Worthwhile Mods
- Thread starter Traeger2591
- Start date
Traeger2591
New member
So if I was going to plan on doing the upgrades that I've talked about (fwi, plog and dp's, maybe a topswap down the road) would it be ok to buy a pcm to install for a first mod? Actually the fwi would be my first mod, but I have read that a custom tune will make a huge difference, especially with a stock gt, so I was considering doing it before everything else.
The pcm's and stuff confuse me a little bit. For example, if I buy one now and put in other upgrades requiring a tune, would I need to buy another pcm? And with the custom tuners you can buy (like hptuners) do the credits limit how many times you can tune? Like do you have to buy credits after the 8 that come with it are used? Or can you just use it as many times as you want without buying the credits? Thanks again.
The pcm's and stuff confuse me a little bit. For example, if I buy one now and put in other upgrades requiring a tune, would I need to buy another pcm? And with the custom tuners you can buy (like hptuners) do the credits limit how many times you can tune? Like do you have to buy credits after the 8 that come with it are used? Or can you just use it as many times as you want without buying the credits? Thanks again.
blueguy
The Blue One
PCM's are designed to be put on modded cars IMO and putting one on a stock car that is pre-tuned is pointless...sure, you'll see a difference, but not as much as if you had all of the mods that it requires. I'd Do Exhaust and intake, get your plugs and t-stat...then get her tuned...and if you ever top swap then get a HP Tuner and tune the PCM you have...if it unlocked.
Traeger2591
New member
Cool, thanks blue. I'm pretty sure I replaced my t-stat and awhile back but I want to get that plog and dp for sure and maybe one of those hv3 inserts.
Traeger2591
New member
alright I'm just gonna bring up this thread cause I don't feel like starting a new one. Anyway, I've been talking to my dad about helping me out if I mod my car cause he used to fix cars up back when he was a teenager (late 60's-early 70's). He knows alot so I know he would be a great resource to help me.
First I wanted to make a fwi but he's like I don't want you making something out of pvc and putting it in there. And like with the pcm he thinks its a bad idea to just zip tie it to the frame of the car. He says if you're gna do somethin do it right. I can understand that so I might just buy the tdc intake and get him to help me pay for it cause I'd rather just make one which would be cheaper. So I try talking to him about the d.p. and he's tellin me if I go messin with the exhaust I'll have to replace the whole exhaust cause stuff can get rusted and taking it apart can mess smthn up (I don't remember what his excuse was). But it seems like everything I ask him about he just says that its a bad idea and I shouldn't do it. That being said, I know my dad has alot of knowledge about cars but I know you guys do to haha. And I'm gonna have to believe you guys when almost everyone will recommend the same mods.
I'm asking if this is really the case with the dp and rust or w/e, and basically if anyone has some comments to help persuade him to give me some help haha. I feel like a d-bag asking stuff like this haha but I'm really interested in modding my car but I just need that little bit of help/assurance that I'm gonna be doing it right and not screw something up haha. Anyway, sorry for the long post, but thanks for any advice anyone has!
First I wanted to make a fwi but he's like I don't want you making something out of pvc and putting it in there. And like with the pcm he thinks its a bad idea to just zip tie it to the frame of the car. He says if you're gna do somethin do it right. I can understand that so I might just buy the tdc intake and get him to help me pay for it cause I'd rather just make one which would be cheaper. So I try talking to him about the d.p. and he's tellin me if I go messin with the exhaust I'll have to replace the whole exhaust cause stuff can get rusted and taking it apart can mess smthn up (I don't remember what his excuse was). But it seems like everything I ask him about he just says that its a bad idea and I shouldn't do it. That being said, I know my dad has alot of knowledge about cars but I know you guys do to haha. And I'm gonna have to believe you guys when almost everyone will recommend the same mods.
I'm asking if this is really the case with the dp and rust or w/e, and basically if anyone has some comments to help persuade him to give me some help haha. I feel like a d-bag asking stuff like this haha but I'm really interested in modding my car but I just need that little bit of help/assurance that I'm gonna be doing it right and not screw something up haha. Anyway, sorry for the long post, but thanks for any advice anyone has!
Traeger2591
New member
Yeah I'm listening to you guys because everyone knows alot about cars here, but specifically grand prix's. Could you explain the downpipe installation process so maybe I can explain it better and understand how to install it better.
blueguy
The Blue One
Stainless Steel downpipes, they sure don't rust. Tell him that one. Tell him most of the 3800 community LOL's at him when he says you'll have to replace the entire exhaust...NO...fail...the downpipe is a DIRECT BOLT IN REPLACEMENT. It bolts up to your stock catback all you need is new gaskets...that's it. Also go and show him my thread that you've read "Safely Modding Your 3800 Powered Car". That might give him an idea about what you've got on your hadns and what you can do to it. I can say that the TDC Intake is a very good product...I am just one to tell you making one does just as good. BTW...your Dad sounds like my uncle..."oh you got a nice car now with ****ing with it...its not made to go fast" LOL Whatever I tell him.
Traeger2591
New member
haha yeah your uncle does sound a hell of alot like my dad lol. Thanks for the idea blue, I'll tell him exactly what it does and of course show him that thread you wrote up. Great ideas! Maybe he will believe me when I tell him that these people know their ****.
Edit: I'm just editing cause I don't want to double post. Anyway, I won't need a pcm tune for just a dp will I? I'm thinking of doing: plog, dp/ubend delete, fwi, and then once thats all done I'll get a custom pcm from overkill probably. Does that sound good or should I get the pcm earlier in the process? If I'm thinking right then anything dealing with the exhaust should NOT require a pcm tune. Is that right?
