help with my filter/exhaust?

[GoOsE!!!]

Hey seeing as my last post was probily in the wrong thread ill do it again :)

Before starting id just say im pretty new to the whole car thing, i used to just say yeah it gets me from A to B but now i love them :D

i currently have a 2000 VX Berlina, 3.8 L V6. I was planning to give it some more power and better sound while not increasing my insurance, if possible. i was thinking of getting a new airfilter firstly then hopefully a new exhaust and eventually a clubsport body kit.

the main thing holding me back is money rite now but i was wondering if i bought the N&K airfilter how hard would it be to install? because my friend bought a pod filter and we have to take out his old filter and get some piping to attatch the pod and been abit of a pain so far, so i was wondering can i just drop it in? (also, someone said go with the pod filter while others say the matt filter, any ideas before i destroy my car?)

Also i looked at getting a new chip but when i looked it said id need to use a better fuel to get it, just wondering if its true?

[white_lie]

A panel filter will slot straight in to your air box, no mods necessary.

Putting an aftermarket chip on a stock V6 is a waste of time and money. Do the intake and exhaust first, then I would change the diff gears to 3.7 or 3.9:1. Will give much better results than a chip. You will only need to change the chip when you do something major like change the cam....And then a retune in real time on a dyno will give much better results.

[-HSV-]

theres big discussion on the K&N filters on another forum and they beleive that they're a waste of money. after a long time they apparently let dirt get in and dont completely seal. i have one and think that they work :s cant really notice any difference...

if you do happen to get a POD filter, make sure that you get it to fit in your airbox, generally an aftermarket one, or the one form the BA XR falcons works well i think... you can get defected from having it sit in your engine bay and people often say they're a fire hazzard.

the exhaust however, if you want a cheap addition i suggest having the rear muffler from your current stock system cut out. my friend had this done to his VT S/C V6 and he reckons he can feel a power increase, and it now has a note. only cost him $50, all they did was cut the exhaust from the front of the muffler and welded a piece of straight through 2.25" pipe out to the back :)

a lot of people also say that aftermarket chips arent worth the money but instead get your car dyno tuned as this is best value for money.

[HSV GOD]

keep saveing your money if it was my car i would go the K&N filter in the standard airbox then i would get a GEN3 ss cold air induction kit for it which would make the filter more beneficial

as for the exhaust i would go a mandrel bent 2.5 inch exhaust with a straight thru muffler keep the standard cat

then i would get some extractors for it probably defillipo or pacemaker

yes it would be more financial outlay but you would definantly see some good results :D