new guy wants some insite on power

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machine

I just bought a 1991 third generation pontiac firebird it has t-tops and power windows and locks. the cars in pretty good shape it has a 3.1 v-6. what I would like to do is get come specs on the car and how I can get more power out of it. where can a find a cold air intake for this car. and find other up grades. responses will be apprecated.
 
Sorry i dont know much your engine but google is my best friend when it comes to finding specs and mods.
I believe K&N makes a cold air pipe for your car, but if you go with a cone filter, keep in mind the filter oil likes to kill GM mass air flow sensors so go light. Another option is to use a K&N drop in fiter and gut the inside of the airbox of any obstrutions and you can even use a holesaw and cut some holes in the fender side or front of airbox, just add some screening to keep debris and leaves out.
 
Machine, I should have added, and will now after I see a lot of posts here and elsewhere about cold air pipes. They seem to be a trend these days and there is so much hype surronding them. I see bullshit reports about 10 to even 20 Hp and even % gains attached to these things. And if you research... you'll find legit dyno testing proves out only a 5-6 Hp gain is an aspirated or injected engine. The gain can be a little more for a "boosted engine"( supercharged,turbo-ed,nitrous). Basically it can shave a couple tenths of a second off a quater mile ET. But in terms of cost and effect on a small V6, it blows. When you ask about mods,... it really helps to know things like if you can pull heads, change exhaust, send TB out for rebore, and spend money:( . They are not alot of quick cheap things you can really do to mod an engine.Ya gotta bust knuckles and spend money. Theres a favorite sign of mine at a local speed shop that states...Speed=$$$ How fast do you wanna spend it. Regardless of the engine...Bare minimum...Gut your existing airbox and get a K&N filter replacement. Get the TB rebored(PCM wont need a reflash for that). Bigger exhaust.( headers and high flow cat if available) Now your talking a "feelable" Hp gain. If you want to get more serious, then head work -more fuel-spark-pcm reflash. Lets us know what yer up for.
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thank you for the responses

I think what I will do is see about gutting the airbox. that sounds to be the best fast option. I am a mechanic in college as of right now. so I have tools and things I also have the know how just not a lot of experiance.I know the best way to get the power out of an engine is usally though the heads the only thing is the cost. so how should I go about guting the air box?what tools and things will I need?:
 
Machine I'm not sure just what your airbox looks like but open it and remove anything that is not the frame for the filter. Also if its a double chamber/ remove the middle wall and "snout shaped tube" Sawsall works best. Then in the front or fender side take a hole saw like an inch and a half and drill some holes in front and/or fender side of box from the inside.Get some rabbit hutch type screening and cut big enuff to cover your holes to keep out the debris and screw into inside of box. Remember the holes have to be in part of box that will still make the air pass through the filter. If you can get 2-3 holes in it and do a good job of screening it ... it will be more efective than a rice pipe and look much better. Boring the TB out is about $200-250 and should be your next step. Both in cost and effort. The TB rebores usally give ya 7-15 more horses. It varies with each model. With the better airflow you can add a couple to that. If ya got a digital camera post a couple angles of the airbox and post. I'll try to help ya more.:) The heads I'd save till after headers or at same time.

I saw Tropic Dave post that the engine is just a big airpump and I say it in a different way, but his is better/ya gotta get shit in and get it out. With the intake, rebore, and headers your gonna feel a big difference. And if ya get those heads done....tthick icing on the cake.

Just remember if you go as far as the heads then the Cam and PCM become an issue also.
 
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thank you for the response I will proceed with the gutting of the air box today and see how it goes. and then I will tell you if it helped out.
 
Go to thirdgen.org. They will help you out. There are also a couple of more stes, 3rdgen.com. mnfbody.com. Jerry
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thank you for the response I will proceed with the gutting of the air box today and see how it goes.
Click to expand...

it will proabably just change the sound a little bit....
 
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