Modifying for " Dummies"

[Dr Jkel]

and we all love noise

[rd-camaro]

can anybody answer my questions???

[1fastdog]

I don't see anything you mention hurting the car's value with the possible exception of the exhaust. It also did absolutely nothing to increase it's value unless the purchaser has the hots for a louder exhaust or the looks of the grille.

A motorhead, enthusiast buyer will probably be put off by the exhaust mod. Not because they might not do the very same mod, but they might believe the previous owner might have driven the piss out of the car.

Any actual performance mods will devalue the car unless it's a private sale to a party who digs what you have done. Usually, modders tend to gravitate to unmodded cars as they feel the car is unmolested and not likely to have been driven hard.

As a rule of thumb, buyers are interested in "virgins" without regard to what they intend to do with the vehicle.

Mods are personal, super personal.

Originally Posted by Dr Jekel

Kinda of an odd question about modifying.

When you mod your car what does it do to the value of it. I know an original is probably worth alot more 30 years from now, but does it really matter. I have done cosmetic mods so far with the exception of the axle back. Just was wondering.

MODS SO FAR

Painted on stripes.
Wet sanded and re-cleared entire car. NO more orange peel.
Axle back street exhaust.
Heritage grille-painted with old school SS.
Rear Bowtie delete-SS installed
Splash guards.

[1fastdog]

Originally Posted by rd-camaro

can anybody answer my questions???

To be blunt, short headers are a waste of time and money.

If someone comes up with a hot ticket set of shorties, you will hear about it. So far it's crickets and tumbleweeds.

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by rd-camaro

can anybody answer my questions???

From the way it appears the " Short System " Can come either with Cats or No cats" and will hook up to the cat back exhaust on your car whether stock or factory.

It does seem like you will have to have a tune for this since it also says that they include O2 wire extenders.

[rd-camaro]

Originally Posted by Dr Jekel

From the way it appears the " Short System " Can come either with Cats or No cats" and will hook up to the cat back exhaust on your car whether stock or factory.

It does seem like you will have to have a tune for this since it also says that they include O2 wire extenders.

hmmmm ok i see now lol.

now whats better BBK LTs w/ Cats or ARH LTs w/ cats?

im liking the BBKs a little more so far....

[Dr Jkel]

I pesonally went with Dynatech LT with high flow cats

[1fastdog]

Originally Posted by rd-camaro

hmmmm ok i see now lol.

now whats better BBK LTs w/ Cats or ARH LTs w/ cats?

im liking the BBKs a little more so far....

Not to be a wet blanket whatsoever, however, replacing a good cat with a good cat is likely an offense of the Clean Air Act and associated EPA rules.

Do folks do it any way.. yes. Could it lead to a hassle? Yep.

Installing longtubes will likely require changing the physical location of the cats if not replacement with an aftermarket "high flow" converter.

I am not certain but I think NJ is a 4 year state. IOW, I believe there is no inspection for emissions until a car is 4 years old.

I am not qualified to suggest what you do and what it might mean to the state of NJ. I do suggest you get up to speed on the ramifications.

There is no shame in considering one's self a "Dummy". It can get expensive to prove it so beyond any doubt through wrong choices..

[rd-camaro]

Originally Posted by 1fastdog

Not to be a wet blanket whatsoever, however, replacing a good cat with a good cat is likely an offense of the Clean Air Act and associated EPA rules.

Do folks do it any way.. yes. Could it lead to a hassle? Yep.

Installing longtubes will likely require changing the physical location of the cats if not replacement with an aftermarket "high flow" converter.

I am not certain but I think NJ is a 4 year state. IOW, I believe there is no inspection for emissions until a car is 4 years old.

I am not qualified to suggest what you do and what it might mean to the state of NJ. I do suggest you get up to speed on the ramifications.

There is no shame in considering one's self a "Dummy". It can get expensive to prove it so beyond any doubt through wrong choices..

inspection here is every 2 years. when you buy a brand new car from a dealership you dont have to go to inspection for 4 years then after that it turns to 2 years. just recently they passed a law where now we wont be inspected for safety anymore, only emissions, so the state can save more money. (awesome right? NOPE) which makes the drivers here even more dangerous then they already are which is crazy.

how will they know if my cat was good or not? i really dont know all the rules yet about changing cats which is why i am researching all over the place before i put done the load of money. but yeah as far as beening hassale here your right. we have so many laws and rules it ridiculous.

[Dr Jkel]

Luckily, there is No inspection in Alabama at this time. If they did they would take 40% of the vehicles off the road here

[1fastdog]

Originally Posted by rd-camaro

inspection here is every 2 years. when you buy a brand new car from a dealership you dont have to go to inspection for 4 years then after that it turns to 2 years. just recently they passed a law where now we wont be inspected for safety anymore, only emissions, so the state can save more money. (awesome right? NOPE) which makes the drivers here even more dangerous then they already are which is crazy.

how will they know if my cat was good or not? i really dont know all the rules yet about changing cats which is why i am researching all over the place before i put done the load of money. but yeah as far as beening hassale here your right. we have so many laws and rules it ridiculous.

Ask your tuner what trouble codes he might have disabled.

Be calm as you can and not worry until there is something to worry over.

The shop who did the work should be able to answer questions you may have.

Remember, worry is not productive.

Awareness is much more important and you do have some space.

[Dr Jkel]

Another question about tuners you reminded me of Dog. When we are talking about tuning what exactly are we talking about. You said ask the tuner what he disabled. What does that mean? Is he turning things off that are supposed to be working, Please explain

[1fastdog]

Originally Posted by Dr Jekel

Another question about tuners you reminded me of Dog. When we are talking about tuning what exactly are we talking about. You said ask the tuner what he disabled. What does that mean? Is he turning things off that are supposed to be working, Please explain

Many comprehensive tuning programs allow the ability to ignore OBD2 "not ready" flags when it pertains to illuminating a service engine soon light.

The problem is that even though the dash light might have been prevented by programing, the lack of a ready code when queried by a state test might be an issue.

[2010 SSRS]

good to know