Hi,
I'm getting a 1997 Bonneville (don't know if it'* an SSE or SE, but I know it'* not an SSEi) in a few months from my grandparents (has ~60k miles). I was interested in supercharging it, but after reading on these forums I've decided it'* not the best idea. Anyway, what are some suggestions you guys have for getting more performance? I'd like to get it to around 230 from the stock 205 if possible.

there are alot of things that you can do it all depends on your $$$$

www.intense-racing.com

take a look around

If you have the $$ you should get a GT1 cam from www.zzperformance.com . A few people have that cam and are really pleased.
What kind of $$ do you wanna spend? It seems you got a nice low mileage car on your hands.

Well, first off I'd like to spend just a few hundred dollars, so I was thinking a new intake and maybe something else. Is 230hp a reasonable target? ALso, how much would a computer chip help?\

Edit: Is Intense-Racing devoted to pontiacs?

SLP Cold-Air Induction Package, it doesn't include the Bonneville in the applications list, will that work on mine? I'm seriously considering a GT1 camshaft too, but do you need to take out the enging to put it in? (I'd highly prefer not to do that)

I'm not sure about the SLP package..... but as far as a "chip" goes, usually people recommend a replacement of your whole powertrain control module (PCM). Intense sells a "Standard" PCM that would work great for your application. Don't be fooled; it'* not a stock computer. You can read about it on the website, but in short it gives you more power (5-10hp), removes your speed limiter, raises your rev limiter to ~6300rpm, and makes your car shift gears at 6000rpm when you're full throttle. I forget if it does anything else worth noting... suffice to say it'* a great use of $100. I'm very happy with mine.

By the way, Intense isn't strictly Pontiacs... they specialize in any GM vehicles with the 3800 Series II engine. There are quite a few cars out there with the same motor as you and I.

Thanks for the replies, so you think $100 is worth it for that chip? How hard is it to install? So with this chip all you do is select what you want them to set all the stuff to and they send it to you? " Increase WOT shift points to approximately 6,000 RPM and engine rev limiters to 6,200 RPM - ideal for vehicles with higher ratio rocker arms and stock camshaft" -- does this mean I should get higher ratio rocker arms?

Does anyone know if that cold air induction kit will fit on my bonneville or if you need to take the engine out to put in a GT1 camshaft?

Also, will it be hard to reach 240hp?


Right now I'm driving an 85 Toyota Cressida, which is a very nice car with a nice engine, 2.8L inline 6, same as the supra of the year, but the availability of aftermarket parts sucks. So, I've figured it'* pretty easy to tune a bonneville to get nice amounts of power.

I'm 17 and I work as a service porter at a GM dealership until college starts, believe me, I know gm has a boner for the 3800 series II.

Sorry, I feel like I'm asking too many questions.

Okay, lemme put it this way. I'll have around $1,000 in june, can you all suggest things to do to get the maximum power and efficiency out of it I can?

As far as your Cressida goes, you might want to look up a member named "repinS" on these forums.... IIRC he has a Cressida.

You don't have to pull the motor to install a cam, but I'm told it'* a heckuva lot easier with the motor out of the car. For $1000 you should definitely get a cam or high ratio rocker arms. Rockers are easier to install but cost more, and I think they generally give you more power up higher in the RPMs. A cam costs less but requires a lot more work, and I think you'll see more uniform increases across the power band. Buy or rig up a cold air intake (sorry, I can't help you with that SLP package), add a high flow cat converter, and maybe even an aftermarket muffler if you want a little more bark with your bite. You should also get an Intense PCM to correspond with a cam/rockers, and some ported exhaust manifolds. All those things should get you up to 240hp without too much of a problem.

By the way, you don't need new rockers for a Standard PCM. Check out my sig, all I've got is PCM, muffler, cat converter, and intake. Oh yeah, make SURE you put in a 180 degree thermostat if you're going to be doing these mods. You'll need that coolant flowing sooner with the extra heat you'll be generating. I figure I'm making 220-225hp with my mods. It'* definitely a little more fun to drive than it used to be.

Thanks for the reply, I think I"m just going to put the mods on mine that you have on yours. I don't wanna risk screwing everything up with the cams. Do you have ytour PCM set to have the rev limiter at 6000 and WOT shift at 6000? because it says thats best suited for a regular cam and higher ratio rocker, but would I be fine with that setting without the rockers? How hard is the PCM to install?

Also, I have talked to repinS on the cressida forums before (small world), I'd love that car if it had a manual tranny.

Thanks again

The limiter at 6200 and WOT shifts at 6000 is fine for your valvetrain. That'* all I've got, and mine works beautifully. The PCM takes 5 minutes to install. All you do is unbolt the two electrical connectors from the top, pull out the PCM, swap the knock sensor module from the old PCM to the new one, drop the new PCM in, and bolt the electrical connectors back down. Piece of cake!

The PCM is the thing directly to the right of my pipe/filter/airbox. In a stock setup it is covered by a black piece of plastic held down by two wing nuts. Remove the cover and the PCM is sitting directly underneath surrounded by insulating foam. You should be able to handle the rest!