I just bought a 97 Trans Am and don't know where to turn first for performance parts or where to start at with performance?

Answer 1

it depends on what your looking to do and spend on it. i also got a 1997 trans am. and for the past two years been thinking the same thing. this summer im gonna spend about 700.00 on it. with a couple simple bolt ons, too give me about 40-50 extra horse. starting with a throttle body bypass kit, eBay 7.00. 5-6 hrp. k&n air filter. 58mm throttle body. new intake elbow. either new mass air flow sensor or just new ends havent decided yet, aftermarket maf of course. don't forget to swicth to sythetic gear, tranny, and oil oils, youll pick up a nice cheap easy 3-5 hrp. then ill probably get a good computer tuning. im also going with msd ignition set up, wires, blaster coil, and optispark. an other inexpensive way to add a good 10-15 hrp, is to get an electric water pump.

you could also go the route of getting a new exhaust system, ill be going with either edlebrock headers or slp, as for exhaust ill be going with a borla catback. you could go a little cheaper and get magna flow, they make a decent exhaust. make sure when you purchase these items there made for 95-97 as 93 and 94 wont work without modification.

you could just go to engine, quickiest boost easy is supercharger or turbo, also 383 kits if you get 383 and planning on putting in charger or turbo, get forged crank rods and pistons, for otherwise your running risk of blowing something, and make sure the kit is compression friendly with charger or turbo. ill be going with a 383 kit. with lt4 cnc machined and ported heads, with the lt4 intake get that ported out as well, then get a spunky cam kit probably from comp cams. id just get the lt4 kit but not enough bang for buck. the cam isn't much larger than the lt1, which is why im going with lt4 heads and intake but different cam. than after this type of work ill be getting a fuel pump, fuel regulator and bigger injecters.with this settup ill be running an easy 500hrp. without ever touching nos or charger or turbo. of course ill make charger friendly so im able to do that if i choose. these are a few ideas. don't forget suspension and drivetrian if you ever plan on having big hrp.