Need help finding quality parts

[drivemusicnow]

OK, the car i'm looking into building is at present bone stock. I don't care about looks at all, i don't care about interior at all, i don't care about sound other than QUIET. and i'm sure these are considered newbie questions, but i've searched and haven't quite found the input i want.

I'm looking for a cheap but accurate enought boost gauge. same with EGT and A/F emphasis on cheap.

Looking into manual boost controllers, i kind of like the dejon tool MBC where you can switch between stock and set boost levels. Is it worth it? any other brands that produce similar quality products?

for the suspension work, wheres the cut off point in terms of $$ to gain. (on a budget car, how far should i go, and actually be making handling gains worth the $$ input)

does anyone make a 2.75 inch TBE? or should i just go with a 3 inch? any specifically quiet setups out there? quiet and non restrictive obviously

Any specific reason to go with a FMIC vs a SMIC when my goal is for 350 crank HP eventually... I'm going inexpensive here... and preferably not so much custom piping work.

any super cheap hard intakes? again.. i don't want some pretty chrome thing.

The budget for the current work is going to be about $2k. If i keep it after college, i'll put some more $$ into it and make it a true track car, if not, i'll sell it. however all the parts i buy now should be good to at least 350 hp.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

You don't need a 2.75 or 2inch TBE Just switch to a 2g for a cheap upgrade.
Save yourself some money and don't get an A/F gauge.
Autometer makes the cheapest gauges that still work well.
What do you want to gain from suspension mods?
FMIC will be the best way to make max power evern your are only going to 350 crank but you can buy an upgraded sidemount from dejon or a couple other places.
Ebay or buying one used will be the cheapest place for an intake.

 

[drivemusicnow]

I'd like to have it be neutral through turns, maybe a BIT of oversteer, however not much. Faster turn in, and less front rear squat. (whats the torque split front and rear? and both front and rear LSDs or just rear or what??)

Are you saying get the full 2g exhaust? how well does this work? Should help a lot with overall budget

Any experience with the Accuboost MBC?
Also how cheap can you go with an air fuel controller... and still have a reliable, relatively easily tuned engine
Thanks for all the help!

 

[Defiant]

(whats the torque split front and rear? and both front and rear LSDs or just rear or what??)

50/50.

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/manualcd/gift/dsm/awd_flowchart.gif

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86527

 

[Slipstream]

I think John took TBE to mean Throttle Body Elbow (i know i did when i first read it, and I presume you're talking Turbo Back Exhaust. For exhaust you could have any decent muffler shop weld you up any size you want (including 2 3/4" however the most common for the dsm is 2.5" and 3".

As for your A/f gauge, don't bother with anything cheap. Either go with a wideband 02 setup which means $$$ or use anything that will read actual voltage (yes even a pocket multimeter for those on a very tight budget (though most fuel controllers will show o2 voltage).

If you're on a budget forget dual stage boost controlers..just build your own single stage. Hard intake pipes can be fabbed from home depot with some silicon couplers.

http://dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/1gturbo/ <--the guide is your friend...note the big box on the left that says "on a budget?"