First mods done, what next?

[misterskeetz]

I started completely stock and have now installed my first couple of mods. I now have an eBay bomz intake pipe w/ 4.5" K&N air filter and an Apexi LICP. Just those two mods alone have really opened my eyes as to what this car is capable of just with bolt-on parts alone. I am looking for opinions as to what would be the next logical mods to get. I am a "budget racer" so to speak so low cost options are always nice. Permission to speak freely has been granted.

 

[fwdmaster]

Get a downpipe and exhaust, port out your exhaust components

 

[misterskeetz]

Get a downpipe and exhaust, port out your exhaust components

That's not as budget friendly as I was hoping for. . I was thinking more along the lines of UICP, 1G BOV, or hi flow cat. I do hear good things about a nice 3" cat back though.

 

[97 4G63]

Get a boost gauge and a manual boost controller and turn up the boost to 15psi..
i have a boost gauge for a good price.

 

[fwdmaster]

That's not as budget friendly as I was hoping for. . I was thinking more along the lines of UICP, 1G BOV, or hi flow cat. I do hear good things about a nice 3" cat back though.

I didn't see that "budget racer" ,

 

[kenamond]

If you haven't done the basic maintentance, do that first (try going straight from couch-potato to marathon runner one day and see how *you* feel ). Then do the stage 0 mods.

Get a logger, learn how to use it, then get a NON-EBAY MBC (ball/spring) and turn up the boost until the logger tells you to stop.

When you have the logger, do a couple 3rd gear pulls and notice how gawd-aweful-high your intake temperatures are with that K&N filter (breathing in hot air from the engine bay rather than from the fender-well as was the case with the stock airbox) and convince yourself to fab up a cold-air intake (there's a thread somewhere desribing the inventive use of a plastic election sign...and it's election season again).

Then start putting $10-$40/week into a piggy bank and follow the upgrade path.

 

[misterskeetz]

Get a boost gauge and a manual boost controller and turn up the boost to 15psi..
i have a boost gauge for a good price.

Shoot me a PM with the details.

 

[97 4G63]

Also take a look at this free mod.
Alex's 2g Waste Gate Solenoid Restriction Removal FAQ

 

[kenamond]

Also take a look at this free mod.
Alex's 2g Waste Gate Solenoid Restriction Removal FAQ

Which is also known as the "BCS restrictor mod" and which is also listed in the stage 0 upgrade section.

 

[DougR]

Pulling the Bcs restrictor with your
current mods. You will be hitting 16.5psi. That happens to be
the limit you want to run on boost with your stock turbo and fuel system.
Its time as stated above to invest in a logger!! If you add any exhaust mods now
you will get creep and or boost spike. Not good!
Its time for maintenance!! Save your engine and wallet!!
Be smart and follow the wiseman and mods advice!

 

[95redturboawd]

Pulling the Bcs restrictor with your
current mods. You will be hitting 16.5psi. That happens to be
the limit you want to run on boost with your stock turbo and fuel system.
Its time as stated above to invest in a logger!! If you add any exhaust mods now
you will get creep and or boost spike. Not good!
Its time for maintenance!! Save your engine and wallet!!
Be smart and follow the wiseman and mods advice!

?? The BCS mod should only add 1-2 psi. Not 5-6.

 

[JDMath]

get a les restrictive down pipe and complete exhaust(custom one is a good choice)

like said before get a logger to know what appen.

follow all the free and stage 1 mods on this site, dont try to be faster than the upgrade path its not a good idea

happy tuning!!

 

[misterskeetz]

All maintenance has been done to the car. I had a valve job done already so compression is near perfect. O2 sensor up front was recently replaced. No boost leaks were found by the guys over at FFTec. Only issue that I have now is a leaky 2G BOV which starts leaking at 9psi. Will have a 1G soon. So maintenance is not an issue. Just looking into the cheaper upgrades.

 

[kwbunn]

In my opinion. the most important upgrade for any DSMer is a logger. Listen to what these guys say: Get. A. Logger. With a logger you'll be able to see things from the *inside*, the way the ECU sees them. For example, whether the ECU is able to push enough fuel to compensate for that boost increase- it'll tell you (from the engine sensors) whether you're running too rich or not. It will also, if you heed its advice, make sure that you won't hear any expensive noises later on down the road, so to speak.

 

[KDub]

Go with full exhaust no cat. There's no point in getting a hi flow cat since most of them (all on ebay) wont get you passed emissions anyways.

 

[DougR]

?? The BCS mod should only add 1-2 psi. Not 5-6.

Your right, I forgot that I had also installed a greddy BOV, and fixed boost leaks.
As well as trimming out the recirc tube that extends into the intake.
But yess with his mods and pulling the BCS restrictor and doing what I did, he will hit
15-16.5psi, which is very noticable on the stock turbo.