Edit: I'm just editing cause I don't want to double post. Anyway, I won't need a pcm tune for just a dp will I? I'm thinking of doing: plog, dp/ubend delete, fwi, and then once thats all done I'll get a custom pcm from overkill probably. Does that sound good or should I get the pcm earlier in the process? If I'm thinking right then anything dealing with the exhaust should NOT require a pcm tune. Is that right?
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skidoojames151
New member
and definately dont waste your money on a hv3 insert if u plan to topswap...because you have to get rid of that whole plastic intake manifold on top of the engine and thats where the insert goes...basically you cant use it if you are supercharged
skidoojames151
New member
oh and on the rust thing...my dad tells me the same thing too...that if i try to take the bolts out that they will snap because they are rusted on...yea but when i have access to a full shop and soak it in penetrating oil they came loose no prob...i suggest you soak the bolts in sone sort of penetrating oil...even WD-40 works ok...i like pb blaster and aerokroil though, they get the job done
blueguy
The Blue One
Well...it is a great mod regaurdless even if he does eventually top swap...IMO I'd still get one. You can sell them for nearly what they go for because N/A guys try to get them used all the time IIRC. They sure ain't a waste of money for a N/A car...I've ridden in one with it and a GT2 cam and exhaust mods and that thing felt pretty strong before and even MORE with the HV3...in short...GET IT. Then when you top swap...if you ever do. SELL IT.
Traeger2591
New member
I'll make sure to get that done before I do anything else. Is there any way to check the current t-stat to see what it is? I know my dad went and bought a replacement a while back but idk if he got the 195 or 180.
So if I do happen to break a bolt or something I could just go buy a new one couldn't I? or are they a special size and are hard to find? If I end up getting anything I'll give wd40 a try but hopefully nothins gonna be breaking. I haven't heard of any other problems from people so hopefully it wont be a big deal.
Yeah I realized the other day that the hv3 insert is only for the n/a cars. I still might buy one though because it looks like you get really good performance boosts from it. I'm not really sure when I'll get around to topswapping so this would be good for me, and I'm glad to know that I can probably sell it and get my money back out of it. Thanks blue.
Oh and let me get this straight. The hv3 insert is an intake mod right? Therefore I wouldn't need a tune or anything. But would it be a bad idea to run this without a different air intake? I don't see anything saying it would be bad, but for some reason it just doesn't seem right haha.
BwolfGT
New member
If your dad replaced it im sure its the 195, they're only about $10 anyway so I'd just go pick up a 180, just so you know though the t-stat won't make any difference without the tune. I'm almost done putting the parts together for my swap now, can't wait.
THANK YOU for listening to everyone on here btw, so many new people come on here asking for advice and tell us we're all idiots after we give it to them. These people have honestly saved me thousands that would've otherwise been given to a shop for unneeded repairs
Custum FWI all the way as well, that was my first mod and it works/sound great. I didn't even so much as zip tie the pcm its just sitting there as of now as are almost everyone's here that has an intake. But if you're worried about it ZZP has a pcm tray you can pick up for around $40.
THANK YOU for listening to everyone on here btw, so many new people come on here asking for advice and tell us we're all idiots after we give it to them. These people have honestly saved me thousands that would've otherwise been given to a shop for unneeded repairs
Custum FWI all the way as well, that was my first mod and it works/sound great. I didn't even so much as zip tie the pcm its just sitting there as of now as are almost everyone's here that has an intake. But if you're worried about it ZZP has a pcm tray you can pick up for around $40.
blueguy
The Blue One
It says on the bottom of the T-Stat the temp of it.
Use PB Blaster starting a few days before you do the swap...and spray the crap out of the bolts...you might not break them then.
Yes, it slides into the bottom portion of the Upper Intake Manifold (the big black plastic thing
) You don't need a tune for it...but it won't hurt anything to put it in with no mods, you'll just see more gains with a intake and exhaust work so it can work to it's fullest potential...follow?
Traeger2591
New member
If your dad replaced it im sure its the 195, they're only about $10 anyway so I'd just go pick up a 180, just so you know though the t-stat won't make any difference without the tune. I'm almost done putting the parts together for my swap now, can't wait.
THANK YOU for listening to everyone on here btw, so many new people come on here asking for advice and tell us we're all idiots after we give it to them. These people have honestly saved me thousands that would've otherwise been given to a shop for unneeded repairs
Custum FWI all the way as well, that was my first mod and it works/sound great. I didn't even so much as zip tie the pcm its just sitting there as of now as are almost everyone's here that has an intake. But if you're worried about it ZZP has a pcm tray you can pick up for around $40.
Cool, I'm glad to know that there wont be any problem with the pcm moving around. I'm half tempted to just go and make a fwi on my own. Its not like there's anything hard to it. The hardest part will probably be cutting the pvc lol.
It says on the bottom of the T-Stat the temp of it.
Use PB Blaster starting a few days before you do the swap...and spray the crap out of the bolts...you might not break them then.
Yes, it slides into the bottom portion of the Upper Intake Manifold (the big black plastic thing
Thanks again blue, can't explain how much of a help you are haha. You think one can of pb blaster will be enough haha. Yeah I understand about the hv3 though, I might try to go with the exhaust work first just to get it out of the way and then get the hv3 later on. With the hv3 though, whats the option for "add L36 upper intake"? Would I need that? Thanks.
But if I do happen to break a bolt, whats the downside to that? Is it gonna be a b**ch to replace? Thanks guys.
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