Performance mods that cost nothing post if you know of any!!!!

[v10l4t10n_bl4de]

Heres one to get it started on the gm models that have a MAF take the intake hose off the MAF and remove the screen this will increase air flow up to 10-15% all this screen is for is to direct the incoming air evenly onto the MAF but i did this and there is a noticable differance in performance and pedal response.

[NTX5467]

There is a reason that GM specified that screen on the MAFs, which you mentioned one part of why they do it. One way that GM computers "gauge" the amount of air going into the motor is via a "bridge circuit" that keeps the "wire" in the air flow heated to a particular heat level as the air flows over it, trying to cool it in the process. The amount of "juice" going through the circuit to keep the wire heated up is the signal to the computer of the amount of air the engine is injesting under particular conditions. Therefore, having a homogenous flow of air into the MAF is important, just as having a homogenous flow of air into a carburetor is--keeps the fuel curve "in specs".

Of course, for the engine to really "feel" that extra air, it first has to have an air path that's way too restrictive in the first place. A better choice of long term action might be to not remove the screen from the MAF, but to remove any baffles in the air box setup of the vehicle (where the air filter element resides) and possibly openning up any air intake snorkles on said air box (but do not do anything to make WATER entry any easier than it currently might be!!!) with these additions. Finding some smooth tubing to replace the flex hoses would be a really good start too! Many of those baffles and resonators in the intake tract are there for noise control rather than efficient air flow. If GM could have spec'd a MAF with "no screen" to save a little money and not affect emissions performance, you can probably bet that it would not be there.

Many of the mods that you might consider are fully discussed on many of the GM engine websites, especially for the late model Grand Prixs. Seems like two such sites are ZZPerformance.com and 3800Performance.com, plus probably RegalGS.org? By observation, most of the performance "tricks" and "mods" for the later model 3800 engines are talked about in the late model fwd Grand Prix websites, but they work on Buicks and Oldsmobiles that use the 3800 too.

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467