I need your help on mods!!

[RichieSHO34]

What's SHOforum people I'm 17 and in school to become a mechanic, I recently just bought my first SHO and I love it to death. It is a 1990 MTX and I want to make it faster. Where should I start on mods? Mind you I am still in school and don't have deep pockets.

Thanks,
Richie

 

[yamahaSHO]

Maintain it and tighten the loose nut behind the wheel.

Oh, and welcome!

 

[RichieSHO34]

Haha real funny I do take very good care of my car cept when the occasional civic or vw decides to show off for his friends and I have to put him in his place haha I really do need an idea on where to start though.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I'm not doubting your ability to care for your car, however, it's an old car and things need replaced.

Honestly, an aftermarket Y-pipe is your best bet. Other than that, you're not really going to add power with anything in the "budget" range. Suspension and brakes will not make a much larger difference in performance (although not for straight line acceleration).

 

[91PDXmocha]

Start saving money now for whats IS going to break next . Welcome

 

[RichieSHO34]

Is there a way to make the rear suspension tighter, I read some where that sway bar bushings help a little

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

The best thing you can do for your SHO is maintenance, first and foremost.

front upper 60k

AND FOR GOD SAKES CHANGE THE ROD BEARINGS


I think the performance "gains" you'll feel from a properly running SHO far far outweighs any bolt on you can put on the car. IMHO


BTW welcome

 

[RichieSHO34]

I've been working on that cause there's oil going into my plug wells but I was told I'd have to replace the intake gaskets and need to find a day off cause I think it will be a 2-day process. Thanks man.

 

[RichieSHO34]

not including the timing just plugs wires and seals

 

[boogeyman]

basic maintenace man i just got my first sho and after doing a round of basic semi simple things like good plugs, wires. intake cleaning, fuel filter and a 155 pump i can really say that once your car is up to ***** unless u really want to go fast u will be really surpised at how hard the little 6 will run.

my **** list so far
08 pont gxp v8
09 imp ss
04 tbss awd w mods
09 pont g8
multiple fox body stangs
too many to count civics
2g eclipses
1g dsm`s
and more
and this was all with a slipping clutch that would ramdomly decide if it was gonna bite or not
once she is right and all is well and u know how to get the most out of the car it will amaze u and many others just what it is capable of

 

[yamahaSHO]

Hmmm... You sure all those cars were racing you?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Is there a way to make the rear suspension tighter, I read some where that sway bar bushings help a little

The best way to stiffen it up is struts and springs: SHO Source

I've been working on that cause there's oil going into my plug wells but I was told I'd have to replace the intake gaskets and need to find a day off cause I think it will be a 2-day process. Thanks man.

You do not have to replace the intake gaskets to do the valve cover gaskets.

Shim kit and valve cover gaskets: SHO Source

 

[boogeyman]

Hmmm... You sure all those cars were racing you?

yes i am quite sure of it since money changed hands on a good number of them. and the old guys and the nod asking if that old tauras is really a sho
ive been racing 5 speed cars for nearly 10 years now and until i built the camaro all were fwd cars so im pretty good at launching a fwd car if i do say so myself im no john force but i do wring the most out of my cars both on teh street and on the track
and i never said my car was totally stock either

 

[yamahaSHO]

So you're saying you beat this car?

What have you done to the car then?

 

[boogeyman]

yes i beat a G8 he spun the tires thru 1st and most of second and missed a shift. yes not a clean win but a win either way
catless hi flo y
pully
eh ported intake
chip tuned by me
innovative wideband
and a few other odds and ends
and for the fast cars a zex dry kit that was not used on the g8 race

 

[whiteguy3]

Some of those wins seem to be a dream you might of had...Sorry man, not gonna happen.

Like others have said the best mod is maintenance first and foremost. If you have the cash most bolt-ons would be best to skip and save for boost.

 

[jedhead]

So you're saying you beat this car?

What have you done to the car then?

He claimed it was this car
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q1/2009_pontiac_g8_gxp-second_short_take

Bob

 

[Bob Gervais]

Anyhoot, back to helping out the youngin'...

Best bet is to have a plan of attack, and stick to it. That's not always an easy thing to do, but it's the best way to accomplish goals. Make a list if you have to.

As mentioned:

Top 60k (plugs, wires, valve cover gaskets and plug well seals, check valve lash)

Front 60k (timing belt, water pump, crank sensor, cam sensor, cam seals, crank seal)

Rod bearings (rod bearing, oil pan gasket) Note-this is also a good time to replace the y-pipe with an aftermarket unit, if it's not already done. You'll need to pull the y-pipe to get the oil pan off, to get to the rod bearings anyway...


Now that it runs well, and most of the major maintenance is out of the way, you can turn your attention to where these cars respond the best: brakes and suspension.

Brakes: depending on your budget, and your plans for the car, there's lots of options. The stock front brakes are rather small, and while many owners have upgraded to the 11.6 front brakes from a 96-99 SHO, other owners have had good luck simply upgrading the pads on the stock brakes to a quality pad like Hawks or Porterfields. Main thing is, the stock front brakes with generic parts store pads suck. Upgrade something, and you'll be happy.

Suspension: At this point, there's not a ton of options left to replace your worn out struts and springs (assuming they haven't been done already). On a budget, I'd recommend either Intrax or B&G springs, along with Monroe Sensatrac struts. Plan on spending some money on sway bar bushings, end links, strut rod bushings, tie rod ends, lower control arms, etc. At the age of the car, if these items haven't been done yet, they're going to need it. Better to save up, and buy all the things you need, before you start tearing into it.


After all of this junk is done, you can start playing around with it to fit your needs. SHOSource.com is an excellent place to get the parts you need, as well as www.rockauto.com for stock replacement parts. Don't forget to check the classifieds here as well.

Welcome, and good luck with your first SHO!


PS, as tempting as it may be at 17, forget about clutch dumps and massive burnouts. The differentials in these cars don't take kindly to stuff like that.

 

[SuperHO]

i'm sensing some blown diff threads I SHOForum's near future...

 

[Phoenix]

We dont doupt that you love the car , but too many young people come in here saying that their sho is the ******* , racing everything , and try to mod it like it was a honda with tieraps and clamps.

Yes , theres ways to make it faster , but its no honda - wont be cheap. And if you want to make it faster you gotta make the maintenance first , you owe it to the car. If you make it faster first and then ask questions (like most SHO newbs do) , then you will be on the side of the road soon enough with a busted block or tranny - and be forced to sell it for pennies. I have been there years ago.

I know it boring , but if you want to keep it , its the only way. Thats why the experianced people here will tell you to do the 60k first to avoid the errors that's been done in the past from other people or themselves.

Besides that , I think you will enjoy it , specially if you are a gearhead.