=Chip/Tuning=
A chip/PCM reflash is recommended as one of the last modifications you want to do, although it is not neccessary. Having it tuned is the most important part, and it will be tuned to your existing modifications. There's essentially three different kinds of methods of tuning you can get. First, you can get a chip which is tuned specifically for your vehicle. No tweeking is available. The tune on the chip is what you get. Remember, a brand of chip (Superchip, Diablo, etc) really is not what matters, but WHO tunes it. If you want the most gains, you want someone to tune your car that has a great deal of experience with this platform. Secondly, you can get an SCT X-CAL 2 which is a device that you can plug into your OBD-II port and reflash your PCM's stock tune. Again, this is pretuned much like a chip, but is vehicle specific. Whats nice about this is you can upload multiple tunes into an X-CAL 2 to see which works best for your car or something like a N/A tune or a nitrous tune. Minor tweeking such as timing can also be performed with the SCT X-CAL 2. It also acts as a CEL scanner. Finally, if you want to do your own tuning, you can get the SCT Pro Racer Package (PRP) which lets you fully tune your car yourself. This isn't for a novice tuner, but options are endless.
Most recommended/used:
Nautilus Performance
=Coatings=
Coatings for your headers, exhaust, UIM, etc. will reduce the temperatures and add durability to the parts.
High Performance Coatings
Jet-Hot Coatings
Swain Tech
=Exhaust=
A bolt-on cat-back exhaust will result in 4-8hp depending on brand and modifications to your vehicle.
Bassani -
Discontinued
- removable resonator tips to reduce sound
- loud and drones
- raspy when cold
Borla -
Discontinued
www.ctamotorsports.com
www.batinc.net/contour.htm - page 33
- smooth sound similar to stock
Bosal
www.batinc.net/contour.htm - page 34
- loud with mirror finish
- flange-fit exhaust may cause some installation problems due to inability to adjust
CTA
www.ctamotorsports.com
- Magnaflow mufflers and resonators options available
- 2.5" all the way back or 2.5" -> 2.25" available
TruBendz
www.trubendz.com
- 2.5" bolt-on cat-back exhaust
- many consider best "bang for the buck" exhaust
- many muffler and resonator options available
=Headers=
How-to: Headers by CEGer Tourige
Headers FAQ by CEGer Tourige
MSDS
www.msdsinc.com
- short tube headers
- realistic gains 5-15hp+ depending on other modifications
Weapon-R -
www.customcougars.com Discontinued
- short tube headers
- known as MSDS knockoffs
SHM Long Tube Headers
Discontinued
- have been discontinued for quite some time now but were the only long tube headers available, $1200 NEW when they were offered
- provide more low end torque compared to the shorty MSDS headers