Firebird n00b help

Hey guys... I have a 1997 Firebird 3.8 series II... is that any good? it looks cool as hell and is pretty fast but what do you guys think? The pic is in my sig.

I think im going to get a k&n air filter and a flowmaster setup..The local store guy said that it would gain 26 horsepower from those 2... The flowmaster would have 2 pipes running out from the cat and then split into 4 :)

1) I really dont have alot of money but what can i do or save up for?
2) What kind of oil should i use?
3) any gas additives?
4) i have a rattle when i step on the gas... is that a panel on the transmission or is it a shield on the cat converter?
4a) how would i fix it?
5) is it safe to take cat converter off? what gains would i get?


anything you can think of would really help me out.. thanks :)

Also....

How do i know how much horsepower my car has?
whats lt1 or ls1?
is my car upgradable to a 350 engine or higher?
How much do they run?

Thanks guys and i really appreciate all the help :smokin:

Since no one else has replied, I will:

1. Building a fast 3.8 will take some money. There are a few that have done it, even swapped the Series II for a GN motor, which are badass.

2. Oil is a personal preference, I use 5w30 synthetic in mine.

3. I don't use any additives, just 92-93 octane.

4. The rattle could be any number of things. Your car is seven years old, so there is no way for any of us to tell what it is without riding in your car.

5. You could replace your converter with a straight pipe, but you'll see minimum gains. Not to mention that if you're in a state that requires emissions testing, you'll fail.

6. Your car has around 200hp at the flywheel.

7. The LT1, of recent memory, was put into 93-97 V8 Camaros and Firebirds. The LS1 was put into 98-02 Camaros and Firebirds. LT1's launch hard off the line, LS1's are strong on the top end.

8. You could upgrade to an LT1, which is what I'd do in your place if money was no option. Have the power of a V8, but the VIN# of a V6, meaning the insurance of a V6. Good times.

9. You could probably get a V8 out of a wrecked F-body, and have it installed for around 3-4 grand.

Side comment: I hope you didn't get the K&N and the Flowmaster setup purely on that guys claim of 26hp. I wouldn't believe those claims for a second. If you did, I hope that you did a before and after dyno, and that you got that claim in writing, because when it doesn't meet his claims, I'd go get my money back...

what kind of exaust should i get then? i want a nice powerful sound... :)

He said around that much.. i dont really have alot of money.. im getting a paint job this summer and some rims.
I havce a 3,000 stereo in it right now... so all i need after those things are performance parts.. what do you reccommend?

edit: would expected more replies from this site with 100,000 members... thanks guys :rolleyes:

Best exhausts that I've heard on a V6 Camaro is a Ravin exhaust. I've heard them on 3.4's and 3.8's, and I've not heard a better sounding exhaust. I'd start with handling upgrades, like an STB. They make a world of difference with how your car will handle. There are very few V6 oriented performance mods, and most are expensive. I know you could get headers/full exhaust, some intake mods, and there's not much else. Short of fabricating your own turbo setup, there's not much else to do unless you either sell it and jump up to a V8, or swap in a V8...

Im not really into hadling mods yet.. i just want my car to sound good, gain a little horsepower and of course look good :)

Are their different styles of ground effects or just the west wings?
Where can i find a headlight conversion kit so i can have HID or the HID look headlights?
is it possible to put a TA bumper and hood on a firebird?

ok here is a site with v6 upgrades http://rsmracing.com/
i have more if you want to email me.

rksports sells headers for you car if you get those expect a good gain and put a cutout on your car and make a complete sleeper.

cold air kit will give you a good gain not 24hp.

i used to use quakerstate high horsepower 10 30 and it worked great in my 3.8. if yours is the gen II then thier isn't much you can do to make your ignition better because it is great from the start.

flowmasters for sum reason sound like crap on all 4th gen fbodies. ive never heard of raven. dynomax will give you a nice rumble. the only exhaust to get for the v6 that will give you a nice loud rumble is the borla but they run 700 dollars.

the lt1 the engine code for the v8's found in some c4 corvettes 93-97 camaros firebirds 94-96 impalla ss's

ls1 was the 97-current corvette motor and 98-01 fbodys.

yes you can fit whatever smallblock you want in thier accept the lt-5
289-427 they pretty much all fit your engine compartment is the same as all the other 93-97 fbodies. any other questions?

There are plenty of decen exhaust systems for a v6....I personally suggest MAGNAFLOW...Borla is also decnt but a 100$ more than Magnaflow.....I heard Ravin setups online and i think they sound like ricers on steroids. You can get a magnaflow rear section for 400$....i also suggest the RKSPORT headers500$....and a CATCO high or free flow catalytic converter 100$.... and SLP Cold Air intake 200$......with those four items as your setup for your exhaust you should gain about 40-50hp and a decent 40 lb ft of torque....you will fly and sound godly like all for only about 1500$ after installs. good luck and lemme know what u end up goin with.

the lpe intake is 150 and well its a lingefelter so its "cooler" ha ha

haveyou ever taken off your intake plenum?
if you have a dremel then you can take it off and bore out the inside. thier is a sensor in thier with a huge "block" of metal around it that blocks alot of air. take off the plenum and check it out. you can remove alot of that metal and gain some big numbers in flow and HP. o ya and its free

i have no clue what your talking about lol...

so you guys are saying that the flow master setups arent that good? i got quoted 179 installed with 4 tailpipies coming out the back.. he said it sounds pretty good too.

i will find the web sites that have sounds of exhausts on them and you can listen to them yourself the flowmaster sounds so bad on all 4ht gens

The flowmasters are shit...follow my post from earlier in this thread...if you want sounds www.exhaustsoundclips.com (http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com) has some decent ones fopr the 3.8L. Just go to the GM link and then scroll down to the 3.8 area. I suggest you go to magnaflows homepage though and listen to the clips of it on a camaro, it is amazing.

Does this sound alright?

its from a 97 camaro and its a cutout... whats that and how do i do it?

http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com/sound/2002_chevy_camaro_3.8_v6_stock_cat_exhaust_cutout_ 2.25in.html

Umm, why the 3k dollar stereo system? You know with that 3 thousand you could have had a mod or 2 put on. I think that says alot about where your priorities in your car lies.

i know with the monsoon sound system in the car you can just add a stealth box and get some very very impressive sound out of all stock items. its only 300 or so dollars

i had the 3,000 stereo for my last 3 cars... its like 3 years old.



RE:

Does this sound alright?

its from a 97 camaro and its a cutout... whats that and how do i do it?

http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com/so...out_2.25in.html

ya that sounds about right for a v6
but i listened to the borla on the 350 and my car sounds way different

hey check my thread ALL 3.4L MUST READ ASAP
it will also work for your car

nice link ;)

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1830476

weeee

RE:

Does this sound alright?

its from a 97 camaro and its a cutout... whats that and how do i do it?

http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com/so...out_2.25in.html

a cutout is pretty much what it says. it is a split pipe that you connect usually before the cat. one side of it continues to the rest of the exhaust the other side empties right thier. when you race you open the cutout so you bypass the cat and mufflers. then you close it to drive on the street.
http://www.dmhperformance.com/
check them out (its electronic so you dont have to get out of the car)