ive been reading around and it seems everyone is saying the 96 is the worst to mod. Why is my ?. its got the series 2 same as 97+. same hp right. i know it doesnt have as much options for parts which ive seen. but any other differences i should be aware of before i start modding even more or is it even worht it.

as far as I know, the 96 still had the 4T60E instead of the 4T65E-HD in the 97+ ssei'*. also, i think it had some electrical problems and the PCM'* (although OBD II) were upgraded again in 1997. The biggest downfall is the transmission because they simply don't hold up like the 65 HD'* do to the extra horsepower and torque that was added.

The 96 is not much differant than the 97 and newer. The PCM and Transmission is the real only difference. But if you have the trans built stronger than stock it will handle any HP you throw at a 97 or newer.

The 98-99 is the best PCM'* for the Bonneville'* because they where the fastest responding PCM'*

96 is not the worst.

You could keep your 96 and find a 98 or 99 engine harness and PCM and a 4T65HD and upgrade your car.

So mod away and let us know if you need tech info.

Don't let those narrow minded 97 owners tell you otherwise. Your car can be modded as they can be.

-Todd.

your right the transmission is the 4T60e. Though the whole "week transmission" thing is a bit played up by some. The transmission is strong from the factory. Just not meant for the kind of HP guys are putting it through.

But the electrical problems being a 96 thing is wrong. Its a Bonneville thing regardless of the year.

Also hit up Billboost37 for a PCM tune

All you need is a DHP tuner and your good to go with tuning your PCM

cool im gonna have to i need a nice tune

The worst to mod is not true. It has a few limits, the trans is a weak point and has some limits on what can be done. Tuning is a bit harder because it'* a bit odd, HP tuner don't cover that year. DHP does but it'* no longer made. A series 1 engine is far more limited then your 96.

Worst..lol stop listening to Toddster. (Selling his because he wants a 97!)

Here'* the honest shakedown:
96 and 97 both had head castings that would show cracks when magnafluxed. This was remedied in 1998.
96 had the 4T60 trans. It ran hot like all the 4T60'* and the diff is weak.
97 had the 4T65E that runs cooler with a beefier diff. 98 the splines on the diff changed slightly to accomodate a better design.
96 PCM had a 256K sized bin file
97+ PCM had a 512K sized bin file. And was programmed at the factory to hold back power. This is called Torque Management, it was done to keep the transmission from becoming abused and beated to a pulp.
96 and 97 PCM'* use an external knock module located under a small cover on the pcm. Easy to transfer from one to the next if pcms are swapped. This eliminates the need for a CASE learn which is suggested on all 98+ models.
98-99 isn't the fastest pcm'*. Those came in the 00+ models with newer advances etc.

IMO if you are looking to mod and want a car that has the most afternarket parts available for the engine/trans, in this body style it would be a 98 or 99, preferably the 99.

Overall is 96 an undesireable year? Not at all. It has the easier to mod Series 2 engine with all kinds of aftermarket. If you wanted tough to mod with the least amount of support, an 87-90 motor would be the least supported. Followed by the 92-95'* Series 1 motors.

The trans can be beefed up, it'* not bulletproof though. The engine can be modded to the hilt as well. In the end..things break if you try to go too fast.

what Bill said...sounds a bit better

all thought the 98-99 PCM is faster

And there it is in a nutshell!. My favorite speed/machinist shop when I was a kid had a awesome large sign made up and hung between the Parts/Machine Shop.

"Our Work Is Guaranteed To Break ****.
How Fast to You Want To Go/Spend Money"

The 04-05 GXP is by far the worst to Mod. With a Non-Flashable PCM that wont tolerate any modification of components connected to it, we GXP owners are left with Armor All'ing the leather and admiring the styling that was left with no umpffff.