i have an 02 ssei with 140 k running strong...i added short ram intake...i am on the verge of getting a downpipe attached with high flow cat....also colder t-stat...the last thing i am trying to add is a 3.5 pulley...my question is once i add these things do i REALLY NEED TO have it dyno and tuned or will the car run smoothly without the dyno and tune...i am askin because like alot of ppl i am on a budget and would like to kno what i can do to beef up my ride without breaking my pockets and back... does anyone have the answer or suggestions besides what i have in mind to help me out...my main factor is not blowin my engine but getting at leat 270-290 hp. thanks guys

you don't "have to" with a 3.5 but it is a good idea to scan it afterwards to make sure you do not have any knock retard. i am running a gutted air box, 2 heat range colder plugs, 180* t-stat, and a 3.4" pulley and a highflow cat with no tune but i had 5* of KR which isn't to bad but more that you typically like to see. better to get a custom tune not a canned one such as intense or zzp preselected tunes. Billboost37 can help you out with that he is in conneticut and not too far away

I had a 3.5 pulley with a downpipe, high flow cat, cold air intake, 1 range colder plugs, 180 thermostat, and zzp PCM still running 5* KR. Like gunner said, your best bet is to find someone that can do a custom tune for you. Also, by short ram, I'm assuming you are talking about a warm air intake. You should consider enclosing it in a plexi box, running it into the fender, etc.

I'm currently running a 3.5 pulley, TOG headers, 3" DP to hi-flow cat, 180 T-stat, one degree colder plugs, and cold air intake. I'm scanning 2.5KR at WOT on a stock tune.

this all sounds like good info......@tom ...yea its a warm air...i searched hi and low for a cold air that would fit the bonni but to no luck...only thing i found close was for the grand prix gtp...which i believe have the same engine setup as the ssei but was a little afraid of buying it being as tho noone could tell me if it would fit properly....what do u think? i dont mind spend a couple hundred buck for the system as long as it fits....im not to good with building any boxes or enclosures...my short ram intake doesnt extend very far...and i notice today the intake was very very hot...a lil dissappointed in that. so will a cai for an 02 gtp fit for an 02 ssei?

Steve aka gunner, No KR is good KR or acceptable KR. KR means your motor is seeing predetonation and it'* reacting after the fact.

Predetonation cracks piston skirts frequently in our motors, leaving the top ring exposed as well as sharp edges. Sharp edges heat up more and cause further KR. It'* a brutal thing that you want no part of.

A custom tune..totally necessary, not at all. Scanning, well that is pretty necessary. If you tuned and knew you were good for no KR, then you wouldn't need to scan until the weather changes. Then the tune isn't right again.

Beginner scans
Mid level has a tune
Good has a tuner

I used a canned tune from intense racing until I was running a 3.4" After I bought my tuning software I was able to do a lot more.

Take a look at this thread. https://www.gmforum.com/showthread.p...ght=air+intake

I am running a JMB Performance fender well intake and I really like it. You can get custom colors, and I believe the price is in your range. You will want to get the two piece setup. It splits the tubing right before it passes through into the front bumper, making it easier to put in, and giving it some flexibility so you have less of a chance of ripping it out if your engine moves to much on a launch.