im looking to get some all around better performance and power from my 1988 sse. i have 77,000 original miles and the car runs great EXECPT for 3'' hole in me exhaust pipe right next to my catco.. my bonnie runs smooth and fast to me ''when she'* empty'' but i have about 200 lbs of subs and amp in her and i feel her slight drag when im driving local. on the highway she still pick up fast and hits gears like a car with 77,000 miles should..

now here is some things i was told i can do for better performance.
1- cold air intake. 2- racing fuel pump.. 3- performance muffler
4-performance chip (not a ebay knockoff)..
what does everybody hear think.. im 26 years old and this is my second car. im heavey into music as im a DJ and i dont no much about performance.. so all help will be highly appericated.. thanks

CAI? Sure. You'll feel it in better throttle response.

Fuel pump? There'* no power there unless you're trying to regain lost power from a weak pump. More fuel is NOT more power. Running rich is just as bad for performance as running lean. Try a new STOCK fuel pump if your fuel pressure is getting weak.

Muffler? You'll change the sound, not the performance. Try a hi-flow cat first. And consider porting your EM'*. Especially the crossover and downpipe transistions. They've been known in the early years to have poor flow due to misalignments in manufacturing.

Good luck finding a decent chip for your generation. IIRC, you can't really chip them.

Ditto on the FP...you don't need it until you know that the stock one can't deliver enough pressure and volume to meet the motors need. (Which is unlikely..the stock pump can handle quite a bit if it'* in good shape and has a new filter.)

On chips there'* three paths: 1.) run the stock chip with your mild mods to intake and exhaust. 2.) Have somebody like Ryan at GM Tuners burn you a custom one to match your motors needs after you figure out what they are.. 3.) Load up on about $250 worth of hardware & software and burn your own changes. (TunerCat, Eprom Burner, Eprom Eraser, and a few spare CalProms to work with.)

If you want, I can read your stock prom for you so you have an idea what it'* calibration is. There'* another thread I'm still working on describing the D.I.Y tuning process.

No mater which route you choose, you will need a good scan tool first. You can't know what you need to change until you can see how the motor is running now. It is a worthwhile investment. Cheap route is one of Craig Moates' converter boxes & cables with ALDL capture software. An Actron or AutoXray is a more expensive tool, but is self contained and works on more vehicles later (nice long term investment.)

If you got some bill saved up, and you're mechanically sound, you could do a swap to a newer engine.