[Leshik]

LS3 First Mods list First to Last

Hey there well i just wanted to get the basic idea. Im new to American car market so please bare with me. After i get the SS i do want to put on CAI.Headers. Catback. Throttle body. Maybe ported Manifold. Cam and Heads. So question is which mods should i do before the tune that will not damage the car. And then which mods i can put on and get the car retuned. or do i have to tune everytime i get new mod installed? Also which is better Dyno tune or i can get a diablo and just download tunes? Thank you. Really appreciate.

 

[Slizzo]

Hey there well i just wanted to get the basic idea. Im new to American car market so please bare with me. After i get the SS i do want to put on CAI.Headers. Catback. Throttle body. Maybe ported Manifold. Cam and Heads. So question is which mods should i do before the tune that will not damage the car. And then which mods i can put on and get the car retuned. or do i have to tune everytime i get new mod installed? Also which is better Dyno tune or i can get a diablo and just download tunes? Thank you. Really appreciate.

In order of mod:

1. Cold air Intake
2. Headers
2a.Tune
3.Catback (if headers to stock mufflers isn't loud enough for you)
4. Cam & Heads
5. Ported intake/throttle body if you feel you need it.

Best bet for the tune is a dyno tune somewhere local to you. If not, buy HP Tuners and do the tuning yourself! It's actually pretty easy once you take 20 minutes to take a look at things for yourself.

 

[Barbarossa]

You should be able to do a cat back and cold air without the tune.

 

[Leshik]

In order of mod:

1. Cold air Intake
2. Headers
2a.Tune
3.Catback (if headers to stock mufflers isn't loud enough for you)
4. Cam & Heads
5. Ported intake/throttle body if you feel you need it.

Best bet for the tune is a dyno tune somewhere local to you. If not, buy HP Tuners and do the tuning yourself! It's actually pretty easy once you take 20 minutes to take a look at things for yourself.

Hm intersting thanks But do i have to retune the car every time i put a mod. Lets say after headers i tune the car then. i do cams/heads do i need to retune it?

 

[FSTASNTZ]

For optimal results, yes, you would tune with each stage of mods.
The tune, if done correctly, would be for the car and it's state at that point in time.

 

[Leshik]

For optimal results, yes, you would tune with each stage of mods.
The tune, if done correctly, would be for the car and it's state at that point in time.

Got ya. Hm well now i gotta find out what can be done with out a tune. to Do it first.

 

[Alpha]

1. ECS Novi supercharger
2. 1 7/8" headers (American Racing or Kooks)
3. Custom Dyno tune
3. Meth injection for added insurance
4. Leave it alone and enjoy the car.

After 22 years of building cars, this is the best advice you're going to get.
Save you're money and do it all at one shot.
Nickel and dime mods will offer no genuine improvement and will bleed you dry.
The above will be a reliable combination that will last for many, many years.
And, if you want BIG power down in the future, or the 2nd owner of the car does, those mods will offer expandability.

 

[DangChung]

Or this for a supercharger.

 

[Alpha]

Magunson Heartbeat on VF LS3 - YouTube

Or this for a supercharger.

ECS has the most records, best performance, and best customer service of anyone in the hi-po business.
Maggie does nothing but put their name on an Eaton blower and their company, their products, and their reps all suck.

 

[Leshik]

ECS has the most records, best performance, and best customer service of anyone in the hi-po business.
Maggie does nothing but put their name on an Eaton blower and their company, their products, and their reps all suck.

whats ECS? do they have a website? Thanks for the advice im not sure if i want a blower yet. i just want some bolt ons. first if anything ill go with blower last. But defenatly ill do everything quick like headers tune and cams/head/tb tune as well. thanks man.

 

[FSTASNTZ]

East Coast Supercharging, Home of the Fastest Performance Supercharged, Turbo C5, C6, Z06, Corvette, GTO, CTSV, GM Trucks, Installers, Dynotuners, Performance Parts Retailers

I think that is the same ECS

 

[Alpha]

whats ECS? do they have a website? Thanks for the advice im not sure if i want a blower yet. i just want some bolt ons. first if anything ill go with blower last. But defenatly ill do everything quick like headers tune and cams/head/tb tune as well. thanks man.

