First Mods
 

I know most have you have seen this before, but since I'm new have a little pity. What should be the first modifications on a SN-95 302, with a budget of about $2500, N/A w/ AODE.

either 3.73 or 4.10 gears, torque converter from good company, and shift kit. That should be close to $1000 right there. then you can add power to it and be able to use it.

Okay with $1500 left, what would be the best power modifications while keeping it safe N/A?

Shift kit, pullies, catback exhaust system with an x-pipe, or h-pipe, will get a good sound, and a little power.

Pullies, headers, off-road h/x pipe, and a good cat -back. Also some sticky tires wouldnt hurt!

I would recommend some traction bars or may some upper/lower control arms to help get some of that power to the ground...

What brand of intake provides the most power (how much also)? Also are there any ram air kits that have an air by-pass valve that prevents water from entering the intake manifold?

You dont need to swap your intake until you swap heads, and cam also. I would suggest like a bbk cold air kit or just the filter in the air box also.

What is the most loudest headers, X-pipe, and Catback exhaust combonation that makes good power and is emissions legal?

Well you have an auto, so i wouldnt mess with longtubes, just get some aftermarket shorties, or keep the stock ones, my way of having a loud exhaust, deep rumble, is having turndowns at the axle, 3 chamber flows, and mac off road h-pipe, stock headers, it set's off car alarms every parking lot i drive through, but some people value their tailpipes so thats a tradeoff,

But a "american thunder" catback is a deep sounding "2 chamber" muffler setup with tailpipes, so that, and say, a bassani x-pipe would be loud, but if your down for all out, cant hear what your soft voiced girlfriend is saying, nor hear the radio exhaust, get offroad h-pipe, and 1chamber flowmasters, your neighbors will hate you.

remember, you might need cats for emmissions testing if they do that there.

Loud for an x-pipe combo would be some brand of longtubes, dr.gas x-pipe, dynomax race magnum mufflers. I use bassani equal lengths bassani xpipe and dynomax ultraflo ss catback. It screams when you drop the hammer. Though not obnoxious in the lower rpms.