1997 MC LS... more HP?

[fordfox]

I have a 1997 Chevy Monte Carlo LS, 3.1L, everything stock, Fram standard air filter, Fram standard oil filter, standard off the shelf oil (nothing special, just plain 10W-40 (I live in very warm AZ)). I was wondering how to get some more HP out of it. I have very little experience with working on cars. I was just wondering what I should do. I do a weekly check on my oil, tires, belts, etc. Anything else I should do to protect my car?

Also, My real first name is Ford, and I own a Chevy. My name doesn't necessarily make me a Ford fan.

[napatiger]

Let me be the first to say, welcome to the site.

1. Change your user ID if you want help from me j/k.

2. You posted in the wrong section, try pushrod performance for your HP question.

3. I would check the suspension components, and mounts / bushings / boots on a monthly schedule.

[fordfox]

I know nothing about mounts/bushings/boots.

And this is in pushrod performance. Unless Firefox is playing some trick upon me.

Thanks for the advice, even though I don't know what it means.

[Manitcor]

theres plenty that can be done with the 3100 but its not as easy as picking up jegs and looking for the monte carlo section of the catalog, I suggest searching around the site, youll find loads of good info

[SappySE107]

I had to move this from DOHC to pushrod. I deleted the 2nd post you made and moved the original to here and didnt delete any posts made in the DOHC thread. Hope that clears up the off topic stuff.

Stop using fram, use ac delco or purulator. Oil filter tests have proven fram sucks.

You want to protect the car? Wash it, buff it out, polish it, and wax it. Underbody coat helps though in AZ...pointless. I lived in phoenix for 2 years and ran 5-30 without problems. I would stick with it.

Water Wetter from redline might help with cooling though it will still cycle the fans on in traffic no matter what.

As for the performance aspect, what exactly are you wanting to do with the car?

[fordfox]

What am I looking to do? Well nothing specific. I just want it to
A: Sound Better
B: Go Faster

I guess that's it. I don't have too much money (I'm a college student w/o time for a job). This car is more my summer car. Right now it's sitting and not getting driven too much. But this winter I'm going to do what I can. I've done a lot of searching, without too much information I could comprehend.

I've heard a lot about intakes and exhaust. Some people saying something about changing the intake, buying off ebay, making their own, etc. I don't know. I have a Fram air filter. Should I go to K&N? Or something completely different?

I have no idea about the exhaust. I'm not sure if it's even worth all the time/effort. Thanks for any ideas.

[SappySE107]

You want to use a cold air intake if you can. K&N filter can help but its proven to hurt your low end torque more than it gains hp on the top end, but thats with a gen 2 motor, not gen 3. Your motor is a gen 3 60V6 pushrod, with the small port runners. You could swap to the large port runners pretty easily. Well, it would require pulling the intake manifolds but its definetly doable.

K&N drop in filter should be pretty good though. That comparison was with stock filter vs a K&N cone filter I believe.

Stock exhaust normally sucks. The muffler is restrictive and the tubing is press bent which makes it a smaller diameter in the turns. Going with a 2.25" or 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust and a higher flow muffler like dynomax or borla will give better power and change the exhaust tone quite a bit. Mufflers should be bought by the sound you want more than what they flow.

[SHOoff]

I dunno if they add any power, and if they do... how much they add. But you could just get an E-bay intake for the car. Someone's bound to have something. That'll make a nice sound when you get on it.

[geoffinbc]

If your a college student with no money to burn then leave your car alone for now. Maybe put on a Borla muffler and it will sound good.

But for the time being I would keep whatever money you have for regular maintainence so you car stays reliable and doesn't let you down.

When your done school and making cash then have all the fun you can afford. I am in the same situation and I am not doing any mods till late Feb.