Good first things to fix

[pvt num 11]

I was perusing johnsperformance.com, all sorts of neat stuff there! What would be some easy-to-do DIY stuff I could accomplish to increase reliability/performance, and in what order would I do these things in? (I'm not looking for eleven-second e/t's, I just want speed with no worries, mostly.)

I'll go first - Tune Up!

 

[1badTTA]

I'll go second, Scan Tool!

Don't do anything to the car untill you get one, including going WOT.

Third would be a real boost gauge.

As for your "tune up", I would read the Spring Cleaning over at gnttype, that will pretty much answer all your questions on how to do a "tune up" on these cars.

 

[72firebird]

I would get some new hoses and clamps. The stock intake hoses and clamps don't even hold very well with stock boost (I had a lot of problems with mine), A scan tool is a must if you plan to do ANYTHING with the car.