Suggestions?

[SCOlds]

What should I do to my car (within reason)? Its a 2001 Olds Alero 3.4 V6, GLS Coupe fully loaded. Its got leather, the Gold Package, the Sun and Sound package (sunroof and Monsoon stereo), and other stuff. Right now its got about 74k miles on it. What so you think? Is this a decent car for a 16yr old? http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2667.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2666.jpghttp://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2665.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2674.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2631.jpg

RD

[cargodz]

Very nice for a 16yr old ;)
And while it may not have all the options of add ons that a Civic has... It already has a very nice motor that if made to breath right can give you an additional 10-20 ponies at the wheels... My suggestion would be for performance add on a cold air intake and catback exhaust (2.5") and call it a day, that should make it a lil more responsive on take off and make you feel like you actually have the 200hp motor that you do ;)
Oh and since this is a car audio board... A single 15" in the trunk wouldn't hurt either :p

[SCOlds]

I was planning on a single Memphis 15" but the local "audio shop" (its a RadioShack that sells and installs (but I install myself) Memphis, Kenwood, Pioneer, and (haha) Boss and Pyle) had a 15% off loaded enclosures and the sub with the enclosure was $148. But they sold it. ( And while it doesn't have all the add-ons of a Civic, it has one thing a Civic doesn't. A little torque!)

RD

[Ryan from Ohio]

I love my Alero, looks awesome. However it handles like a TANK.

So for performance:

New springs/struts
CAI

Thats my plans, just need the money....lol

For looks, tint tint tint! Thats probably the single easiest cheapest thing that can be done to make it look cooler!

As for Audio:

5.25" Comps in the front, Sub in the back (depends on whatcha need) and either two amps or a single 4 channel to drive it all.

I do have my 6th order up for sale for cheap that was designed to fit into the alero perfectly. And I do have an amp to match it... ;) And it would work on your front speakers too ;)

[solacedagony]

I do have my 6th order up for sale for cheap that was designed to fit into the alero perfectly. And I do have an amp to match it... ;) And it would work on your front speakers too ;)
That's a steal right there :thumbsup

[lancerswimmer89]

puts some rims on it and it'll look pretty tight w/ some window tint

[Bwcad1]

2 inch drop some nice 18's tint the windows and call it a day. maybe a air intake a chip and a few other little mods is what i would rock.

[cargodz]

And while it doesn't have all the add-ons of a Civic, it has one thing a Civic doesn't. A little torque!
RD
No arguement there... but if you wanna really feel a difference in that torque, let her breath better and you'll definately feel it... That's about the biggest problem with the 3400s (they are to restrictive).

[smoker]

shit im 36 and dont have a car that nice. my car is older than you are. actually its older than most people on this board. its an 84 monte and its a project but id love to have a daily driver like that. as far as performance goes....who cares? its not a hot rod, whatever its handling abilities are will exceed your ability to keep it between the ditches as it is. it will never be a sports car no matter what you do to it so my advice would be to make it a nice looking car with tint, wheels and stereo. bolt ons on those cars look silly, lowering it may help the look but theres a reason people arent building them and why there are no bolt ons. its an oldsmobile for starters. nice ride, leave it at that.

[SCOlds]

With this car, I don't want to go overboard. You look on Cardomain, and you will see way too many riced out Aleros. I plan on keeping this car for a good 5 years at least. I want to add a few things just to make it more fun. I know it's not a sports car, and it never will be, but I want to customize it to the point of being unique. I wasn't planning on getting rims, but I just hit a curb the other night and messed up one rim and tire. It would almost be cheaper to spring for a set of aftermarket wheels than to buy a replacement. I'm looking at Sport Edition F7's. Nothing flashy, just a nice looking fivespoke. I'd be sticking with the stock size (16"). I don't want to sink too much money into this car. Window tint should come soon. I'm thinking about 25% (maybe).
http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/sportedition/swap/se_f7_ci3_l.jpg
RD

[SCOlds]

5.25" Comps in the front
How hard are they to get to fit in the front? Do I have to custom make a baffle? Would I mount the tweeter in the door beside the speaker, or replace the stock tweeter underneath the A pillar?

RD

[Ryan from Ohio]

IMO, with the dark color of your car a black or dark grey rim would be the shiznit!

Here is my suggestion:

http://www.1010tires.com/wheel.asp?wheelbrand=Azul&wheelmodel=Speed%2D7+%2D+Black

http://www.1010tires.com/wheel.asp?wheelbrand=Falken&wheelmodel=Explicit+%2D+Black

http://www.1010tires.com/wheel.asp?wheelbrand=Azul&wheelmodel=Razor+%2D+Blk

http://www.1010tires.com/wheel.asp?wheelbrand=Azul&wheelmodel=Cross%2D6+%2D+Blk

Depending on the damage, if its just cosmetic. Take the tires off, sand the damage away, powder coat black...

[Ryan from Ohio]

How hard are they to get to fit in the front? Do I have to custom make a baffle? Would I mount the tweeter in the door beside the speaker, or replace the stock tweeter underneath the A pillar?
RD

Custom fab brackets.

I can always make some for you also.

I do have a set here Im not using.

Tweeter in the sail panel. Easy mods.

[SCOlds]

Sorry, doubt I'll be sanding this out: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/SCbassboy/000_2767.jpg
And personally, I just don't like black rims except on a black or white car.

RD

[cargodz]

If you plan on keeping the car for a while... Due yourself a favor and go up to 17"... They'll only cost a lil more for the wheels, but in the long run 17" tires are cheaper as we sell so many for tuners that the costs are lower than the 16"s
How bout these Akuza 360s for a nice look:
http://www.akuza.com/images/FWD/AKA360_click.jpg

[slick94prix]

Being that it's OBD-II, no chip available. But... check out DHP Powertuners. The 3400 is already in the system, takes very well to modifications.

