Easy to install, non-noticable mods

[Ridenour]

Hey guys,
I have a 2001 GT1. I'm trying to do everything I can to it to increase it's performance without my parents finding out I modified it, because even though it's my car, they don't like me modifying it, and I don't want to piss them off (I value a roof over my head). So far, all I've done to it is put a K & N filter in it and I run premium / octane booster. (You gotta understand, I'm trying to get like every single pony out of the thing that I can) I also plan on getting a sensor mod chip off of Ebay. Aside from those all together, which together would add maybe 20 HP, is there anything else cheap and easy to install that would give me a few more HP? It's gotta be something not easily noticable.

Thanks.

[mikewohlford]

Check out www.doctorspeed.com. They have a throttle body that looks the same but better than your stock one, according to them. Also, look at the descriptions for all of the other "un-noticable" stuff like the spark plugs. I doubt you will notice a difference with those though. There isn't alot of easy ways to improve performance in a Grand Am without either paying alot of money or having it go un-noticed like you want. I hear alot from a guy that is building his own race car, that the most efficient (and cheapest) way to drastically increase any horsepower with stock cars like that, is just to get a light shot of nitrous. But yeah, without paying an arm and a leg for minor horsepower gains like newer headers, higher power ignition system and stuff, your kind of out of luck with a grand Am. I could be wrong. I own a 2003 GA GT1 and I have been looking for a long time to increase any performance out of this thing, and I haven't been very successful with it.

[GRANDAMLD9]

first DO NOT run octane booster or a high octane rating then your car is rated for. your just wasting your money. second those chips on ebay are garbage, DO NOT BUY THEM. Alot of things you can do to your car that your perants wouldnt notice are mostly inturnal mods, like head work, pistons and so on. You could probably get away with an intake, just dont let them here it and dont open your hood around them. i cant think of anything else at the moment you could do.

[Ridenour]

Thanks guys, I'm checkin into that throttle body. I was wonderin though, Grandamld9, are you sure all those chips are really all that bad? I mean I've read lots of the feedback, and some of those sellers have close to 100% positive feedback with 300+ buyers, and the comments from the buyers sound like people really like some of those. Have you ever tried one off Ebay? I mean they're so cheap, heck i figuire even if it don't work 20 bucks might be worth trying it. I'm gonna deffinately stop wasting money on octance booster now though. Thanks again guys.

[GRANDAMLD9]

those chips try to trick your computer into thinking the intake air temp is cooler, making your car run rich, a rich or lean condition is never good for performance. plus those "chips" cost about 25 cents to make maybe a dollar with a nice shiny sticker on them. you can get your pcm/ecu you programmed. ill try and find the site and let you know.

[GRANDAMLD9]

http://www.digitalhorsepowerinc.com/products.htm

[Ridenour]

Wow. Awesome site - the Digital Horsepower 1.0 PCM really sounds like it'd do a lot of great things. The new wiring harness might be a pain, but I'm sure it's worth it. I didn't really get it though; do I have to send in my ECU to them? also, what's WOT?

[GRANDAMLD9]

WOT stands for Wide Open Throttle. or when you have the gas pedal pushed to the floor. im not sure if you have to send them your ECU first or after you get the one you buy from them. But you could always ask them. you could also get headers, but headers and stock exhust you might not see the full benifets of that. just tell your perants you want to get some nice muffler or something and then just do a full exhuast.

[achievasc92]

some simple things you can do

8.5 mm plug wires
pull your UIM and LIM and gasket match them
KN drop in
some nice plugs (just about anything but Bosch)
Polyurethane Upper mount
poly lower mount