....
 


you can prolly have any shop do a top-swap. You can add a hud. As far as a factory boost gauges is pointless anyway, get a mechanical one.

You could just do a swap over including that le interior. Only a person who really knows these cars are going to about the silver/black interior.
 
Just topswap or if you don't think you can do that do a full l67 swap. If you can do the l67 by yourself do that. If you're gunna have to pay someone eaither way topswap it. I think you've put too much time/money into that so far to make it look as good as it does to just toss it out and buy a new car. Plus when you get a new used car you never know what's wrong with it. You know by now exactly what's goin on under the hood of that car.
Oh and when you tune it for the topswap or l67 that boost gauge will show up on your DIC. It's there, it just doesn't light up on GTs.
 


ok, so im really starting to think of going the top swap route. Ill probably get the parts from morad, the top swap kit. Any suggestions on places to call to see if they can do the work?
 
i was in your boat. GT -> GTP (including 07 seats, HUD, DIC, etc...)

Why not turbo? my friend had an 01 with like 70K on it and it was soooo fast... i think you should consider that route.. supercharged is fun, but turbo is scarrrry... then again.. you said you are 17.. I don't think I would let my self 8 years ago have a turbo...


if you do go turbo.. just don't use the GT upper plenum (plastic) it has a tendency to explode if you have a leaky fuel pressure regulator and it decides to backfire...
 
rocafella2032 said:
ok, so im really starting to think of going the top swap route. Ill probably get the parts from morad, the top swap kit. Any suggestions on places to call to see if they can do the work?
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There is a zzp recommended installer in Boyertown PA, it seems he's 45 minutes from you. He seems like a good guy, he's a Gm tech, I talked to him for a while on the phone about doing my trans swap, decent prices too.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/f90/...ional-installs-diagnostics-eastern-19130.html

Id even consider taking the job, if you want to leave it at my house for a few days
 
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even with the amount of power my car made i still got bored with it. traction is severely limited due to the FWD and the automatic is only so much fun to drive before you lose feeling with the car. you have to have a massively ragged edge of stupid tune for these cars to be as responsive as youd want and just because of their sheer size and weight you need a lot more power than you think in order to make the car "feel" fast.

thats just my two cents. my subbie is slow as hell, but its fun everytime i drive it because of the five speed and the all wheel drive. im still in the "consider a new car" boat.
 
shoot me some options my friend, i was taking a look at some cobalts, but i feel as though there too girly. any other thoughts? gto is out my price range, and im not a big fan of camaros. except the new one. any thoughts bio?
 
Bio248 said:
even with the amount of power my car made i still got bored with it. traction is severely limited due to the FWD and the automatic is only so much fun to drive before you lose feeling with the car. you have to have a massively ragged edge of stupid tune for these cars to be as responsive as youd want and just because of their sheer size and weight you need a lot more power than you think in order to make the car "feel" fast.

thats just my two cents. my subbie is slow as hell, but its fun everytime i drive it because of the five speed and the all wheel drive. im still in the "consider a new car" boat.
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I agree 100%. Except the "my subbie is slow" and the "five speed" parts. :D
 
Just top swap it...since your 17 it is a great car...then save your money and keep it going the next few years and get something you WILL have the money for...e.g. GTO, SS/TC 'Balt, etc.
 


bluegtp91 said:
Just top swap it...since your 17 it is a great car...then save your money and keep it going the next few years and get something you WILL have the money for...e.g. GTO, SS/TC 'Balt, etc.
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thats what i was thinking. any ideas on a ball park price ill be paying for the top swap? parts and install?
 
rocafella2032 said:
thats what i was thinking. any ideas on a ball park price ill be paying for the top swap? parts and install?
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I was very meticulous and had everything cleaned professionaly and inspected, everything but the heads ported, upgraded rockers and springs, upgraded injectors, modular pulley system, etc. Final cost was about $2k for me, but it was a pretty clean setup. You can see it all here:

http://www.grandprixforums.net/f18/official-joining-you-post-13626.html?highlight=swap
 
Under a grand done right, sabrewings went all out on his, which is awesome if you've got the cash, but if not should be under a grand.
 
You should at least have the heads rebuilt, milled, dipped, new seals, magnafluxed for cracks, seats resurfaced, etc. Don't want to have to pull them again if something is bad. If you shop around you should still be under a grand. I think my heads only cost $180 to have that work done.
 
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