Help me decide my next mods given a budget

[junehhan]

Hey guys, I was wondering what you guys think would be great to do next. I have an 06 AWD SS, and have the Corsa Sport catback and Vector ECM/TCM tune right now. I am contemplating on heading up to Vector sometime in the middle of March depending on whether I have time or not, and am not sure what I should have done yet. If I can't make the 5 hour drive up, I was going to have my dealer's Motorsports division do the install on whatever I decide. I have a strict budget of $1500-1800 max for modding which would include parts and labour.

I am thinking of including a K&N intake to this, but i'm still very turned off of oiled filters like K&N's. What kind of labour costs am I generally looking at if I want to get a set of headers installed? I am currently leaning towards doing the PCMforless transmission cooler, and a set of headers. If I do headers, I was thinking about the Kooks since a entirely T304 stainless set of headers is probably a good idea since my TBSS is usually caked in salt all winter.

[wmolzon]

im not sure on pricing for the install of headers but i think you should be good with 1800. headers is a very good choice along with the tranny cooler!!

[DucatiSS]

Have you checked into E fans, UD pulley and CAI? With the tune you already have and the catback you should notice a huge bang for your buck. our trucks if normally aspirated breath well through the stock manifolds.

[junehhan]

Have you checked into E fans, UD pulley and CAI? With the tune you already have and the catback you should notice a huge bang for your buck. our trucks if normally aspirated breath well through the stock manifolds.

Ahh, that is the other combination I was considering as a possibility. The problem I have with CAI's is that I don't like K&N style filters. Also with UDP's, doesn't that also slow down the water pump on our TBSS's? I did UDP's on some of my previous vehicles like the 99 Taurus SHO simply because it didn't affect engine cooling as the pulley for the water pump was on seperate belt for those engines. The biggest reason why this option package as a possibility is that in the case of a warrantied transmission failure, i've heard that it can be really tough if you have long tube headers installed. It is also the least obvious package as headers can be pretty flashy when you open the engine bay.

[dom]

call tune time performance in nj ask for matt,he will put you on right track for your 06. :hail:

[junehhan]

call tune time performance in nj ask for matt,he will put you on right track for your 06. :hail:

I did check out Tune tyme's site, but I would rather go with someone closer to me at this time in case of problems. Vector is the closest at 5 hours from me, which is important in case I ever get serious in the future and do a lot more than just mild bolt on stuff. It would also be a hassle to change vendors right now since my ECM is already tuned and locked by Vector.

[JordanMcSwifty]

Just throw some Ds on that bitch! youre already fast anyway...

[1GMfanatik]

Stay away from the K&N intake..With that kind of budget, you could go with E-fans, a good CAI, and maybe a trans cooler. Headers alone will net you close to your budget not including install and you will net better gains from the E-fans. A tune and E-fans are the two best bolt-on mods IMO..

[Aukland]

I'd go with the headers and tranny cooler, if you play yours cards right, yuo might be able to get a Cai and install it yourself

[Envoy Fan]

From what I have read on this and other ss forums, not too much performance gain vs cost with header install. Looks good though.

Another avenue would be a cam and maybe some valve springs, depending on the cam. While in the area put on an Efan. CAI with any money left over.

[junehhan]

The problem is that i'd rather not make any internal modifications to my vehicle until my warranty is over. Once you open it up and start changing cams or valve springs, even getting warranty work on the transmission would probably be very hard. I have an 06, so I guess I only have to wait till 36k miles before I can go really crazy, providing that funds are available at the time for going crazy.

I'm pretty much certain on the eFans, DashHawk, and PCM4Less tranny cooler at this time, although i'm not sure how to dispose of the balance. I have the Corsa sport catback, and a Vector tune right now. I suppose the Vector efan kit is $500, tranny cooler is $270, and DashHawk is $300. That puts me at roughly $1070 not including installation. I suppose maybe this will be as far as i'll go for now, and then just bank the remainder of the funds until I get my tax rebate check that we are supposed to be getting. I'd like to do HID's, but think i'll wait on that till my warranty expires as well.

I'm at 25k miles right now, but one of the first things i'll probably do when the warranty is over is to do cams.



From what I have read on this and other ss forums, not too much performance gain vs cost with header install. Looks good though.

Another avenue would be a cam and maybe some valve springs, depending on the cam. While in the area put on an Efan. CAI with any money left over.

