Top 5 bolt-on power mods for a Gen 2 MTX

[Pure Stock]

Looking to get an idea about what mods, other than going into heads, cams and power adders have the best bang for the buck. I'm going to be adding a catted y-pipe and mid pipe/catback very soon. Underdrive pulleys are already installed.

 

[1995SHO9]

The best bang for the buck in my opinion from what I've personally found out and heard are:
1:catless Y pipe
2:extrude honed intake runners
3:Big Bore Butterflies

 

[SHOspazz92]

The only mod that really works by itself is a "High Performance" Y-Pipe. This is mainly for the MTX cars as the Stock ATX Y-pipe does not have the restrictive 90* Bend that the MTX Stock Y-Pipes do.

Everything else pretty much has to be used in Conjuction with eachother to really show any real gains, I.E. : Big Bore Butterflies (BBB's) wont do much unless your intake runners are Ported and Polished (PP) or Extrude honed (EH). A Aftermarket MAF won't do much unless BBB's with PNP/EH'ed runners. (I'm not sure on the MAF working better with BBB/EH/PNP, I used that as more of an example.)

However, A properly mantained stock SHO in my opinion would be as fast as a Ill mantained Bolt on car. So, Before mods, MX comes first.

As far as the best bang for the buck? Y-Pipe (Catted or Catless, No real gain in power with a catless compared to a catted unit...haha...I said unit...) and Nitrous.

-Sam

 

[NWGRN94MTX]

1. Sub-frame connectors
2. Y-pipe
3. Struts and Springs
4. Better brakes
5. Sway bar upgrade.

This is assuming you have all of the maintenance current, 60K, rod bearings etc.

 

[Phoenix]

The only mod that really works by itself is a "High Performance" Y-Pipe. This is mainly for the MTX cars as the Stock ATX Y-pipe does not have the restrictive 90* Bend that the MTX Stock Y-Pipes do.

Everything else pretty much has to be used in Conjuction with eachother to really show any real gains, I.E. : Big Bore Butterflies (BBB's) wont do much unless your intake runners are Ported and Polished (PP) or Extrude honed (EH). A Aftermarket MAF won't do much unless BBB's with PNP/EH'ed runners. (I'm not sure on the MAF working better with BBB/EH/PNP, I used that as more of an example.)

However, A properly mantained stock SHO in my opinion would be as fast as a Ill mantained Bolt on car. So, Before mods, MX comes first.

As far as the best bang for the buck? Y-Pipe (Catted or Catless, No real gain in power with a catless compared to a catted unit...haha...I said unit...) and Nitrous.

-Sam

Well said.

But Pure stock , in your quest for the top5 mods , are you talking about engine mods only , or overall mods?

 

[NovaSS]

I would adress the tranny first, find a used /NOS Quaife or get into the ***** buy on the new clutch style diff from SHONUT.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

Since he's looking for power mods I would assume that he's talking about engine mods only. Your options have been given to you above.

Best bang for the buck is definitely the y pipe

 

[rubydist]

... or get into the ***** buy ...

That sounds dangerously tempting...

 

[DJSHO91]

1. Sub-frame connectors
2. Y-pipe
3. Struts and Springs
4. Better brakes
5. Sway bar upgrade.

This is assuming you have all of the maintenance current, 60K, rod bearings etc.

I agree with the above list. You asked for power mods and the above list gives you the lowest cost power as well as a better platform to use it. You can have all the power in the world and if your platform can't handle it it's useless. You also have to remember that with more power, you need greater stopping ability. It's all about developing a balanced package. This list will provide you with the best balance which brings great fun.

 

[Pure Stock]

Well said.

But Pure stock , in your quest for the top5 mods , are you talking about engine mods only , or overall mods?

engine only mods.

 

[Pure Stock]

Who offers a 60k checklist for what needs to be replaced?? The 3.0L has 76,*** miles on it and it has the original timing belt and the valve lash has not been checked.

 

[Racer X]

www.shophoenixproject.com

 

[Pure Stock]

www.shophoenixproject.com

Thanks.

 

[syP]

Honestly.. when i owned my SHO the FIRST time.. lol... I only had about 4-5 mods and it helped a TON. Wish i would have been to the track. Ass dyno told me otherwise and so did some modded W-bodys losing to me


i only had

catted Y-pipe
BBBs (stock runners)
Pro Flo MAF
ported TB
Dynomax Catback


it hauled

 

[shobote]

I agree with the above list. You asked for power mods and the above list gives you the lowest cost power as well as a better platform to use it. You can have all the power in the world and if your platform can't handle it it's useless. You also have to remember that with more power, you need greater stopping ability. It's all about developing a balanced package. This list will provide you with the best balance which brings great fun.

Soooo true; the standard suspension and brakes are not even capable of effectively handling the power levels it came with from the factory. The car is so much more solid and fun to drive with chassis upgrades; SFC's, STB's, etc..

 

[NovaSS]

Since he's looking for power mods I would assume that he's talking about engine mods only. Your options have been given to you above.

Best bang for the buck is definitely the y pipe

I have built cars both ways.

From the front, starting with engine performance mods ( in my younger years)
From the rear, addressing brakes, suspension, trannys and support systems ( after I went to some automitve schools and worked for FORD )


Automotive performace boils down to ONE thing, the tire contact patch. You can do any mod you want but until you increase the CF number you will not gain a thing.



Doing it from the rear gives better results, having a performance engine that can not put the power to the ground or stop safely is a waste of time, effort and money.

Once all the support systems are up to par you can start throwing HP at it and you will not have any excuses for a poor performing car.

I love the guys with big block camaros that will only run you from a roll because they havent spent a dime on making the tires stick.

 

[doclees]

I would adress the tranny first, find a used /NOS Quaife or get into the ***** buy on the new clutch style diff from SHONUT.

OK first I hear of this. I must be missing it on his web site. What new clutch style diff? Where can I see/read about it?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

OK first I hear of this. I must be missing it on his web site. What new clutch style diff? Where can I see/read about it?

Its here: SHONut

It is a gear based though, not clutch based.

 

[SASHO91]

1. Maintanance
2. High Flow Y-Pipe
3. Larger Brakes (96'-upgrade atleast)
4. New Struts/Springs, New Bushings(including subframe), Subframe connectors.
5. Nitrous
Yes, No.4 has more than one mod.. however, IMHO the suspension system needs to be taken as a whole. In other words, get the suspension set right as a single mod to the suspension will not have a great effect on the "gain meter". You could slap on the best set of SFC's on your car, but with worn struts and springs the car is still going to handle like crap.

Sure you could spend the money to get EH manifold, BBB's, Cams, a MAF, etc etc etc... But in reality, you'll end up spending more money on the motor and less on the suspension and brakes where the SHO really needs help. With the above mods, the car will be fun to drive, handle very well, brake like it has never before, and when you need alittle extra bump for those fun spots running down the highway, it's just a flick of a switch away.

But OTOH, if you have the money to do all the mods or find great deals, then by all means knock yourself out... every little bit helps.

 

[shobote]

OK first I hear of this. I must be missing it on his web site. What new clutch style diff? Where can I see/read about it?

Good idea, and hope it does come to fruition, but from the lack of recent activity, there doesn't appear to be 30 SHO owners out there ready and willing to shell out the kind of $ needed to make this happen.