Fbody evolution

**Beercan** · 06-12-2006, 10:33 PM

Hello Everyone,
Well, until today I have been a lurker here and among all the f-body sites for several years now.

I have been through a 2000 Camaro 6-er manual (added a whisper lid, 180 t-stat, hyperchip and a hack job of a flowmaster cat-back) it was fun, but not a V8 and I got tired of the pipes sloshing around.

Two years later I bought a 2001 firebird automatic (added: whisper lid and hyperchip)

I drove that around for a while and it was fun. Even went through a 2000 Z28 manual, convertible in the interim (2 weeks before I sold it again for a bit more than I paid, it was frame damaged but it drove nice and I caught a bug for the convertible).

Now since feb, 2006; finally, I am starting anew with a 2002 WS6 Trans Am A4 Convertible. I found the car bare-bones stock and very nice with only 10K miles! It doesn't seem as fast as the 2001 but I attribute that to my perception and the suspension, I think.

I have seen a few things across several sites down through the years now (the APE threads, various debates on HP mods vs. dollars, etc.) in doing my research and have decided its time to share in the fun and ask/answer questions I may know about or don't seem to have readily found answers.

I tried to place some pics of my latest car-baby only 10K miles out of the factory below but ...

----hmm, it seems I will have to play and figure out the interface.
For now, imagine a very bare-bone front and back view of a pewter, stock ws-6, convertible--

As you would have seen from the last pic, I have added some detail, probably as much as I ever will because its my driver and I don't want it to be a vandalism magnet. I ebayed some decals to highlight the firebird on the front, "Pontiac" on the back, and the "Trans Am" on the doors.

Thus far; besides stickers, I have done the LSP whisper lid replacement (amazing sound difference) and the 160 degree t-stat. I have a hypertech programmer but it was ebayed/used and I got hosed so I am getting ready to send it to hypertech along with $250 to get it wiped.

I think the biggest conundrum now is what I am going to do with the ~$2K I have budgeted for upgrades this year. I am considering an ls6 intake and Borla loudmouth II cat-back upgrade. Next years budget would cover some headers and if I can swing it, a cam and/or heads upgrade.

Well, nice to introduce myself to you all finally. Didn't mean to ramble but you know how it gets when you start talking cars.

-Beercan

**nhra-trans-am** · 06-12-2006, 11:30 PM

nice looking t/a, but it looks silver, not pewter, to me.

**1fastcamarosss11** · 06-13-2006, 12:23 AM

welcome and enjoy some more. does look silver.

**Danger731** · 06-13-2006, 09:35 AM

If you have a '02 you already have a LS6 intake from the factory.

**Beercan** · 06-14-2006, 12:51 PM

Thanks folks for the welcome.
Its a 2002, so ls6 intake already???
Interesting, thats an extra $420 then. As for the color thing, I though pewter = silver until I read the available colors at edmunds.com. Looks like I am off to a good start -- not

**x-40oz-x** · 06-17-2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Beercan

Thanks folks for the welcome.
Its a 2002, so ls6 intake already???
Interesting, thats an extra $420 then. As for the color thing, I though pewter = silver until I read the available colors at edmunds.com. Looks like I am off to a good start -- not

Welcome to the site even though i guess your not a newbie.

The first car is Pewter and the second is Silver.

**Beercan** · 06-23-2006, 03:24 PM

Thanks for the welcome, turns out that she is silver after all and I also meant SLP lid in my specs.

With the ls6 cost difference (since I already have that) I went for the headers.

Wish me luck, some makes differ in how/whether they will fit the convertible A4. I looked around for a bit and got the best of what I thought was most likely to work within budget.

Monday morning I go into the local speed shop with all the parts:
Jet-Hot Long Tube Headers w/emissions & O2 bung
Jet-Hot Y-Pipe w/ removable cats
Magnaflow Cat-back
MSD/NGK wires & plugs (might as well, it will be easier before headers)
2-O2 sims just in case it throws an SES

They are also going to run a pre/post dyno so I can see the difference.
It should be done by end of day Tuesday..