First Mod?

Most people suggest an Intake and Tuner from Brenspeed or Bamachips. It was my first mod and is probably "the best bang for the buck" mod. If your worried about it voiding your warranty you should contact your dealer. Other great mods are Gears, UD Pullies, and Suspension.
 
I am in the same situation you're in - me personally, I'm gunna put an exhaust on it 1st, then an intake. The car has enuf grunt to keep me happy for as while, but a better exhaust note needs to happen. I was dead-set on a Pypes MM system, but I' ve starting to hear about quality issues + as Flowmasters have always been in my heart, it's getting tougher w/o hearing it in person. Watch out for the warranty issue tho - if the dealer catches wind of another tune, even tho you've changed it "back to stock", you'll run into sum serious problems imo. Exhaust, intake, then gears for me in the performace aspect of things - 20" wheels would be nice, but with a 1yr. old..............nuff said. My .02
 
IMO, Intake and Tuner, 20 - 30 HP. The factory exhaust sounds/flows really well for stock and you really won't gain much more, if any HP by swapping that. Pulleys are another easy option and give you 10 HP. A Performance Shifter and Lowering Springs are also other great options. Hope this helps.
 
Picked up a new GT 5-speed about a month ago;

1. Bassani axel-bak for sound ($541)
2. CHE K-Brace w/ torque limiters so not to miss 2-3 at WOT ($150)
3. C&L Intake w/ Brenspeed 93 Octane tune combo ($650)
4. 3.73 FRPP gears ($500) to come.

#3 made an incredible difference in driving characteristics of car; I expect #4 to make a noticable difference as well.

Ran the car at ~950 miles on the odo w/ only #1 and #2 above, 14.1@99mph at a track that actually went uphill at the end and also forgetting to turn off TCS.
View attachment 316614
I figure w/ the 4 above things I should be able to get in low 13's on a really good weather day with some vastly improved driving.

Things I thought about but probably won't do:

1) LT Headers; I dunno, I'd probably go with ARH (expensive) as opposed to OBX (less pricey) but I don't know about if the gains are worth the $$; also we have emissions testing here and that would fail visual.

2) Mid-pipe/X-pipe w/ hi flo cats: Most likely won't gain much, emissions testing issues

3. UD pulleys: Small gain, albeit not much $$, don't wanna bother with it

With the 4 things above, car is fun to drive, sounds good (not too loud) and is reliable and easily returned to stock. Good enough for me. There's always gonna be someone faster, I just want to be able to beat my wife in the Vette on the occasions she's napping at the line. Besides, I think once you get into too much powere, traction becomes a real issue and I don't wanna start in on the suspension.
 
Picked up a new GT 5-speed about a month ago;

1. Bassani axel-bak for sound ($541)
2. CHE K-Brace w/ torque limiters so not to miss 2-3 at WOT ($150)
3. C&L Intake w/ Brenspeed 93 Octane tune combo ($650)
4. 3.73 FRPP gears ($500) to come.

#3 made an incredible difference in driving characteristics of car; I expect #4 to make a noticable difference as well.

Ran the car at ~950 miles on the odo w/ only #1 and #2 above, 14.1@99mph at a track that actually went uphill at the end and also forgetting to turn off TCS.
View attachment 316293
I figure w/ the 4 above things I should be able to get in low 13's on a really good weather day with some vastly improved driving.

Things I thought about but probably won't do:

1) LT Headers; I dunno, I'd probably go with ARH (expensive) as opposed to OBX (less pricey) but I don't know about if the gains are worth the $$; also we have emissions testing here and that would fail visual.

2) Mid-pipe/X-pipe w/ hi flo cats: Most likely won't gain much, emissions testing issues

3. UD pulleys: Small gain, albeit not much $$, don't wanna bother with it

With the 4 things above, car is fun to drive, sounds good (not too loud) and is reliable and easily returned to stock. Good enough for me. There's always gonna be someone faster, I just want to be able to beat my wife in the Vette on the occasions she's napping at the line. Besides, I think once you get into too much powere, traction becomes a real issue and I don't wanna start in on the suspension.


where did you get the intake and tuner combo from?
 
Mid to Low 13s. I know this isn't stock but just to give you an idea. I've got a buddy who has ran consistent 12.8s with a virtually stock car other than his VMP 93 octane tune and K&N CAI. The tune isn't even a dyno tune !!
 
ok.....................tune this, tune that - how bout I'm not going to or even think about running premium go-go gas @ your calculated $6.00+ per gallon. besides the fact of clearing codes ( I plan not to throw any), and turn off O2's (I need cats for emissions), what would an 87 octane tune do for me.....................realistically - is it still worth the bux if there's no way in hell I'm gunna run premium fuel?
 
ok.....................tune this, tune that - how bout I'm not going to or even think about running premium go-go gas @ your calculated $6.00+ per gallon. besides the fact of clearing codes ( I plan not to throw any), and turn off O2's (I need cats for emissions), what would an 87 octane tune do for me.....................realistically - is it still worth the bux if there's no way in hell I'm gunna run premium fuel?

You have the same thoughts I did before I purchased my tuner/tunes. I had a K&N CAI and finally decided to purchase the JLT II CAI and SCT Tuner/Tunes from Brenspeed. WOW, I was pleasantly surprised at how much different the car ran! Your rpm's stay higher longer when shifting gears, your rev limiter is raised higher 6850 rpm, you get more timing, etc, plus you can use the tuner to check/clear codes, change optional parameters (tire sizes, gear changes, etc). So far I have not had any problems with my tuner, no check engine lights. I was a little hesitant at first, but I love this thing now! And since gas prices just went to $4.02/gallon here for 87 octane, mine is staying on the 87 tune.
 
You have the same thoughts I did before I purchased my tuner/tunes. I had a K&N CAI and finally decided to purchase the JLT II CAI and SCT Tuner/Tunes from Brenspeed. WOW, I was pleasantly surprised at how much different the car ran! Your rpm's stay higher longer when shifting gears, your rev limiter is raised higher 6850 rpm, you get more timing, etc, plus you can use the tuner to check/clear codes, change optional parameters (tire sizes, gear changes, etc). So far I have not had any problems with my tuner, no check engine lights. I was a little hesitant at first, but I love this thing now! And since gas prices just went to $4.02/gallon here for 87 octane, mine is staying on the 87 tune.

the package on brenspeed is now with a BBK intake system and SCT Xcaliber 2. Is this the same thing?
 
are there any power increases with the 87 tune or is it a drivablitiy factor (rev limiter, getting rid of the lag in accel. etc.)? I run a 90 octane up here.............a certain gas company sells it for an 87 price. will the 91 octane tune run on 90 octane............. i'm assuming the 1 octane point rating does matter. TIA guys