Best aftermarket performance.

[Spidy]

I've got a 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LS with the 3800 II and I'm trying to practically enhance the performance. When I say practical, I mean maintaining or even enhancing my MPGs and not having to do any huge overhauling. I'm new to the aftermarket performance department, but I'm handy enough to do some upgrades. I've heard people putting on cold air intakes, minimal flow exhausts, better coils, spark plugs, plug wires, and stuff like that. Anybody have any opinions on how beneficial these types of upgrades would actually be? Or are they mostly just for ricers and show? Would I actually get better performance or economy with these upgrades? Are there upgrades that I haven't mentioned that would help my cause? Thanks!

[Garrett Powered]

the best way with that car would be to turbo it? I am not sure, there may be a more practical way.

[tornado_735]

Well, we're a w-body forum (the 88 being an H-Body), but most of us have dabbled in other GM cars, so I'm sure we can be of help.

 

With the 3800, the simplest thing you can implement is a CAI. You're not going to see a whole lot of performance out of just that though.

 

You might see small gains out of good quality wires and plugs.

 

The 3800 does not sound good, at all, with any type of exhaust on it. They are really raspy. A member here likened the noise something akin to "a gaping asshole being muffled by a screendoor".

 

You're not going to see any sort of really noticable gains without some work. Your best bet for performance is going to be the Supercharged 3.8L V6 (L67). I know the LSS was available with the L67. A turbocharger is another option.

[skitchin]

A true CAI can actually hurt your mileage, because colder air means richer mixture. If you just have a cone on the intake pipe in a WAI setup, your A/F ratio will actually be a bit leaner.

[base93lumina]

Intense or ZZP sells an N/A to L67 conversion for around $1500, great gains and still get the reliability!

[Andrew]

Im not sure if there are CAI for your H-body in particular. Measure first, this one just might fit. If not, use their pieces to make one long enough for you.

http://intense-racing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IR&Product_Code=INT-FWI-9805&Category_Code=3800_Induction

 

Replacing the downpipe would help too, to remove the u-bend where the 02 sensor is. The hi-flo cat helps a bit too. This one *should* fit.

http://shop.zzperformance.com/store/p/395-Bonneville-Downpipe.aspx

 

Plugs, wires, and coils are a waste, until you are making serious power. OE replacement wires and cheap autolites have worked great for me. OE coils put out plenty of spark.

[pshojo]

I'm doing upgrade to a supercharged throttle body, being larger.

[Andrew]

i dunno how effective that would be. That would make the TB outlet larger than the manifold intake. That creates air turbulence, which you dont want. ZZP has a ported TB that would be perfect for you.

[Addicted to eaton]

You can supercharge that car for close to if not less then 400 dollars

[jeremy]

Top swap and tune is the route I would go

[bkaab]

Replace anything that is broke or bad. A good tune up wouldn't hurt. Then I would do a Cold Air Intake, some exhaust work, and a tune. Easy stuff to do and doesn't cost that much.