Suggestions for a mild build on a budget

[Iowa99GST]

I'm currently about to dive into building my first DSM 7 bolt motor for my 99 GST, what suggestions do you guys have for a mild build pushing 350-400 hp?

So far everything is stock, so what would you guys recommend? I wish I had the cash flow to go all out on my build, but I don't, and I want something that is going to be street driveable and reliable.

I was told that completely stock these motors can hold 350-400 hp, but I just wanna make sure it will be reliable and not breaking all the time by putting in the performance parts in where they are needed

I also know already that I need a wideband and a turbo timer, any suggestions on where to go for these? I have an Apexi SAFC already, so idk if that might work best with anything specific.. I'll be the first to admit I am a "newb" , so any help will be appreciated!!

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[DearestNameless]

Tech Guide: 2G 4G63t Upgrades - DSMtuners

 

[airmail96]

+1 on following the upgrade path.

 

[Iowa99GST]

Any other suggestions? I'm looking more for opinions on what you guys like/don't like as far as brands, and what I should mod out of a list like the one you provided above since I'm not financially able to put THAT much stuff into the car at this time -_-

Thanks!

 

[TRSblader]

If you're tight on budget, before you do anything I suggest you do 2 things. Look at the upgrade path as well as other people's mods for the desired power range (profiles), and then look around on the vendors sites to see how much the parts cost before you do a single thing. One of the biggest issues with reliability is people buying parts they don't need and skimping on the other parts or running out of money because they don't realize what things cost. Once that happens, reliability goes right out the window.

 

[Cassera]

Once you start turning up the boost and gaining HP, You gotta put Head studs so this way your current studs don't stretch and cause some serious problems.

ARP DSM Head Studs#-#DSM Internal Engine Parts#-#Engine#-#DSMparts.com - DSM Performance Parts

You will definately need these for 350-400whp, especially if it's gonna be a Daily Driver

Dsm Graveyard has a lot of parts for cheap....You should check that out
http://www.thedsmgraveyard.com/default.asp

 

[viprez586]

What do you mean by build?
As in bolt on mods?
Or engine rebuild?
Bone stock I'm assuming?

The SAFC is a decent setup combined with an Eprom chip. However I were to do it all over again dsmlink all the way. Especially now that they have the "lite" version.

Definitely spend some time reading up about parts before you just go buy it, say for instance : A walbro 255 fuel pump.
If you did you research on this particular pump - you'd find that the gains are much better doing a re-wire and more importantly should run a adjustable fuel pressure regulator to prevent a rich condition at idle. (Just an example of how doing you're research saves you time and money in the long run.)

 

[Iowa99GST]

The car is not/will not be a daily driver, and I'm not planning on having my build done in the next month or anything, I'm hoping to have it done by next spring, so I'm just wondering what to start looking for so hopefully I can pick things up on sale =P

 

[DSMDriver69]

Look at the upgrade path. Or do what I do and spend alot of time looking at other peoples dyno graphs and upgrades in their profiles.

 

[Cassera]

The car is not/will not be a daily driver, and I'm not planning on having my build done in the next month or anything, I'm hoping to have it done by next spring, so I'm just wondering what to start looking for so hopefully I can pick things up on sale =P

Still, Headstuds are a must. I would put headstuds on anything above 15psi on the stock 14b just to be safe. Well thats just me

 

[Iowa99GST]

What do you mean by build?
As in bolt on mods?
Or engine rebuild?
Bone stock I'm assuming?

The SAFC is a decent setup combined with an Eprom chip. However I were to do it all over again dsmlink all the way. Especially now that they have the "lite" version.

Definitely spend some time reading up about parts before you just go buy it, say for instance : A walbro 255 fuel pump.
If you did you research on this particular pump - you'd find that the gains are much better doing a re-wire and more importantly should run a adjustable fuel pressure regulator to prevent a rich condition at idle. (Just an example of how doing you're research saves you time and money in the long run.)

This is one thing that at the moment is hard for me to answer, the motor I'm picking up is currently bone stock. My motor blew a month after I bought the car, and I know it has a Walbro 255 fuel pump and bigger injectors already, but I'm not 100% sure on everything that was already done to it, and I just never seem to have time to jump into it

Still, Headstuds are a must. I would put headstuds on anything above 15psi on the stock 14b just to be safe. Well thats just me

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just making a note since I hadn't mentioned it above that the car isn't a daily =) Also, it has the small 16g turbo on it as well.

 

[viprez586]

Post your mods first and foremost.
Maintenance before modification.