Best mods under $1000 ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 2
From: huber heights Ohio
Best mods under $1000 ?
What would be the best mods for the buck under $1000 for my 2004 C5 coupe, automatic trans with Pace car, Diablo tune and Halltech stinger intake. I see alot of people installing FAST 78mm intake what kind of HP gains are you seeing?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
The best bang for the buck.. hands down is Nitrous Oxide.. That is if you want horsepower.. It depends what you want.. That would not be my first choice,, But thats me.. You might get 10 different answers on this one... You did not state if you wanted, power mods,cosmetic mods, transmisson mods, interior mods, exhaust mods... I am assuming its horsepower mods.. Nitrous is the best bang for the dollar when it comes to horsepower mods,, Its not practical and can be a problem if not installed and used properly.. Like I said.. not my choice but it is the correct answer to your question.. If indeed you are looking for horsepower mods.. you can't get 100-150 horsepower anywhere, anyhow for under 1000 dollars,, except for nitrous// I would go for other bolt ons first,, headers,intake,camshaft,gears.. However your question when you posted was best mods for the money
Last edited by David426; Sep 7, 2008 at 03:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
Sell that Diablo predator, and halltech intake, and buy a Vararam CAI, 160 stat, and Chuck COW's tune................$1000 bucks just perfect there and still might save some and also sell diablo and halltech and recoupe some more $$. GL.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 490
From: South Florida
You are going to spend over a grand on nitrous for a proper setup and install. I would hands down buy ebay or tsp headers and x-pipe. Yes, they will not fit as good as the better headers. Yes, they may make a couple rwhp less, but they will add a nice increase in HP and exhaust note.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 813
Likes: 13
From: Hampton Va
The only thing you could do is take it and get a real tune, But you wont get nothing close to 25 rwhp for a 1000 dollars,373 gears w/install will make you feel like you got 50 hp but thats going to cost closer to $2000
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Tune and Gears
What is so funny. The OP asked what is the best mod under $1,000.00 for an A4..
I answered Chuck CoW Tune, under $400.00. ===== Under $1,000.00
Gears I paid $500.00 for 3.42 rear end & $300.00 for install. = Under $1,000.00
These are the two best mods for under $1,000.00.
Now the OP has two different choices.
I answered Chuck CoW Tune, under $400.00. ===== Under $1,000.00
Gears I paid $500.00 for 3.42 rear end & $300.00 for install. = Under $1,000.00
These are the two best mods for under $1,000.00.
Now the OP has two different choices.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 2
From: huber heights Ohio
Interesting?
This is good info.
I think the 2004 auto non-Z-51 has a 2.73 gear so to change it over to a 3.42 gear would I change complete rearends or buy the gears and have them installed in existing rearend?
Also, how does the Vararam compare to the Calloway honker CAI?
Thanks
I think the 2004 auto non-Z-51 has a 2.73 gear so to change it over to a 3.42 gear would I change complete rearends or buy the gears and have them installed in existing rearend?
Also, how does the Vararam compare to the Calloway honker CAI?
Thanks
What is so funny. The OP asked what is the best mod under $1,000.00 for an A4..
I answered Chuck CoW Tune, under $400.00. ===== Under $1,000.00
Gears I paid $500.00 for 3.42 rear end & $300.00 for install. = Under $1,000.00
These are the two best mods for under $1,000.00.
Now the OP has two different choices.
I answered Chuck CoW Tune, under $400.00. ===== Under $1,000.00
Gears I paid $500.00 for 3.42 rear end & $300.00 for install. = Under $1,000.00
These are the two best mods for under $1,000.00.
Now the OP has two different choices.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
I prefer the Vararam.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: wichita ks
For what it's worth....From what I have seen, the best thing you could do to your car for under a grand is long tube headers. They are supposed to open up 40-50 hp all through the rpm range. I have seen a lot of dyno sheets to back that up. They say it makes you car run like a whole different creature.
Last edited by capnmorgan; Sep 8, 2008 at 09:35 PM. Reason: wrong punctuation...
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
373 or 342 and a tq converter and tune. biggest bang for auto cars.at least go 3000 stall. heders with this combo is great but were talking $2500 + to do this. t converter and gears are the need for seat of the pants + tune. ditch the diablo ebay or whatever .you for sure want a custom tune.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
For what it's worth....From what I have seen, the best thing you could do to your car for under a grand is long tube headers. They are supposed to open up 40-50 hp all through the rpm range. I have seen a lot of dyno sheets to back that up. They say it makes you car run like a whole different creature.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 8
From: Redwood City CA
LT Headers w/ cats =
CAI =
Tune =
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 30-35 rwhp gain
While you're at it doing the install (or paying someone) you should consider doing these:
160-170 degree Thermostat
New Plugs
Spark Plug Wires
All of the above cost me including installation cost me $2,250
CAM = $350
Hi Flow Oil pump & LS2 Timing Chain = $200
Tune = $350
All of the above cost me including installation cost me $2,400-2,500
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> another 42 rwhp gain
CAI =
Tune =
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 30-35 rwhp gain
While you're at it doing the install (or paying someone) you should consider doing these:
160-170 degree Thermostat
New Plugs
Spark Plug Wires
All of the above cost me including installation cost me $2,250
CAM = $350
Hi Flow Oil pump & LS2 Timing Chain = $200
Tune = $350
All of the above cost me including installation cost me $2,400-2,500
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> another 42 rwhp gain
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 1
From: Janesville Wisconsin
Gaining actual HP isnt always what it takes to make the car faster. You can have a 350hp car and a 300hp car and have the 300hp car quicker if setup better. So adding all the stuff to make more HP usually just increases the upper RPM power and takes away from the low end...and leaving a stock converter in only makes it worse. You can add 50hp and gain .5 seconds in the 1/4 or you can add a converter that will give you no power increase but give you that .5 seconds and then some probably. Or do it right and add the mods that make 50hp and a converter and have the power applied correctly and have a screaming machine. An engine only works as good as eveything its bolted to...or vs versa.
So do you want your car faster? Or just more HP?
Putting a cam in a car and not changing the converter is like putting a slick on one side and a street tire on the other. You kinda need them both if you want it to work "correctly".
So do you want your car faster? Or just more HP?
Putting a cam in a car and not changing the converter is like putting a slick on one side and a street tire on the other. You kinda need them both if you want it to work "correctly".
Last edited by Pwrtrip75; Sep 9, 2008 at 01:41 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 490
From: South Florida
Don't necessarily go by what one person paid. I personally did my LT headers with no cats, nxt step catback, vararam, 160 stat, spark plugs, and dyno tune for $1,400. It's just a matter of what you are willing to sacrifice.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
LG Streets were one of my first mods and I can ASSURE you that you don't gain 40-50hp. MAYBE 40-50hp at the crank, but not at the wheels. Normal gains are 10-25rwhp with a tune for quality LT headers and supporting exhaust upgrade. Keep in mind headers thru an OEM (non Ti) exhaust won't get you too much.
Technically a cam with springs would be less than $1000 and would provide the largest hp/tq gain, but you would need it tuned which would put you up beyond $1000 easily. Since you have a 2004, you already have an LS6 intake and 241 heads which respond nicely to a cam. A MS3, G5X3 or similar from EG with a good tune would net you AT LEAST 50rwhp or more.
What you'll find is that a single mod usually doesn't provide huge gains by itself, but when you combine it with other mods you'll end up with much larger gains. Ported heads, LT headers, Cam, intake/air filter, exhaust, injectors, etc will get you up in the 400+ rwhp range, but you're talking $4000 for all of the parts installed, maybe more.