Just bought my 1998 GSX! First mods should be...?

[misterskeetz]

Just bought my GSX about a week ago and I love it. It has been fun learning how to drive a stick too. I was wondering what the first mods I should do? I already have a stereo set up for install. I was thinking more along the lines of performance. Best bang for buck. First I would think is the 1G bov. What's next!?

 

[erald01]

Easy a nice 3" catback exhaust, and a boost gauge. That was my first performance thing, good luck and congrats.

 

[snox135]

First thing you should do after reading the FAQ's and upgrade path, is do your maintenance.

 

[JDR7919]

Start out right DSMLINK!

 

[1992awdlaser]

First things that should be done would have to be all the maintenance and fixing any problems(leaks, loose front end parts, worn suspension parts, tires, etc).

 

[-TunedDSM-]

First thing you should do after reading the FAQ's and upgrade path, is do your maintenance.

Truth.

Heres the 2g upgrage path:

Tech Guide: 2G 4G63t Upgrades - DSMtuners

 

[Dsm2nr89]

Do all maintenance first, you won;t regret it. Then add in an intake system, 3" turboback, manual boost controller @ 15 psi and if possible some hard i/c piping with a 1g bov or hks.

 

[green95hrcgs]

No pics = boring post .

 

[shaunp]

After the Bov, I would get a K&N Fipk.

Congrats on the Ride! Post up some pictures when you get a chance.

 

[98GSXtreme07]

If you haven't yet noticed...MAINTENANCE!!!! I've had my '98 GSX for 5 months now and haven't done a single performance mod. I want to do it right and not have any problems later. Next is o2 sensor, fuel filter, and than the timing job. Anyway, make sure all of your maintenance is done and than go ahead with the intake and K&N Filter plus some UICP/LICP. Than go ahead with your exhaust:Manifold, Turboback or catback depending on how strict your city is. I like the 1g BOV, it holds great boost compared to the stock 2g. BTW, you should put some pics of your new sweet ride!

 

[greddyturbo19]

seriouslly dude do the maintenance first. i made a big mistake and went ahead and just got right into the performance parts well turned out that the car needed a shit loud of stuff done like a new timing belt, spark plugs, oil change, flush the radiator, new filter, so do your maintenance first!!!!

 

[misterskeetz]

Thanks for all the input! That was fast.

I had the car checked out with my mechanic and he said that everything is in great condition aside from an inner tie rod issue and even then it was somewhat minor. I plan on getting that replaced fairly soon. Only other stuff was the smallest valve cover leak ever which I will be taking care of myself and a couple lights out and have to replace the wiper blades. I also need to get the side skirts repainted because they have faded out. I heard they do that on Silver ones.

Items that will be coming free to me are...

19x7.5 racing hart C2's
Greddy SP1 exhaust (not sure on piping size)
1G BOV
Injen intake

It just may take some time. My bro has a Red 1998 GSX. He is on here too. He plans on doing new mods to his ride. Check his out. "MrBentley" is his username.

I will check up on that link that was posted. Thanks for all of your help.
Please feel free to chime in with anything else I should know being a proud new owner of a 1998 Silver GSX

 

[voodoogsx]

Look for Carb certed stuff or things that you can add that won't be overtly noticed since you're in cali..IE, nothing too blingy....it's fun to mod a car, but if it's noticed when you smog the thing it can be a pita...

Like what several of the others said, do all the maintanence and fix any issues, check out the parts that get worn, read the faq, look at your upgrade path and hey start easy by doing all those free mods...

 

[Dsm2nr89]

Please feel free to chime in with anything else I should know being a proud new owner of a 1998 Silver GSX

Did we tell you these cars are money pits ? Hold on to that wallet !!

 

[JayRolla]

I would invest in a wbo2 first, a boost gauge then dsmlink. After that all mods will fall in nicely.

