Hi all!

[Airved]

Hey everyone, name's Andrew.

Found this forum when googling possible upgrades for my '89 S Pack and figured you guys could teach me some things about decent mods to get her running faster, smoother and looking a little more sexy.

Pleased to meet you all. I'll post some pics up sometime soon.

In the mean-time, anyone wanna suggest where to get started as I'm (barely) running on all stock parts at the moment?

Thanks guys,

Andrew.

[Commando]

Hey mate,

Where are you based? And can you describe "barely running" in a bit more detail?

Cheers

[Airved]

Nah, it's running fine on stock parts, but has broken down on me twice (once a fan belt, once for an unknown reason) and I've had it for years and want to put some new parts in to have it run a little better, plus look better. I'm currently in Canberra.

[SgtBourne]

reckon exhaust would be the first step? let the engine breathe a bit better, get a nicer sound. extractors too if you got zee cashish

[Airved]

reckon exhaust would be the first step? let the engine breathe a bit better, get a nicer sound. extractors too if you got zee cashish

Sounds good to me. Cash isn't really too much of an issue, anything more specific I should look for? brands, etc.?

[BI6TIM]

Go with Pacemaker Extractors and the Redback high flow cat and 2.5inch mandrell bent pipe from there back. That would be my suggestion. I've had that setup on a few cars now and it works well every time. Sounds good and allows good power when combined with other mods.

I would also suggest getting a K&N (or similar) air filter at the same time. Not really much point in being able to breath out if you can't breath in IMO.

Also I would strongly suggest LOWER IT Pronto!!!

[Airved]

Go with Pacemaker Extractors and the Redback high flow cat and 2.5inch mandrell bent pipe from there back. That would be my suggestion. I've had that setup on a few cars now and it works well every time. Sounds good and allows good power when combined with other mods.

I would also suggest getting a K&N (or similar) air filter at the same time. Not really much point in being able to breath out if you can't breath in IMO.

Also I would strongly suggest LOWER IT Pronto!!!

Looking into filters right now actually.

How much did that exhaust set-up set you back and did you do it yourself? I just wanna get some prices while I make up my mind.

Cheers

[private9]

Go with Pacemaker Extractors and the Redback high flow cat and 2.5inch mandrell bent pipe from there back. That would be my suggestion. I've had that setup on a few cars now and it works well every time. Sounds good and allows good power when combined with other mods.

I would also suggest getting a K&N (or similar) air filter at the same time. Not really much point in being able to breath out if you can't breath in IMO.

Also I would strongly suggest LOWER IT Pronto!!!

Looking into filters right now actually.

How much did that exhaust set-up set you back and did you do it yourself? I just wanna get some prices while I make up my mind.

Cheers

Exhaust stuff is pretty cheap - catbacks appear second hand pretty often for about $150 new, or the Redbacks are around $300 or so fitted for a sedan. I just had a 2.5" high flow (whatever that means!) Magnaflow cat supplied and fitted for I think either $180 or $200, and extractors I had lying around, so they were sorta free.

[BI6TIM]

How much did that exhaust set-up set you back and did you do it yourself? I just wanna get some prices while I make up my mind.

I bought all the parts myself and then had an exhaust shop fit it all. I don't know where you buy Pacemakers from these days but I think they are about $400 or now, the high flow cat and cat back system should set you back about $500 and the fitment is about $150 roughly to just drop it off and pick it up all done.
I say 'I think' because I don't pay those prices but I'm lucky enough to have friends in the industry. So if you allow $1000 for the exhaust you should be sweet.
It might also pay to get a price from an exhaust shop to supply and fit everything, that might even work out cheaper.

You could fit the exhaust yourself but the problem is most people don't have a hoist so you have to fit it on stands on the ground, which is less than desirable to say the least. If you find you have a leak after you've fitted it all then you have to chase it and try to stop it, while on the ground, and you then have to make sure it doesn't hang down too far etc etc. It's just easier to have an exhaust shop fit it.

[SgtBourne]

if cash isn't a worry you could fund my need for extractors and an exhaust as well?

[Airved]

Well, exhaust is all ready to be installed this week. Got the Pacemakers, Redbacks and a High Flow cat for $1200 fitted. Picked up a K&N filter on ebay for $75 and grabbed a whole new sound system installed. Probably looking into lowering it next, as soon as I chase up a GTO rear wing. All falling together nicely.

What else can I possibly look into to improve performance? And what's the deal with those dodgy looking ECU modifiers they sell on ebay to improve power, do they actually work?

[SgtBourne]

And what's the deal with those dodgy looking ECU modifiers they sell on ebay to improve power, do they actually work?

dodgy for a reason