[Envoy Fan]

Well, if you do Efans, I would suggest considering the newer single fan that is offered, vs the LS1 dual fans. Reason being I find my LS1 fans very noisy. And, you can get the Dashhawk on sale at times for $250.00. Maybe PCMforless will have a sale on the trans cooler sometime soon :undecided

[junehhan]

Well, if you do Efans, I would suggest considering the newer single fan that is offered, vs the LS1 dual fans. Reason being I find my LS1 fans very noisy. And, you can get the Dashhawk on sale at times for $250.00. Maybe PCMforless will have a sale on the trans cooler sometime soon :undecided

I didn't even know there was a single fan kit vs. a dual fan kit. I believe the Vector efan kit is a dual fan setup, so which among our vendors would sell a single fan kit? I'm glad you brought that up, because I am very noise adverse to noises that are coming from sources other than the musical symphony of the engine. Wouldn't the dual fan kit be more effective when sitting in rush hour traffic on a 95 degree day?

I also didn't know the Dashhawk ever went on sale. Isn't Vector the only place that sells this? I hope they put together a sale pretty soon.

I guess as it stands right now, it is eFans, PCMforless tranny cooler, and Dashhawk. I was debating on doing an intake, but i'm very cautious about doing oiled filters, especially since our TBSS's have the CAI inlet under the headlamps, which could allow a lot of salty sludge to enter and get on the oiled filter in the winter, or like this morning. However, i'm still wondering on other stuff, although banking the remainder is probably a good idea considering that my RSA's are getting pretty worn.

[junehhan]

Well, thanks to the help you guys have offered me across several threads, I finally made up my mind. I talked with Kirk and will be heading up to Vector on March 24th to have them install:

PCMforLess transmission cooler
Efans
2nd gen CAI
Heat Soak Reduction Kit

I can't wait!

[junehhan]

I just got back from Vector, and had them install the CAI, HSRK, efans, and pcmforless tranny cooler. I have to say that i'm incredibly pleased as the low and mid range is much stronger, and throttle response is incredible. Even more impressive is that I averaged 15.4 mpg on my way up there, and averaged 19.4 mpg on my way back down. That is incredible for an AWD TBSS. Mods that both increase performance and gas mileage are like having a free mod. The drive up there was 287 miles, and I had roughly 1/4 of a tank of fuel left when I arrived. I got home not too long ago after a 309 mile drive(due to construction detours) and had 3/8th of a tank of fuel left!

[junehhan]

Hey guys, I am reviving this thread vs. starting a new one since now i'm getting ready to do my next mod. So far, i've got the tranny cooler, Vector 91 octane tune, vector efans, vector HSRK + CAI, and Corsa catback

I am currently trying to decide between doing cams or headers. I realize that headers provide decent gains, but do not provide a very good horsepower/dollar ratio. However, I also noticed the MarylandSpeed is running some incredible deals on headers.

On the other side, cams will probably hurt fuel economy, as well as losing some low rpm torque along with a lope while idling. On the plus side, it is probably going to come slightly cheaper and will likely have a better horsepower/dollar ratio than headers. The other downside is that cams will probably void the warranty on the engine and drivetrain.

What do you guys think? I can afford to do only one and not both. I realize that cams will probably work better combined with a high stall torque converter, but that is not within my budget.

[runit15]

headers= low bang for buck better sound with retune some power nothiing to throw a party over.
converter= decreased mpg's but noticable power to the pavement.

id personally go with headers if i had to chose between the 2, but in the long run id save another 1800 or so and get an RPM tranny then you wont have to worry about it breaking when you put the real juice under the hood.

[junehhan]

I'm honestly leaning towards the headers simply because doing cams or a converter is probably going to void warranties on the drivetrain. I'm also hesitant to do converters mainly because it can hurt drivability in the city, although i've heard that some converters are tighter than others. The thought of also losing the speedometer during WOT runs also makes me a bit nervous as i'd like to know how fast i'm going. Does a high stall converter even do anything for performance if you are always flooring the gas from a roll at some speed? My understanding is that they are most useful for launching from a dead stop.

Whatever I decide on, i'm definately going to let Vector do the work since they'll have to update my tune anyway.

[runit15]

the 3200 yank would probably be your best bet as far as none dead stop and dead stop they make like a 2600 or 2800 i wouldnt advise it unless u wana supercharge soon after. id still go with the headers for now until the warrenty is gone then focus on a cam or heads to

[Envoy Fan]

Thought headers could also void the warranty:undecided

FYI Chris White is no longer at Vector. :worried:

[runit15]

true true that all depends on whos doen the warrenty work do the headers IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. if not do it any way lol

[junehhan]

I imagine just about anything could void the warranty, but at least headers wouldn't be considered an "internal" modification like cams would be.

I've been gone for a while, but did I miss something? What happened to Chris White? I had no idea that he left Vector.

[runit15]

to void your warrenty they have to have conclusive evidence it was the cause of the failure on the vehicle. and yeah i saw where chris had made posts till acouple days ago. i never got anything from vector but ive seen his signature everywhere.

