Little Help/Advice? [building budget circuit car/daily driver]

[TheArtist]

Hey guys. I'm looking into making a circuit car, that I can use as a daily driver as well. I'm looking into a 2g DSM but need to know your advice on AWD or FWD. I would think the AWD would tear the track up nasty, but FWD wouldn't do too bad either. So I have a few questions.

First thing, Im going to have about 8 grand cash to drop right away. More money over time and work of course. But I want a good start with the 8k.

So... I for sure want to buy a 6-bolt dsm, preferrably a 2g that has a 6-bolt swapped in it already. But is there a big difference in reliability between the awd and fwd? Im young, and Im at the point where if Im on my way to work, and come to a light with a jackass reving at me, Im going to want to rev up and launch the beast... so I need to know if awd is going to be a bad idea.

Whichever I decide to choose, I am going to buy the 16g turbo kit from SBR, a 2600lb clutch, a 255 fuel pump, hard intake piping, decent bov, a good fmic, 3" exhaust, and a turbo timer. Does this sound like a good start for me? Please give me your input.

AWD or FWD, throw it at meh, thanks dsm bros, cya.


**EDIT**

I also want to lower the car. I've heard there can be issues with lowering an awd. I would buy a nice FULL coilover kit for it, and I want it to look nice. Not TOTALLY slammed, but lowered enough to look mean. Can I achieve that look with an awd 2g dsm? 1.5"-2" drop? please reply.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

A 6 bolt will have a good BOV already. The 1G Blow off valves hold plenty.

Turbo timer is really just a show piece and therefore not necessary.

My AWD is lowered about an inch with absolutely no problems. I don't see why you would have any. You tend to need a rear camber kit for 1.5-2 inches or more, but that shouldn't deter you.

An AWD is only less reliable in that there are a few more parts you can break if you abuse it (and most of use do to some extent ) I'd say AWD is the way to go for everything, but top speed runs.

 

[kenamond]

Hey guys. I'm looking into making a circuit car, that I can use as a daily driver as well. I'm looking into a 2g DSM but need to know your advice on AWD or FWD. I would think the AWD would tear the track up nasty, but FWD wouldn't do too bad either. So I have a few questions.

First thing, Im going to have about 8 grand cash to drop right away. More money over time and work of course. But I want a good start with the 8k.

So... I for sure want to buy a 6-bolt dsm, preferrably a 2g that has a 6-bolt swapped in it already. But is there a big difference in reliability between the awd and fwd? Im young, and Im at the point where if Im on my way to work, and come to a light with a jackass reving at me, Im going to want to rev up and launch the beast... so I need to know if awd is going to be a bad idea.

Whichever I decide to choose, I am going to buy the 16g turbo kit from SBR, a 2600lb clutch, a 255 fuel pump, hard intake piping, decent bov, a good fmic, 3" exhaust, and a turbo timer. Does this sound like a good start for me? Please give me your input.

AWD or FWD, throw it at meh, thanks dsm bros, cya.


**EDIT**

I also want to lower the car. I've heard there can be issues with lowering an awd. I would buy a nice FULL coilover kit for it, and I want it to look nice. Not TOTALLY slammed, but lowered enough to look mean. Can I achieve that look with an awd 2g dsm? 1.5"-2" drop? please reply.

You'll have no problem getting what you want for 8k.

AWD will launch better than FWD (or so I've read 234512 times on this forum).

I've heard folks saying that anything over 2" drop will lead to headaches, but I'm not sure what issues there are between lowering a FWD vs AWD.

You're also going to want an MBC or EBC, a boost gauge, and some sort of logger.

Are you going with an EVOIII 16g or one of the others?

If you get a ported turbo, you'll want a ported or otherwise matching exhaust mani.

If you're going FMIC, you're in a realm where you're going to hit fuel cut before you see what everything else is capable of doing, so you'll need fuel upgrades and some sort of fuel controller (the fuel pump is only part of what you'll need). If you don't, then you'll have to turn down your boost which may lead to creep problems, especially with an EVOIII 16g.

Is your 3" exhaust going to be catless, or will you have a full 3" DP, hi-flow cat, and cat-back? Low boost on an EVOIII with a 3" turboback exhaust is asking for creep.

Do you want to go with an external wastegate or the internal? If you go external, you'll need an exhaust mani with the proper flange for the gate, tubing to get from the gate to the DP, and a DP with a "socket" to receive the wastegate output. The external gate will help with creep, but you might not need it if you get the fuel mods and run 20+psi.

 

[Weenie4]

Turbo timer is really just a show piece and therefore not necessary.

If your gonna be running it hard, and you don't feel like sitting in the car for a few minutes while the turbo cools down, you definately NEED a turbo timer. Your turbo will last much longer.

 

[kenamond]

If your gonna be running it hard, and you don't feel like sitting in the car for a few minutes while the turbo cools down, you definately NEED a turbo timer. Your turbo will last much longer.

^^^^ Amen.

You don't need one, but you do need to let your car idle for a spell after a hard run, so it's up to you whether you want to sit in the car or not during this idle time.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Since this topic was just covered I'll direct everyone to this thread.

 

[Weenie4]

Unless you're running a wet bearing turbo (water cooled), get a turbo timer. If you do have a wet bearing turbo, then i guess its optional, but i would still get it.

 

[a_scobel]

Unless you're running a wet bearing turbo (water cooled), get a turbo timer. If you do have a wet bearing turbo, then i guess its optional, but i would still get it.

Even on non-water cooled turbos, a drive through town going 35 mph for a couple minutes gives it plenty of time to cool off after a WOT run. Only time you'll really need a turbo timer is if you drive the thing WOT for a long time, then for some reason decide to park & get out immediately. Who does that?? I use the battery voltage readout on my TT more than the timer itself..other than them being nice conversation pieces with the purty lights

For the original owner, yes AWD tends to 'break more', as there's more stress on the transmission, more stuff to break with the rear differential, etc. I wouldn't let that change your mind though. If you can find an AWD DSM, go for it.

In your list of proposed mods, you included a turbo timer...I'm assuming you meant to put boost gauge, boost controller & logger w/ logging software somewhere before that, right?

Yes there's plenty of AWD DSMs lowered 1.5-2" with no problems.

 

[kenamond]

Only time you'll really need a turbo timer is if you drive the thing WOT for a long time, then for some reason decide to park & get out immediately. Who does that??

I have a nice, winding, uphill road leading to my driveway. It's the only fun part of my commute, so I take advantage of it and then sit in my garage for a minute or two listening to tunes (I don't have a turbo timer).

We should probably lay off the TT talk and let folks contribute to the thread that was posted above rather than hijack this thread.