I have been amazed since the first time I saw this site at how many modifications you all have made to your Bonnies. Some of them are pretty drastic (while some of course are simple, like a new air filter). How do you know what to do? Do you do the work yourself or do you have custom shops do the work?

I want to get into some light mods, but I'm terrified that attempting even the "easy" ones you have suggested in other threads is gonna ruin my car. I can change oil, filters, brakes and tires, but that is about it (and I'm the mechanically oriented one in the family ). I'm not sure we're up to the task.

Did anyone else ever feel this way? Have those fears ever been realized (ie. have you ever screwed up?)?

We have gotten my father-in-law to agree to help (he was a mechanic for the city...police cars and plow trucks mostly; and he worked as a mechanic at a Pontiac dealership years ago), but we're worried this stuff is over even his head.

Should we forget about trying anything ourselves and just find a good shop, or do I worry too much?

Don't you DARE pay a shop. We'll talk you through everything. There'* an article up in Techinfo that can help you decide what to do first, or you can just ask....(intake, exhaust, 180 thermostat, tranny cooler, pulley) for starters.....it'* actually really easy. Most of the stuff most of us do doesn't involve 'going under the covers'.

You tell us what you wanna do, and what your budget looks like, and we'll all do it together. The fun comes when you see the results!

I never thought of modding my car till I joined back in October. I had no clue what to do then, but have no worries now. I've done the Taylor wires, 180 stat, and am working on new exhaust. I am currently STILL waiting on my intake. It'* pretty easy to do these if you have no experience. Even changing the O2 sensor, PCV valve, fuel filter are things I never figured I'd do. I give a lot of credit to people on this forum who've helped me out. There'* a lot of knowledgable people here.

I worry about my car a lot too. You're not alone.

eh, i just threw caution to the wind and took stuff apart
of course i had to come running here when that stupid crank sensor got me, but it was fun and i now have a better understanding of how this engine controls itself

Thank you so much...I have to say again, you rock! You are all so helpful, and I'll be sure to make use of it.

As for the budget, if we can come up with the money in just a few months for his new gun, we'll surely be able to find some $$ for our baby! I'd like to know the "money is no object" dream mods too (not that we'll be able to do any...just for fun).

We'll start simple (after we finish saving for the gun...July).

Thanks again all...I have so much to look forward to!

Sounds easy enough...hehehe

I always wanted to work on cars when I was younger (teens) but never had the chance to. As of a few years ago I had never done any of my own work---no oil changes, no brakes, no nothin.

Now I do most of my own work. I still won't touch the tranny or the deep internal * of the engine (just don't have the tools and training for it) but I have done alot of other things. I ha ve even tore apart my SC and TB, rebuilt it with new parts, and reinstalled it successfully.

I found most of the mods that we do to the cars are really easy and I almost fell ripped that I actaully paid people to do some of this stuff in the past. For example, coil packs, they are 2 screws and that'* it. It really is that simple. Just look at my mods in my signature. I also did SC pulley, HO alt, ZZP coupler, fuel injector O-rings, etc... About the only one I didn't do myself was the exhaust (tools and ground clearance issues).

As Willwren said "We'll talk you through everything.".

That little thing called common sense that keeps telling you "It'* not worth it, too much money; you'll ruin your car; bills will pile up; there'* better things to spend it on." yep that thing needs to go out the window.
Step two is to work yourself into a frenzy, to do this smack yourself in the head repeatedly and make funny noises(like Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon").
And finally get out the card and spend money!

I learned this stuff the hard way on my '97 GTP, so these Bonnies come easy to me. It used to be a big deal to do a pulley swap, now I don't even bat an eyelash when I see one of these motors torn down to the block.

I wouldn't be anywhere without my friend Dave who does 99.9% of everything for me. He swears he'* gonna make me get my hands dirty on this car.