Beginner Tuner looking for recommendations

[txsfisher]

Hi, I am unfortunaley late in finding this site. I have browsed through the threads and have found some very helpful information so far. However I am can't seem to make any more forward progress.

Here is my situation.

I bought my 97 Gst used. After the day I found a 6 inch crack in my transmission that blew in BFE Texas, I replaced the transmission with another stock transmission. It works beautifully. The next serious problem I incurred happened after keeping pace with a V-8. (I was fully stock at the time) I blew out the seal on the turbo which then proceeded to not work so well. Not knowing that it was the seal itself, the mechanic I talked to said to replace the whole turbo. I did as such and not knowing enough about what I was doing, proceeded to buy a bigger turbo(no idea what size it is, explain in a second). I and a friend installed the turbo and after getting the car running decided to find out just how much more fun it was going to be right up until the point that the engine blew. Thats right bigger turbo, stock everything else. Here is where I am looking for some recommendations. I would like to know where to go to find an engine that is upgraded and can take the extra boost. I am also going to be doing extensive work to the rest of the car to get it to run properly. I.e. bigger exhaust from the turbo back. Rebuilding the engine at this point is out of the question as I do not know that much. Now the reason I cannot give you the turbo size is I was completely stupid at the time that i bought it and knew absolutely nothing. I am currently deployed and I am at the research stage trying to figure out what I am going to need and what I have to do to get my demon working again. I still have all the receipts and will try to see if it says on there what kind of turbo it is. This project seems like it would be right up our collective alley. I am pretty much going to do what I ultimately choose to do but, anyone that can give any advice on beginning this massive project will be greatly appreciated.

parts already in hand

Turbo(size?)
Bov
not much else.

Also I fully intend to use the stage guide to fix "our" car.

Thank you in advance...

 

[trunks]

Hey man I'm a newb on this site, but if your looking for power I'd replace the engine with a 6 bolt engine. Do some searches on 6 bolt swap and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The engine itself has forged internals so when your looking to rebuild the block is already there. You just have to surround it.

Hope that helps!

 

[GSpikeX]

Yes you definetely need to do alot of research on this site, first I would check the recommended upgrade paths and decide just how much you want to spend, that right there should be able to answer most of your questions. Also find out what type of turbo you have asap because that will impact your future upgrades. Good Luck.

 

[wishgst]

definently go with a 6bolt likes trunks said. and you bought a turbo without knowing what kind it was??? do you have a money tree in your backyard?

 

[FatalDreams]

Ok, what kinds of plans do you have for your car? as for a stronger motor, the 6 bolt out of a 90-92 1g or an evo 3. With the stronger motor you will still need other mods go go with it: larger fuel pump, larger injectors, some form of ecu tuneing i.e. dsmlink to control new injectors. thats the major stuff... i'm sure you have used the search button(rhat will be your best friend on this site), use it often.

 

[sleepingDSM]

6 bolt is the way to go But as they said, get a game plan first. Set a limit on your cash and how much you can and will spend. A new motor alone will be upwards of 1k with low miles. Now an 6 bolt is definitely the way to go if your just looking to upgrade it to fit whatever turbo you have. But you can also buy fully built "race" ready motors, just depends on how deep your pockets are.

Just stay on this forum every free moment you have and READ READ READ. Ask questions and read some more. It has helped me tremendously with my n/t and is already helping me with my gsx.

Good Luck my friend. Hope to see your DSM on the road soon.

 

[trunks]

One more word of advice: I was recently on dsmlink bitching about my car and got some advice that I'll never forget:

"You've got a DSM - remember there are 3 things they are known for: Fast, Reliable, and Cheap - Pick 2"

Pretty much all you need to know..

 

[RallyEclipse98]

If you have the money and for one reason or another don't want to upgrade an engine yourself, you can buy a fully built race motor. Expensive, but it might be your thing. Search this forum. It's amazing what you will learn.

 

[No_Skillz]

It sounds like you don't need a fully built motor, or even a 6 bolt for that matter. It sounds like you just need better supporting mods. FUEL is the most important, and it's what you lacked before and even now with your current plans. More boost = more air = more fuel necessary.

With good supporting mods (fuel being the most important) and a proper tune, the stock bottom end can handle in excess of 400hp (ask me how I know). Thinks in your transmission should be breaking well before your motor goes out.

"You've got a DSM - remember there are 3 things they are known for: Fast, Reliable, and Cheap - Pick 2"

Not quite true. You can combine all 3 and mix it with "lots and lots of DIY hard work. I mean LOTS."

 

[tkelly27]

I don't know why everyone always recommends 6 bolts. The 6 bolt short block is superior in stock form but I was under the impression that with revised bearings crank walk is no longer a problem and with better rods and pistons (something you'll want in a 6 bolt too) the 7 bolt crank and the rest of it will handle pretty much whatever you do to it. The EVO VIII's and IX's are 7 bolts you know... You won't have to fiddle with all the engine swap stuff either.

How did your engine blow? If it's just the HG you might not need to do anything to the bottom end. If it was catastrophic, figure out what turbo you have. If it's something like a 16g or 50 trim a 6 bolt bottom end can handle it and so can an upgraded 7 bolt.

You really need to do the fuel system. Everyone loves 'link, and you would know if you had purchased a turbo that 'link won't handle (you'd probably still be paying it off). Injectors can be advised when you figure out what turbo you've got.

 

[trunks]

No Skillsz I agree - but in my case (maybe just me) DIY means learning by spending more $ - but money well spent.

 

[sleepingDSM]

Thinks in your transmission should be breaking well before your motor goes out.

I have been witness to this. My friend learned the hard way after a good solid tune and a dyno run (=

 

[knochgoon24]

I think that we somehow need to get some pictures. More information would be great too.

My best stab at your situation is this...
You bought a bigger turbo. When you were riding it hard, you ran out of fuel, went lean, and blew apart a piston. That piston may have found it's way out your exhaust mani and through your brand new turbo. Chances are that a few fins are bent or busted pretty bad. You're valves might not look so good either.

Basically, you need to be able to take the head off the car and tell us what you see (or show us with pics) before we can give you any detailed advice.

If the block is still good, just build it. You probably scored the cylinder walls up. IF it's usable, you might get away with boring it out and getting some larger pistons. Otherwise, you'll need a new block.

 

[txsfisher]

Thank you for the information so far. I basically want to make this a sleeper so when some
guy trying to impress his girl in the car with him tries to burn me I can pretty much make him look the ass. Not only that it should be able to be driven more than it sits. As for having deep pockets lets just say they can be deep but I much prefer to keep whats in my pockets in my pockets. I am CURRENTLY DEPLOYED so I cannot take the engine apart to get some pictures for you but I do know this. When the radiator fluid was leaking out at the shop there was oil and metal shavings in it. Also the mechanic said the lower end rod bearings sounded like they were trashed.

What I have researched so far is this.

1 a bigger exhaust system(ideas?)
2 a fuel pump to push more fuel.(190 lph should be big enough?)
3 figure out what kind of turbo is there now. (In progress)
4 acquire the tools to do the work.
5 new radiator(current one has cracks in the seams)
6 different fuel injectors
7 ecu tuning to control fuel injectors
8 any other suggestions?

Also are there any tuners out there in Corpus Christi?

 

[OneLove]

Do a whole lot of reading on this site. Thats my biggest word of advice for a new "tuner".

 

[fatherbubble]

6 Blot swap do it. Make it easy on yourself goto Showdown Motorsports. Bill there does great work an at a cheap to fair price. I just got mine done there. I got a price people would die if I said how cheap. With full Manley Internals. Auto repair, auto maintenance, and auto parts. Toledo, Ohio (OH).

 

[trunks]

A lot of guys on this site swear by cheap ebay cat back exhausts. Search that as well - there's like a 100 page thread on it. For the turbo I'd go with the EVO III 16g for your goals as well. Again, if you search that you'll get more info than you can handle.

 

[txsfisher]

Sorry to do this but if you are gonna reply to the post make sure that you at least read what was actually wrong. I am getting recommendations on parts that i dont need and being given hypothetical solutions to problems that we dont know exist. As for the guys who posted relevant info, thank you very much and i checked out bill and I like what I saw. Probably going to go with the 6 bolt swap and the mods in the stage 0 and stage 1 build up. Once again thank you for the help.