Are these mods worth it?

[animex2]

Well I recently got a 1992 MTX SHO from Firespirit in excellent condition, taken care of and kept up with maintenance regularly, most recently was a second 60k @ 190k, and the engine is now at 205k. The only mods performance wise done to it so far was just the dynomax catback exhaust.

I was thinking of doing performance mods now to it to make it nice and good, but i had a few questions.

Is it worth it to build up an engine with over 205k on it even if its in good condition? its a 3.0. and What of these mods will work with a 3.2 swap?

1. UDP - Shouldn't have a problem working with a 3.2 swap if I do it, planning on getting this first.

2. Magnaflow Y-Pipe - I know this seems to be a big mod for opening up power, and i dont see it having any problem working with the 3.0 or 3.2.

3. Ported Intake Manifold - This is where im not sure if it will be swappable or not, i was thinking of getting the "stage 2" from Shosource with the full porting. If its not swappable, would it be worth it to get it on this high mileage of an engine?

4. Big Bore Butterflies - Again, same questions as above.

And with all these mods done and installed properley, what kind of gain should I expect from a MTX SHO?

Thanks alot.

 

[Racer X]

Hey Louis,

1. Will swap over to a 3.2, provided you do the swap right and use the 3.0L pullies, accessories, and brackets.
2. It will work.
3. It will work.
4. It will work.

On building up the 3.0L or a 3.2L, it sounds to me like a 3.2L is coming at some point anyway. I'd build up the 3.0L, and swap it all over to the 3.2L when the time comes.

 

[animex2]

Hey Louis,

1. Will swap over to a 3.2, provided you do the swap right and use the 3.0L pullies, accessories, and brackets.
2. It will work.
3. It will work.
4. It will work.

On building up the 3.0L or a 3.2L, it sounds to me like a 3.2L is coming at some point anyway. I'd build up the 3.0L, and swap it all over to the 3.2L when the time comes.

Thanks alot Hamal, thats exactly what I wanted to hear. Looks like Ill go ahead and work on getting these, and when the time comes if I need too, I can swap them all too a new engine.

 

[1995SHO9]

The Magnaflow Y pipe will help significantly if it is catless..(not sure if magnaflow made a catless Y pipe), it will also help as well if it is a high flow catted y pipe. Either will help tremendously eliminating the sharp bends of the factory pipe.

Ported Y pipe will give you a little bit of a bump. It will deffinatly help even if it is slightly. I noticed a difference when we ported mine.

I honestly didn't notice a big difference when I installed big bore butterflies. They deffinatly made the secondaries louder, but I don't think they really helped with performace that much.

~Johnathon~

 

[LOUDSHO92]

You might want to go with the SHOSource y-pipe as it is a little better over the Magnaflow y-pipe, also cheaper.

The UDP we sell at SHO Source will work with any MTX configuration.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

The Magnaflow Y pipe will help significantly if it is catless..(not sure if magnaflow made a catless Y pipe), it will also help as well if it is a high flow catted y pipe. Either will help tremendously eliminating the sharp bends of the factory pipe.

Ported Y pipe will give you a little bit of a bump. It will deffinatly help even if it is slightly. I noticed a difference when we ported mine.

I honestly didn't notice a big difference when I installed big bore butterflies. They deffinatly made the secondaries louder, but I don't think they really helped with performace that much.

~Johnathon~

It will also help significantly if it is catted. Plus if you like to have some low end power, keep your cats, a catless pipe is going to destroy low end torque. The HP gains of having cats vs no cats is negligible. Having a little more bottom end by having converters in is always nicer to have on the street, if you have a dedicated track car that is always in the higher rpm's then maybe a catless pipe is better.Plus catless pipes are raspy, and these engines are designed to run with back pressure, take it all away and... well you get the point.

 

[38SHO]

catless pulls harder.... anyway u look at it..........

I'd skip the ported intake and UDP..... I'd spend that money on suspension or a light flywheel/nice clutch/TOB

 

[animex2]

Well I was looking at the y-pipe from shosource so thats the one im probally going to go with.

As for catless vs high flow cats, going with high flow cats, would rather have the low end power, plus this is mainly a street car that id like to have some fun with at the track from time to time, so it still needs to pass inspection.

The ported and polished intake isnt that expensive, but if that and the BBB's dont seem to do much, then theres no point in getting them. Anyone have any positive feedback from the ported intake or BBB's?

The UDP im def. going with as well, at idle when im not trying to speed my car will prob. hate me with the AC on, but oh well.

It has a brand new clutch and im not trying to mess with that anytime soon. As for suspension I got 2 brand new front struts and a FSTB going on soon, so that will be fun.

