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I have a 00 ssei and was wondering what are some rather cheap upgrades that add some hp. At the track a lot o people run sc cobalt ss and srt4

depends on your budget.

Get something to read knock retard before you start changing pulleys. Torque app is economic for that. Cold air intake is where most start, then tunes, pullies and exhaust.

2003 SSEi wrote:depends on your budget.

It would also help to know exactly what you are looking to do as well, and where you want to be. Are you looking to run with them, or out run them? I don't know the extent of their mods, but if you are looking to run with SRT's, especially ones not stock, I would start planning on cracking 13's in the 1/4, which is fairly involved in this application.

A headers/pulley/intake/tune car will keep up with stock supercharged Cobalts and SRT4s, but as soon as they start modding you will likely be left far behind without intercooling and valvetrain upgrades.

What is cheap? Granted, you probably didn't spend more than $4500 on your car, hopefully, but cheap to some is $50, others is $500. Helps to know what you'd be willing to spend...

i want to beat them but if not then id at least like to keep up with them. I have about 4 grand

ok that makes things easy.

built Trans FIRST

and in no particular order
IC
N* and LQ4
Cam or rockers
Headers

I would start with:
* Cold Air intake
* Downpipe
* ZZPerformance Plog manifold or Headers (some minor modifications required.. search and read)
* Intense Tune or Custom Tune

after that then if its not quite quick enought then look at doing a smaller Pulley. ZZPerformance can set you up with one of those. They are press on so you need the tool to swap them or have a shop that knows what they are doing press on the new one.

Without dropping pulleys you will not keep up with even stock SS/SCs or the SRT4s.

I would suggest a modular pulley system for the blower. Press it on once, forget about it.

I usually buy stuff from intense racing

ZZP or INTENSE will both be fine for stuff like pulleys and intakes. Headers you should get from eBay or used off of another 3800 community. Headers flow better and are now cheaper than the pLog/Downpipe combo. Intercooling would also be extremely beneficial, depending on your area you could also run E85. There are many ways to get into the 13s with this platform, but beware that the trans will then start to show weakness.

Honestly, I'd take that $4k and buy something else as a "fun" car. The 3800 is a finnicky platform, and unless you have the dedication and want that guys like Randy and Pat do, you're not going to get what you want. You'd be way better off starting with something with a much larger aftermarket and easier mods than the Bonne...

Ed speaks wisdom. If you want more pep in the car's step, then you can do basic mods. But if you want to keep up with those little turbo 4 bangers once modded, you will have to get quite expensive and extensive with the modifications in the Bonneville.

the need to go fast will always cost money, and then a little more.

Whats the best CAI you guys are running for the 00 SSEI? Part/brand?

(sorry for resurrecting a old thread)

Couple options, if you do a fender well intake i would suggest a solid front mount for the trans or it will bang all over the fender when the motor rocks. If you remove the stock air box you will need to secure your PCM with a mount. I used a OEM S10 PCM tray from GM to mount mine in with a couple self tapping screws.

* Gutted stock air box w/ K&N filter (cut out interior baffles) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... pic36.html
Before:

After:


I made a Custom "Modular" intake that is both "Cone on a Stick" and a "Fender well Intake" so i can swap it during bad weather seasons.
* Cone on a Stick Intake (filter under the hood on a smooth pipe)


* Custom Fenderwell Intake


* JMB Performance Fenderwell Intake: http://jmbperformance.com/product/ponti ... ir-intake/



Intense Performance Fenderwell intake: