So, I have set aside about $1500 in mods to do this month. H-Sport Springs and Sway Bar are definetely a MUST and that takes about $450 off of that total. That leaves me with $1050 in my pocket and no idea what to do with it.... here are a few things I have thought of, but I definetely want the most bang for my buck.

Note that I am not doing wheels/tires or brake upgrades til the originals are worn.

Option #1: Milltek Header
Option #2: Alta Intercooler
Option #3: Nology Wires, Denso Plugs, Webb TB, Alta Catch Can

I would prefer to do one big thing that a few small things right now, thus the reason why my first 2 options are the expensive ones..... my question is, which of the 2 would give me a more noticeable difference?

Are there any other ideas for what this $1050 can be put to use for?

 

You might want to do the Koni shocks together with your H-Sport springs.

DDTUNG

 

Do the shocks, things like the catch can do nothing....buy my unused one if you like. Thought about new seats??

 

I think ill wait on the seats, they arent really a priority for me right now.

As for the shocks, I took a look at them and the install seems to be a pain in the ***. I am going to be doing the install myself, on my back, with the only tools that I have.... so I think the Konis are out of the question until my friend gets back from New York and we can use his shop for it.

Since we are looking at the whoel coilover thing, anyone have any feedback on the H&R coilovers sold here : http://outmotoring.com/h_r_coil_over_suspension.html

?

 

I have found otherwise. With 5250 miles on the car, 3 autcrosses and three track days, I have emptied the catch can twice, with it being half full each time with a watery-oily substance.

 

i think he meant as far as performance goes you wont FEEL anything. A catch can is on my list, but may not be an immediate need.

 

I think a header is a bit of a waste of $ performance wise. Very little bang for the buck, as they are all expensive bits of kit and require a lot of work to but on. My inclination would be towards the intercooler, as this will work as a building block for future performance mods like the TB. Koni's sound nice too.

 

IM gonna say no to the KOnis, so now its between the intercooler + springs and swaybar, or H&R Coilovers + H-Sport Sway Bar

 

I have the H&R coilovers and an RDR swaybar. These mods will make your butt ache and your dentalwork come loose. Still if you relish the on ramps and cone carving its worth it.

 

If you have $1050 to spend and are willing to open the engine. Go get the Schrick cam. Oodles of difference. Also, if you havent upgraded the pulley do so along with the cam. You will still be at budget....including install.

 

Ya, Cam is definetely a future upgrade, but I was planning on the head, cam, and intake manifold being the last engine mods on the car.

SO the H&R is super stiff? Sounds like Id be better off with the springs/sway bar then and adding some Koni's at a later time when I have a shop to do the drilling in.

Damn, decisions decisions!!!!

 

What is your goal? Are you auto-x or street racing or what. The pulley is the best bang for the buck for HP.

 

Hi Jason,

If you decide to go the IC route, you might to hang tight a bit longer as I think RDR has something coming-out, so I hear. And Peter at M7 is always up to something, so you might want to get the scoop by contacting him. I believe that he is working on something, and the price-point mentioned was a fair amount less than the Alta one. He has a packed pipe-line these days, but give him a ring to see where it stands...

When it comes to brakes, look at the new B3's. They seem to be very impressive (solid reviews), and when considering the price, quite a good deal as well. And for 1k, Wilwood is releasing something next week that seems to have many nice qualities...

Oh, since your ride will be dropping one inch (I believe) with the H-Sport springs, you might want to get rear lower control arms. Not necessary according to some, but just a thought... Front camber plates might also be a consideration...

Hope to see you and Randy's Pulley Party in a couple weeks!

 

IM just doin dome street racing and mountain driving. Ive already got a pulley and a few other mods....

DOes anyone have any numbers or know where I can see numbers on a Milltek header?

 

Go to Webb Motor Sports, he's got the real numbers on everything. Randy's the man.

