Wow, it'* been a long time since I have been on this website! I previously had a 1997 Bonneville SSE, totaled it and got a 99 Concorde, which I drove for a year and sold to my grandparents. I just bought a 2000 Bonneville SSEi and I absolutley love it. It has 65,000 miles and the interior is like brand new, and fully loaded, sunroof and everything, and it is Dark Bronzemist in color! I want to mod it, obviously, but don't know where to start, I have a K&N Cone Filter on there now, but everything else is stock. What is the best thing for me to do first, I will be using my tax return money to mod it. I want to spend around a grand to start for this summer, so what are the best ideas for me to get the most power? I am thinking I want a smaller pulley, but is that going to do a lot for me or no? Thanks, Brad

Intake is done, change to a 180° thermostat, maybe some rockers, a smaller pulley, headers, PCM and the like.

Welcome back, Bob!

Brad.

Welcome back Brad.
As Will said, start out with a cheap $10 mod -180* t-stat.
Then do rockers, pulley, ported exhaust mani'* or headers. A 3" down-pipe from a local exhaust shop or a 3800 performance parts vendor and a high flow cat (from www.justmagnaflow.com for under $60) and your SSEi will leave you giggling for more at every stop light and christmas tree (dragstrip).

Before you start throwing money around you need to set a goal, i.e. how fast/how much HP/TQ. If you really have no clue what you want go to a 3.4 pulley and maybe a PCM. Those two little items will really increase your driving experience.

I found handling upgrades to be the most rewarding, it REALLY opens the car up in performance driving. I remember the first time i went driving with smellbird out in the country, I had no chance of sticking with him.

Lighting was definetly the best safety wise, and any car I buy will have upgraded lighting options on it.

I'd say do a set of colder plugs, 3.4" pulley, a PCM (but be wary on what you get) some performance sway bar endlinks, and a high flow cat. Opened exhaust will help a lot with the added air flow, the PCM can get more power from it as well, but check deep into whomever you get a PCM from. The Endlinks will tighten up slack that'* developed in your steering.

After that you can see what you want more of and go from there. Maybe some mufflers to open the exhaust some, or completely uncork it to scare everyone. Maybe work on suspension, drop in some speakers, sky'* the limit.

OK, well I want to get the pulley no matter what, but I am going to do headers and PCM first, so what brand should I get for the headers and PCM, or where is the best place to get them? Thanks for all the input by the way, I can't wait to start working on the car!

TOG and SLP headers work for the Bonnies, even though they are made for GP'*. TOG seems to make some of the highest quality headers out there.

As for PCM'*, there has been some major feuding going on about which brand PCM is better. You can get one from Intense for 100 bucks. You can get one from DHP for just over 200 bucks. There have been some reported issues with the Intense PCM for a lot of GP'*, but I have heard nothing from any Bonnevilles using them. DHP makes a real nice PCM if you are willing to fork out the cash for one, but you will save a ton of money with Intense.