[junehhan]

to void your warrenty they have to have conclusive evidence it was the cause of the failure on the vehicle. and yeah i saw where chris had made posts till acouple days ago. i never got anything from vector but ive seen his signature everywhere.

The problem is that even if the law is worded that way, it is still up to you to prove the dealer wrong if they void the warranty. Sure you could go hire a lawyer, but that change is probably much better spent on an RPM transmission versus feeding Mr. Diablo himself.

The guys at Vector are absolutely amazing. I've had them install everything in my sig, and they have always done a great job. I just wish they had an AWD dyno. I would much rather make the 4-5 hour drive to Detroit and have them install it, especially since they know the TBSS so well.

[runit15]

i have a warrenty on mine and DO NOT want to void it but im not gunna let it hold me back. I mean im not doen a cam or nuthin till its out of warretny but ill still beef it up and im gone put headers on mine shortly. theres more mods you could look at instead of those 2

[junehhan]

Well, i've pretty much decided to go with a set of Kooks headers with catted y-pipe and coating. I have to keep it somewhat emissions legal as I may need to eventually move to a state that has requires emissions testing. I also read on the threads here that the ones using the off-road non catted y-pipes are loud as HELL.

[runit15]

Well as far as emissions go you will still VERY much fail with the kooks cats and they can deny your warrenty if you even touch your cats but hey it aint gone stop me niether :thumbsup:

[Envoy Fan]

Well, i've pretty much decided to go with a set of Kooks headers with catted y-pipe and coating. I have to keep it somewhat emissions legal as I may need to eventually move to a state that has requires emissions testing. I also read on the threads here that the ones using the off-road non catted y-pipes are loud as HELL.

IIRC at one time you were concerned with your current Corsa exhaust getting a bit too loud, especially when passengers were in the truck. The headers will make your exhaust even louder. Just throwing this out.

[runit15]

isnt that the point? :D

[Envoy Fan]

isnt that the point? :D

Most of the time :p

[junehhan]

IIRC at one time you were concerned with your current Corsa exhaust getting a bit too loud, especially when passengers were in the truck. The headers will make your exhaust even louder. Just throwing this out.

I've been doing a search on headers on this and other TBSS forums, and it appears from what I am reading that it is only marginally louder so long as you keep the cats with the headers. Those who are running with not cats all appear to say though that it is super loud.

The Corsa's appear to cause the most noise for rear passengers. I would imagine that any extra noise from the headers would be more localized to the front. I also don't care as much about my passengers as i'm thinking about just going ahead and doing the cams at the same time as the headers.

[runit15]

headers will add a good bit of sound even (depending on your setup) with the aftermarket cats on there. the stock cats on the SS are silly quiet but your noise is going to be coming from the rear not the front and with the anit drone technology corsa is famous for that shouldnt be a problem. i would just get the off road y pipe and the touring if you dont want to be super loud. im goin to get the headers and no cats and no mufflers but thats just the way i like it :D

[junehhan]

headers will add a good bit of sound even (depending on your setup) with the aftermarket cats on there. the stock cats on the SS are silly quiet but your noise is going to be coming from the rear not the front and with the anit drone technology corsa is famous for that shouldnt be a problem. i would just get the off road y pipe and the touring if you dont want to be super loud. im goin to get the headers and no cats and no mufflers but thats just the way i like it :D

The problem with that is that it would be harder to get emissions certified without the cats, as well as the fact that I don't want anything super loud. I am actually considering swapping out my sport Corsa muffler for the Corsa Touring muffler after I get the headers with cats put on. Especially because i'm not pushing major mods, I don't think losing the cats would actually gain me much more performance as the low end might suffer.

[runit15]

Well either you meet emissions or you dont around here i dont know how it is where your at. The aftermarket cats wont meet emissions just like no cats wont. If you dont wana be super loud that touring muffler with the highflow cats or none would sound awesome. and you wont lose any power you just need to have your tune refigured with the highflows cats and if you go no cats you will gain power becuase you can increase you timing alot and not have to worry about frying the cats. And if you do want to get a touring muffler ans want to get rid of that sport muffler ill take it off your hands :D.

[junehhan]

Well either you meet emissions or you dont around here i dont know how it is where your at. The aftermarket cats wont meet emissions just like no cats wont. If you dont wana be super loud that touring muffler with the highflow cats or none would sound awesome. and you wont lose any power you just need to have your tune refigured with the highflows cats and if you go no cats you will gain power becuase you can increase you timing alot and not have to worry about frying the cats. And if you do want to get a touring muffler ans want to get rid of that sport muffler ill take it off your hands :D.

At some point in the future, i'll probably go to the touring muffler and i'll let you know so you can pick up the old sport muffler.

[runit15]

Alright look forward to it and when that happens my cats will say good bye :D