This is a late response and I apologize because I opened the account today. Sooo technically I didn’t exist when you’re question came out. Anyway “depending on your state.” You can get a lot of mods that can heavily modify your car. I can’t guarantee specific horsepower numbers but I can guarantee significant gains if you want to blow your entire $3000.00 on it (worth it).
If you’re in a state that has loose or unenforced smog laws you can go what is called the off road route. This means you buy a bunch of dumb
that makes it hella loud and you can be lazy and just buy what looks cool. I’m assuming by you’re original post you don’t want that. So to stay legal, me being in California I’m experienced in that route.
STARTER MODS:
1.) Cold Air Intake (CAI): Some Legal in CA
2.) Tune (BAMA, LUND, etc.): Not legal in CA
3.) CAT Back Exhaust: Legal AF
= approximately $1,000.00 (without labor)
If you get the exhaust, you won’t gain any more horsepower, nor with an Intake. And most intakes “REQUIRE” a tune so you don’t f*ck your car up with all that extra air being pumped in.
If you find a CAI with no tune required you won’t get gain any real horsepower and a tune required CAI still won’t get you horsepower either so I’m assuming it’s a sound mod for the most part. Lol. The Tuner is where you get the HP gains. You should see about a 25hp gain at the wheels which is about 50hp to the motor (from 315hp to 365ish) if you get the specific 91-93 octane “Race” Tune and obviously depending on your tuner. (91 vs 93 doesn’t really matter that much maybe 5hp)
***WARNING: Flash Tuners are 15hp gains
“Custom Email Tune(er)” are the bigger 25hp gains.*** and both are the same price $400! WTF!!??
4.) Intake Manifolds: Illegal in CA
5.) Throttle Body Spacer: Legal in CA
6.) X pipe/H-pipe Half are Legal in CA
= about $1500 (without labor or tax)
At this point you’re pumping way to much air in your engine and will break your car if you don’t tune it. Especially if you remove your catalytic converters. I wouldn’t do it. You’re not getting any real horsepower if you remove them. That’s just scavenging (don’t ask) and that’s so minimal only a very very skilled driver would actually find that useful. So if you now you’re at about $2500.00 before labor. Most you can install yourself, but the H/X Pipe would be most difficult but the rest you could handle with some garage tools and your jack in the trunk. Someone will probably talk to you about Long Tube header and Shorty Headers, but those bitches take like 8 hours (4 hours... those assholes) to install, so I tried to stay under your budget if you had a professional installing those parts.
The last $500.00 will be for your ticket. I hope this helps... Enjoy!
P.S not an expert just trying to help.