 

you are missing out with the stock tires and wheels. I was able to sell my stockers for a fair amount to someone who had bent a couple of rims in a wreck. he got all four from me for less than the body shop wanted for two.

 

None of the current headers have shown true, verifiable power gains. None of them. So considering the price, you're really wasting your money on a header, IMO. Same with the intercooler. First of all, most of the year and for most driving conditions, the intercooler won't do anything. And then for the conditions that may warrant a larger intercooler, there still isn't proof that these aftermarket ones are really more efficient than stock or make more power. Depending on how badly you want power, you might consider cams which would certainly give some. However, I'd recommend you first switch over to a 19% pulley. That upgrade will cost only a fraction of your budget and give more power and twice the torque of any of the other mods you are considering.

 

Since I'm using the Unichip, I really wont benefit much from the 19% pulley at all. Here is what I think I will do since noone seems to have anything good to say about the intercooler or the header.

H-Sport Springs
H-Sport Rear Sway Bar
Black M7 Ultimate Grill
PIAA DRIVING LIGHTS KIT WITH "540 XTREME" LITES
Magnecore Wires
Denso IK22 PLugs
and get my windows tinted

Maybe throw in the catch can if I have some $$$ left over. Im trying to get rid of the whole "ooooooooooooh that cars so CUTE" thing. Ive already got the aero grill on and Ive got the hood scoop painted and textured black, and since the car will take a more agressive stance with the springs I think a few more cosmetic changes could help me get rid of the "cute" crap.

AM I mistaken or on the factory aero kit, does the side marker not have the "S" logo on it?? If so, does anyone know where I can find on??

 

Get the springs and rear swaybar and save the rest for a head with cam.


Alex

 

Springs and rear sway should always be one of the first items

 

Those are the first items, and those are DEFINETELY being done. The head and cams are going to come in a few months, probably in December..... head, cams, and intake manifold. I have the $1000 NOW to kill, and I will have another 5k or so in december set aside.

 

Dude, get some camber plates to go with the suspension upgrades!!!!!!

 

I say you invest the $1,000...
I just wanted to check out some telecom industry investments over the past few years and:

If you had $1000 to invest in the first quarter of 2000, where would you put your money?

So if you invested $1000 in:

Redback Q1 2000 (about $5,000/share) would be worth $1.10 as of September 3, 2004
Avanex Q1 2000 (About $220/share) would be worth $10.55 as of September 3, 2004
Ciena Q1 2000 (About $75/share) would be worth $24.00 as of September 3, 2004
Openwave Q1 2000 (About $400/share) would be worth $22.80 as of September 3, 2004
JDSU Q1 2000 (About $120/share) would be worth $25.41 as of September 3, 2004
Lucent Q1 2000 (About $75/share) would be worth $40.67 as of September 3, 2004
AT&T Q1 2000 (About $290/share) would be worth $51.03 as of September 3, 2004
Nortel Q1 2000 (About $70/share) would be worth $52.14 as of September 3, 2004

Pabst Blue Ribbon ($7/ 24-pack) would be worth $73.35 if you saved the cans, plus the enjoyment of 2934 beers, and probably a lot of friends.

Aftermarket intake throttle body and Dinan Software (~$1000 retail value) would be worth <$250.

Personally I say go for a lot of beer or some parts.

Yes I know you have the Unichip... this was just a joke, although the numbers are real for here in CA.

Patrick

 

THought you said you werent having any wear issues on the tires tho

 

Jcampos,

What intake do you have?
What cat-back exhaust?
What wheels?

Miltek header with race cat?- Skip it and save the $900+
Larger intercooler? Don't get one yet- check out the RDR intercooler when it arrives shortly.
Catch can? Later

Lighter wheels with grippy non runflat tires! A must.
Short shifter? Good stuff- check out the Helix13 SS.
Brake upgrades- simple to do brake fluid upgrade to ATE superblue and swap out the pads to Ferrodo DS2500 or Mintex M1144 (but those are really better suited for light track use). Or consider the TCE or RLmini brakes.