To mod or not to mod? (headers)

[smgee]

AAS just quoted £1300 for some new headers (as an aside, I was amazed by the number of custom exhaust businesses who "don't do that" when I asked about getting headers made! WTF?!).

I'm also seriously considering a 3.9 diff (£1600 fitted), as it seems the best next mod for a relatively standard CV8.

So that's a £3k spend on a car that cost me £9k three years ago. Am I bonkers to even consider roughly a third of the car's value on two mods?!

[jameshsv]

All depends on what you want i have spent way more than what i paid for my car.

[smgee]

jameshsv said:

All depends on what you want i have spent way more than what i paid for my car.

Some sensible improvements, without ruining the car and/or spending three times it's value, when chopping it in would make more sense.

So far it has a cat back and a quick rack (both essential I think).

I'd quite like to lower it, fit some bigger brakes, 19" wheels, get a remap, suspension bushes, etc, etc, but there lies the path to financial ruin!

[007 VXR]

If shes a keeper then go for it, If not, then sell and buy a modded car. IMHO

[SturdyHSV]

007 VXR said:

If shes a keeper then go for it, If not, then sell and buy a modded car. IMHO

This is the most sensible option, yours is probably still worth a decent chunk of what you paid, and with your £3,000 on top of that, you could buy a well modded CV8 with a lot of those bits probably already done

[VinceM]

SturdyHSV said:

This is the most sensible option, yours is probably still worth a decent chunk of what you paid, and with your £3,000 on top of that, you could buy a well modded CV8 with a lot of those bits probably already done

Easier said than done though, and although financially it is more painful, seeing the car go from standard to where you want it is very satisfying.

There must be cheaper options for headers anyway...

[KMud]

The £1300 will be headers + cats I think, unless we're talking AAS long-tubes. If you go catless I guess it will be more like £1k from AAS.

I'm assuming that's the MF-build 3.9 for £1600 - bit more if you put a decent diff centre in there at the same time!

[Phillphill]

I know it maybe against the grain and there can be risk, but I would look around at used parts, I trawl through all the us forums/craiglist and so far have managed to find a few bargains, also bits and pieces in the UK too. I guess a big part of that is if you can turn a set of spanners?

I know the Kaaz diff (new) from the us is around £800 shipped, I did find one with 3.91 gearset (and missed out on it) used for around £300!
If you search in the states a 3.91 gearset is around £290ish and you can also get the truetrac diffs at mid £400s
Are you after just the increased acceleration in changing the diff or are you looking for something that is actually going to lock up well?

I cant fully comment on headers yet, I am running a Cv8 too, and spent quite a while looking and researching headers.
Clearly the full blown long headers are the best for power but in the end I picked up Vinces old HSV/VXR headers as in comparison to a AAS set i would still have a improvement in power but also it gives me £1000 to go and spend on something else on the car ie a supercharger, I just couldnt quite justify the extra £££ for a small amount of improvement over the HSV/VXR headers (as im not chasing dyno figures).

My (cheapskate) 2p anyway!

Edited by Phillphill on Thursday 28th May 09:55

[KMud]

Don't cheap out on the diff bits, you want DANA gears and decent (e.g. Timken) bearings. A lot of whining diffs stateside.

[smgee]

Sorry, I should have been more explicit! The AAS price was to supply and fit mid-length headers (1 3/4", 14-15" long primaries) and 200 cell sports cats. The price also includes some new angled (bendy?) plug leads for clearance and O2 sensor extension cables. They didn't propose long tubes as there are clearance issues. I got a quote from another custom place that was only £150 cheaper and they had no experience of the car.

I appreciate that there are cheaper routes with Pacemakers (missed the group buy) etc, or used parts, but I'd still have to pay someone to fit them. I just don't have the time to do it myself nor do I have a garage, sadly.

With the diff I'm after perkier acceleration, the standard gearing is ridiculously tall and totally unsuited to where I drive. I have no plans for major engine upgrades that would negate a ratio change. The price is what MF charge for a rebuilt & fitted unit. I haven't had any issues with the standard LSD, so I'm happy to leave that as-is. Having spoken to Roger, he made me aware that non-genuine ring & pinions are prone to whining, one reason they are cheaper.

Were there more used ones for sale, I would consider swapping it, but you kind of get attached to a car and I know it's history and all the niggles I've fixed:

4 new tyres
4 refurbed wheels
Leaking rack replaced
New battery
New A/C idler and tensioner pulleys
New pads
Fixed rattly gear knob
Replaced stuck relay in BCM
Replaced dead diode in hi-level brake light
About to fix drivers seat-back that fell off!
Etc!

So I'm tempted to keep it for the time being. I rather like the fact that the CV8 is a bit less shouty in the looks department, but it does need a bit more "go".

[Phillphill]

smgee said:

So I'm tempted to keep it for the time being. I rather like the fact that the CV8 is a bit less shouty in the looks department, but it does need a bit more "go".

Where are you located? I drove a stock CV8 not too long ago, i have a 3.73 in mine which greatly improves it through the gears, if your near you are welcome to give mine a try before committing!

Edited by Phillphill on Thursday 28th May 11:20

[smgee]

Thanks Phill, but I'm in the Lancashire area, so that's not really practical!

[jameshsv]

007 VXR said:

If shes a keeper then go for it, If not, then sell and buy a modded car. IMHO

+1

[wozzza]

smgee said:

Thanks Phill, but I'm in the Lancashire area, so that's not really practical!

Where in Lancashire are you? I have a 2004 VXR, same gearbox but comes with a factory 3.7 rear end. Also power wise is running around what you would have with headers. I'm in Bury if you're near.

Welcome to come and have a little drive. If you could make it to the meet at Trafford Park on Monday evening, then I will be there from 8ish. It's a pistonheads meet and usually really good. Lot of different cars turn up.

[raving]

Hunt around & get some second hand headers & a 3.7 diff

£1600 for a diff that is just a crown wheel & pinion change is way way to expensive

[ossiesmonaro]

Look at the States to bring them in. Marylandspeed.com (modern muscle speed shop) got lots of nice pieces for 2004 -2006 Pontiac Gto LS1 Reasonable prices as well. Just the bloody import tax will put it up a bit Will ship if you email them and sort it out with them

[VinceM]

ossiesmonaro said:

Look at the States to bring them in. Marylandspeed.com (modern muscle speed shop) got lots of nice pieces for 2004 -2006 Pontiac Gto LS1 Reasonable prices as well. Just the bloody import tax will put it up a bit Will ship if you email them and sort it out with them

Not a direct fit though because of the steering column. Can be done, someone on here did it, but a bit more work iirc.

[smgee]

wozzza said:

Where in Lancashire are you? I have a 2004 VXR, same gearbox but comes with a factory 3.7 rear end. Also power wise is running around what you would have with headers. I'm in Bury if you're near.

Welcome to come and have a little drive. If you could make it to the meet at Trafford Park on Monday evening, then I will be there from 8ish. It's a pistonheads meet and usually really good. Lot of different cars turn up.

I'm on the coast Wozzza, but I'm definitely up for Trafford Park on Monday, cheers.

[wozzza]

smgee said:

I'm on the coast Wozzza, but I'm definitely up for Trafford Park on Monday, cheers.

Details for it are in this thread.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[smgee]

raving said:

Hunt around & get some second hand headers & a 3.7 diff

£1600 for a diff that is just a crown wheel & pinion change is way way to expensive

Maybe this is the way to go. Any ideas where to source a good 3.7 diff?

I'd still have to pay someone to do the spannering, I'm a single dad with young twins and I barely have time to post on Internet forums, except when I'm really being paid to do something else