Other then that, after all this is done, going to get the paint touched up and rusted doglegs fixed, and im good to go!

Might go with the nitrous down the road, but I dont want to put that much strain on a engine with 205k and I have a lack of knowledge when it comes to FI so a turbo/SC is out of the question.

Would a chip tune for a MTX do anything for these cars? like a Xcal-3 or whatever? If I keep it stock that is, besides the mods listed above. and I do not want the rev limiter removed.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

catless pulls harder.... anyway u look at it..........

I'd skip the ported intake and UDP..... I'd spend that money on suspension or a light flywheel/nice clutch/TOB

I disagree, I had a catted pipe on my 93, then went to catless and felt a definite decrease in low end power, however I can't say I felt much gain if any up high with the catless pipe. I could have sworn there were dyno results on here a year or so again proving that catted pipes only gained 1-2hp up top and sacrificed low end. To each his own I guess, but to me taking the chance of a 20k dollar fine (10k per missing cat) if cops find no cats on my car, is worth 2 the hp loss.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

+1

I've driven a catless SHO and while it seemed to pull hard above 4k it lacked the low end grunt I like.

 

[animex2]

Ok, so im guessing based on whats on shosource number wise, the UDP is like, 8 hp, the intake with BBB is about 10 hp above 4k, and the y-pipe it doesnt say, so can assume like, 5-10 hp.

Is it worth it to spend ~1000 USD on a gain of only about 23-28ish HP? I mean I plan on keeping the car for a long time, but that kind of money for such a small gain?

 

[luigisho]

Extra hp is expensive for almost any car unless it came factory boosted with a really conservative tune. Save your money for an engine swap if that's your plan. That way if you change your mind you'll still have the $. I'm not so sure you will see over 20hp with those mods.

 

[animex2]

Well I don't plan on doing the engine swap until the 3.0 dies, I got some good friends who will do the swap with me for free or little money, and the engine shouldn't be more then 1k. But this one should last at least another 2 years I hope. The car will only be driven in the spring / summer time so thats about 8 months out of the year, other 4 will be my GL.

If its only going to be a 15-20 HP boost, what kind of difference would I see over stock, in say the 1/4 mile. A second if even? Im happy with the SHO as it is, and I plan to keep it as long as I can, just want to get out everything I can. FI may be down the road, and way down the road, so im assuming these mods would be a pre-req. for a FI setup.

 

[1995SHO9]

catless pulls harder.... anyway u look at it..........

I totally agree. I might have lost a tiny bit of torque around 2K to 3 K, but it was minimal and was readily made up after the secondaries open.

As far as rasp, it got alittle raspy around 3800rpms and then stopped at like 4500. Driving normally, most cars never see that so I didn't consider it a problem. Besides, I love rasp.

 

[randy'sho]

I totally agree. I might have lost a tiny bit of torque around 2K to 3 K, but it was minimal and was readily made up after the secondaries open.

As far as rasp, it got alittle raspy around 3800rpms and then stopped at like 4500. Driving normally, most cars never see that so I didn't consider it a problem. Besides, I love rasp.

agreed 100%.......love me catless y-pipe.....

 

[BlackonBlack89]

The Magnaflow Y pipe will help significantly if it is catless..(not sure if magnaflow made a catless Y pipe), it will also help as well if it is a high flow catted y pipe. Either will help tremendously eliminating the sharp bends of the factory pipe.



~Johnathon~

The magnaflow is a good choice because it is catted and get rid of the bad angle. I have it on the 91 and I notice a difference with the different y-pipes. NOT the best y-pipe you can get but it does open the MTX up top alittle

I also have a Brand New one for sale in my ad for cheap. See the classified's section

For the HP gains 20hp would be average and in the 1/4 you COULD run mid/high 14's if your good at launching. But low 15's would be easly attainable

 

[yamahaSHO]

I bet tuning plays a larger role in the 2ft-lbs of torque loss (or placebo) than the fact that there are no cats.

 

[38SHO]

people always argue about down low torque.... when i'm racing im not below 4krpms.... its all about being in your powerband and my SHO pulls alright from 5k and better from 6-7krpm...... thats where your balls matter..... if you want to go fast put your money where the engines mouth is so to speak.... you aren't going to win races putting around below the secondaries I'll tell u that much

to each his own....... if I wanted a low RPM torque monster.... I most certainly would have the wrong car......

 

[BlackonBlack89]

I agree with the wrong car part 100%


but I know I cant lauch above 4k on the track or street. (street tires)
And I'd rather have TQ than HP. but I am with jason it is so nominal that I'd just go with cats b/c of emissions testing

 

[1995SHO9]

If they just do a visual, you won't have a problem with the catless.