I just purchased a 2006 GTO. I want to make some power improvements without spending a ton of $. I have already put on a K & N cold intake and thinking of adding a chip or a tuner. I would like to hear any suggestions that you all might have.

Welcome aboard.

You'll probably hear long tube headers. A good professional tune will optimize the power from the CAI, LT's and exhaust. FYI there is no "chip" for the GTO only handheld tuners or tuning software. I'll let others chime in as well. Suspension is a good place to start as well. :)

Thanks for the input. I have heard that there is some problems with the suspension. Have you heard about it or know anything about it? What did you gain with the changes you made to the suspension?

If you upgrade the front radius rod bushings, strut mount bushing/bearings and rear springs that will dramatically improve your tire wear. Hotchkis swaybars are great. They get rid of that heavy boat feeling.
A faster reacting thermistor ($15) will improve the heat soak issues. Or you can get a relocate kit.

If I could do it all over again. I would do the thermistor and the suspension first. Then the sways down the road. Tires are too expensive.

Oh, and welcome!

Thanks for the suggestions but I don't know exactly a themistor is. I tried to look on the net and couldn't find much. What is the problem with the heat soak issue? I haven't heard anything about this.

Use the search engine here and look up "heak soak". There should be some info.

Also try searching for IAT relocate and Omega. You'll come up with all kinds of good reading. ;)

If your handy with wire cutters and a soldering iron. Omega P/N 44005 ($15) maybe the way to go.
If you want plug and play. http://www.vectormotorsports.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=9&category_id=30&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=28 ($89.99) maybe the way to go.

Thanks you for the web site it really came in handy. I think after this purchase the next will be the tuner. Has anyone tried the Hypertech tuner. I was told they were the better one to use.

Yes, LT headers was a great mod for me($1k new). I also think that the full suspension upgrade was well worth the money ($1500, parts only). A shifter (GMM or Billet ~$300) is a great mod for a manual. And Hotchkis Sways ($400) along with the suspension made my GTO feel like it lost 500lbs, excellent mod. A (C)AI is a waste of $200 and only change the cat-back ($500) if you want to change the sound as there isnt much of a performance upgrade.

On the suspension, front radius rods and strut top bushings are more than likely toast. I have met owners with those two items that needed replacing after 1,5xx miles.


I used a diablosport programmer early on, total waste of a couple hundo IMO. Dyno tune is the way to go. With the LT's on and having it tuned I gained over 30rwhp, I was only expecting 25 or so.