MODS for my gen 3

[lifeiskaos]

hey guys. i've been researching things i can do to my car on the forums for like 2 days straight. i know most of you are gonna tell me to use the search method, but some of the simplest questions have been asked so many times that its hard to find a good answer... anyways, i have a 1994 v6 xle, (225,000 miles and runs strong.) which is mostly stock.

mods:
blackcatz 6.5" speakers ($20 at swap meet. they sound pretty good)
pioneer 6x9's
2 12 inch 1000 watt kenwood subs in the back
1500 watt american pro amp.
cobra cb radio with a pa speaker under the hood... no one expects a voice coming from my engine, funny reactions.
remote starter on my car but i think i burned it out when i tried to hotwire my car when i misplaced my keys...
brand new TRD struts in the back

to do list:
i wanna try to put in a CAI.
apexi n1 or magnaflow muffler..
replace stock tail panel with gen 3.5 tail panel
possibly a body kit
retrofit projectors on blacked out depo headlights *maybe*
there are other cheap modifications on ebay like a "throttle body bypass kit" or "power chip", but i dont know if those are worth getting..
i think my transmission needs to be flushed.. it slips every once and a while. i have no idea how to do that and im too cheap to pay someone to do that
*added* maybe a strut/sway bar in the front (i dont know the difference)

i basically want to get the most out of my engine without spending too much money. i might try bigbird's "cheapest CAI" or i might get something premade like this.. im hoping the CAI will make my engine sound better, while gaining a couple hp, and i also want to get a muffler. i dont understand much about the "y pipe" or catalytic converter, i just want it to sound good. from what i've read, magnaflow sounds like the best bet. so my car is running great, i honestly drove 110 mph on the freeway today . i really dont know what i'm doing, however, and i would appreciate some help from people who do. i guess what i need is suggestions for a cheap CAI. also, the universal mufflers dont look like they'll fit with the stock exhaust piping. am i supposed to get that custom made? and i've seen "resonator" various times on the forum, what does that do and do i need one? also, if anyone has flushed an automatic transmission, how hard is it? please leave suggestions or links to other treads on these topics. or what i could really use is 1 on 1 help, you can email me at lifeiskaos@gmail.com or instant message me on AIM- lifeiskaos138. anyways, thanks for your time, i know im just the new kid but i'd really appreciate some help.

[94CoupeV6]

A short ram intake SOUNDS better and louder than a cold air intake on the V6, but the cold air intake is much more effective. As for everything you find on Ebay like the "power chip" is all GARBAGE. Electronic turbos, throttle bypass kits, IAT resistors, Venom chips, turbonators, etc...all junk.

Learn from most of our mistakes, and spend your money on something better than an old, beatdown Camry...

[felonyr301]

forget that if you want to make your car a lil more enjoyable while you have it then an apexi n1 muffler will do you nicely and its not worth the money doing a full catback cause it dont get you gains worth the cost just slap on the muffler and keep that resonator for sure and get the a short ram intake and be done it with it and use the rest to give the car a tune-up that would get you more noticeable gains if you didnt do a tune-up in a long while...

apexi n1-$200+$50 or so to install it=$250
sri=from $50 to $190 ranging from ebay intake to weapon-r secret weapon intake
total of $300-450 and that's about it you should spend... suspension mods is a different story and would advise you to do that instead of sound upgrades- a rear sway bar and sportier strut/spring combo will do you good...

[bigbird]

as far as motor and exhaust, CAI or SRI, and muffler. they really wont help but they will sound good. i strongly advise suspension mods. a good shock/spring combo and definatly a rear sway bas from either TRD or Whiteline.

apexi N1 and Magnaflow sound completely different too. magnaflow is quieter and apexi is louder and some think it sounds better. keep ur resonator, it works like a premuffler keeps the exhsust sounding smooth and not raspy.

if ya wanna get a little further into it, ur engine(94 1mz-fe only) cant take an ignition booster. the HKS DLI will run u quite a bit, but has the potential to add a little power(how much i cant say). if u ask me its not worth 475 bucks for an unknown amount of power.

other then that i wouldnt try to spend anymore on the motor.

try these too.
http://www.toyotatuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158

welcome to TN

magnaflow
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1MEFaF5LwVA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NMArj9Qt97o

apexi N1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yv3qJXOgb...elated&search=

[eyeball96]

Listen to Felony and Bird!! Take their suggestions!

[lifeiskaos]

hey guys thanks so much for your responses. i forgot to mention that i did just put new TRD struts in the rear, but im not sure what the "strut bar" or "sway bars" do... do they just stiffen the suspension?

[Venom_5]

they both stop body-roll around turns ... the sway bar is much more effective at stopping body roll, but its around $150 whereas a strut bar is more of an accessory that costs like $30

oh, and what kind of gen 3.5 rear panel do you want? because i have one that is shaved and primer'd that i dont need anymore .... if you have someone who can paint/colormatch for you, it would look good

[bigbird]

^^buy that, the gen3 looks great with a shaved trunk

[camry man68]

For cai's injen is the best brand, you can get one for $200 and it installs easy, the result is that it sounds great, looks good and gives you at least 5+HP. Also, aem is another good brand. go to cardomain.com/store to find the best prices.

[Venom_5]

i would get the Injen or AEM CAI like he said above ... but he lied to you when he said you get at least 5+hp .... you will not have any noticeable hp/tq gains

also, the best prices can be found at online dealers other than cardomain

[lifeiskaos]

is it possible to add piping to the stock intake system to put an air filter in the front panel? or just put a new air filter where the stock one is without the box?

[Fredrick2003]

Just wanted to thank you guys for all of the useful information. I have been thinking of doing something to my Camry is well (except mine is a 4th gen with 150,000miles).

[camry man68]

Originally Posted by lifeiskaos

is it possible to add piping to the stock intake system to put an air filter in the front panel? or just put a new air filter where the stock one is without the box?

if your a diy guy than you could extend the piping with some custom work

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by Fredrick2003

Just wanted to thank you guys for all of the useful information. I have been thinking of doing something to my Camry is well (except mine is a 4th gen with 150,000miles).

why should that stop u? i have a gen4 with 170K and a supercharger, it runs great

[Venom_5]

150k miles is still a baby .... ive seen a gen3 with 400k on the cluster and it was still running