Is ZZP trying to sell me things I don't need?

[Singularz]

Hello everyone, new here. I have a 2000 Bonneville SSEi with 143,000 miles. My maintenance is up to date and I was interested in moddong. So I've done quite a bit of research on the forums and concluded in order to run a 3.4 or 3.5 pulley i need a thermostat, a fwi or k&n filter, tune or flashed computer, u bend delete, I already had a high flow cat. ZZP told me that I need the stage 2 kit to run that size pully on my car stating that , "bonneville l67 aren't as forgiving as the others" I'm street smart and a former salesman myself so of course I am skeptical. I don't understand how my l67 is different and more fragile than others. Thoughts?

[J Wikoff]

What's ina stage 2 kit.

Does a Bonneville even have a u bend to delete?

[samples08]

No we don't have a u bend to delete.

[MattStrike]

Bonneville L67 are the same exact thing as the GP L67, just different brackets and no U-bend. Bonneville owners are not as forgiving when the tune breaks things on the car more like. I have never taken a minimalist approach to modding though. I'd ditch the kit and get a set of headers (Ebay SD headers, may need the crossover cut and welded to fit properly), the pulley, thermostat and plugs separate, then go for a tune.

From ZZP
Includes: (For about $800)

ZZP 3800 CAI with 4" K&N filter
ZZP 1.0 pcm
3.4" Modular pulley system ('04+ Grand Prix, & Monte/Impala SS comes with a 3.6" pulley)
658 supercharger belt
ZZP 3" bolt in stainless cat'd downpipe (bolts up to stock or 2.5" cat back) with gaskets
Autolite 104 spark plugs (set of 6)
180* thermostat and gasket
O2 extension (04+ Grand Prix only)

[RJolly87]

The big difference with the Bonneville L67 is that it is dragging around a full size pig heavy car, outdone only by the Park Avenue Ultra.

[Singularz]

Thank you for the responses everyone. Kinda lost a little respect for zzp for trying to convince me my engine is different and need to spend more money. Definitely going to look into the headers. So is the stock air box with a k&n drop in filter good enough with all other supporting mods for a 3.4? I heard our air boxes and exhaust have great flow stock.

[MattStrike]

If you get headers, then you should be OK with a stock airbox. The issue with the airbox isn't as much airflow as it is air temperature. Cold air intakes, while not "cold", do not draw in air from the engine bay that has been heated up by the radiator and other engine components. Rather it draws ambient temperature air from outside the engine bay which reduces the potential for knock (as always, KR should be monitored, it's the PCM responding to knock).

I'll let others chime in on the CAI on the '00+, I'm more accustomed to the '92-'99 setup that has a snorkel on the stock airbox to pull air from right behind the headlight.

[nos4blood70]

2000+ does the same thing.

The intake will make your throttle response a little better, there is some flow to be gained from what I've seen. Not much, but I think the whine alone will make it worth it to you.

ZZP in general should be taken with a grain of salt.. Haha

[Singularz]

Yeah I understand cai I had them on a few of my cars but I'm skeptical on how much effect it has. Maybe its more or leas significant on different cars. I wouldn't say I'm cheap but I like bang for my buck ya know? It would be really awesome if someone had a dyno before and after. If I go that route I may try making my own for the sake of doing it since I've bought all my previous ones. The fwi worries me with rain and what not. I read a little bit about the headers last night and noticed they don't sell speed daddy for the bonneville. People on forums were saying you can use the ones for the grand prix but didn't specify which year and mentioned something about possibly needing a different transmission dipstick? Know anything about that?

[Singularz]

Well I had a good opinion towards zzp because I seen a decent amount of things on the 3800 and ecotec they would reccommend NOT to get because they don't provide much benefit. I thought that showed a lot of honesty but telling me my l67 is more fragile than other l67? Haha

[redzmonte]

Where do you live? what is your elevation... if you are running a 3.4 You will want at minimum...
1: Good running car (Tune up and maintenance items up to par)
2: 1 step colder plug (I run Irridiums, others recommend coppers.. I had bad luck with coppers)
3: 3" Down pipe, I have a ZZP catted pipe..
4: Front Plog
5: TUNE, Custom is best (i had a ZZP tune then got it tweeked with my GenV swap)

Alternative to the DP and Plog is headers.

that is my mods list.... I run a 3.25-3.4 but i am at 5000+ Ft/Ele in Colorado so i see less boost then guys at sea level.. Most of the time the Bonnie guys run a Down pipe and a 3.5-3.6" pulley until other supporting mods are done.. most guys wont suggest a 3.4" without headers at sea level.

ZZP isnt really trying to sell you something you dont need, they are suggesting what they feel is a "Safe" supporting mods for that boost level. My L67 swapped Lumina i ran a 3.0" Pulley on the same mods i have now in Colorado's thin air, no problems. but at sea level i wouldnt suggest it..

On my Gen V blower the 3.25" only makes 10HP more then my 3.4" pulley on my car (Swapped on the dyno) so i run the bigger one on mine for safety. If you got a 3.5" you will be alot less likely to run into issues and you honestly wont notice much of a difference.

If you drop a pulley you should defiantly do a downpipe at minimum. the stock downpipe is Junk 2.1" inner diameter.. cases Knock on a stock pulley let alone a smaller one.

S

[repnatl]

my 03 ssei has 95k miles all maintenance done. Even with the catless downpipe, 180 tstat, fwi, pcm, tr6 plugs, front plog I was getting some concerning kr with the 3.4 since have switched to a 3.5 and the car pulls so much harder now with minimal kr max of 2 degrees. Every engine is different low mileage isn't always better.