Help A Newbie Choose Mods!

[Keepsake]

Hey all, Im new here! My dad is giving me the family tahoe (1997 4dr) as it has a lot of sentimental value to me. He wrote it off once (almost twice!) But has a salvage title and it is up to driving standards.
Anywho, I dont know much about vehicles and I was hoping for suggestions on what to do with it. I'll admit, Im a bit of a ricer (its okay, you can laugh at me) so Ive got all the esthetics like halo lights, rims, and tinted windows.
What I need is performance/drivetrain mod ideas, and why youd choose them. My first thought was turbos (Im not getting a supercharger because shes already a gas pig).
Thanks guys!

 

[swathdiver]

Welcome Mary! Well, how fast do you want to go and how much do you want to spend to get there?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Doing an exhaust is usually a good first performance mod. Either a cat back or just a muffler. The factory exhaust is restrictive and is too quiet. Lots of options and prices out there.

 

[riskoihi]

Doing an exhaust is usually a good first performance mod. Either a cat back or just a muffler. The factory exhaust is restrictive and is too quiet. Lots of options and prices out there.

Cold air intake isn't bad as well. replacing stock headers can be done as well, since cast parts can be rough inside it can hamper airflow

 

[Keepsake]

Welcome Mary! Well, how fast do you want to go and how much do you want to spend to get there?

I want to start small and do the bigger things later. Cheap is always good but if its worth it I will dish out more. My main goal? A rapid take off and an exhaust that tells you Im coming (without police behind me!)

 

[Shaw520]

Like Tony said,...exhaust mod first,... it will pay going forward.

 

[My99Yukon]

Welcome. First, I would start with the mechanicals and make sure the suspension, steering, bushings, tie rods, shocks, engine and tranny mounts, etc etc are in top shape. Nothing else matters if your stuck somewhere or have a fail at highway speed. Plus, this will help you familiarize yourself with some of the basics of the truck. Always good to know some of these basics.

Next, you implied that your primary goal was speed off the line and a good sound. If that is your goal, then AFTER the mechanicals are done, look at your gearing. That will be your biggest improvement by far. Exhaust, headers, cold air intake help a bit but it won't blow you away. I have done all of that as part of my restoration and I love the result but my next step is a different gear ratio, in part because I am running slightly larger tires coupled with the anemic 3.42. It gets me through the mountains and decent MPG but I am overdue for a gear swap with the new tires and focus on slower going offroad in the mountains.

I bought the MPFI swap/upgrade and should be installing that soon. I think that will also help out both for MPG and throttle responsiveness. Ill post that update when its done.

You can check out some of my mods here for ideas. click the link in my signature to view the thread.

Good luck and enjoy. Your dad gave you a heck of a gift and starting point for fun.

Cheers

 

[Keepsake]

Like Tony said,...exhaust mod first,... it will pay going forward.

Thats what I was thinking. As far as Im concerned exhaust is one of the cheapest things you can do!

 

[Keepsake]

Welcome. First, I would start with the mechanicals and make sure the suspension, steering, bushings, tie rods, shocks, engine and tranny mounts, etc etc are in top shape. Nothing else matters if your stuck somewhere or have a fail at highway speed. Plus, this will help you familiarize yourself with some of the basics of the truck. Always good to know some of these basics.

Next, you implied that your primary goal was speed off the line and a good sound. If that is your goal, then AFTER the mechanicals are done, look at your gearing. That will be your biggest improvement by far. Exhaust, headers, cold air intake help a bit but it won't blow you away. I have done all of that as part of my restoration and I love the result but my next step is a different gear ratio, in part because I am running slightly larger tires coupled with the anemic 3.42. It gets me through the mountains and decent MPG but I am overdue for a gear swap with the new tires and focus on slower going offroad in the mountains.

I bought the MPFI swap/upgrade and should be installing that soon. I think that will also help out both for MPG and throttle responsiveness. Ill post that update when its done.

You can check out some of my mods here for ideas. click the link in my signature to view the thread.

Good luck and enjoy. Your dad gave you a heck of a gift and starting point for fun.

Cheers

Thanks for all the info! I really appreciate it.

Todays the day I get the Tahoe! And let the fun begin....

 

[TigerEyz3]

Welcome, Mary!
As Jon said, make sure the basic mechanical stuff is in good order before modifying things. Then as your budget/time allows, add the mods that make sense for your usage (street, towing, off-road, etc.). Since you mentioned it, no harm in liking the ricer stuff, just realize that it has no impact on performance. That said, aesthetics plays as much a part in enjoyment as performance. ;-) Have fun and enjoy your new ride.

Jon,
I've made most of the changes you mentioned (see the link in my signature) and some you haven't...latest was the gearing (3.90s).
The gearing is nice off the line, but the top end suffers a bit. Fuel economy has actually improved with the gear change - easier to get things moving with the mechanical advantage.