[AFtriathlete]

Hey guys, I just bought a 2004 5 speed GT and I'm already getting started on the mods and would appreciate some advice. Bought the car just for cruising and having fun, not for racing of any type. I've already ordered a Magnaflow catback exhaust and a JLT CAI, and here are my questions:

1) Do I need a new throttle body, like an Accufab 75 mm, to actually see the benefits of the CAI? If I do, what about throttle body spacers? Are these actually worth the money?

2) With these mods, (and I'm only planning these mods) am I going to need anything else like a tune or a chip? I want to avoid getting into mods that I can't just do myself.

Thanks for your help.

[pa.ulB]

i have a spacer (came with the car and a new throttle body(also came with the car) its says it makes 3-5hp and the throttle ??? i would asume it makes more than 5hp lol but not sure? and there are alot better mods out there that you can do yourself...trust me iam 16 and i've done everything to my car with little help.

[GreenFaleen]

1. No you don't need a TB and a spacer is pointless you will see no gains

2. a SCT tuner is a great mod just to have overall it isn't needed but it will let you get the most out of your mods.

[mikebert]

No, the CAI will help out on it's own. You don't need to get a new TB just for the CAI.

And no, you won't need a tune for this stuff.

[neckbonekat]

Originally Posted by GreenFaleen 1. No you don't need a TB and a spacer is pointless you will see no gains 2. a SCT tuner is a great mod just to have overall it isn't needed but it will let you get the most out of your mods.

+1
It's not needed, but a new bigger TB certainly won't hurt. It will only ad to you gains. A tuner is always a good idea. There is no install to a handheld. you plug it in, anser the questions, do as it says and take it off. If you later do more mods and decide to get into things like a Dyno tune it will help there too.

[AFtriathlete]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the new throttle body and a tuner aren't required for the new exhaust and CAI, but they will certainly help. You guys have any recommendations for headers to go with my Magnaflow catbacks? I'm looking at the BBK shorties -- good choice? And will those mate up with the new exhaust or is something else necessary?

[neckbonekat]

Originally Posted by AFtriathlete Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the new throttle body and a tuner aren't required for the new exhaust and CAI, but they will certainly help. You guys have any recommendations for headers to go with my Magnaflow catbacks? I'm looking at the BBK shorties -- good choice? And will those mate up with the new exhaust or is something else necessary?

Everyone on here is going to say LT headers. If you are looking BBK shorty headers wait until Brenspeed relists the BBK tuned shorty headers for your year. They will probably relist on Monday.
http://stores.ebay.com/BRENSPEED

[AFtriathlete]

Originally Posted by neckbonekat Originally Posted by AFtriathlete Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the new throttle body and a tuner aren't required for the new exhaust and CAI, but they will certainly help. You guys have any recommendations for headers to go with my Magnaflow catbacks? I'm looking at the BBK shorties -- good choice? And will those mate up with the new exhaust or is something else necessary? Everyone on here is going to say LT headers. If you are looking BBK shorty headers wait until Brenspeed relists the BBK tuned shorty headers for your year. They will probably relist on Monday. http://stores.ebay.com/BRENSPEED

Awesome, thanks for the tip, from looking around on the other posts, it looks like shorties would be a waste of money and time. So the MAC and BBK LT's are both relatively inexpensive, you guys recommend either one? And will I need anything else for this to line up with my Magnaflow C/B?

[neckbonekat]

Originally Posted by AFtriathlete Originally Posted by neckbonekat Originally Posted by AFtriathlete Thanks for the advice. Sounds like the new throttle body and a tuner aren't required for the new exhaust and CAI, but they will certainly help. You guys have any recommendations for headers to go with my Magnaflow catbacks? I'm looking at the BBK shorties -- good choice? And will those mate up with the new exhaust or is something else necessary? Everyone on here is going to say LT headers. If you are looking BBK shorty headers wait until Brenspeed relists the BBK tuned shorty headers for your year. They will probably relist on Monday. http://stores.ebay.com/BRENSPEED Awesome, thanks for the tip, from looking around on the other posts, it looks like shorties would be a waste of money and time. So the MAC and BBK LT's are both relatively inexpensive, you guys recommend either one? And will I need anything else for this to line up with my Magnaflow C/B?

A new shorty mid pipe for LT headers.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/99-04-...g-exhaust.html

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by neckbonekat +1 It's not needed, but a new bigger TB certainly won't hurt. It will only ad to you gains. A tuner is always a good idea. There is no install to a handheld. you plug it in, anser the questions, do as it says and take it off. If you later do more mods and decide to get into things like a Dyno tune it will help there too.

But you can get too big a TB for your application. Don't go crazy; you don't have a lot of stuff done to the engine.

I stick to the 5.0 side of life, so I don't know what's a specific size for you.

