Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 34

Thread: Performance on a budget

  1. #1
    runamuckr Guest

    Question Performance on a budget

    Hello to everyone. Love this site. Had some time to poke around yesterday. AWSOME stuff here.
    I hope I'm posting in the right place.
    Thanks for the hood squeek tips, I'll be trying them this weekend.
    So I should let you all know that I own an '04 GM. Hope I haven't made any enimies. I'm a traveling sales man and the GM is perfect for the long road trips and taking customers out to lunch.
    So, to my question:
    Has anyone had any experience with the JET performance chips? I have on other vehicles but not the GM.
    Also, I want the gains of a performance exhaust, but I'd like to keep the sound to a minimum, especialy INSIDE the car. Any help is greatly appreciated. I like what all you guys are doing with your Mercs, I'm kickin' myself for not gettin' the MM. But the budget wouldn't allow. So the long plan is to create one once the GM has served its purpose.

  2. #2
    In my opinion...save the $ on the Jet chip. Either do Superchips or SCT.

    If your GM has factory duals....have 2 Magnaflow 18" mufflers installed to your stock exhaust and that's it. I just had a guy swing back by the the shop last week...we did this ^^ on his '04 CV about 5 months ago...he carts around clients...LOVES the sound...and is getting 2-3 more MPG.


    EDIT: Oh...and by the way...I don't care what anybody says...there is no such thing as "performance on a budget". It's like other things that just don't exist:

    Short-sleeved "dress shirts"
    Skinny eskimo women over the age of 21
    A short post here by certain individuals
    Last edited by TAF; 10-19-2006 at 08:46 AM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Derby City, KY
    Age
    23
    Posts
    6,484
    Welcome to the site!

    What TAF said. Go with the SCT Xcalibrator II. Very versatile, and can also read codes.

    Most importantly, it will leave no evidence of being there when it comes to warranty issues. Assuming you are under warranty?

    Mike.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Safety Harbor, FL
    Age
    65
    Posts
    264
    Quote Originally Posted by TAF View Post

    EDIT: Oh...and by the way...I don't care what anybody says...there is no such thing as "performance on a budget". It's like other things that just don't exist:

    Short-sleeved "dress shirts"
    Skinny eskimo women over the age of 21
    A short post here by certain individuals
    Not true Todd, all it takes is a REALLY BIG BUDGET.
    Tony
    _____________________

    Black 2004 Mercury Marauder, Born 4/30/04, Purchased 9/21/04, Sunroof, Trunk Organizer, 6 CD Changer

    Additions: 4.10's, 180 Stat, Motorcraft Plugs, XCAL2. Tune by Lidio, JLT CAI, Ford GT Coil Covers, NAAKE QA1 Front Coil Overs, 20% Tint, God's Head Badges, Front, Rear & Steering Wheel, Underdrive Pulleys, Custom Xpipe and Magnaflows (Todd, Grand Muffler), S55 Tail Light Treatment, OEM Spoiler, Dynamat Floor & Trunk, PI 3000 Stall T/C, Built Trans.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Elkton, MD
    Age
    72
    Posts
    1,080
    TAF is our resident muffler professional (so he knows what he knows) and all-around sharer of what vehicles he is working on this week. When you "On the rack" as the thread starter be prepared to enjoy. No enemies here, just car guys. Welcome to the site.

    __________________________

    JR

    2003 Black MM 300A
    Build date: 6/4/02
    Start date:11/16/02
    Adopted 10/22/04
    #507 of 7838
    *40% Tint
    2011 Pearlwhite Nissan Maxima

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The Pitt, PA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    7,021

    Oxymoron:

    a combination of contradictory or incongruous words.

    Performance Budget

    Bwaaaahhaaaaahaaaahaaaaaa!
    Magindat: (majin-dat) Imagine That.
    2013 Ford Taurus SHO

    Lemonade - living with Fruit Punch - in Blackmobile's Garage...
    FIT Procharger Kit #31 - 3.7 pulley - 9 PSI
    World's first BLOW THRU ProCharged Marauder - Reinhart Tuned

    #1649
    boi

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The Pitt, PA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    7,021
    Use SCT XCal2

    1) Loads thru OBD port - don't have to access ecm.

