Questions about buying my first performance parts

[BlueBird_99]

Ok so I'm ready to begin upgrading my 99' Firebird (3800 V6) this summer after thinking about how I want to do it. But I need some help deciding what exactly to buy.

Now I know a lot about cars in terms of technical date and information (when I'm with my friends I can pick out any car on the road and tell them the make, model, year, and tons of info about the performance, etc). But I know nothing of the mechanical side of vehicles other than how to change a tire and my oil.

For starters, I need to know what kind of parts are compatible between the LS1 and 3800 engines b/c I'm looking to start with intake/exhaust. Since my car is a 3800 V6 I want to know what would work best for me and what kind of parts I can buy that will fit my car even though they may say they're for LS1's.

What I'm looking at currently is this kind of setup:

-Pacesetter Headers
-Fast Toys V6 RAM Air system
or
-SLP Cold Air Induction system
(could someone tell me which of those 2 is better?)
-Whisper Cold Air lid
-K&N Performance Air Filter

Does that look like a good first setup? And just to be sure I didn't overlook anything, those parts are all compatible with the 3800's, right? Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated.

But this is only half of it, next comes exhaust and I'm quite unsure about what to get. I need some oppinions on what kind to get. What I'm looking for is that unmistakable V8 sound. I don't want people to know it's a V6 w/o looking under the hood. The SLP Loudmouth is probably a little too much, it almost sounds like a diesel engine in a damn semi. But I still want a throaty growl with the heavy idle and loud roar upon acceleration. I've listened to a ton of sound clips of 3800's with new exhausts and the ones I like most are this one (which describes the setup as 'Cam, Pacesetter headers, open exhaust') and this one (which describes the setup as 'Cam, Headers, Catco cat, 3 inch I-Pipe, Flowmaster 80 muffler'). Those have the kind of sound I'm looking for.

So what can anyone reccomend of a good catback system in terms of the desired sound and overall quality of the cat, muffler and pipes?

[Mr. Luos]

I am not up on the V6 mods....but cat-back and intake are the first steps.
Also, a lid is an intake isn't it? Why would you get a lid and the Fast Toys piece?? Do they work together? Not sure about that.

Magnaflow for exhaust.


Also, check out www.byunspeed.com for deals. His prices include shipping. Great customer service, and he gets things out FAST.

[BlueBird_99]

Well I was under the impression that the Fast Toys RAM Air system was only the induction pieces under the lid and that you still need a lid seperately (it doesn't come with its own).

If I'm wrong, please tell me before I make up my mind and order something I don't need.

[sportin83]

i had the loadmouth on my 99 ls1 and it sounded great and made alot difference in performance.

[Mr. Luos]

Originally Posted by sportin83

i had the loadmouth on my 99 ls1 and it sounded great and made alot difference in performance.

First off.....he has a V6, not the LS1.

And the Loudmouth is great....as long as that is your ONLY exhaust mod. Add headers, add drone and rasp. I ended up removing my Loudmouth because of that.
Also, it did not make a lot of difference. That catback might have gained 5-6 RWHP. Which is really nothing on a stock car. I know every bit helps, but catbacks just open up the exhaust for further mods.

[BlueBird_99]

Well yeah, the Loudmouth almost sounds like a diesel engine on a semi sometimes, that's a little too much.

What could you really reccomend though to me if I wanted my 3800 to really sound like a V8? Is there a simple combination of just headers and a catback? Or do I need to do more serious internal engine work to really get that kind of sound out of a V6?

The kind of sound I'm really liking are ones like these:

-"cat, Flowmaster muffler"

-"Pacesetter Headers, 3" Cat, 2.75" Flowmaster catback"

[PowerJunkie]

Definitely go lid. The FTRA will net you negligible gains and only work at higher speeds. Get headers and a catback and you're car will sound better along wth improved performance. You can always do gearing which REALLY makes a huge difference. I would recommend Dynamic Motorsports (www.dynamicmotorsports.com) for parts. I have shopped around before and finally found the one place where I would get all my stuff. I ended up buying so much that I got sponsored. Great service and great prices.

[BlueBird_99]

Ok, now gears are something that I know nothing about. What kind of gears would you say I should get?

And that DMS site seems to just mostly have stuff for V8's.

[Mr. Luos]

Magnaflow!!

[BlueBird_99]

I do hear great things about MagnaFlow.

And any basic auto shop should be able to fit the LT1 system onto my V6 right? Because I want the 3" pipes as opposed to the 2.5" that are used on the V6 systems.

[Mr. Luos]

From what I have heard, V8 exhaust on a V6 car sounds terrible. Plus, probably won't gain you as much power.

[RG501]

Mr Luos, do you have a link as of where i could get MagnaFlow catback system for my v6 firebird?

[Mr. Luos]

93-97
98-02

That price includes shipping. Great site, good friend of mine runs it.

[blindeyed]

Full Throttle Performance:
http://www.ftpp.net/V6Main.htm
Go to "Exhaust" on the left hand side, then click "Cat-Back Systems/ Rear Sections" on the right.

They have everything you'll need. Your headers, and your exhaust. I recently just bought the Borla catback exhaust kit right above the Magnaflow kit that you're wanting.

[blindeyed]

Wow, Mr Luos, why are his more expensive?