I'm starting to have second thoughts about going with the Level 3 Performance package from INTENSE.

The whole header install looks to be quite the project and I dont know if I want to risk messing something up or blowing the trans...one of those if not both would surely be the outcome. I may opt for it later but have someone else do the work who was more comfortable with it.

I'm still unclear about the problems with the header install and I even read the post from back when paul and o'neal did their installs...like what do we do about the egr system when headers are on there? do I have to mutlilate the stock exhaust system? lots of questions about headers are unanswered for me.

So will I gain anything with rockers and a stock exhaust? I'm thinking I might just go with the level 1 with a 3.4, since I thought headers were required if you were doing rockers. Then again there is the level 2 package from intense.

I'm not interested in PEMs either.

Any idea what times I'd run with rockers and a 3.3" pulley setup on a stock exhaust? or would I have to run a 3.4 to avoid KR? I see mixed results with the 3.4 and 3.3s so I'm curious.

Headers just seem way to expensive and the pace setters appear not to be all that they are worked up to be. Plus they are still expensive compared to what headers would cost for a 350 or a 5.0

I guess I'm interested in low 14s for right now, I figure rockers and a 3.3 might just get me there....if I do the level 2 I have room for transmission repairs and other stuff like the aeroforce gauge. My main goal is to be as fast as a stock 2002 transam (13.9 according to car and driver magazine) or a stock 1994 vette (auto..probably around 13.9 as well)...

you'll be much happier with a cam over rockers. basically an s1x, the level 2 performance pkg (no rockers), and maybe headers as an added bonus would get you where you want to be. you should definitely be able to run a 3.2 at least(well if you stick with the gen 3)

Hans.. headers can be easier than stock exhaust. Thing with the 00'* and even my 97 is you need to get the down pipe out of the way. Then you have plenty of room to work.

The EGR is provided for in the SLP'* and I'd assume the TOG'* and Pacesetters as well.

Things are super easy if you get a ball swivel deep 13 mm socket and a long extension. Lay on the ground and whip the bolts out like nothing.

(see what I mean about the enter button?)

3.3 isn't going to fly well at all w/o at least PEM'*. If you do it..you'll have mad amounts of KR like the 93.

As for the transmission... on any stock trans in our cars, there are weaknesses and your weakness is the higher gears at the moment. With your mileage, I'd suggest starting to save money. It'* not an "if", it'* a "when"

If you had money saved up for a level 3 kit, just apply it to a new tranny. Intense has those new shippable tranny'*, get one of those.

Hans, my wifes car has the 3.3 and it has not BLOWN up yet and we have over 140,000 miles on it. stock exhaust manifolds to a stock cat to a 3" cat back exhaust.
you saw the intake. we have stock rockers and my times at the track are not to bad, now if i had the 1.84'*? if you dont want the hassle or the expense of a cam swap
you know what the rockers(1.8, 1.84, 1.9, 1.95) will do you for H.P. and i have not read about any engines that blew up JUST because of a rocker swap, but i have read
where engines with cam swaps do not have the same overall longevity or reliability. its all what your after, decent H.P. that you can drive across country or BAD *** H.P. for the track.

ROD

p.*. the 3.3 pulley is on the car about 60% of the time (i put the 3.8 on in the winter)

This is true only in so far as that any motor modded to make more power has a lesser overall longevity reliability than a stock unmodded motor.

The cam itself will not cause degredation in engine life and if properly modded and tuned can last a long time.

I'm on 50k miles with mine.

I am running a 3.3 pulley on my riv right now. It all depends on thr car all I can say is scan,scan.scan,scan I started with a 3.4 made sure the car was running good. Dropped to the 3.3 have partial throttle KR issues but it is running ok. still get 0 knock at WOT with 16* of timimg

All I have to say is be ready to replace yours transmission.
The 3.4" pulley alone was enough for mine to start to go, without warning

good point.