performance on a budget.
 

Ok, I have been reading what others have been doing to thier rides. I have been shopping around the web. I have been stuck in Afghanistan. I have a question. Would you guys say $4000 USD is a good budget to start some performance mods? What kind of end result would i be looking at on a 2000 SSEi? and what should I absolutly do and what can wait?

Hope I am in the right area to post this...

Thanks for any input in advance,

jake

First off, THANKS for doing what you do, I know not many of us would risk our lives like you do everyday. And $4000 is an awesome start, I would say. YOu can get A LOT done with $4000. fenderwell intake, 180 tstat(drilled), PCM, pully, high flow cat, headers or ported manifolds, (well what about all new 3inch exhaust guys?) Port and polished SC UIM and LIM, rockers.... actually $4000 is soooo much I dont knowwhat exactly I would do, lets leave it to the professionals!!!! Fellas???

If it were me and i had 4000 to spend on a ssei. hmmm

I would buy a nicely built tranny (around 3000-3400). That would be a great start and eventually going to need it anyways.


Then with the remaning say 600 i would buy, a FWI, cooler plugs, 180 stat, and throw a 3.5 pulley on for now (as long as you have no KR). That would have you set up to go any way from there.

If the tranny was closer to the 3000 range you could throw on a set of pacesetter headers and get away with a 3.4 pulley and be ready for say a cam or rockers ect down the road. :lol:

$4000 will buy to lots of engine stuff. A cam & supporting accessories could probably be bought and installed for under $2000 @ INTENSE.

PRICE BREAK DOWN:

Stage 1X Cam $300
Comp Cams 105 Springs $135
Manley Retainers $30
Cam install kit ~$100
JP Performance chain $80
Rocker arm bolts $20
INTENSE PCM $100
MPS pulley system ~100
Half Price install $300 ($600 normal I think) Since you are in the Armed Forces :usa:

Approximate subtotal: $1165

Leaving you $2835 left in your budget. I would also recommend headers which run $700-750 + $150 install ($300 normal price)

1165
+900
= 2065
Leaving about $2’000 left for the transmission.


GOD bless you guys over there!

Ed

this is what makes you guys awesome
 

You guys rock!

I would have totaly have been kicking my self...I had rarely factored the transaxel into the spending and it only makes soooo much sence....what about the up grade kits from Intense (in thier performance pack section)?


Thanks a lot.

jake

Re: this is what makes you guys awesome
 

You should send Intense-Racing a E-mail and talk with them about your plans & budget. They won't steer you in any direction but the right one. I'm not very sure about the upgrade kit personally; I know if you have lots of miles on your current transmission it would be a good idea to replace the electronics in the transmission too while you are there among other things too.

You are very welcome,

Ed

You are really well off with what you have now, trans would be a good idea cause then you dont have to worry about your engine mods breaking it down. Get it built with posi and some gears, and get up outta the 'hole'. McGrath is right, talk to INTENSE, they'll know what ya should do with your money. And you'll be smiling every time you touch the gas!

Feel odd emailing them untill I am ready to put the cash down but when the time comes, I most likey will, I am starting to think that maybe I might wayt to try to save up an extra grand or so. I am not trying to build a strip only car, this will be driven on the street, but should not be my daily driver.

thanks again all

jake

Jake, just remember, the 1/2 price install will only work if you end up being in the Ohio area when you get back. If you end up in the NW again, that's not going to work.

I would be saying turbo it. but would would need to save up a little more money for the supporting mods.

I agree that in the long run you should turbo it if you really want ultimate performance. Most guys with 12 to 11 second cars (at the other forums) have said that if they had to do it all again they would start with a tubo kit. I would recommend a ZZP Z7 turbo kit ($2,500) and then a turbo cam from INTENSE. By just doing that with an intercooler you should be running a quarter mile in the high 12 second range.

