3.4 LS Possible power improvements?
 

Hey guys, So I have a 2003 Monte Carlo in base spec, and I want to get a bit more kick out of it. its done almost 129,000 miles, so its probably lost some. I'm not the best mechanic, but i have a few friends who have a lot more knowledge than i do. I'm not looking for a huge amount, just whatever i can get. I have a custom exhaust system from a 93 firebird lying around, in a few pieces but intact minus the catalytic converter, and was thinking of putting that on, because hey, i have it and its pretty much free. Anyway, thank you all for your help!

You can get a cold air intake, do exhaust, you can do top swap with is taking your 3.4 intake manifold and swap it with a 3.5, if you can somehow find a grand am supercharger from a 3.4 I believe it can be fit on, other than getting it tuned there's not much to be done to a 3.4 really, there's a thread on here that lists all the mods for a 3.4 its nice

Wow. there's more than i thought! Now i have another question. Will buying new spark plugs and wires help me get some lost power or fuel mileage back? I'm guessing my plugs aren't in super good condition right now.

I mean replacing any old plugs and wires with definitely help, they will fire better. You can get a cold air intake for like 30-50$ at autozone, depending on how you want to set it up and you can always easily change it. Don't buy some overpriced k&n intake for like 300$ cause they require proper maintenance and basically you can get the same result for cheaper from other brands, also straight piping your car will make that v6 sound good while idling and take off

Also something called a u bend delete helps, you can get new headers, and other stuff

$50 for a cold air intake? Now that's in my budget. do you have a link/product name of a cold air intake? I'm heading to autozone today, and figured i might as well kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Sadly straight piping is illegal in NH, though you can modify your exhaust, at least they repealed that..

I'm pretty sure as long as you keep your catalytic converter you can straight pipe, and at autozone you can buy a 30$ spectre cone filter, or spend 40$ for a k&n filter head, and honestly you can set up your cai super easily the way the hose from the intake is, if you want to text me at 440-344-2645 I can send you pics of how I did it, it takes no more than 20 min

Actually I haven't paid my phone yet so if you can wait like an hour I'll be back and can help you out have to run up somewhere real quick

works for me, Ill have lunch break about then.

looking at autozone website, im seeing cai's for around 100, and just a cone intake for 40. ill text you when you give me the ok, so i can see what you did, and what to get.

I can send pics via email if you'd like cause I can't pay my phone today

Alright ill pm you my email.

hey whats your email again? the thing deleted the message i was trying to send the pics

nevermind I found it and sent the pics

The exhaust from the firebird isn't going to fit unfortunately. Best you could hope for is to cut off the expensive components (muffler/tips, resonator) and have those welded onto your current system.

As for an intake, I would suggest finding some way to block the engine bay heat from getting into your new cone filter. You'll notice the stock filter box draws air from behind the headlight, not the engine bay. You'll get the most power out if sucking the relatively cooler air from outside instead of hot engine bay air from radiator fan wash and the exhaust crossover.

Technically you don't need the muffler I just left the cat and resonator on .mine and it sounds nice, just keeping it this was until I put new dual straights on. But yea he's right about the exhaust it won't fit and as far as the intake goes your best bet is a custom ram air to suck the air from the bumper but if you're on a budget a short ram cold air won't hurt, you're still getting better or flow than the stock box, the box still pulls in hot air whether you wamma believe it or not but you'll notice with a short ram you'll have better sound and response and power

Ill have to disagree about not needing a mufffler. For general operation of the vehicle, you're correct that you could just cut it off. To go one step better, you could also just unbolt the whole catback to save weight if you don't mind the added noise.

Where I disagree is that a muffler may be legally required depending on your local laws. For example, where I live having an 'aftermarket exhaust bypassing cutout' is technically illegal although straight pipe is not. All depends on where you live.

I was just saying he can get rid of the muffler and keep the resonator like I did, which it makes it so you can actually hear your car idlle and gives it a nice deep throaty growl when driving which isn't too loud so you're not gonna get pulled over for it being too loud, it makes it just right

Removing the muffler and just leaving the resonator can still be considered illegal in some areas. There are two types of laws they could get you with:

-The first specifically cites removing or bypassing a muffler as being illegal. This may or may not be tied to wording about how loud the car is, but even when they do mention loudness, it often isn't in defined terms (ie they'll say 'loud' or 'unusual' noise) so that it's totally up to the officers discretion.

-The second way would be under the general sound ordinances for cars that cover sound systems, exhaust noise, train horns, etc. You have a better chance of these being well defined (ie X dB at y feet), but you still have no way to easily check this on your own to make sure you're in compliance. Plus if you're being a nuisance to others (say revving it up in a neighborhood at 2am), it's still plenty loud enough without a muffler for the police to come look into it.


I agree, it won't be crazy loud without a muffler, but that doesn't necessarily make it legal everywhere either.

I admit, I skimmed this thread, but two threads you may want to look at:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/fw...0-miles-46078/
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/fw...p-power-46071/

And I see this thread got Bumpin's attention, always good advice. :)

Much appreciated sir :)

maniac I live in mentor Ohio too let's meet up sometime