Hello, I've been away from this site for some 3 months now, mostly because I've just joined the Navy and have been very busy and kept far away from internet connection. Now I'm back and have use to the web once again.

Sinve I've been in I learned a bit about properly budgeting and spending the money I do earn, so I'm being a bit more conservative on my first mods for my car. As soon as tax returns roll around I'm letting loose about $500-700 to get my car started. What I had in mind was buying the SLP exhaust system from www.3800performance.com . It costs around $500, another $100 for shipping, and another $100 for installation. Mostly I want this system for the sound, but is there any power gains to be expected by slapping this new exhaust system on a completely stock N/A 3.8? Any gains at all? What I'm looking for in this mod is a small gain in both performance and a nicer sound to it, just minimal gains, but I want to be sure they'll be there for the price I'm paying.

Lastly, I am willing to accept other recommendations for spending $500-$700, like...would getting a CAI and a few other bolt-ons for $700 be a worthier investment? Any and all suggestions, CONSTRUCTIVE criticisms, and replies are appreciated. Thank you.

 

i think you will notice more with getting a CAI, i just got the wizaired for my 3400, and im about to do exhaust too so im not sure which ones going to do more for you but i dont think that exhaust is going to be able to give you a whole lot of horsepower or torque, but i could possibly be wrong ha

 

Headers and CAI lol

 

or cai and a cheaper exhaust for the sound, or the same exhaust, stretch your spending limit a bit haha

 

deff cai & exhaust, theyll get u some gains not much but youll gain a lil bit

 

500 to 700 bucks for HP gains on a N/A definately wouldnt be exhaust.
this is what i did and would do again. i did all these before going supercharged and felt a sweet difference. after i supercharged, they become supporting mods for a smaller pulley = more power.

CAI (250)
Plog (250)
Rockers (275) 1.8 rockers if your staying N/A, 1.9 rockers if you plan on supercharging later down the line.

you should see a noticable gain from these 3 things, i bet somewhere around 20 WHP. thats a sweet jump for a N/A.

 

With $700 I'd get a downpipe with a U bend delete, a CAI, 180 T-stat and a front Power log. With an extra 100 I would get a tuned ZZP PCM. You're not going to make that much more HP with a bigger exhaust, unless you add a power adder like a SC or a turbo.

 

montyss, what is the stock stat?

 

190 or 195, I believe!

 

did you notice much of a deference when you put in the 180? sounds like a cheap good mod