03 SLE Mods

[Jrs3800]

The title says it all pretty much..

This is the car I was not going to mod But just could not help it..

As of current the has

Ported Lower Intake
the intake port entrance on the head has been smoothed out to kill off the step from the intake to the head..
PLOG has been installed on the front
K&N drop in

Thats about it for the mods at the current

It will get a mild shift kit

I am considering either an Intense standard PCM or buying the credits and having a couple of locals help me tune to get more out of the car..

I would like to have an injector balance performed and add 2% to the front for the PLOG..

I am also considering an FWI..


For the NA motor is the stock exhaust more than enough?
Is the exhaust restricted in any manner... As well does the SLE have the same exhaust as the SSEi?

I want to do a few things to the car, but its going to be a DD... Any suggestions on what to do to get the most out of this car without breaking the ban and killing the engine..( I seem to have a bad track record.... I should go pick up a couple L26's while they are cheap...LOL )

[bonnevillain]

The only exhaust restrictions are really the Front EM, the downpipe and the catalytic converter.

I would strongly advise you get a custom tune vs the intense PCM. My Intense tune was very disappointing.The FWI is great and sounds amazing, but the cold startup noise is very annoying (which i'm sure you know). I hate when people give me those looks or ask what the grinding is. The PLIM and Cat seemed to help power, where i honestly didn't notice much performance difference with the FWI, mostly sound and lower intake temps. The custom PCM tune was really nice also. probably my favorite mod of all.

EDIT: yes, i believe the SLE has the exact same exhaust as the SSEi

[Jrs3800]

In that case I'll have to buy my buddy the credits and have him and another local help me tune.. They can teach me some good stuff I am sure..

The PLIM went on first... I noticed an all around improvement from the low end to the top end.. The PLOG went on last... From this I seem to have a better midrange and stronger top end... Passing power on the interstate was very good as opposed to what it was stock..

Is there a direct bolt on high flow cat for these cars? And if so will it set any Emissions codes revolving around the cat?

[bonnevillain]

Hogan Performance offers some bolt on downpipe/cat combos.

http://www.hoganperformance.com/HBodyGM.htm

I just had a magnaflow 94006 ($57 on amazon) welded in for half an hours labor. less than $100 total. On the emission codes, i'm not sure. I got it tuned out with my custom tune a couple months before i got my cat installed

[Jrs3800]

I'm liking that downpipe.... Thats what I am looking for..

[Allmachtige]

The stock exhaust won't hurt you until you go with a cam/1.9's.

[bonnevillain]

Nothing after the Cat will, but there are restrictions. i felt an improvement with my high flow cat. Many agree the front EM is a restriction too, altough i don't have personal experience with it.

[BonneMe]

I got Jovan's rear EM off in about an hour with some distractions, and me being lazy, with the car on a lift. It came out nicely from underneath as well. His stock definitely had some impediments in it from the factory, it was well worth it to throw the front on. If you can get a ported rear manifold, i'd say throw that on with the downpipe at the same time.

I wouldn't "injector pool" up 2% in the front, I would definitely have that as part of your custom tuning.

Shift kit... you could bump pressure up up in the PCM instead of digging into the trans a little.

So my shopping list would read:
Rear PEM
Downpipe
Hi-flow kitty
Mufflers if you want the sound (i would, Jovan's car sounds with magnaflows sounds SICK)
Custom Tuned (dont' forget front bank injector skew)

After that...
Rockers or Cam (i'd do cam)
HVIII
Turbo....

[bonnevillain]

who here has tried an HVIII? I hear mixed ipinions. I already had a cat welded in, it makes doing a downpipe more of a hassle but that and a PEM are on my list.

[SuperSLE]

The stock exhaust won't hurt you until you go with a cam/1.9's.

This car is N/A so it can go pretty far even with stock exhaust. I would say get the DP and high flow cat. Maybe some N/A rockers. I can do a tune for you for free if you just send me a PCM and a couple shipping lables.