1998 Stock Firebird Upgrading V6 List Any HP Upgrades Please

[Phoenixx]

Due to the fact that so far no one has recommended doing a LS1 engine swap over buying a different car, big surprise, im looking into any upgrades avialable to upgrade the HP in a 1998 Stock Firebird Convertible. So far ive found two sites with good lists of things to use, if you think something would be better than something else in a V6 or see something isnt listed, even if it only would make a difference of a few HP please mention it, thanks!

http://www.firebirdv6.com/media/12secondV6/deepsix.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...4212859AAd67Am

[Christopherrr]

GM's 3.8 is a great engine. Virtually bulletproof. Most of what you can do with a V8 you can do with the V6. I have a friend with a 3.8 Camaro moddied moderately that can run with stock 4.6 Mustangs.

Most of our site sponsors offer upgrades for V6s. You might have to go elsewhere for more extreme mods like cams or heads, but again, what you can do to LS1 you can do to a L36.

Most of the members here would recommend you open up the engine a bit. Add a high flow lid and cat-back. A more aggressive rear-end gear ratio would really wake up your car. You can do mail in tunes just like V8s...you just have to research.

[Christopherrr]

Well, I didn't review your hyperlinks...

Seems like you did a lot...but have you tuned your car?

[Phoenixx]

No i havent done anything to this car just got it a few weeks ago, and so thats why im on here askin what people think i should do so i dont either do so i dont take apart my car to do something then realize for my next upgrade i have to take apart my car again and go back to the same spot i was just at and could have easily done while i was there the first time.

[Christopherrr]

No insult intended, but how mechanically inclinded are you?

I mean, would you be scared or even know where to start when doing your own work like a cam swap or replace an axle shaft?

Anywho, a 2000 Camaro coupe with 3.73 gears, headers, cat back and lid tuned can pull on and run with newer 4.6 Mustangs (260hp) and walk all over older 4.6 stangs.

If you're inclinded to do the work yourself, then modding can be fun and rewarding, but if you're gonna pay someone to do all your work, I'd save for a V8.

[Craig 94 TA GT]

I agree with Christopher, and want to add: what is your ultimate goal? 14 seconds is within reach with quite a few bolt-ons, or possibly slight engine work. If you're going for quicker, I'd suggest you throw your $$ on an LS1 or LT1.

[DHolmes]

to make your v6 the fastest for the cheapest,get a 200 shot of nos,my Friend has a 200 shot in his 96 rs camero,Its pretty dam fast

[Nightrage]

Start with the basic intake and exhaust. Once it breathes better, work from there. I believe I've seen Joe state that the stock exhaust from a V8 will bolt up to a V6 and flow much better than the stock V6 exhaust. You can bolt on headers and a high flow cat, a cold air intake, shift kit (assuming it's automatic), maybe numerically higher gearing if you don't mind a decrease in fuel economy, plus a tune. That should provide you with a very noticable gain without tapping into internals. I'm not sure how much power that would give you, but don't neglect your suspension. There's no point in having gobs of power if you can't get off the line without shredding your tires through 3 gears.

If you're feeling really ambitious, heads, cam and intake. By the way, it will help us to help you if you put some information about your car in your signature (modifications, transmission type, etc)

[Joshu]

Start with the basic intake and exhaust. Once it breathes better, work from there. I believe I've seen Joe state that the stock exhaust from a V8 will bolt up to a V6 and flow much better than the stock V6 exhaust.

I think that was from I thread I started about this time last year. It bolts right on real easy and sounds very, very mean. It, aside from the K&N filter, is the only mechanical mod done to my car. I got mine for 30 bucks off of Ebay and luckily the guy lived just accross town so I picked it up saving a boatload of cash.

[Phoenixx]

No insult intended, but how mechanically inclinded are you?

LOL! No insult taken, im mechanically inclined enough to know i shouldn't go off on my own and do what i think is best, and thats about where it stops. I have plenty of people that are very mechanically inclined and will be able to walk me through everything, they just think i should decide what i want to do then they will help. Basically i figured the best place to learn would be on a V6. I'll admit i'm terribly new to this but thats why im not going to be left alone with my car .

And even though it would be an option of just taking it to a professional and throwing money at him, just doesnt seem like it would be rewarding. I got a v6 that can do 11 seconds, i have virtually no idea why or how or how to tell if something is going bad in my car and if something goes bad how to fix it, but im just a spoiled rich kid with to much money . So yes i know its going to be a long road of mistakes and oopses but i rather take that road and have some idea of whats going on.

[Christopherrr]

I'll admit i'm terribly new to this but thats why im not going to be left alone with my car.

As a beginner, we all have been, getting advice from people on what to do is great, but doing the work yourself, making mistakes and doing it all over again is greater IMHO.

I can recall messing up on simple bolt-ons and doing it over again, frustrating but you learn how to map out all the things that you want to do and how to do it before doing it.

