SE upgrades?
 

anyone have any good ideas? or products? im looking to do a lil bit to my car, 1st thing is im getting the fwi from intense, any ideas? nothing major though. like recomended plug wires? pcm? what will a pcm do?

Spark plug wires, generally Napa Beldens (ask for the Blue ones) are the most chosen here due to their excellent reliability, and lifetime warranty. Also the OEM ACDelco wires will do also.

Spark plugs, usually NGK, Autolites, AcDelcos, brands like that. NO Bosch, they don't jive too well with our waste spark system.

Mods, you should start with PEMs (ported exhaust manifolds), PCM, and a intake such as a INTENSE FWI, or a shielded rice pipe with a K&N cone filter.

cool, would it be possible to link a few things to the post? like the pem? and a pcm
what does the upgraded pcm do? and good thing for telling me no bosh i was gona spend 60 bucks on plugs.

After the BASICS (all the tuneup items including an O2), intake (FWI), 180 stat......

I'd have to say a ported LIM would be the single biggest power-adder, and should be done before any exhaust changes or valvetrain updates.

What you need is a local member who knows how to port an L36 LIM. I think this guy lives pretty close to you:

www.zillamotorsports.com

And you need to replace your LIM gaskets anyway, and install an APN UIM, as well as lose the DEX before (or during) any performance upgrade. Read this for more info:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38

It's not a matter of if, but rather WHEN. And it doesn't make sense to add power to an engine that won't be with you for as long as you'd expect.

And it doesn't make sense to add power to an engine that won't be with you for as long as you'd expect.

what does that mean?
is the 3.8 series 2 crap?
or did i take it the wrong way? :?

The comment i think was in regards to the Dex-cool (the red coolant you can probably see in the overflow bottle). It's known to eat lower intake manifold gaskets, mix with your oil and potentially wreak havoc on your engine internals. So like Wren said, if you're going to go with a ported LIM (lower intake manifold) it would be a good time to get the Dex out of your system and replace with the dex compatible prestone coolant and change the LIM gasket while you're in there.

ohhh whoa, thank you i was like oh god another shit car haha. cool. sorry zilla. :) must of read it wrong :) by the person that lives close, u mean you? :)

i think the series2 lower gasket is a problem whit or whitout dex after seeing 2 1995 L36 that where never on dex those gasket where as bad as mine

Attachment 43302

Bottom line, if you're going to add power, or plan on keeping that 03 for a year or two, you MUST replace your LIM gaskets and the UIM entirely, and it's strongly suggested you lose the DEX.

In other words, the 3800 is a great engine, but there are two weak spots on the L36. The UIM needs to be replaced with a sleeved one from APN and the stock LIM gaskets need to be replaced with a new version (aluminum-framed) from GM Parts or INTENSE. Once that is done, you have no worries and a strong engine.