[AFtriathlete]

Originally Posted by mikebert Originally Posted by neckbonekat +1 It's not needed, but a new bigger TB certainly won't hurt. It will only ad to you gains. A tuner is always a good idea. There is no install to a handheld. you plug it in, anser the questions, do as it says and take it off. If you later do more mods and decide to get into things like a Dyno tune it will help there too. But you can get too big a TB for your application. Don't go crazy; you don't have a lot of stuff done to the engine. I stick to the 5.0 side of life, so I don't know what's a specific size for you.

So, let's just say I put on BBK LT headers, a BBK H pipe and the Magnaflow CBs, plus the CAI, should I go ahead and get the 75 mm TB/plenum set-up? I haven't heard the pros and cons of getting too big a throttle body, I've just seen that bigger is better. Will the 75mm be too big, or is that the way to go?

See, I started small, just wanting the CAI and the CB exhaust, but it's hard to not catch the mod bug after spending a lot of time on this website.

[mikebert]

You need a bigger TB when you start breathing in bigger. If you change the cam, intake and/or heads then you'll start sucking in more air.

I don't know about you crazy 4.6 kids, you'll have to find out what a good TB is for you. But it isn't something you need to worry about anytime soon since it sounds like you're sticking to bolt ons for the time.

[neckbonekat]

Originally Posted by AFtriathlete So, let's just say I put on BBK LT headers, a BBK H pipe and the Magnaflow CBs, plus the CAI, should I go ahead and get the 75 mm TB/plenum set-up? I haven't heard the pros and cons of getting too big a throttle body, I've just seen that bigger is better. Will the 75mm be too big, or is that the way to go? See, I started small, just wanting the CAI and the CB exhaust, but it's hard to not catch the mod bug after spending a lot of time on this website.

I remember this debate from another thread. Someone else asked the same quesion and someone said it with mess up your fuel/air ratio, to get a 70mm TB. Then somebody else said that they had the 75mm TB and they had no issues. I know this doesn't help much, but Iguess it depends on how modded you are and how modded you intend to be.

[AFtriathlete]

Well I'm definitely going to plan on getting a tuner. Plug-and-play HP and gas mileage gains sound pretty appealing. We'll see about the TB when that time comes, I guess. I'm probably going to plan on the 75mm and just hope the new tune optimizes for the CAI and the new exhaust set-up.

[neckbonekat]

Originally Posted by AFtriathlete Well I'm definitely going to plan on getting a tuner. Plug-and-play HP and gas mileage gains sound pretty appealing. We'll see about the TB when that time comes, I guess. I'm probably going to plan on the 75mm and just hope the new tune optimizes for the CAI and the new exhaust set-up.

Sounds like a plan.

[AFtriathlete]

Originally Posted by neckbonekat Originally Posted by AFtriathlete So, let's just say I put on BBK LT headers, a BBK H pipe and the Magnaflow CBs, plus the CAI, should I go ahead and get the 75 mm TB/plenum set-up? I haven't heard the pros and cons of getting too big a throttle body, I've just seen that bigger is better. Will the 75mm be too big, or is that the way to go? See, I started small, just wanting the CAI and the CB exhaust, but it's hard to not catch the mod bug after spending a lot of time on this website. I remember this debate from another thread. Someone else asked the same quesion and someone said it with mess up your fuel/air ratio, to get a 70mm TB. Then somebody else said that they had the 75mm TB and they had no issues. I know this doesn't help much, but Iguess it depends on how modded you are and how modded you intend to be.

I found some pretty dramatic data on the C&L website that might interest anyone debating getting a new plenum and a 70 mm TB versus a 75 mm. Looks like you can't go wrong with a 75 mm.
http://www.cnlperformance.com/plenum.html

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by AFtriathlete I found some pretty dramatic data on the C&L website that might interest anyone debating getting a new plenum and a 70 mm TB versus a 75 mm. Looks like you can't go wrong with a 75 mm. http://www.cnlperformance.com/plenum.html

Step 0 of researching your new part: don't listen to the benchmark of whoever is selling it.

[AFtriathlete]

Originally Posted by mikebert Originally Posted by AFtriathlete I found some pretty dramatic data on the C&L website that might interest anyone debating getting a new plenum and a 70 mm TB versus a 75 mm. Looks like you can't go wrong with a 75 mm. http://www.cnlperformance.com/plenum.html Step 0 of researching your new part: don't listen to the benchmark of whoever is selling it.

Duly noted. I might think twice before jumping on their plenum bandwagon, since that's what they're selling. But C&L doesn't make/sell a TB, the TB dyno data is for BBK and Accufab TBs -- and the Accufab shows very impressive RWHP and RWTQ gains.

[mikebert]

I don't know about that 4.6 intake plumbing, so I can't tell you how much of a difference it makes to change the plenum. I see the results, but I'm still not buying it across the board.

But it seemed like they always installed a TB with the plenum, so I'm guessing you're talking about 10 horsepower for $400 or so. Pretty damn lame in my book. . ..