Being new you'll make mistakes and do a mod now, looking back thinking you should have done this or that first.

Work on getting your engine to breathe easier...it's cheap and they are support mods for bigger stuff in the future...then suspension. After that...you'll know what you'd want to do next. It's how car guys are, the feeling...can't put a finger on what it is, but when you're connected to you car, you know what to do next.

Forget a 200 shot of nitrous...you're just asking for puked rod.

With every possible V6 modification outside of power-adders, a V6 f-body can and should run 13's. Simple bolt ons should yield mid and high 14s. If you want I can you in touch with my friend and he can give you list of mods he did. He runs low low 14's with a cam/heads and other mods. Dynoed at 230ish with 3.42 gears.

[BrdWAtti2d]

Agreed, I don't know how many jobs I've done twice to "get it right". I could install an LT1 water pump in my sleep now; I've had it off so many times. That's what it's all about, you learn from your mistakes. Just pay attention to the details. If you read a post somewhere about how to do something and the guy stresses one point in the instructions, it's probably because that's where he screwed up and it's an easy step to screw up. I salute your determination, you'll do fine. Good luck with your endeavors.

[Phoenixx]

Quick question wouldn't the V8 exhaust screw up the engine back pressure?

Someone said that they think i might have the performance package beginners luck ? I was trying to get some pictures up and my camera started acting funny so ill have some up soon hopefully.

I was thinking about having a flowmaster installed professionally for one reason, my pipes are welded into my muffler. To replace them it would cost me $40 each and then for the flowmaster $120. I called around and turns out i found a place that would charge $200 to install it, and thats with the parts included so i figured why not?

But anyways before i do that i was wondering wether you guys think i should just do that or get the V8 exhaust and then put a flowmaster on that? But like i said i wasnt sure if it would mess up the engine back pressure. And is flowmaster the way to go? From what i can tell it is but i know just because the majority of people say its the best that may be because they have never experience anything else.

As for the intake im looking into that, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

Thanks for the continued help!

[Christopherrr]

Quick question wouldn't the V8 exhaust screw up the engine back pressure?

No, it will relieve air flow restrictions. I would be more inclined to get an aftermarket cat-back though. The general consensus on FlowMaster is that they don't yield much HP increase if any at all. I heard good things about Magnaflow for V6s, even V8 adaptations like Loudmouth (1 and 2) if you don't mind the rasp.

Someone said that they think i might have the performance package beginners luck ? I was trying to get some pictures up and my camera started acting funny so ill have some up soon hopefully

They are refering to the Y87 package. Look in your door jam for Y87 in your RPO codes. I think that code gives you 3.42 gears, V8 steering ratio and Posi (Limited Slip Differential). A couple of V6 guys here have the package, maybe they can chime in on anything else comes with it.

I was thinking about having a flowmaster installed professionally for one reason, my pipes are welded into my muffler. To replace them it would cost me $40 each and then for the flowmaster $120. I called around and turns out i found a place that would charge $200 to install it, and thats with the parts included so i figured why not??

$200 bucks? Not bad...you'll spend that alone on a cat-back. Be sure if he does replace your piping that the intermediate pipe (the long pipe that connects the catalytic converter and muffler increases in diameter). I don't know what the stock diameter is but make sure it goes up. The concern with back pressure is valid, but as long as you're not running anything over 3 inch in piping diameter on stock heads you'll be fine (even 3 inches is right there as "too much pipe"). You want to free up flow but you need to keep pressure. It's like a garden hose...if you just turn it on max, it flows, but if you put your thumb at the opening, increasing pressure, you maximize flow; which is your goal to maximize flow without completely eliminating back pressure...cause you need it.

[Phoenixx]

Friend may have been wrong im not seeing any y87 on the inside of the door, but im going to have someone run the car id number to see what it came with, cause im pretty sure it has non-stock things im just not sure what exactly, like i have this button next to putting my convertible top down that starts the car in second gear which i dont think is standard.

Anyways i see you have a Magnaflow cat-back how do you like that? And how does the sound compare to Flowmaster's i cant imagine it being to much of a difference? In your opinion is the raspyness annoying or is it just something that certain people might not?

I checked out the diameter of my intermediate pipe and the outside diameter was 2 1/4 so im guessin the side is 2 1/8 so ill make sure i get something bigger than that. I noticed you said 3 inches is right on the edge of being to big and i believe thats exactly what the LS 1 catbacks are. So do you think it would be okay to go with that or should i go with a slightly smaller diameter?

What made my friend think i had the performance package, which i may but at this point im not sure cause im not seeing that y87 is that i also have dual exhaust that look like these that come from a trans am.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02...29818727QQrdZ1

The guy before me was the second owner and he said he didnt install them and he believed the car came from the factory with them.

EDIT: I talked to some people up at Murray's Auto Parts they said the V6 and the V8 intermediate pipe were both 2 1/2 on the inside, but he had two seperate part numbers for them and wasn't sure why.