Need advice on modding exhaust on 2000 TA

[vortecman]

i was not disputing that headers make horsepower. but ok. you, with your funnels and straws....

[cuda_dude]

ha, it was the best way I could think of to explain it. I guess the bottom line is that you make more hp with longtubes than shorties and that increase in hp compensates for the initial loss in torque.

[vortecman]

AHA!! THERE YOU SAID IT!!! INITIAL LOSS IN TORQUE!!!! but i agree.

[cuda_dude]

Well it's only a loss on paper.. it's like 4+ -2=2 see, you lost, but really you gained

[poormillionaire2]

Its not that you actually 'lose' it, it doesn't just disappear. The extra flow just moves it up in the RPM range. Besides, you won't even be able to feel the 'loss' of low-end torque when you drive it.

Anytime you help the engine breathe better, you will be better off by freeing up more torque and horsepower. An engine is basically a big air pump. The more air it can move at one time, the less work it has to do to move it. Let it breathe better, and it will take less energy to do the same amount of work.

[poormillionaire2]

Ok, so I've looked for this article on the web but have had no luck. But if you get a chance and want to better understand exhaust systems, pick up the March 2008 issue of Chevy High Performance. They have a great article on virtually every component of an exhaust system. It comes straight from Scott Stutler of Dynomax. He talks about catbacks, longtube headers, X vs H pipes, collector sizing, backpressure, etc. And their effects on output. I highly suggest you check it out for better insight.

[Netskimmer]

I’ll see if I can’t find that mag. At this point I’m planning on just getting LTs added to my current cat back system. For the next set improvements I’ll focus on the intake system. I’m thinking of getting the SLP cold air induction system and possibly a new intake manifold. Would a larger throttle body or MAF be helpful?

[poormillionaire2]

A larger TB would be useful, or you could just have yours ported. It would be cheaper. But don't touch the MAF. Just de-screen it. Those are good for 500hp or so. Look into an LS6 intake or FAST. But those FAST manifolds are mainly used for high output motors, so you may not need one. They are more expensive than LS6 manifolds.

[cuda_dude]

You don't have to touch your tb untill you do some head work.

[Netskimmer]

So just de-screen the MAF? Will there be any side-effects from this? I also thought that the FAST intake may be overkill given it’s price.

Regarding head work, I thought about getting new cams for the heads but I’m not sure which would be best. Some of the guys at work are trying to talk me into getting one of the head/cam packages from SLP but I think that might be overkill as the cheapest set they have is nearly $2K and I’m not sure what the gain in HP would be. I don’t just mean will it produce enough HP to warrant the price but also will it produce too much HP. I don’t think I really want a 600HP car as it would probably cost a lot to bring the other components up to speed and I don’t think I’ll ever come to a point where I’ll use that much power and odds are if I did I’d probably wrap the thing around a tree or something.

It occurs to me that the heads might be where I should start, that’s where the power comes from. Most of the other critical systems are designed to bring the necessary elements to and carry the resulting byproducts away from the heads. Once I have decided on what modifications if any I will make to this area of the engine I’ll know roughly what the engines potential for generating power (HP/torque) is. Then I can focus the other upgrades to maximize the engines potential without overshooting the mark and wasting money and time. What do you think?

[cuda_dude]

If you're car is going to be a daily driver or used quite often I woulds sway away from a cam. If you port the heads put on a bigger or ported throttle body, put a good intake system on and headers I think that would give you the hp gain you are looking for.

[poormillionaire2]

The general rule of thumb for LS1's for DD cams are 224's. There are MANY people out there who use 224 cams who say they are awesome for daily drivers, very streetable, and provide great 'under the curve' power.

As far as head work, I wouldn't do more than getting them ported at this point, since you don't have a specific goal in mind. Heads are usually pointless without a new cam. They work together, a cam is only as good as the heads that allow them to flow, and the heads are only as good as the cam that allows them to breathe.

Plus, a cam and valvetrain is cheaper than a new pair of heads.

And stay away from SLP, their gains are WAY OVERESTIMATED.

[cuda_dude]

I only didn't recommend a cam because it involves a lot more work and money...also because it is the one mod that will hurt your gas mileage. I have one myself and it's not very agressive but it ruins the sleeper image and hurts the gas mileage a bit. Do the heads if you're starting your modding agressively, otherwise just do the intake and headers for starters.
I also agree to stay away from SLP... they don't stand behind any of their products and the products aren't much to boast about for quality... you're just buying their name.

[poormillionaire2]

Stick with the bolt-ons, before you get in over your head.

[cuda_dude]