Thinking about a Thrasher CAI for my '03 SLE, will there be a noticeable improvement in acceleration and/or mileage? The car is completely factory now... I've been disappointed with the acceleration of the SLE after owning a '99 GP GT - even my wife noticed a lack of acceleration... :o Any other mods that would make a noticeable improvement?

Thanks for the help...

Marty

Check out:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...pic.php?t=6978

Intakes developed just for our cars at 150.00.

-- Rogue

When you say Thrasher CAI, I assume you mean the BOX. Most people can't tell the performance difference between a cone intake or a CAI. A simple heat shield may suffice.

Does Thrasher make a CAI for the Bonneville now? Last I heard, they didn't, and the GP box won't fit.

That ADTR intake is the ****. I'm running one now, but just got a new filter for it, and will be building a custom heat shield (again) cuz the old one won't fit any more. This intake made a huge difference in performance from my gutted/ported airbox with K&N panel filter in it. There'* a pic of it somewhere around page 7-9 of that link.

The new filter will be posted as soon as Allmachtige gets his (hopefully today).

There will not be a noticeable improvement in acceleration, you may gain 5hp but that will definately not be noticable. The main difference is the sound, but on a non supercharged engine there isn't as much sound difference. You may gain 1-2mpg gas mileage from it, but I'm not going to guaruntee anything. Personally, on the non-supercharged 3800 I don't believe the box is worth the money...if you had an SSEi it would be a different story.

The GP box does fit in the Bonneville, it just needs a little modifying. (You have to cut a little of it)

I noticed you have a lot mods, a fast 1/4 time, and a basically stock trans. How did you pull that off?

1) Started out with a brand new GTP w/100 miles on it.
2) Moded the hell out of it all at 1 time so the tranny doesn't have time to fail before the car is fast
3) Didn't beat the **** out of it, drive the car normal, if you don't use more than the stock 240hp on the street it doesn't hurt the tranny because it isn't getting any more power.
4) Kept the shiftpoints low. Most people in the 12'* shift at 6500-7200rpms!!! That is a lot of RPM'*. With the stock cam the GTP shifts at a measly 6200rpms.
5) Don't go to the track often. The #1 thing that kills the trannies in these cars are burnouts, and getting into the power immediately from a stop (that breaks the input shaft). If you only go to the track a few times, do short burnouts just enough to heat up the tires, and don't nail the gas on the launch (which you can't do anyways) it puts less stress on the tranny.
6) Didn't put in a large shift kit. Put in a shiftkit that firms up the shifts but doesn't bang into gear, because that is obviously hard on the tranny.
7) Change tranny fluid & filter often. (We have changed it 3 times in 21,000 miles, 2 of those times were due to the LSD, and the other for the tranny pan but I think it helped the tranny)
LUCK.

I have always and will always say, it isn't the power your car is making that kills parts, it is how you drive it.

Dbkt2,
I agree with your statement ' its not whats in the car but how you drive it"
I have made over 30 pulls this summer at the track and changed the tranny fluid twice, with over 100,000 miles on my car it drives like new, better in fact.
I have drove my car the last few winters but will be parking it in a month and working over the top end of the motor, Im also planning a lsd and maybe new output shafts. Looking at the nhra div. 6 schedule for next year and hope to make at least 10 events. With luck (and sponsors) I hope to make the divisional finals in Mission next Sept. then off to California for the nhra finals in November...........never hurts to dream?

You people with this money to play just **** me off!! <-- notice he is green with envy

I have installed a Thrasher CAI box (and filter, and IAT relocation harness) for a Grand Prix in my 02 bonneville with minor modifications. I have noticed a huge improvment on performance, and even better gas mileage. Make sure the kit you get comes with a K&N filter, not a K&N "style" filter. The bottom of the box will need to be cut in places in order to get it to fit, and top of the box will leave a gap between it and the fender wall, I closed mine up by getting a piece of lexan from Home Depot and cutting it to fit under the top provided by Thrasher. This is'nt the latest set of pics but you get the idea

http://ectinc2.members.atlantic.net/cai.htm

I went back to the stock tubing (which is a little bit longer than what Thrasher provides) to move the box closer to the fender wall and fill in the gap. Lemme know if you have any questions.

Mike

mremer,

Thanks for the pics, that helps a lot. I assume your '02 is a N/A 3800 like my '03 SLE...

What'* holding your pcm? Did you just use some metal to strap it down or build a box to hold it? Thrasher doesnt' send anything like this in the kit? The pcm appears to be upside down, is there a reason why?

What size cone filter comes with the kit?

Thanks for the help.

Marty