I would like any and all info concerning what product(s) are available
to change the performance of my Grand Am and my Bonniville.  These
products should be specific to the engines in these two cars. However,
if there is a generic power package, then I would want to look at it
also.

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Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 01 Jan 2004 22:10 PST

scuba1-ga:

Performance 'upgrades' and enhancements are available from a multitude
of manufacturers and vendors, not all of whom maintain a website.
Performance upgrades range from air intake improvements all the way
through the combustion process to the exhaust tip, and every single
system in between. Some performance upgrades even have nothing at all
to do with the engine.

Unfortunately, as a result of this, it will be next to impossible to
provide you with "any and all" information, there is just no way to
know when "all" has been reached!

Can you perhaps be a bit more specific about what you are looking for?
Are you looking just for upgrades to the engine management (ie.
"chips")? Or perhaps just bolt-on air intake or exhaust upgrades? Or
maybe you are looking for other bolt-on packages such as
superchargers, or nitrous injection systems. If you can be more
specific, then perhaps I or a fellow Researcher can help you get the
answer you are seeking.

Thanks,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by scuba1-ga on 02 Jan 2004 04:29 PST

Thank You - I understand the problem.  Yes, let's look only for those
products that would change the performance by changing things like
timing, compression, mixture, etc.  Also changing the prom or chip so
that the car performs as if it were to be shipped overseas, ie no rpm
limitations, etc.  Please let me know if this provides you with enough
clarification.

                                        David

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Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 02 Jan 2004 10:18 PST

scuba1-ga:

That helps a lot, thanks! Can you also please provide the following
information, so that it is possible to identify only solutions that
are compatible with your vehicles?

- model year
- model type (ex. Bonneville SSEi)
- engine type (ex. L36 3.8L V6, "3800 Series II": see
http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/engines/gmpow/index.htm )

Thanks,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by scuba1-ga on 05 Jan 2004 18:18 PST

Hi -it IS a Pont. Bonnie  SSEi  1G2HZ521XT4209694

scuba1-ga:

Thank you for your question regarding performance upgrades for your 1996 Pontiac 

Bonneville SSEi. As per your clarification, I have focused on finding performance 

upgrades that involve changes to timing, compression, fuel mixture, and engine 

management.

To try to find the information you are looking for, I started by looking for 

enthusiasts sites where it would be possible to find out what works, and what 

people are recommending.

The best site for this is the Bonneville Club:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com

If you are not already a member of their forums, you really should consider 

registering:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/

Through the forums, I was able to find out two things. First, the bad news. 

Because your car is a 1996 model, and 1996 was when the federal mandate for 

on-board diagnostics Level II took affect, there are very few engine 

modifications that fit your specific engine. However, I was also able to find 

what essentially amounts to a one-stop shop for your performance upgrade needs. 

3800Performance.com has a section dedicated to the Pontiac Bonneville:

http://www.3800performance.com/vehicles/bonneville_miva.htm

On these pages, you will find upgrade parts for various model-years of 

Bonnevilles. Ones that warrant your attention in particular:

- MAP Engineering Throttle Body Spacer
- MSD Blaster Ignition Coil Packs 
- I Win Engineering 1.90:1 Ratio Modified Rocker Arms
- Thrasher Modular Pulley System (very popular modification)

Other upgrades that are not listed on 3800performance.com, but should be 

available from them via custom/special order:

- Digital Horsepower (DHP) ECM PCM reprogramming
  (because your engine is from an OBDII-compliant transition year, there are no 

performance chips available, ask about re-flashing the PROM in the ECM to allow 

you to gain back the horsepower and remove the limitations imposed by the stock 

program; this may not be available as DHP was having troubles creating a program 

that wouldn't cause problems for the transaxle; see this thread for more info: 

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=680 )

- Competition Cams XP camshaft or ZZ Performance XPZ camshaft
  (also contact http://www.zzperformance.com for more information)

- K&N Performance Air Induction
  (depends on whether you wish to simply drop-in a replacement K&N air filter, or 

replace the stock intake manifold with a custom engineered system)

Because of the OBDII compliance, the PCM reprogramming is the best way to play 

with the mixture, and to a partial extent the timing.

The best suggestion I can make is for you to follow (and contribute to) the 

Performance and Modifications forum at the Bonneville Club. There is no 

substitute for advice from fellow Bonneville owners who have tried out the 

modifications you are contemplating, and can tell you what works and what doesn't 

work.

--------------------------------

You did not mention the model year for your Grand Am, so here are some general 

sources for performance upgrades that may work for you:

Doctor Speed
http://www.doctorspeed.com/index.html

K&N Air Filter
http://www.brandsport.com/knairfilter152.html

Air Intakes
http://www.spiderautomotive.com/airinforgran.html


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Search Strategy:

ssei performance
grand am performance

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I hope that this information is useful to you, and helps you get started on what 

should be a lot of fun!

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher