Built 7 bolt?

[MitsGSX]

So i recently bought a 97 GSX, red and with a few very basic mods. I love the car, and cannot get enough of it. I worked hard for years to finally buy the car of my dreams, and here it is. I'm a junior at Thomas Jefferson high school and my friends are envious of my DSM.

So of course, before I even bought the car I started planning the engine work that I wanted to do. So here is my abbreviated plan:

Rebuild head with web cams (I get half off ), port and Polish, replace valve train
Put in 2.3L stroker from FatBoy racing
KEEP 7-Bolt block
Build turbo system to make about 400 crank HP
Build fuel system to match
Have trany rebuilt, put in new clutch and flywheel.
DSM link

Now my main question is about the 7-Bolt block. I know it is susceptible to crank walk, but for reasons of simplicity and down-time, I want to keep the 7-Bolt. Is this power level reasonable for the 7-Bolt? I drive fairly conservatively, but every once and a while you gotta blow away a ricer- right?

I just want to know whether or not this would be a reliable, daily drivable set-up, or if it will just guarantee a crank walk problem in the near future.
Thanks guys
Tim Landry

 

[jastermerrel]

Hi,
First off, congratulations on the buy and welcome to the world of DSMs.
To answer the crankwalk question, simply put, your car is almost 10 years old so if it was going to crank walk...then it probably would have already. I have a 97GST stock 7bolt 150k and crankwalk free. Stock 7 bolts have seen very high HP numbers, but then again...would you want to put a 10 year old motor through that? It's all about the tune anyway...invest in that and learn as much about tuning as possible. It's just as easy to blow a motor up from a bad tune on low boost pressure as it is from pushing too much boost. I see you put DSM link on the list, i'd make that one of the first upgrades along with the gauges you'll need. Learn to tune on DSM link before you start spending a lot of time and cash on a new motor.

Actually now that i've reread your post, is your plan to put in a 6-bolt or stroke the 7-bolt? Personally, if your plan is to put in a 6bolt, i'd instead just rebuild the 7-bolt to what you want and put the money you'll save into better turbo or whatever.

 

[cumpersgsx]

what you put is basically what everyone wants to do. That will cost a lot of money. Even if you get half off, this project will cost you an assload of money. Do the bolt ons right now. You will be more than happy. I work almost 50 hours a week and dont have enough money to do much. I assume you wouldnt have much either(unless your a prodigy of laguna beach) Start practical.

 

[Splitpi]

Not to disway you... gotta have dreams and its even better when you make it a reality... but here's a rough price break down and thats assuming free labor:

DSMLink + 95' EPROM ECU = $780
Front Mounter Intercooler (Ebay) = $500
50 trim Turbo for reliable pump fuel 400 hp = $800
255 lph pump + AFPR = $250
850cc Injectors = $320
Clutch and Flywheel = $650
Stroker Kit = $1200 (guess)
Engine Build = $800 (guess)
Tranny Rebuild = $500 (guess)

Total = $5800

I wish you luck, but do save and fully be prepared for the cost if you are going all out at once.

 

[Gamble97]

Not to disway you... gotta have dreams and its even better when you make it a reality... but here's a rough price break down and thats assuming free labor:

DSMLink + 95' EPROM ECU = $780
Front Mounter Intercooler (Ebay) = $500
50 trim Turbo for reliable pump fuel 400 hp = $800
255 lph pump + AFPR = $250
850cc Injectors = $320
Clutch and Flywheel = $650
Stroker Kit = $1200 (guess)
Engine Build = $800 (guess)
Tranny Rebuild = $500 (guess)

Total = $5800

I wish you luck, but do save and fully be prepared for the cost if you are going all out at once.

