Performance, Brainstorming & Tuning Talk about modifications, or anything else associated with performance enhancements. Have a new idea for performance/reliability? Post it here. No idea is stupid! (please use Detailing and Appearance for cosmetic ideas)

A new loving SSEi owner

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:34 PM
  #1  
Bonnie-hawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Newport, MI
Bonnie-hawg is on a distinguished road
Default A new loving SSEi owner

I am sure you guys get this all the time. I just bought a 97 SSEi and I LOVE it. It is completely stock. I WANT TO GO FASTER! I am taking it to the strip in a couple weeks to see what it runs.(Milan Dargway opens April 1) I fell in love with them when a saw one smoke a mustang. What are the first few things i can change to get a little more? would the pulley be a good idea? Is there a perfarmance chip available for this? I will start with just these questions but I am sure I will be back. Thanks guys for any help.
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:41 PM
  #2  
J Wikoff's Avatar
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,433
Likes: 2
J Wikoff is on a distinguished road
Default

Check the links section for ZZP and Intense.

Pulley, intake, PCM, exhaust...
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2006 | 08:57 PM
  #3  
dbeast420's Avatar
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11,269
Likes: 0
From: My reclining computer chair
dbeast420 is on a distinguished road
Default

Here'* the link from tech info...........

First Performance Mods

Welcome to the addiction
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 12:18 AM
  #4  
chadow427's Avatar
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 1
chadow427 is on a distinguished road
Default

97 is good year for the ssei. i've heard its the lightest. If you wanna break into the 13'*, go with an Intense level 3 kit. I've had mine for about a year, and I love it. Headers, FWI (fender-well intake), smaller pulley, rockers, and a reprogrammed PCM.

Addiction isn't a strong enough word..... Welcome to the club!
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 12:40 AM
  #5  
OLBlueEyesBonne's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,459
Likes: 2
From: Sauk Centre, MN
OLBlueEyesBonne is on a distinguished road
Default

welcome!!
Yes, I'd have to agree, from personall experience, that 1997 SSEi'* are some quick movers.
When you go to Milan are you going to be running it bone stock? I'd suggest that you do so as you mod it you can see how much each mod helps.
I highly suggest that you get a CAI and some exhaust work (high flow cat or muffler) before you do the pulley.
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 08:24 AM
  #6  
willwren's Avatar
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 13
willwren is on a distinguished road
Default

95 was actually the lightest year. But the 97 is still pretty light when compared to the newer SSEi'* (2000-2003). They are easier to launch for low 60' times as a result.

Do it by the numbers, and your first investment should be a scantool.
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 10:29 AM
  #7  
BillBoost37's Avatar
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

95 is only the lightest with you behind the wheel or overall? (j/k)

97 is a good year. As many have said...you can do tons of stuff. I went gentle as this is my daily driver. Pulley, gutted air box, PEM'* (recently installed) and a few other little things.

Nothing like a 4 door sedan opening up a can of whoop A on another car.

What are you looking for overall? Drag car or daily driver?
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 10:36 AM
  #8  
sonoma_zr2's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 2
From: Montevideo, MN MWBF '05, '06, '07 WCBF '06 '07 survivor
sonoma_zr2 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by BillBoost37
97 is a good year.
97 is a GREAT year !
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2006 | 05:17 PM
  #9  
blackbonne's Avatar
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis, MD
blackbonne is on a distinguished road
Default

I second everyone! The 97 SSEi is seriously amazing. Mine has over 153,000 and is faster most cars I encounter on the road.

For starting mods:
1. Custom Cold air box (if you want details on how to build this, let me know)
2. Autozone Rice Pipe (yes, it really works)
3. 3" K&N Cone filter
4. Autolite 104 Sparkplugs (or another one stage colder set of plugs)
5. 3.4" pulley from ZZPerformance.com (will make engine run hotter...supporting mods are a must!)
6. Smaller Gatorback belts (Gotta have these if you change the pulley size, otherwise the belt will slip and you won't get a damn thing out of the size change)
7. 180 Thermostat (keeps the engine temp down by letting coolant through at a lower temp)

Next, I'd get a custom PCM.

I've been running the above mods for about 12,000 miles and just recently got my PCM. The difference with the PCM was mindblowing: I can finally do burn-outs without the transmission cutting out, there'* no more speed limiter, and the Knock Retard problems I was having have dissappeared, not to mention the HP increase.

PM me if you'd like more details.

-Sam
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2006 | 09:58 AM
  #10  
Cheetah's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,896
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere different on the globe every month....
Cheetah is on a distinguished road
Default

The 97 Bonnies were are still are a gret car. Mine is a daily driver, with nothing done to it. Like Blackbonne said, it is faster than most things out there.

I have 160,68x (org tranny, no work on it at all but for reg maint) on mine as of this morning. I odn't smoke the tires, but it is balls to the walls on the road.

Welcome to the Club, it'* only an addiction
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:59 AM.