Have not been thinking about adding a turbo...not so sure I want to go that route....so far it sounds like for my question as to what is an absolute must, I need to have some work done to the tranny....going to see if I can puff the budget up a little...I was thinking about $4k and did not plan on the tranny....thanks for your help and opinions all.....will get down to the meat and potatoes when i am on my way home, but the topic is Performance and Brainstorming....and that is what I have been doing a lot of lately, brainstorming about performance....

thanks

jake.

with 4k on an engine alone, you will by far have one of the fastest Bonnevilles on the plannet.

And with nothing spent on the trans, you won't be putting power to the ground very long with it. Glad your putting serious thought into that.

I actualy think I may stick with something like the above plan. tweek it a little to fit my Ideas, but it does sound like a good solid start of a plan. From looking around on the web, it looks like putting $2K in to the transaxel should be enough for what I plan to do and still leave me 2-3k to play with.

Feel free to give me ideas on if this sounds just about right or if I should trade one part for another...but I am thinking the above sounds like a realistic base. Thank you very much McGrath, looks like you put a little thought into it.

jake

Jake..

The plan Ed laid out is common and known to make power. And being that he is currently in the middle of a build up, he's very knowledgeable. I learned a TON when building.

Don't be hesistant to toss Intense or ZZP an email and start getting ideas. Planning, discussing and tossing ideas around is the best way to make your build a success. For example some guys mention a turbo, does that suit your driving style better than a supercharger?

Email the vendors.. see what all the various places have to offer. My experience is that Intense will make suggestions based on experience, while sharing information and their experiences with you they won't have you spend on unnecessary items.

Talking to them before my build up saved me probably $300 + in costs.

Something to keep in mind is labor charges for this stuff unless you plan on doing it yourself.

some of the work I can handle, I have been a mechanic for 10 yrs...but I do not have a whole lot of experiance with gasoline engines so yeah...going to have to pay to have some of it done...dont feel too comfortable learning as I go when it comes to some thing like this.

jake

If you head back out to the NW when you get back, you know where to come. ;)

INTENSE may offer a 50% labor discount for the military, but ZillaMotorsports offers free labor AND lodging.

:booty:

I recall PDMotorsports does also. Perhaps even ZMEast.

Too funny, you guys freakn' rock....but I will be going to N.C. when I get back....My wife and kids are in Iowa for now...but I am stationed out of N.C. now :(

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

LOL :)

But the Black Bonne at INTENSE is much faster then that Green one on the west coast :P .

remitted last post

Whoever he hooks up with, they'll both learn on the install, and pass that knowledge on to the next. It's cool how it works here.

(off-topic comparison between the Zilla and 8-ball, he may have me by a couple seconds, but we both can claim to be the two quickest non-nitrous Daily-Driven FWD Bonnevilles of our respective Series)

Jake,

Like already mentioned ask some questions to various vendors and see who can help you out the best. That’s what I did \/ :) You have a huge base of knowledge here and at INTENSE. Heck your set you have the hardest part taken care of already $.

Ed

Wow, I would not mind having a budget like that. I'd put most of that into a tranny. Personally, I'd go with a turbo next. I feel the L67's have enough grunt to get around until the turbo would spool up. In my opinion. Then cam and heads as money comes along.

North Carolina huh? Sounds like my side of the country.

Jake..it's a weekend deal. You start on a Friday night and by mid Saturday it should be up and running. You luckily have a newer body style with the big dopey mount under the balancer that holds your motor to the subframe. (Unlike Dillcc and I). You can drop the side of the frame..slide in the new cam and enjoy.

Whether you take it on yourself, have help or have it professionally installed you have a good budget to consider more power and getting that power to the ground.

Intense installations are rocket fast. Tim is an amazing professional and lives to install parts and amaze us with his ability to make installs happen quickly.
Zilla Motorsports.. that guy takes a lot of beer breaks :lol: j/k Bill...you do though.
PDM will change an engine three times because I'm practicing to take Tim down on a speed challenge ... It'll be on ESPN 8 (the ocho) one of these days. :lol: