Please give me your opinons on my next batch of mods

[high-psi-tsi]

Hey guys,
I've been debating what I want to do for my next upgrades and now that I've finally narrowed it down I'd like to hear some honest opinions. I'm planning to spend between $1000 and $1200 on upgrades in the next couple weeks. Below I've listed the mod combos I've narrowed it down to. I also put my current mods at the very bottom so you know what I'm building off of. This car is a 90 AWD, its a street car driven quite a bit when it runs. Right now I've gone 12.6 in it at 111.6 with a 1.99 60' :thumbdown ...I'd like to be in low 12's or high 11's after this mod combo, however, ass you'll see, I want to be intelligent about it too. I realize int eh end i need to decide for myself but all of these combos are sitting pretty even in my eyes and I need some input. Thanks in advance.

Combo 1: Propane Injection, Wet N2O kit (i want to run a 35 or 50 shot, probably NX import kit), fuel pressure reg and gauge, some Z rated tires

Combo 2: Sell current SAFC and pocketlogger and get DSMlink, Wet N20 kit described above, fuel pressure reg and redo fuel lines

Combo 3: HKS 264/272, DSMlink like above, fuel pressure reg.

Combo 4: HKS 264/272, wet N2O kit

Combo 5: Z rated tires, fuel pressure reg, fuel pressure gauge, redo fuel lines, propane injection, rear strut tower brace

Combo 6: Any other combination of the above items or anythign you guys suggest thats in my price range

My Current Mods:
small 16g turbo (i really like this turbo, do not want to upgrade)
fluidyne radiator
fidanza flywheel
act 2600 clutch
SAFC
pocketlogger
front strut tower brace
shocks
550's
walbro 190
polyurethane motor mounts
boost gauge and MBC
Buscher FMIC kit with SS piping
2g ported exhaust manifold
3" turbo back exhaust
extreme motorsports short shifter and shim kit
arp head studs (not in till i blow my headgasket )
magnecore 10mm wires
slim radiator fans
powerstop rotors
2g MAS and SS intake

 

[Drag_S13]

Propane injection? Isn't that a diesal thing? FPR and gauge will do you no good. Also, I didn't think DSMlink was available for 1g's yet...

If anything, I would say go with the nitrous and cams, but at the same time, have a professional install/tune the nitrous, and you can never learn too much about it. It appears by your post that you don't really know too much about it, but if I'm wrong please correct me. You have a pretty good mod list going so far, I would look into some suspension stuff, sway bars, strut bars, shocks, springs, etc.

My 2psi...

 

[Mirage2LTurbo]

Propane injection? Isn't that a diesal thing? FPR and gauge will do you no good. Also, I didn't think DSMlink was available for 1g's yet...

If anything, I would say go with the nitrous and cams, but at the same time, have a professional install/tune the nitrous, and you can never learn too much about it. It appears by your post that you don't really know too much about it, but if I'm wrong please correct me. You have a pretty good mod list going so far, I would look into some suspension stuff, sway bars, strut bars, shocks, springs, etc.

My 2psi...

There are a handful of 1g DSMLinks in the "prototype" stages. I've talked to one guy running one

Propane injection just raises the octane. I'm not a fan of it, but some people like it. Good ol' fashioned C16 for me.

Get the cams, cam gears, DSMLink and then nitrous.

 

[high-psi-tsi]

http://www.dsmlink.com/ its finally here for the 1 g rust rockets. Also, propane injection is a very cheap alternative to running race gas 24/7. Theres some good threads on it floating around. Thanks for the replies so far. Why cams before nitrous?

 

[scottsee]

combo 3

 

[Scrymerr]

www.alkycontrol.com + straight 272s

 

[Sk8er07999]

Comb #3 For Sure!

 

[zross1]

Combo 3. I know you said you like your little 16G, but if you want to take advantage of the cams you need a turbo that can flow a lot more air.

 

[high-psi-tsi]

Everyone seems to be all about the cams. What kind of benefits would they give me running my current turbo. I like cams but I have a feeling N2O kit = 11's and cams = not much faster.

 

[Sk8er07999]

Well your talking about only running a 35-50 shot. I think that putting cams in and perfectly tuning it with the link and fpr you will see a nice gain like you would see the 35-50 additional hp from the nitrous. Also with the link you can use the studder box which would significantly lower that 1.99 60-foot.

 

[high-psi-tsi]

Now thats the kind of data I'm talking about. I'm about 80% sure I'm getting the linkbut the cams vs nitrous issue is still up in the air. The only reason I only want to run a 35 or 50 shot is because, as I'm sure most of you know, running a shot in a turbocharged motor leads to HP gains well beyond whats advertised from the N2O nozzle because of the cooling effects. I'm running stock internals and I figured a 50 shot would actually end up equalling about 90 hp, which would put me at about the max hp rating on a stock motor (in my opinion). I believe that cams and tuning could get me 35 hp, but N2O will give me anywhere from 70 to 125 depending on how brave I get. PLUS, dsmlink has some pretty sweet nitrous options in it. I'm still not totally ocnvinced but cams are getting more attractive by the moment (etra power all the time, not just when you turn them on). Keep the info coming.

 

[Eagle 5]

Id go with the link, cams and fpr. The link would let you tune the car much better than using the safc. Also makes it easier to compensate for larger injectors, lets you have different rev limits and stutterboxes so lowering your 60' will help as well. Cams would be nice but maybe get something else instead of the cams as the small 16g is nice, but using larger cams may not help as much as they would using a larger turbo. Instead of cams maybe get some suspension items to help out with the launch, or just for fun times driving around.

also not going with cams right now will save you some time. Wont have to re do timing belt, and take head apart.

 

[Terrorize]

id go with the cams, dsm link, and just tunre the hell out of the car on a dyno, the nos issue will yeild some nice power, but will end up compromising the integrity / duration of your motor. the power gains will not be as significant as you think, i believe you should stay away from the laughing gas and do it all turbo hp

 

[BrokenTsi]

cams. (and a bigger turbo, hehe)

 

[VRC Racing]

Your really want to keep things simple and not introduce any new systems into your car at this point in the game. So, I would not install nitrous or propane injection.

I would:

1) Get DSMLink and a good wideband kit. Learn how to use these new tools and tune your car to a good solid but safe baseline.

2) Begin turning up the boost till you run into a limitation of your current system.

3) Identify the limitation and replace those parts.

4) Rinse and repeat step #2

Seriously boost is our best upgrade. All the other stuff is just a means to be able to run more boost.

-Russ

 

[AL92]

It already sounds like you have a big intercooler for that little turbo.You should already be able to run high boost.For the odd time you want to run crazy high boost you could throw in some xylene or toluene.Another option is water/alco injectioin system don't think you would need propane injection.
Cams should give a bit of hp and wet nitrous also would work well I would think.As everone has said though the easiest upgrade path is a bigger turbo even going to the evo big 16 should really knock off some time and is cheap upgrade.And again you already have a good intercooler.I would think the nitrous and cams would put in in the mid to high 11s anyway.Dsm link sounds nice or aem ems.Dsm is a bit cheaper I guess if you can find a working eprom ecu.I haven't been having much luck.I think I will go aem ems and get rid of this crappy factory ecu with their leaking caps problems.

 

[high-psi-tsi]

DSMlink i will definitely be getting. You guys are suggesting water/alky injection but does it have any benefit over propane injection??????? IPO's propane kit seems like a pretty bulletproof system that will give me the same benefits as alcohol injection but less maintenance.

 

[Sk8er07999]

DSMlink i will definitely be getting. You guys are suggesting water/alky injection but does it have any benefit over propane injection??????? IPO's propane kit seems like a pretty bulletproof system that will give me the same benefits as alcohol injection but less maintenance.

I just wouldn't like driving around with a tank of flammable gas in my trunk. :thumbdown Other then that the benefits seem nice but I don't see how it could be that effective. Propane is like 110 octane or so if I am correct. But you still are going to be injecting the pump gas. So the ratio of propane to pump who knows but lets just say half propane to pump that would make it 101 octane. To me it wouldn't be worth it. Plus I believe it would be really hard to tune it correctly. Nitrous would be easier to tune (change some jets around), safer because nitrous isn't flammable also I believe it will be safe on your motor because of the small shot your going with, also the nitrous does have like you said such a good cooling affect. Why don't you pull the head off when you install the cams and do some head work? I am sure that will get you the times you want without the spray.

 

[jdm4g63]

You have some nice mods already. The first thing that you want to do now is one of the hardest to do. Decide what level you want to take this car to. There is no point in modding things then having to turn around and take them out for something bigger and better later and be left standing there with a used aftermarket part to sell. If you want to run 11's then you need to think big.

You are not going to like this but you need a larger turbo. With $1200 to spend you could afford a larger turbo and the dsmlink (provided you do the installation yourself . There are some bolt on 50 trims available or simply just the evoIII. You like your small 16g because it is sufficient right now. However adding cams to flow more air when your turbo cannot push more air is not going to help you anywhere near just getting a larger turbo. I don't mean to question your knowledge of turbos but did you know that a larger turbo at the same psi flows drastically more air than it's smaller counterpart? We're are talking about a major difference in cfm.

So get the new turbo (bolt on 50 trim please) and the dsmlink to take advantage of all that new airflow. Sell the small 16g and you should be able to do this within your price range.

good luck

 

[Tallen]

Go full 272 or hand in your manhood at the door.

 

[waiting2bl33d]

from what i've researched the quickest way to gain horsepower is to go nitrous but what i think that you haven't concidered yet is that the "shot" is horsepower gain at the flywheel so when you do spray a 35 shot your only going to prolly get around 20 maybe more w/ the lightened flywheel but you have AWD and so remember that your losing a ton of power right after the line. i agree with the post that if you go cams then you need a bigger turbo. i would go aem cam gears, aem pulley system and some tires cause you need to work on the launch =))) get it down to like 1.7 atleast that will help you alot gl though its your money i would do bigger turbo and link like said above

 

[high-psi-tsi]

O man, you guys are making this a tough decision. My only worry about a bigger turbo is spool up time. When I race the car lives above 4500 rpms but daily driving its damn nice to go up a hill in 5th and still have torque when You hit the gas at 3200 rpm's. That coupled with the fact that I'd like to do some autocross is why I really like my 16g. Everything you guys are saying makes sense though. In my eyes, one big benefit to nitrous and propane (more so nitrous) is that nomatter how far I take this car, or what vehicle I have in the future, the N2O kit will always be useful. I appreciate everyones info, I'm still undecided but you have reopened my mind to many new possibilities.

 

[Revolution]

Interesting replies

If I were you and had that amount of cash and wanted to autocross/drag and still be able to drive it nicely to the supermarket ,I would do the following so look into it.

Stay away from n20 you dont need it so leave the 2f2f thing out the door.

Why spend so much on a dsmlink ? You have to understand that you go from controlling a few things to almost everything when going with a stand alone think about it, can you trouble shoot the prob on the side of the highway and retune just incase?

Buy an e-prom ecu and keep the afc ,this will give you options for you to play with and hone you'r skills,instead of controlling them you'r just adding features i.e stutterbox.

Honestly your small 16g will limit you with more agressive cams , so ultimately go with the evo3, because it will give you very decent spool ( better then a 50trim) and alot more power across the range.

If you go with cams try the 264 {in & ex} combo this should give you more of what you want down the 1320.

I swear on my magnus sheetmetal intake but that might be a little too much for you at the moment , but a def upgrade approach later on.

Lastely do up you'r suspension system a better system will make a huge difference in all three catagories you want ,street/track/1/4 mile.

Run a mix of c16 with the highest pump octane you can get (the mix is for you'r o2 sensor)
and turn up the boost.

The moore of a seasoned driver you become the more things will come to you and notice. Try to change the cheapest yet the most important part of your car ,the nut behind the whell ,,,yes you more saeat time equals better results. And it comes cheaper and lasts longer then any bottle ever will.

Lighten your car and look into motive specific parts from now on , from the looks of it you have way to many options for a specific task , to run better look for the parts that do the most all around ,not just one time wonders.


Take my advice and do what you will from here but remember dont buy out of emotion but rather from ration.

 

[BrokenTsi]

You really have to drive a car with a bigger turbo to get a real opinion of it. I drove my friends 50 trim and spool up time is not bad at all. Once it hits, you're out. Its not like a geo metro will pull on you 10 cars and then you're gonna fly by. It really isn't all that bad. I'll be running 272's with a 50 trim this summer and I'm not worried about street driving or going up hills one bit. I mean, who goes up a hill in 5th gear to enjoy the torque of a stock turbo anyways?

 

[AL92]

I also have a 50 trim and its more than fine on the street.Even with it set around 10 to 12 psi right now its decent and not really that laggy at all.I went right from a 14b to my 50 trim and I haven't even installed my 264/272 hks cams yet and still running around on stock sidemount that is why my boost is so low right now.I have a new water/alco injection system also but not installed yet.I have got my all my fuel mods to run the 50 trim and exhaust and tuning mods.So now just need a good fmic and should be ready to rock and roll.