2002 Chevy Impala LS Questions / Upgrades??

[COP349]

Please air a show that shows possible upgrades to the new 2000+ series Chevy Impala LS. I just watched your show for the first time with the Malibu and I thought it was fantastic! Please make a show with the 2000+ Impala LS in mind. I have many, many questions....

I own a new Chevy Impala LS 3.8 V6, and would like some suggestions on how to make HP gains without any major engine work or voiding my factory warranty.

The only thing I have done so far is add a K&N air filter. I want to look into a Borla dual exhaust system and possibly a computer chip to take away/fool the governor.. (120mph shut off)

1) Any suggestions on brands for computer chips?
2) Will this in fact take away (or fool) the governor from working?
3) Is this harmful on the engine?
4) Is the Bolra exhaust system worth the money and what type of HP gains could I potentially see? (Easy to install?)
5) I have 11,500 miles on my car, would you recommend using synthetic oil in it now that it has been properly broken in? If so, what kind is the best? (Mobil 1??)
5) Finally, will any of the upgrades I have mentioned void my factory warranty?

(Every day I seem to pass one of those sharp 96,97 Chevy Impala SS's...Wow, what a car! Some day, one of those will be sitting in my garage next to my 02!... Now, that would be a sight!)

Thanks!

[GranSport231]

I own a Regal GS with the supercharged 3.8liter engine and there are plenty of performance places for parts for both the regular 3.8 and the supercharged. Some sites that I would recommend would be www.clubgp.com, www.pfyc.com, www.regalgs.org, www.3800performance.com, www.slpeng.com & www.zzperformance.com. That should get you a good head start on modding your engine. By the way the engine model for the regular 3.8 liter is the L36. The clubgp site actually has a forum for Impala owners so hopefully you can get some more info from them and I would be sure that their are Impala sites just like the Grand Prix and Regals.

Thanks,
Jason

[GranSport231]

The intake I would suggest going to a cone style K&N setup vs. the K&N flat panel insert if you have not done so. That would net about 10hp at the wheels and really make the engine breathe. Any exhaust work done would not void the warranty, but I will let you know that some exhausts will cause alot of drone inside the car(loud humming). I am not sure how the borla is, I am currently running the SLP setup for my intake and exhaust and am happy with it. As far as computer chips go I really have no idea on the Impalas, but I will say that if you take the car in for work just make sure that they do not over write the code in the hopped up computer or your investment will be down the drain. I currently am using Mobil 1 synthetic oil and I will go by saying that most people with these engines would agree that it is about the best. Another thing is for the oil filter you can use a Mobil 1 201 oil filter instead of the 101 it fits our engines perfectly and adds more filtering content since it is a longer filter. I believe it is used on the 4.3 Liter blazers, but many of us use it on our 3.8's. Check out those sites I mentioned earlier and you should be in excellent shape.

Thanks Again,
Jason

[KA9MOT]

Yawn...............Hot rodding those screwed up front wheel drive Chebbies again.

How can anything with SS on it be a front wheel driver?

[danny]

i am also tired about the retro style, if the car companies are going to retro then they should be at least traditional-and rear drive.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
i am also tired about the retro style, if the car companies are going to retro then they should be at least traditional-and rear drive.

They certainly are screwing up some good names

[carsandcycles]

Originally posted by danny
i am also tired about the retro style, if the car companies are going to retro then they should be at least traditional-and rear drive.

Well, at least there is some good news on this account. The new GTO will be here soon; 350 HP and rear wheel drive. Go Pontiac!

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by carsandcycles
Well, at least there is some good news on this account. The new GTO will be here soon; 350 HP and rear wheel drive. Go Pontiac!

$35,000, all Aussie Holden (not American)and wont outrun a lightning or cobra mustang. For the same money, you could buy American and go faster if that were the sort of thing you were into.

[carsandcycles]

Not all Aussie, the engine is a warm LS1 and I'm sure Pontiac is breathing heavily on it. It won't be a slouch. Stay tuned.

[Trader Ray]

With the GTO making a come back like this, it may open the door for more rear drive vehicles. I think this is just the start.