    2) Reprogrammable for future upgrades.

    3) Reads DTC's.

    4) Certain parameters adjustable right from the XCal.

    5) Can modify you own tune with Extreme Tune software from SCT site.

    6) Excellent dealer support from vendors on this site.
    Magindat: (majin-dat) Imagine That.
    2013 Ford Taurus SHO

    Lemonade - living with Fruit Punch - in Blackmobile's Garage...
    FIT Procharger Kit #31 - 3.7 pulley - 9 PSI
    World's first BLOW THRU ProCharged Marauder - Reinhart Tuned

    #1649
    boi

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    San Antonio, Tx
    Age
    49
    Posts
    5,018
    Welcome!!!!!
    MM.NET Member #3943

    11/24/04 -'04 Silver Birch , Moon Roof, charcoal Interior,
    12/25/05 - Lower grill Mod - Thanks DEFYANT, 12/29/05 - OEM Spoiler - blankenship aero
    01/06/06 - Vynal Shades - Executive Signs Ltd., 01/06/06 - Silver Stars - MM.net (thanks everyone)
    01/11/06 - Remote start alarm ( North Park Linc. Merc. ), 02/16/06 - Pro Gurard - Reinhart Automotive
    02/24/06 - JLT CAI/RAI - JLT Performance(Jay Tucker), 06/14/06 - Godshead logo locking valve caps (Wes)
    02/14/07 - XCAL2 tuned by Lidio

    VEHICLES AND MILAGE :
    04 MARAUDER: 95,XXX (June 09) SOLD 1-28-14
    03 IMPALA: 126,XXX (June 09), Died Oct '11 143K
    01 SUBURBAN: 87,XXX (June 09) Traded in 9-22-12 123K
    07 SUBURBAN LT 4X4 84,XXX (Sept. '12)
    07 INFINITI G35 79,997 (Dec. '11) Her Ride!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Orlando, FL area
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,330
    Quote Originally Posted by magindat View Post
    Use SCT XCal2

    1) Loads thru OBD port - don't have to access ecm.

    2) Reprogrammable for future upgrades.

    3) Reads DTC's.

    4) Certain parameters adjustable right from the XCal.

    5) Can modify you own tune with Extreme Tune software from SCT site.

    6) Excellent dealer support from vendors on this site.
    3) Reads Diagnostic Trouble Codes from ALL later model Ford made vehicles, not just Marauders. This has already saved me a couple hundred bucks on the wife's stang. You can also CLEAR the DTCs to make that annoying light go out.
    Last edited by ckadiddle; 10-19-2006 at 12:07 PM.
    White Lightning Kiarauder:
    2011 Kia Forte EX Minisculus Pimpmobilius Extremus
    Built-in Nav, Bluetooth, USB port, aux/ipod jack, ]2 power ports and Sunroof! six speed auto trans w/ Sportmatic, dead pedal, rear-view camera. Voice cmd for radio, sat, nav, cell phone and MP3.
    Four very muscular, steroid-enhanced, genetically mutated, Mountain Dew injected, wild racing hamsters cavorting under the hood.
    ............................... ...................
    Black Thunder:
    2004 Marauder - Black w/black interior
    Sequence number is 39 of 3213
    Traded in 12/12/10
    --------------------------------------
    2003 Marauder - Dark Blue Pearl
    XCalibrator2/Reinhart tune
    Sequence number is 37 of 327
    10/10/2009 ---- Blue Thunder has gone on to a much better place -----
    Martyo's Garage!!!!!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Orlando, FL area
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,330
    Quote Originally Posted by magindat View Post
    a combination of contradictory or incongruous words.