 

[kenamond]

Even though FFTec checked for boost leaks, go build yourself a tester and get a compressed air tank or compressor for future tests. I use an 11 gallon tank. I do a test every other oil change or if I notice strange idle vaccuum readings or poor fuel economy, etc.

I'm not sure how much the stock system will boost with just a BOV upgrade. It might be what limits the stock system, maybe it's the BCS. I didn't get much at all from the BCS restrictor mod. It seems to vary a lot from car to car.

If you're upgrading to a 1g BOV, you'll either need an aftermarket UICP with the correct BOV flange, or you get an adapter for $30+S&H. I'd save the cash and get the UICP, though.

I wouldn't trust anything over stock boost without a logger. Many say 15psi on a T25 and stock fuel, but it seems to depend on the car. Leaning out under boost can total the motor, but a logger will let you know when you've gone too far. Get a logger before you increase boost.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

how much more budget can you be when a full 3" stainless steel turboback for 2g awds can be had for $199 + 49 shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats even cheaper than having an exhaust shop build one from you that will be pressbent, not SS, and just not nice looking with n1 style muffler.

The only bad part, they are all sold out and no where to be found except used. And right before they sold out, they increased the price.

I'm in contact with the company who sells it for that very price, and waiting until they get more in stock and hopefully getting it at that price.

kenamond has the very turboback I speak of.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Go with full exhaust no cat. There's no point in getting a hi flow cat since most of them (all on ebay) wont get you passed emissions anyways.

He is from where I am from, bay area, CA. he NEEDS a cat. Also I'm curious to know your findings on ebay hi flow cats. And why you say all of them won't pass smog. Other users beg to differ. I plan on getting one whenever I get the awd turboback for my beater which obviously does not have a cat. A lot of people seemed to get tricked by those "race cat" auctions. They are obviously not cats, it's just a damn resonator straight pipe and the sellers title them as race cats .

 

[misterskeetz]

how much more budget can you be when a full 3" stainless steel turboback for 2g awds can be had for $199 + 49 shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats even cheaper than having an exhaust shop build one from you that will be pressbent, not SS, and just not nice looking with n1 style muffler.

The only bad part, they are all sold out and no where to be found except used. And right before they sold out, they increased the price.

I'm in contact with the company who sells it for that very price, and waiting until they get more in stock and hopefully getting it at that price.

kenamond has the very turboback I speak of.

I will be in contact with you about that exhaust deal. I am all about not spending that much cash. I was thinking about going with a megan racing setup. If I can get the same performance, stay legal, and save bucks...I am all about it.

 

[misterskeetz]

Even though FFTec checked for boost leaks, go build yourself a tester and get a compressed air tank or compressor for future tests. I use an 11 gallon tank. I do a test every other oil change or if I notice strange idle vaccuum readings or poor fuel economy, etc.

I'm not sure how much the stock system will boost with just a BOV upgrade. It might be what limits the stock system, maybe it's the BCS. I didn't get much at all from the BCS restrictor mod. It seems to vary a lot from car to car.

If you're upgrading to a 1g BOV, you'll either need an aftermarket UICP with the correct BOV flange, or you get an adapter for $30+S&H. I'd save the cash and get the UICP, though.

I wouldn't trust anything over stock boost without a logger. Many say 15psi on a T25 and stock fuel, but it seems to depend on the car. Leaning out under boost can total the motor, but a logger will let you know when you've gone too far. Get a logger before you increase boost.

I am getting a 1G BOV (uncrushed) for free from within the family. The adapter is included as it came with my brothers 2G when he got it. I could use some information about a logger and how much it would run me. That and a boost gauge should keep me safe.

 

[wishnfor4g63T]

I was in the same boat as you for a long time man. TBH i still am! hah, Some of the best mods i found were cheap. Definitly get a boost gauge! Then, get a logger. You will have alot of time to search and play around with all the things u can learn from that and you can buy or make a boost controller. Then you will be trying to free up your exhaust! I'm still missing a downpipe but my car is pretty peppy! My g/f bought me a b16g so i definitly love that but i miss the instant spool from the t-25. If anything follow the 0 stage mods those are cheap and do what you afford. But if i could speak for myself always buy the high end parts. They will stand the test of time and they will make you proud when ya open the hood!

 

[DWR-DSM]

Here is a link for the logger to check it out-

Scanmaster Tool (datalogger) : 2G DSM 95-99 Eclipse - DSM Datalogger - Electronics - DSMparts.com

 

[mtshores]

You should go for the exhaust and logger. Exhaustes can get pricey but make sure to save and get one that will work with your long term goals for the car. No point in buying something cheap now and having to upgrade later. I agree with everyone a logger can be your best friend or it can be a source of frustation if you don't know what youre looking for. Personally i did not have a logger until recently when i stepped up the power. If you are not steeped in logger knowledge maybe just look to get a good boost controller. The only problem with them is you always want to turn the boost up. Good luck hope this helps you choose a direction, and good choice on cars for budget build.