Well, you're already not listening to advice from the people who know.

Don't waste your money on heads, throttle body, and cam (not cams, the LS3 only has one cam).
The LS3 already is an incredibly efficient platform.
Add a ECS supercharger system and leave it alone.
I'm not going to spend hours on here trying to educate and convince.
Just take the free advice from someone who knows.
Or, feel free to buck 17 years of LSx experience and try trial and error with your own money. LoL

But, if you're on a budget, and you need more power now, the addition of headers followed immediately with a custom tune of your ECU while your car is in on a dyno, is a good step #1, if the blower is step #2.

There is no reason why you can't be creative with you financing to get the additional money at the time of closing to pay for the mods as well so you can finance the car+mods in the original auto loan.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

Basically the LS3 is a bullet proof motor and unless you want some serious HP just go with CAI, Headers (only familiar with Aussie brands so no advice there), a decent exhaust with high flow cats and a tune.
It should push well past the stock 415hp These are things my mates HSV has had done and it is a legit Rocket on wheels

 

[Alpha]

Basically the LS3 is a bullet proof motor and unless you want some serious HP just go with CAI, Headers (only familiar with Aussie brands so no advice there), a decent exhaust with high flow cats and a tune.
It should push well past the stock 415hp These are things my mates HSV has had done and it is a legit Rocket on wheels

Well, "mate", I think you should give better advice if you are going to be a "moderator".
High flow cats and cat-back exhaust are a waste of money.

Refer to my post above if you want to follow proven advice.

 

[SlingShot]

Well, "mate", I think you should give better advice if you are going to be a "moderator".
High flow cats and cat-back exhaust are a waste of money.

Refer to my post above if you want to follow proven advice.

Hate to break it to you, but if it puts a smile on your face it isn't a waste of money ...

 

[Alpha]

Hate to break it to you, but if it puts a smile on your face it isn't a waste of money ...

The only thing that puts a smile on a car man's face is faster track times and more power to the wheels.
If you are talking about noise, headers will give you all the sound you need.

If that's not enough, this must be your style.
WOO WOO CAR WHISTLE INTERVIEW - YouTube

 

[SlingShot]

The only thing that puts a smile on a car man's face is faster track times and more power to the wheels.

If you are talking about noise, headers will give you all the sound you need.
If that's not enough, this may be up your alley:
WOO WOO CAR WHISTLE INTERVIEW - YouTube


WOO WOO CAR WHISTLE INTERVIEW - YouTube

You must be rather young aren't you ...

 

[Alpha]

You must be rather young aren't you ...

I've been building cars for 22 years.
You do the math.

Good luck with the noise makers.
I'll be making power.

523hp is cute.

 

[SlingShot]

I've been building cars for 22 years.
You do the math.

Good luck with the noise makers.
I'll be making power.

523hp is cute.

That could make you less than 45, I've got sneekers older than that ...

 

[Commodoreman2000]

Well, "mate", I think you should give better advice if you are going to be a "moderator".
High flow cats and cat-back exhaust are a waste of money.

Refer to my post above if you want to follow proven advice.

Being a Moderator is about a lot more than just giving advice

To be totally honest, I have never bothered to go even that far with my Monaro (LS1), I went as far as a CAI and Headers and tune, Whilst it made a difference to the noise it also made the car feel better all round.

I was just giving an example of what my mate did to his HSV with comparable drive train. We don't have any decent drag strips in Adelaide and the one we do have is in crap condition.

As for circuit there is only one and they have track days once every couple of months so we basically do mods for personal road use enjoyment. bit of extra noise and extra go without drawing too much attention from the constabulary.

I also have never claimed to be an Expert in anything and will acknowledge when I make an error. I share anecdotal evidence either from what I know to be 100% fact or get advice If I have no clue.

I disagree on the High flow cats (I got my cats for cost price as a mate owned a workshop back when I did the mods) and personally recommend utilising as I have noticed the difference with them but hey that's just my opinion right or wrong.