Shorties are somewhat better than the stock manifolds, and in combination with a better y-pipe, actually DO do something.... With the 2000 though, I would get the SCT tuner for 265 to get rid of the death flash, and, a magnaflow hi-flo cat. Could prolly throw shorties in there as well, and be close to your 500.

 

For $500 id fix the plenum and probably cracked dash

 

SCT tune will eliminate death flash and leave you a couple hundred left over. How is you plenum? These 2 things are prbably the most effective bang for the buck to start. New plugs, wires, rotor (brass) will also make improvements.

 

Spend 600, eliminate the plenum plate problem altogether, and be our little guinea pig to show how well this thing does or does not work.

http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/p...=&partid=24773

 

Some will say it does work and it does work, to a certain extent, but NOT worth the $700 there asking for (taxes & shipping). I'd do the SCT tuner and some 1.7 RR's That will do you just fine for now.

 

I looked at going that route but decided against it. Like J415, I believe that the same amount of money will fix the problem and allow money left to do other things - - like timing set, SCT tune, plugs, wires, cap and rotor, and still have money left for other things.

 

I tried a hypertech tuner and didn't notice any performance increase I am using Superchips for now and I can feel a power increase...even the wife noticed! A friend of mine put shortys on his 98 360 and said he didn't feel any gain.

 

Yeah, the air gap is okay, but I think WAAAAAAY to much hype has been built up for it. If someone say they love there air gap and that it's skyrocketed there rigs performance, ask them what OTHER mods they have. And for those who have a 180* stat listed on there mods, it's not a mod.

 

Here's a cliche, "It's all in the heads."

Push them valves open longer and further with a cam, push them further with Roller Rockers, or open everything up with a valve Job, Port, and Polish.

It seems cost starts stacking up however you look at it.

Intake goes a long way but you maybe very right about the SCT and Roller Rockers, cost wise they might yield more. In retrospect, hows about a cam?

 

Rockers will be next on my list. But I have also been thinking about getting another set of heads eventually and porting them and a doing a few other things, but was wondering about the fact that the valve stems are pretty thin. But for OP, this is a "down the road" look at what could be done after the original $500 project!