'00 Convertible M6 SS #1414

[MP81]

Decided to take advantage of the beautiful 65* day...took a cruise up to Romeo, hit up Meijer for 5 qts of Mobil 1 and a Purolator filter on the way back, and got her all cleaned up and changed the oil. I've never tracked mileage, so I'd like to start - put it away at the end of the 2015 season with 74,786 miles on it. So, here she slumbers until 2016:



The bummer of today...as I was backing it into the garage, I was distracted and ended up hitting the passenger corner of the rear bumper on the garage door frame. Left a nice scratch on the bumper that I'll have to address next year. I am really pissed off at myself. It's tough to get a good shot - it's more than noticeable:

Ugh, hate when shit like that happens! Maybe you can buff it out (can't see the pic here)?

And Romeo, real close! Coulda stopped by our place - oh wait, I was busy deep into a swearing match with an '05 Forester in Orion Township.

[Atrus]

I'll see if it can buff out in the spring, but I really doubt it

[farmington]

better than my day. was out beating on mine and broke the transmission.

[Atrus]

Woah, damn! What broke?

[Atrus]

I wasn't sure what mods I wanted to do over the winter, and a member here posted up an LS6 intake in trade for an LS1 intake + cash. We worked out the details - my LS1 intake plus $170 for his LS6. Seemed like a great deal, and we had all the details worked out - where were were going to make the exchange and everything. Yanked my intake off in January, and then he disappeared. Ends up he sold it to another member on here. Chapped my ass as I probably wouldn't have yanked my intake - would have focused on something else, but it was a great deal.



So, I was left with a car with no intake on it and a broken OPSU. I thought about just putting my LS1 intake back on, but I was already a good $70 in between the OPSU and gaskets, and I'd just be returning it back to stock if I wussed out now. Luckily I did find a good intake from a seller in Australia that I got for $312 shipped.

It was clean, but I soaked it and my LS1 intake in the laundry tub on Sat and scrubbed them out good. Used hot water and simple green and it seemed to work well enough.

Headed out to the garage for a few mins yesterday and pounded down the LS1 coolant crossover a little to ensure I won't have interference with the intake. Trimmed out the ribs underneath that were contacting the coolant crossover.

Its been nagging me at the back of my mind to check the knock sensors while I am in there. I didn't want to disturb anything, but the harness was pinched by the LS1 intake and looked a little suspect in a few spots. So, I did check out the knock sensors and to my relief they looked great! No corrosion or anything. I attempted to remove the harness...and in the process broke the connector on both of my knock sensors. Was hoping to get away with a $20 harness, now I am at $110 for 2 sensors and a harness.

So, all in all:

Intake: $312
Gaskets: $30
OPSU: $45
Knock Sensors & Harness: $116
Total: $503

More than I wanted to spend, but oh well, that's how these things go, right? My PCV line on the passenger side cracked as well. Going to replace both lines and already picked up an ebay oil catch can - it's not baffled right now, but I will be adding proper baffling. At least I'll know my PCV, OPSU, and knock sensors will be good to go.

[Jmt23]

Definitely know how that goes I started out just repairing a rear cover oil leak and now my car has long tubes a new air intake and a 3200 stall converter


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[Atrus]

Ultimately, I'd really like to get that Hooker Blackheart system on, but it's going to be about $1500. I only have about half that in my "mod fund" right now.

From there, I'm considering an EPS 222/226 cam, and that'll probably be it from a power perspective. I don't see that happening in 2016 - that's probably more of a 2017 project.

Dumb question, but...if I went with the Blackheart system (midlengths and 2.5" true duals) and this intake, do I NEED a tune? I know I'd benefit from one, but would it be detrimental to the car (running too rich or lean, etc) to drive it on a stock tune with these bolt-ons?

[Jmt23]

Yeah I'd like to cam mine but I've got over a grand in parts in mind this winter
$700 for the Fti converter
$200 for the hooker super comp and off road y pipe (both used)
$150 for plus wires and new rear cover
$100 for the trans cooler
$60 for the trans temp
$130 for a used volant intake and then all that doesn't include getting my hood painted to match the car


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[Schuby87]

Have you thought about doing the LS6 PCV conversion while you have the intake and knock sensors off? It will work better than band aiding the already bad LS1 system.

[Atrus]

I've thought about it. I am a little hesitant because (1) It's another $100 investment, (2), I have to cut into the block, and (3) I was under the impression I couldn't run the LS1 coolant crossover. I looked into it more, and it appears I may be able to run the crossover with the valley cover.

I'll check at work and see what my pricing would be on the LS6 valley cover.

[Schuby87]

Brian Tooley had the best price around a few months ago, $100 shipped for the valley cover, valve cover plug, and line to intake. You can come watch me do it in a month or so.

[farmington]

With the exhaust and intake change you should at least get a mail order tune.

[Atrus]

So, what are your opinions on running cats vs no cats? My biggest thing is I don't want to get out of the car and smell like exhaust. I see varying opinions on Tech about it...I did have a 5.0L Bronco that had gutted cats, and while it had the catless smell, I don't remember it ever smelling in the cabin, nor do I remember ever smelling like exhaust.

I will be running a full exhaust out the back of the car - no dumps underneath it. I am considering the Hooker Blackheart TD system - it's 1-7/8" midlength headers mated to a 2.5" TD system - no cats. The other option is to pick up their TD catback system and mate it to some Speed Engineering LT's with cats. It looks to be fairly easily doable. The cost would be very similar - the tradeoff is a catted system with the LTs but less ground clearance (and more work to install), or the increased ground clearance with the Blackheart system but not cats.

I realize the LT's will most likely give a little more power over the midlengths. I don't think it'll impact my car too much - tell me if you disagree. Plans are mild - LS6 intake, exhaust, and potentially a small cam like an EPS 222/226. The name of the game is keeping it reliable and civil to drive. It's a cruiser that I like to hammer on time to time. No track due to being a 'vert and my refusal to add a roll cage.

What does MiFbody say about the two options?

[pferris]

So, what are your opinions on running cats vs no cats? My biggest thing is I don't want to get out of the car and smell like exhaust. I see varying opinions on Tech about it...I did have a 5.0L Bronco that had gutted cats, and while it had the catless smell, I don't remember it ever smelling in the cabin, nor do I remember ever smelling like exhaust.

I will be running a full exhaust out the back of the car - no dumps underneath it. I am considering the Hooker Blackheart TD system - it's 1-7/8" midlength headers mated to a 2.5" TD system - no cats. The other option is to pick up their TD catback system and mate it to some Speed Engineering LT's with cats. It looks to be fairly easily doable. The cost would be very similar - the tradeoff is a catted system with the LTs but less ground clearance (and more work to install), or the increased ground clearance with the Blackheart system but not cats.

I realize the LT's will most likely give a little more power over the midlengths. I don't think it'll impact my car too much - tell me if you disagree. Plans are mild - LS6 intake, exhaust, and potentially a small cam like an EPS 222/226. The name of the game is keeping it reliable and civil to drive. It's a cruiser that I like to hammer on time to time. No track due to being a 'vert and my refusal to add a roll cage.

What does MiFbody say about the two options?

I am not running cats, but that's because I don't care about practicality, noise complaints, exhaust smell, and I am cheap. It sounds like your goals align more with running cats.

If it was me, I would go with speed engineering 1 7/8" LT's. I just put them on my car, and outside of terrible clamps, they seem to be really nice, especially when you factor in the price point. I would also go with the cats, and the TD catback.

I'm betting adding cats to the hooker system would not be difficult, would certainly cut rasp and noise back a little, but would still be loud enough and sound amazing.

I don't think you would loose much ground clearance with the LT and cats, but I honestly have not looked at putting cats on my car. Clearance with my old ebay 1 5/8" setup was never a problem, but these 1 7/8" do hang marginally lower. I still don't think it will be an issue.

ultimately I think you would want cats, and LT I believe are worth it.

[farmington]

The cats will kill the raspy sounding exhaust. If I had to do it over I would use cats. With the hooker true dual system I don't think cats would be needed sound wise.
Btw I saw the ls6 valley on eBay for $89 shipped.