The Alero and Grand Am's have a slew of readily available bolt on mod's. MRZ, along with a few other companies, make UDP's for the 3400. ZZP has a nice downpipe available, but if you would like to do better, headers are available and fit nicely in the engine bay. Much easier to install and remove than the factory manifolds actually.

As for breating, the stock intake is not that restrictive. Unless you plan on doing a true CAI, and not a WAI like 99% of what you see, the gains won't be huge. In fact, you only feel the gain because of the colder air reading by the IAT sensor, just tells the computer to dump more fuel. If I were you, a K&N drop in filter is generally more than enough, but if you want a bit more, swiss cheese the bottom of the airbox (drill holes in the bottom of your airbox).

Suspension- Tons of stuff available. But... if this is your DD for the next several years, I definately would hesitate to start adding Poly mounts or stiffer struts, your ride quality will go to hell. But... you can upgrade your swaybars, Addco should make a nice and fat rear sway bar. STB's, etc.... all normal stuff.

For the interior, just don't paint anything.

[lancerswimmer89]

yea, those rims would b sweet on that car

[SCOlds]

Wish I could get the deal that a guy I know did. Got 4 17" Falkens brand new for $50 apiece.

RD

[cargodz]

As for breating, the stock intake is not that restrictive. Unless you plan on doing a true CAI, and not a WAI like 99% of what you see.

I Agree... If you do an intake... make sure it's a true cold air.
And it's not so much the intake that's restrictive, but the exhaust... that's why they make those replacements ;)

[slick94prix]

I Agree... If you do an intake... make sure it's a true cold air.
And it's not so much the intake that's restrictive, but the exhaust... that's why they make those replacements ;)


Actually... the stock exhaust isn't all that restrictive either. It's the manifolds and crossover on these vehicle's that's the true weak point. The crossover from the front to rear manifold is a horrible design. 2" inlet from the front manifold, then crushes down to a .75"x2" opening, and then back open to the 2". Really... if your looking for an awesome gain, i'd look to get a custom crossover made. The manifold's aren't super horrible, but can be improved upon.

[smoker]

actually it isnt so much the intake or the exhaust thats restrictive, to really make it scream id do a tube frame, big block and powerglide with a turbonetics turbo kit, sheetmetal intake, and 9" rear, for wheels a set of draglite 15x3.5 up front and a set of 15x10 in the rear, id probably look at bfg drag radials to keep it streetable.....

[SCOlds]

I hear ya smoker! And if it wasn't my DD and I had the money I might would do that, but I'd rather have a Fox body Capri for a drag car. That was one of my first cars, and I miss it.

How hard would it be to make a custom crossover? I work at a shop and have access to a welder, bender, and pipe.

RD

[cargodz]

How hard would it be to make a custom crossover? I work at a shop and have access to a welder, bender, and pipe.

If you've got access and either know how or have someone there that does know how to use them, then your cutom crossover is a walk in the park :happy055:

[smoker]

fox body capris make the best looking mustangs, take the fox body and put the mustand nose and rear bumper on it and the wide fenders and quarters look awesome

[SCOlds]

NO! Don't ruin a Capri that way! Also, I hate it when people aero-nose them (87-93 nose).
I'll look into fabricating one. What would be a decent size? 2"? I've got all sizes from 1-3/4" to 3".

RD

[smoker]

you gotta do it, the 87-93 parts look fantastic on them....although personally the 85 lx coupe was my fav of the fox bodys.....i like carburators though and i like the notchback best......last one i had was nothing but motor and pulled low 11's on pump gas, and was completely street legal.

[OnYrMrk]

I hear ya smoker! And if it wasn't my DD and I had the money I might would do that, but I'd rather have a Fox body Capri for a drag car. That was one of my first cars, and I miss it.

How hard would it be to make a custom crossover? I work at a shop and have access to a welder, bender, and pipe.

RD


I am still curious on how the Capri was one of your first cars, but you are only 16....perplexing

btw, I had a 1980 Capri with sunroof, 4speed, inline 6, and louvers...oh yea, and an 8track deck too

[cargodz]

I am still curious on how the Capri was one of your first cars, but you are only 16....perplexing
My guess would be that he's much like I was... from 15 1/2 to 17 years old I owned 8 different cars... And believe it or not the older Capris can be found relatively cheap from time to time as most collectors are looking for Mustangs

[smoker]

theres really not much interest for mustang guys, unless your me that is, for anything pre 89....in 89 they went from a speed density efi to the newer mass air system that was more tuneable for wilder camshafts....but i like carbs so i like anything from about 67 -85 best......not a fan of the 66 or older because in 67 they widened the track width of the car a little and it looks better.

[cargodz]

I love the older Mustangs, but Not to hip to the 74-78 Mustang II though... Might as well been a Pinto :p lol

[SCOlds]

I got the Capri when I was 14 for a learning project. I am in mechanics training and I wanted something cheap ($200) and easy to wrench on. I got some pics at www.79capri.co.nr It was nothing very special, but I loved the way it looked. And OnYrMrk, next month, I'll be 17.

RD

[SCOlds]

Anybody like Ford Fiestas? I love the one we have at our shop as a pusher car. I'll try to get a pic soon. (It's doorless, interior stripped, custom front and rear bumper, duals, and a hood scoop)

RD

[smoker]

i almost bought a fiesta once but opted for the escort instead.

[scotts1000rr]

i have always wanted to do up a yugo for some strange reason. Just something different i guess.