So...

I am 90% sure I am going to het the magnaflow cat back. I would have loved to do the headers but they are like kinda expensive and illegal... hopefully someone comes out with a set of shorty headers that leave the cats in the stock position and give maybe 15-20 HP without loosing torque...

However this leads to a dilema. I really want to get the VMS tuning because... well the tranny is really sweet when it is doing what it is supposed to, but on occasion... that and the 30+ whp picup is staggering. I am also going to do a CAI, probably roto because... well they seem to be the best. The problem here is that I need to decide what order to do stuff in. The exhaust would be cool to start... but I am really annoyed with the transmission. But is I do the tune first I am going to have to update it for the exhaust, and again for the CAI.

That and the stereo is... ok I thought it was great and just needed a little extra base... so i added some 12s... now it needs a little midrange which means cleansweep, amp and door speakers....

so... what to do what to do?

VMS tune is the best bang for your buck. The CAI is next.

Turn your bass down, you won't need more midrange :)

I say exhaust and CAI before tune. That way they tune it with those in mind.

VMS ecm/tcm tune VMS HSRK and Roto-fab 1st. Especially if you do not plan on doing headers. I have every bolt-on available except headers, rocker arms and power adder. The biggest gain and what made the G8 so much more enjoyable to drive was the ecm/tcm tune w/Roto-fab. Charlie

Do the Tune and CAI (and HSRK if you choose) as a package. This way you get a nice break in price plus you get the rotofab specific tune; 40+ RWHP in a box (on 93 octane).

I just ordered my VMS RotoFab Specific Tune & Intake Today ... 40+ to the wheels ... for that price ... Great deal ! ... Can't wait for the install !

ok I thought it was great and just needed a little extra base... so i added some 12s... now it needs a little midrange which means cleansweep, amp and door speakers....

so... what to do what to do?

It also needs a little extra Bass! :)

turn off DDL and speed

turn down the bass to 1 2 or 3

turn up the trebble to 5 or 6

add subs and your good to go

and order the package from Vector...best bang for the buck

BTW, why is this thread in the Drivetrain Tech section?

I had the same dilema, but made up my mind today. I am looking at the exact same set up as you are, but here is what I did and why:

I have been waiting for my IRS stimulus payment to get the Rfab/VMS tune. Still has not come in yet. But this is making me anxious, b/c I really want to bolt some HP on the car!! Unfortunately, that Stimulus check is the only way I can afford the intake/tune....so I wait.

After reading about the American Racing Headers and their 40 rwhp gains I got pumped. But I dont have an extra $1700 bucks laying around. If I did, I would have already gotten the tune and intake. Then I read that Kaltech will finance the headers with 0% interest....hrm...I can actually afford a monthly payment for 12 months, I really want headers. DONE!

So headers will be ordered tomorrow. Now, if the IRS check happens to come in tomorrow I would order the CAI and tune as well, but who knows when I will get it. This way, I can have VMS customize the tune for the headers and CAI for optimal performance.

As for the "illegal" part. The only way you are going to get nabbed is at emissions testing. A new car does not need to go for an emissions test until it is 4 years old. (At least thats the Illinois law, not sure about the rest of the country) And since you will be "swapping" your exhaust, you will still have the stock exhaust should you ever need to bolt it back on. So really, not much to worry about IMO. Plus, according to the Kaltech guys, at normal driving you are not going to even notice the sound. it would only be under WOT conditions that you would hear the beast roar.

BTW, why is this thread in the Drivetrain Tech section?

Because it is about how to improve my car... a large portion of which is the driveline... and whether I want to go with intake exhaust or tuning products... more driveline related than anything else.

Because it is about how to improve my car... a large portion of which is the driveline... and whether I want to go with intake exhaust or tuning products... more driveline related than anything else.

sounds like it's more of a tech lounge question to me....