    Performance Budget

    Bwaaaahhaaaaahaaaahaaaaaa!
    You keep crackin' me up!!!
    I look at it this way...... I don't spend money on alcohol, cigarettes, gambling. That leaves all the "sin" money for me to spend on the Marauder.
    White Lightning Kiarauder:
    2011 Kia Forte EX Minisculus Pimpmobilius Extremus
    Built-in Nav, Bluetooth, USB port, aux/ipod jack, ]2 power ports and Sunroof! six speed auto trans w/ Sportmatic, dead pedal, rear-view camera. Voice cmd for radio, sat, nav, cell phone and MP3.
    Four very muscular, steroid-enhanced, genetically mutated, Mountain Dew injected, wild racing hamsters cavorting under the hood.
    ............................... ...................
    Black Thunder:
    2004 Marauder - Black w/black interior
    Sequence number is 39 of 3213
    Traded in 12/12/10
    --------------------------------------
    2003 Marauder - Dark Blue Pearl
    XCalibrator2/Reinhart tune
    Sequence number is 37 of 327
    10/10/2009 ---- Blue Thunder has gone on to a much better place -----
    Martyo's Garage!!!!!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    9,769
    Welcome aboard.
    2003 Marauder 300B,
    6468 out of 7839 - Thanks Brian
    Heated Seats
    35% Tint
    Mercury All Weather Mats
    Trunk Organizer - Thanks MartyO
    Sold 4/3/2009 Now resides in AL.
    1961 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible
    1973 Oldsmobile Toronado
    2012 Kia Sedona Van
    2008 Corvette Convertible
    2003 Marauder 300 A Thanks Larry O 6/14/17
    2021 Prius Prime Limited
    2023 Chevrolet Silverado High Country
    Member # 440
    ----- John

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by runamuckr View Post
    Hello to everyone. Love this site. Had some time to poke around yesterday. AWSOME stuff here.
    I hope I'm posting in the right place.
    Thanks for the hood squeek tips, I'll be trying them this weekend.
    So I should let you all know that I own an '04 GM. Hope I haven't made any enimies. I'm a traveling sales man and the GM is perfect for the long road trips and taking customers out to lunch.
    So, to my question:
    Has anyone had any experience with the JET performance chips? I have on other vehicles but not the GM.
    Also, I want the gains of a performance exhaust, but I'd like to keep the sound to a minimum, especialy INSIDE the car. Any help is greatly appreciated. I like what all you guys are doing with your Mercs, I'm kickin' myself for not gettin' the MM. But the budget wouldn't allow. So the long plan is to create one once the GM has served its purpose.
    Don't waiste your money, go with a Xcal 2, I provide free upgrades as you add to the car its the bigest improvement you can make to the car for the $, call me any time if you have any questions.

  13. #13
    runamuckr Guest

    Thanks for all the warm welcoms

    I've discovered the budget thing isn't easy to stick to.
    I'll look into the programer thing, I didn't realize all the extra features.
    EXHAUST question: Since I've now upped my budget, and my stock exhaust is only one. what do you suggest for dules? Is it possible to run each header to its own cat, muffler, and tail pipe or do I need to tie them together and then re-split them. Are there any advantages to each header with its own exhaust?
    I suppose I should state my intentions. That might better help you guys help me piece a syatem together. I'm looking for more power, though its pretty spunky as it is, my 281cc at 225 HP could use a bit less restriction. The plan is a new intake, programing/tuning and exhaust. My main intention is to unleash the power that is restricted from the factory. With out major money/overhauls/ect.
    Thanks for all you help so far.

  14. #14
    Your exhaust is "dual" through the CATs...then it "Ys" off to the passenger side. My opinion? Leave the exhaust alone. Your GM "is what it is"...it's never gonna be tearin' up the streets. It's a nice car...enjoy it.

  15. #15
    runamuckr Guest
    Not looking to tear up the streets. Just want to unleash the full potential.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Dodge Charger - 425 HP and $30 Grand
    By Svashtar in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 53
    Last Post: 08-24-2008, 05:19 PM
  2. Foose, Year One and Unique Performance
    By Donny Carlson in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-13-2005, 10:31 AM
  3. Performance Tuning
    By goboy in forum Community Discussion
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 02-11-2005, 10:02 PM
  4. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-11-2004, 06:54 PM
  5. Welcome! Cole Performance!
    By Logan in forum News
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-31-2003, 02:01 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •