Hey guys, I have a 2002 3.4L V6 monte carlo. I just had to get the intake gaskets or something replaced (I don't remember what it was exactly but it was leaking coolant) and have started wondering what I can do to make it quicker. I am 16 and recently got a job, and have over 1k to spend now. I am going to be working more, so I will be steadily increasing my budget.

I was think maybe a cold air intake or something to get started. I'm not really worried about the appearance right now, because I love the look of monte carlos. I also don't want to spend all that much money because I am looking to buy and rebuild a 1969 GTO with my dad. This is the car I drive regularly, so I was wondering if there was any mods I could make first to get started. Thanks.

Fender-well intake>Cold Air Intake. Run it down under where your washer fluid reservoir is. You'll get crisp, cool air, and an aggressive growl. Also - an exhaust with a magnaflow high-flow cat, a u-bend delete, and a pair of magnaflow mufflers will do you well, too.

If you really want more precise, interesting information about how well the car can perform with the 3400, head to MyMonte.com, and also check out MilzyMotorsports.com, but we can certainly help you plenty here.

If you can get some sort of tune after doing those things, that would make those mods worth it. If you don't get the car turned, it's like just blowing on a fire, when you could be adding fuel too. Unfortunately, you will start running into a few hundred dollars.

Honestly, keep the money, have fun with the GTO. You won't regret it when pops hands you the keys one day.

Well, I really don't know if we're doing the GTO or not.

Where would you recommend buying the parts? Also for the things you listed, would they really give a noticeable increase in power?

Also I think I may have a DOHC, but don't know for sure. Would this change anything?

Also I looked for a magnflow pipe on their website, and it said they don't offer pipes for my car. Also, what is a U-bend delete? Thanks

Go to a muffler shop and talk to them about it. They generally carry magnaflo or Flowmaster mufflers. You can have them look at it, order what you need, and they will cut and weld. There is a bend in the pipe that really doesnt need to be in there. When you get the mufflers replaced, you can have them run a pipe more direct to the mufflers to get more flow.

As for the induction, I am not sure who makes one for your vehicle.

Well, I really don't know if we're doing the GTO or not.

Where would you recommend buying the parts? Also for the things you listed, would they really give a noticeable increase in power?

Also I think I may have a DOHC, but don't know for sure. Would this change anything?

Also I looked for a magnflow pipe on their website, and it said they don't offer pipes for my car. Also, what is a U-bend delete? Thanks

No, you don't have a DOHC. It's a 3.4 liter OHV, called the GM3400.

~With the intake, you will see a noticable increase in performance. You can get a pre-fabricated fenderwell intake from MilzyMotorsports.
~With the exhaust, you won't if you do it without the intake.
~Both will give you much more of a gain if you get a re-tuned PCM (computer) courtesy of DigitalHorsepower or MilzyMotorsports.

You're not going to find specific parts for your car on magnaflow's site. Go to MyMonte to see what people are putting on their cars over there. They can help you with specific model numbers.

A u-bend delete is placing a straight pipe in place of a u-bend in the pipe where your first oxygen sensor is.

My dad said he's fine with my getting a new intake, but doesn't want me to get a new exhaust. I was just wondering though, what is the difference between a fender well intake and cold air intake. Whenever I search for wender well intake it shows cold air.

Also I looked at digitalhorsepower, and they don't have to PCM for my car, and couldnt find anything about PCM on milzy. Thanks

nothing different

Then why did Ravant say that a fender well intake is better than a cold air intake?

And how much would a different PCM cost?

a fender will intake is getting cold air.

a fender will intake is getting cold air.
ya, a cold air intake is located down in the fender. if its not then its not a cold air intake, its short ram.

Then why did Ravant say that a fender well intake is better than a cold air intake?

[QUOTE=xero]a fender will intake is getting cold air.
To expand on that, what people advertise as a "cold air intake" for that car, typically sucks in hot engine air. A fender-well intake is the only true CAI for the car.

And how much would a different PCM cost?
Low side of $200 bucks. Best 200 you could spend, because the PCM not only does well for the engine, but it does well for the transmission also.

or just spend the $6XX and get HPtuners.

or just spend the $6XX and get HPtuners.
Which doesn't come with any expert-tuned binaries, which you have to pay extra for. The DHP PCM I'm talking about has about, well, almost 12 years of development and fine-tuning into it. Something your average enthusiast isn't going to be able to dig up with a bit o' tuning software. Not to mention, I didn't think HP Tuners had support for the 3400?

it does...you can tweek the supercharger on the 3800's with the PCM. Nice thing is if you get that you can send your tune to your tuner and have them send you a tune file back. You can have a stock tune, low octane tune, high octane, boost, ect...limitless amounts of tune...you have make the car SD if you wanted to. Also HPT comes with the diagnostic software too. realtime TPS speed, rpm....LTFT's STFT's, any paramete the ECU can see you can gauge and record.

it does...you can tweek the supercharger on the 3800's with the PCM. Nice thing is if you get that you can send your tune to your tuner and have them send you a tune file back. You can have a stock tune, low octane tune, high octane, boost, ect...limitless amounts of tune...you have make the car SD if you wanted to. Also HPT comes with the diagnostic software too. realtime TPS speed, rpm....LTFT's STFT's, any paramete the ECU can see you can gauge and record.
But the 3400 and 3800 PCM's are entirely different. So does it support the 3400?

It supports all GM OBD2 EFI engines. The thing is you buy a credit and so many credits for a single vin unlock, year engine unlock, ect and that gives you access to using the software on any vehicle.

http://www.hptuners.com/products/vcmsuite_vehicles.php

Right - but where I'm getting at is, what about the binary files? The tune itself? Not everyone that gets their hands on the software is going to crank out a perfect tune at the end of the day every time. Which is why I'd argue the DHP PCM is a better value.

Ok, so looking at the DHP website, I can't find a PCM that is actually for my model. Also, since this PCM is supposed to provide better performance, is I going to dramatically affect my gas mileage? Or will it be the same gas mileage wise unless I gun it?

Also, my dad said that with a fender-well intake, it can suck rain into it, is this true? Also, is there a specific intake that you would recommend? Thanks for all the help.

Ok, so looking at the DHP website, I can't find a PCM that is actually for my model. Also, since this PCM is supposed to provide better performance, is I going to dramatically affect my gas mileage? Or will it be the same gas mileage wise unless I gun it?

You will need to run premium fuel, and it will negatively affect fuel economy as the transmission shift points are moved up the powerband to offer firmer, crisper shifts... among other modifications. The general rule is, the more power you make, the less MPG you'll get.

Also, my dad said that with a fender-well intake, it can suck rain into it, is this true? Also, is there a specific intake that you would recommend? Thanks for all the help.
It's rare. Many people run FWI's and haven't had a problem yet. Unless you're driving through 6" deep water, you're not going to have an issue.

I'd go with Milzy Motorsports. PCM for your engine (http://www.milzymotorsports.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MMS&Product_Code=PCM-3100), $99.00 plus $100.00 refundable core charge (meaning, you have to send in your old PCM when you swap in the new one to get the core charge back.)
For the Fender-well intake (http://www.milzymotorsports.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MMS&Product_Code=3x00_cai). You could probably save about 30-40 bucks by buying the parts and doing it yourself, but if you really want a pre-done setup, go with this one. Don't forget, the price listed on that page is including the cost of a K&N cone filter as well, which, for that filter, is about $51.00

and that fender-well intake is long enough to place it under the washer fluid reservoir like you said?

Also, I know that the PCM will give me a lot more power, but I don't know if my dad will allow me to get it. I'll think about it and try to convince him, but just by get the intake will I be able to notice a difference in performance?

and that fender-well intake is long enough to place it under the washer fluid reservoir like you said?

Also, I know that the PCM will give me a lot more power, but I don't know if my dad will allow me to get it. I'll think about it and try to convince him, but just by get the intake will I be able to notice a difference in performance?
Not without supporting mods. You'll notice a definite sound difference, but speed? It's a supporting modification, not a major one. You will notice a bit more low-end grunt, and a bit of extra top-end push, but beyond that, unless you do an exhaust (headers too?), PCM tune, or other, more "extreme" modifications, you're not really going to notice much.

Yeah well, my dad is fine with me getting a new intake but doesn't want me to do anything else. He said that im not gunna make a 3400 any faster I guess. At least the the intake will give me a little extra boost right? And will it improve gas mileage a little? Is there anything I could do for less than 100$ to make it "rumble" a little bit more. Maybe an exhaust tip, I don't HAVE to replace the whole thing do I? Thanks

Yeah well, my dad is fine with me getting a new intake but doesn't want me to do anything else. He said that im not gunna make a 3400 any faster I guess. At least the the intake will give me a little extra boost right? And will it improve gas mileage a little? Is there anything I could do for less than 100$ to make it "rumble" a little bit more. Maybe an exhaust tip, I don't HAVE to replace the whole thing do I? Thanks
Intake will improve things slightly if you don't gain a lead foot because you like listening to the rumble. (Happened when I bought my Cadillac. Can do 29 highway MPG, but the V8 roar at 6500 RPM is nice.) But it's not really going to improve acceleration all that much.

ya i have a 03 monte carlo and i was on a real tight budget myself. well after everything is all said and done i spent 8 grand just on motor and transmission these cars arnt to cheap to be fixing on. you might just want to do the intake system and leave the rest alone and get the gto. mufflers on these cars are kinda pointless cause there not meant to be really tricked out there town cars. see what im kinda saying? i knw its your money and all but ya.

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