First real mods / parts list... Reality check.

[LoyalKnight683]

Well, I was driving around the other day and sprung a water leak... I thought it was the water pump so I ordered a new pump and all the TB change usuals. And in the spirit of taking things apart, I decided to pull the exhaust mani and turbo to do some cleaning while waiting on parts to arrive. Man did I find more than I wanted too... the crack prone mani; check. A crack prone turbine housing... check? Previously, the BLT had revealed bad seals on the compressor housing, causing air to push past the center housing and down into the oil pan, gurgle gurgle. A stripped out manifold stud... check.

So, it was becoming time to invest some money in the project and this just expedited the timeline. The car is STOCK, in nearly every sense of the word. Only things done are the free mods from the tech guide, K&N filter, MSD super conductor wires, and thats all.

Now, time for the fun part. After literally 100+ hrs of forum searchs, blog posts, member profile stalking, and searching to the end of the internet, thanks Google. I have drafted a plan. I will list it below, hoping for feed back and reality checks... comments welcome.

ECMlink v3 lite, and send the ECU off for eprom'ing $470
FP race manifold $225
E3 16G $550
E3 O2 housing $130
Full 3" exhaust ~$600
manual boost controller $100
boost gauge $100
WB O2 setup $300

misc: head studs, gaskets, etc

other possibles, more like phase 2: Mishmoto radiator-fans-FMIC, new throttle body elbow, shifter and clutch pedal bushings, fuel pump and FPR.

So I figure that puts me just under $3k for the summer, its a stretch but doable. Then, its time to learn to really drive the car, auto X and mountain passes.

Orders are going in soon, so if I am way off, I need to know soon.

 

[phunny]

Looks like one of the more reasonable mod lists I've seen

I'm guessing you're gonna do a HG and everything as well?

 

[Cirus_93TSI]

going to need a set of larger injectors too

 

[phunny]

going to need a set of larger injectors too

That's part of his phase 2.

 

[LoyalKnight683]

Looks like one of the more reasonable mod lists I've seen

I'm guessing you're gonna do a HG and everything as well?

Well, I wasn't planning on it as the car never got hot, it happened in my neighborhood and it was just a small drip. As I was taking it apart, I noticed a rubber hose going to the oil cooler that was torn and recalled the leak looked like it was coming from that area and didn't think it was leaking long enough to damage anything. I would have a hard time taking the head off a 165,000 mile car and not doing serious work to it, and I don't have the funds to take that on right now, in addition to everything listed above.

Think I'll be sorry, and end up doing it too soon to justify driving it for a while? Can you do head studs and HG for $200? What would you slide to do the HG now and not later?

Thanks!

 

[phunny]

Well, I wasn't planning on it as the car never got hot, it happened in my neighborhood and it was just a small drip. As I was taking it apart, I noticed a rubber hose going to the oil cooler that was torn and recalled the leak looked like it was coming from that area and didn't think it was leaking long enough to damage anything. I would have a hard time taking the head off a 165,000 mile car and not doing serious work to it, and I don't have the funds to take that on right now, in addition to everything listed above.

Think I'll be sorry, and end up doing it too soon to justify driving it for a while? Can you do head studs and HG for $200? What would you slide to do the HG now and not later?

Thanks!

Whens the last time the timing belt/water pump and equipment has been done?

 

[LoyalKnight683]

It is in process now and is what spurred the investigation into the manifold and turbo, I dont know when it was done last. I have owned the car for 5 years but only put 300miles on its and it has been in storage since.

 

[phunny]

Well if you're doing the maintenance now you should be okay, I would invest in some arp studs though.

 

[LoyalKnight683]

going to need a set of larger injectors too

Yeah, going to wait for phase 2. I would like to switch over to E85, as it is plentiful here in tree huggerville, CO. Just want to learn to tune with link, then buy the fuel system to support the E85 conversion. Thanks for the reminder, b/c I didnt have it listed in my phase 2 list.

Cheers!

 

[Reefman]

With a high mileage motor like you have, check compression as well so you know your modding efforts will not go to waste.

 

[Absit]

I'd swap the E316G for larger injectors and then tune your 14B to the max, I think you'll get more out of it that way assuming have you some decent fuel to run.

 

[LoyalKnight683]

I'd swap the E316G for larger injectors and then tune your 14B to the max, I think you'll get more out of it that way assuming have you some decent fuel to run.

I agree, if my turbo was in any shape to be put back on (cracked / rusted thru turbine housing, bad seals, crunching sound on back side of turbine wheel when i spin it by hand, etc), or there was a "stocker" local (for cheap) I would just buy a used 2G manifold and just tune the crap out of the stock setup. It would probably reverse the upgrade path I'm on, and I would save money and do a 2.3L next year and not get a turbo until the end. Guess I can always hit the junk yards. Also, I think I read someone here local was going to be upgrading to a 76HTA and I would mind checking out their old setup before it goes on the market.

I'll do some searching and see if I can find a 14B local and then see what people's setup for 14B / E85 setups look like.

I like the suggestion, as I think it would build a much stronger baseline knowledge before throwing parts at it. Thanks!

 

[dboyle23]

Plus, if you get the injectors and a 14b, you can get used to the tuning software too. Most engines blow because of a bad tune (or bad maintenance but you got that covered already).