just wondering what you guys think.
my dad's got a 96 chevrolet impala ss. it's got about 145k miles on it but most if not all are high ways miles. he want to start making his car faster but thinks that if he does anything to his car the engine will blow up. he was thinking that changing to a speed chip or performance module would be a good start for him and then he might keep making it faster.
do you guys have any insight on what this engine would be able to handle in terms of add ons like the performance chips? would his engine break if we put more power through it? i thought it would be fine but he disagrees.

 

The newer Impalas(we have an 02) with the 3800 v-6 were pretty much bullett proof with the exception of the plastic intake plenum,these have water ports that run through them,and have a tencency to crack under extreme conditions,and leak a buttload of coolant into the block....If its caught right after it happens its a fairly easy fix,as long as the coolant didnt get circulated in the oil system to a large degree,but if its not caught its curtains for the engine...The SS may have a different engine,and if so disregard my statement as I know nothing about them other than they look really good....

[IMG]local://upfiles/9786/DED5B563C89043529E20D1E80EDFBD80.jpg[/IMG]

 

this is not a newer impala. this is a 96 with a LT1 engine. i believe the newer impala is a totally different platfor and no offense but chevy really f...ed up on the impala after 96. imo.
i think this engine was used either in the corvette or in the camaro. im not sure but this is what i have been told.

 

None taken, Our 02 has been a gem with the exception of the calylictic converter plugging up,we recieved a TSB a couple of years back advising that some of them had the defective ones installed when built,and ours did,it was replaced at no charge,and with the exception of regular oil changes at 3000 miles,and normal maintenance since new its been great.If your 96 has a normal v-8 in it,theres a ton of things that could beef it up,just be aware that mods to any newer engines (Computer controlled)can lead to issues down the road unless well planned,and researched,but this is true with any vehicle

 

ok so what would u say the pro's and con's are of a performance chip?

 

I really cant make an educated comment on that issue as Ive never tried one,one can assume that output power will increase(due to a longer injector timing pulse),shift points will likely be changed,and economy will suffer.My only experience with any mods was replacing the intake air temp sensor with a resistor to fool the ecm into thinking the incoming air to the engine was cold,it basically convinced the computer to keep the mixture richer/injection timing longer,to give better pick-up.It did that to an extent,but the fuel economy hit the dirt, the extra hp wasnt worth the cost in fuel to warrant keeping it in..the resistor came out.....Im sure there are others in this forum that have a much more in depth knowledge of the subject.....[X(]

 

ok well if fuel economy is the only thing that is going to be affeted then i guess its good. i just would hate to tell him, oh yeah this is fine and then next week the car is broken.

 

not that i know anything about impalas, but my best friend's dad has a 95 or 96 impala ss and he loves it. he's kept it totally stock and prides himself in that.

but, from hearing about other cars and performance chips and what not, i've heard that they are pointless. i'm not sure how it would look or sound, but maybe throw an aftermarket exhaust there. maybe a straight pipe or something. something that isn't too over the edge might be sort of nice

good luck to your dad

 

yeah i dont know about the chip anymore. it's plent fast stock, ask your friend's dad. they're pretty quick, especially for something thats as long if not longer than an F-150. haha. an exhaust would be nice but he would probably throw a silencer in it. he likes to race quetly so the cops actually have to see him doing something bad. haha. anyways thanks for the advice. keep it coming if anyone has any ideas about the durability of the engine now.