 

[clipse4u2c]

The best advice I could give you is to Make a Plan! Know where you want to go with the car (hp, drivability, reliability, etc) then you can plan your upgrades around that. i.e it might make more sense to buy a 3" exhaust or vice versa depending on your goals. If you don't need a 3" you might be able to save money that way but it would stink to buy a 2.5" and a year down the road you wish you had the 3" because of your performance goals. Now i know you already have an exhuast but it's just an example.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Another Bay Area DSM, there are a bunch of us who post here, but we can never get a meet together.

Good luck on your dsm, do the maintenance first, and follow the upgrade path. There are so much resources here on what to get, most of the time newbies don't even have to make a new post because chances are it's been discussed and could be found with the search button.

Again good luck!

 

[wimploki]

Just bought my GSX about a week ago and I love it. It has been fun learning how to drive a stick too. I was wondering what the first mods I should do? I already have a stereo set up for install. I was thinking more along the lines of performance. Best bang for buck. First I would think is the 1G bov. What's next!?

Make sure to follow the 2G upgrade path! Learn more about your car because you will soon be your own mechanic. When it comes to something more technical, you can always do a search here or ask nicely.

Here's one site you can check out:

http://www.vfaq.com/index-main.html
Road Race Engineering's Eclipse Catalog Index
OBDII Detailed Information
DSMLink Homepage

Buy a nice set of tools from sears and jack stands for safety. You will also need a haynes manual for your year and model of car. This will come in handy more than you know.

Good luck and try not to think too much of go fast parts. Think maintenance first. Save your money and learn to do things yourself.

Tech Guide: 2G 4G63t Upgrades - DSMtuners

 

[GofaST4life]

all good advice

now lets see some pics!!!

 

[siceclipse]

first things first

you need a rediculous body kit complete with a GIANT wing

 

[misterskeetz]

first things first

you need a rediculous body kit complete with a GIANT wing

HAHA...NO! My plan is to keep the looks totally stock...I would rather invest in getting a two tone black top paint job. Black on top with some black rims with polished lip. Something along those lines. The Racing Hart C2's that are going to get mounted will work for now.

I hear you guys on the maintenance. That Tech Guide is AWESOME! Loads of great information on there. I will be buying a manual pretty soon. Again..my brother "MrBentley" has a red 98 GSX so we have had some experience with working on that one. I definitely want to get the car running in tip top shape so I will be checking all things that were addressed in the guide.

BTW...my car has 119k miles on it. After all maintenance is done...is it safe to mod on an engine with that high of miles? I bought it from the original owner. It was a girl so I know it hasn't been raced. But I just want to make sure.

I will be taking pics this weekend. Stay tuned.

 

[misterskeetz]

Did we tell you these cars are money pits ? Hold on to that wallet !!

I would imagine so! My goal is to get to 300hp. It is going to be my daily driver for a while so I want to keep it somewhat light on the performance end. I am doing the small stuff right now...getting new reverse lights because they are all yellow. Clear side markers. ###### get an engine bay cleaning done after I am done with all the maintenance. Just make it nice and clean and reliable.

 

[GofaST4life]

It was a girl so I know it hasn't been raced

do you really know though...haha

only reason i ask is cause my gf loves getting on the gas...and there are some girls that have a vast love for DSMs, just as we do...

 

[1992awdlaser]

BTW...my car has 119k miles on it. After all maintenance is done...is it safe to mod on an engine with that high of miles?

A lot of people have over 150,000 miles on there engine and run 11's or 12's. I have 90,000 on mine and don't have a problem.

It was a girl so I know it hasn't been raced.

You don't know that. I know a few girls that have modded cars they race. I know even more that like to race with a close to stock car.

 

[misterskeetz]

do you really know though...haha

only reason i ask is cause my gf loves getting on the gas...and there are some girls that have a vast love for DSMs, just as we do...

So true. I really hope not. I liked the fact that they had all the paperwork on what had been done to the car. They had it garaged all it's life as well. Has a few body blemishes but its cool.

BTW...I picked it up for 8500. Good price? I just saw one on craigslist with 123k miles and light mods and they are asking 12k.