Well, not saying your wrong, but even if you leave the stock 7bolt rebuilt,
pistons/rods - $800ish
bearing/arp studs/headgasket/new gaskets, seals/water pump/timing belt, decking/milling/ etc etc etc, the list goes on and on and on. Look at my profile for a list just to get an idea.
I paid $2200 in labor and $200 in parts from the machine shop alone. Being that your still in high school, I don't know how much time/money you have to invest but it all adds up. I'm not bragging by any means, but I've had my car for less than a year and am still building her up. Up to date I have about $15k invested into her. (including the car audio, wheels, suspension, hid kit, tints etc.)
Do a lot of thinking about what you want. Also, if you do the head, I suggest the revised lifters. DSMlink is probably the best thing you could get though, I love mine.

 

[TurboTJ]

Not to disway you... gotta have dreams and its even better when you make it a reality... but here's a rough price break down and thats assuming free labor:

DSMLink + 95' EPROM ECU = $780
Front Mounter Intercooler (Ebay) = $500
50 trim Turbo for reliable pump fuel 400 hp = $800
255 lph pump + AFPR = $250
850cc Injectors = $320
Clutch and Flywheel = $650
Stroker Kit = $1200 (guess)
Engine Build = $800 (guess)
Tranny Rebuild = $500 (guess)

Total = $5800

I wish you luck, but do save and fully be prepared for the cost if you are going all out at once.

I just got done building my 7 bolt and it cost about double what I thought it would. Its just small things like the machine work, random gaskets and random parts that you dont want to rebuild without. ex; arp head studs, metal head gasket, cyclinder boring, water pump, oil pump, timing belt, valve job. I rebuilt mine with everything new inside (except cams) and the current cost is about $4000, and thats with me doing most of the work. If youve got all the money, go for it! but make sure that you have an extra grand or two set aside for the random parts and labor. BTW, thats the engine only for me, no upgraded turbo or exhaust...

 

[GloriousDSM]

me 2 , got cams and still havent purchased water pump, timing belt/ acc belts a few gaskets and o rings and im already 4,500$ in the hole without those parts, so just something to think about

 

[cumpersgsx]

then someone dosent go to college

 

[ndsti]

I am also in the same situation you are, except I have priced everything out for a built 7 bolt supporting mods etc. and a shop to do the engine change. Expect to pay about 10k and I added a fudge factor of about $1000.

 

[cumpersgsx]

my car has consumed 5k and i dont even know where it went...i only have basic mods.

 

[brandonzero0]

same boat my car has consumed about lets see 3k and i still need a cylinder head and clutch fork................... and now trans parts.

 

[rookiegst]

Yeah, it's the little things you don't expect to be so expensive that can ruin a quickly planned build. It's always good to have a margin of money for the little (or big) surprises you'll get. Plus labor, if you're not a do-it-yourself fan.
Also for gaskets and that kinda stuff, as well as for probable bolt-on fitting issues you may have.

 

[GloriousDSM]

looks like we are pretty much all in the same boat, I can't wait until spring time when i get her all put back together and cut her loose.

 

[cumpersgsx]

haha we would all be little donald trumps if we didn't get the spell of dsms cast on us

 

[DSMunknown]

Front Mounter Intercooler (Ebay) = $500

Tranny Rebuild = $500 (guess)

Certain FMICs off Ebay go for $250. It depends to what extent he has the transmission rebuit. Sending it to Shep? It could cost him over two thousand dollars.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DSM-...tegoryZ33742QQihZ015QQitemZ250045159094QQrdZ1

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-9...tegoryZ33742QQihZ014QQitemZ330045459619QQrdZ1

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EDIT:

KEEP 7-Bolt block

Build turbo system to make about 400 crank HP

Is this power level reasonable for the 7-Bolt?


I just want to know whether or not this would be a reliable, daily drivable set-up, or if it will just guarantee a crank walk problem in the near future.
Thanks guys
Tim Landry

Yes, that power level is reasonable. As 99gst_racer all about it. He recently hit over 400whp on the dyno:

http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240885


EDIT x2: You can also refer to the thread below, which breifly discusses this:
http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=241220post#5

 

[Gamble97]

I got a stage 2 awd tranny from TRE for $1800 shipped w/ the core charge and a spider diff. I don't think that's too bad of a price