Summer Plans

[Enki]

I'm planning to (finally) start working on my car while I'm back from school for the summer. I've been making a list of parts to order, so I figured I would post on here and get some input or advice.

Here's the list so far:

NGK wires - $55 from RRE
DIY intake - $? http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57364
eBay filter - ~$25
eBay catch can - ~$25 similar to this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OIL-...061913265QQcategoryZ33556QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Autometer Cobalt boost gauge - $68 from SBR
Autometer CObalt trans. temp. gauge - $61 from SBR
2-gauge A-pillar pod - $32 from SBr
Trans temp sender block - $20 from IPT

MBC - $50 from RRE
UICP - $95 from RRE
1g bov - ~$40 used


Which comes out to a total of about $470 + however much to make that pipe.

I'm also going to be attempting to find an exhaust shop that can build me a decent 3" turbo-back. Anyone have a ball-park idea of how much that would cost?

 

[canhsusername]

Sounds like you're on your way to dsm modding goodness. I had my exhaust done up at some independent shop for 500 dollars. I provided the flanges (from RRE) and 3 inch cat (from summit - magnaflow hi-flow for $75). Some places will not do your exhaust unless there is a cat - liability issues.

Good luck!

 

[98gsspy]

Wow $500 for a custom exhuast...I got it for $300 on a mazdaspeed. We did not use cats on the car and the guy had no problem plus it sounded awesome for about 2 hours. I would recommend using cats becasue might should cool for awhile but for a daily driver no way.

 

[Splitpi]

I would estimate about $700 for a 3" SS exhaust which includes manufacturing and installation and tweeking it. Atleast that is from my experience. Save some money and get a 2.5" catback setup and a megan DP and a 2.5" high flow cat. If you go 2.5", the Megan DP will bolt directly to the 2.5" cat with now problems or need to cut inorder to get the full 3" out of it. Since the Megan necks down from 3" to 2.5" at the end. Also the Megan is a Cat eliminator. I chose to bolt the cat directly to the end of the downpipe for a while because I love the enviroment and the sound of silence. I have since modified the setup to move the Cat back to the original location by cutting the Megan DP at the 3" section and welding a 3" flange and bolting the 3" cat to it.

 

[Enki]

Wow, $400 difference between two of youl. Sounds like it varies by quite a bit by the shop. I guess I'll just wait and see what the local shops charge.

I just found someone in my area who has a few 14b turbos sitting around that he's willing to sell. Would it be a good idea to pick one of those up? How much should I offer for one?

Any comments on the parts list? Anything I'm forgetting or need to add?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Splitpi said $700 for a SS exhaust, which is quite different from standard steel or even aluminized steel.

If I were you, I would look for a local shop that uses pre-bent mandrel bends; or if they have a mandrel bender in-house, that's even better. Use just standard steel: stainless is pointless since you never see the exhaust. If anything, just get the downpipe in SS. You can paint the rest of the exhaust with a matte black exhaust/header paint to protect it from rust.

If you get everything in standard steel, it shouldn't cost more than $300-$400: don't pay more than that.


Also, splurge for a K&N filter. They're only $50 or so. The eBay filters can let sand and other nasty things into your engine.

 

[Enki]

Would that $300-$400 include a muffler and cat or would I need to buy those separate and bring them in? How much would that add to the total price?

Would getting a 2.5" DP with 3" cat and cat-back be a good idea in order to reduce boost creep?

In order to get a K&N filter I would need to get either a FIPK ($120+ ) or a universal filter with an adapter. SBR has a filter+adapter for $70. They also have a Vibrant Performance filter+adapter for $60. DSMotorsports has the same Vibrant kit for $40 (http://www.diamondstarmotorsport.com/intakeparts.shtml bottom of page).

Would the Vibrant filter work well enough? $70 for an intake is stretching my budget and $120 for a FIPK is out of the question.

Thanks for the help

 

[Splitpi]

Would that $300-$400 include a muffler and cat or would I need to buy those separate and bring them in? How much would that add to the total price?

Would getting a 2.5" DP with 3" cat and cat-back be a good idea in order to reduce boost creep?

In order to get a K&N filter I would need to get either a FIPK ($120+ ) or a universal filter with an adapter. SBR has a filter+adapter for $70. They also have a Vibrant Performance filter+adapter for $60. DSMotorsports has the same Vibrant kit for $40 (http://www.diamondstarmotorsport.com/intakeparts.shtml bottom of page).

Would the Vibrant filter work well enough? $70 for an intake is stretching my budget and $120 for a FIPK is out of the question.

Thanks for the help

What is your final goal for the car? I.e. how big of a turbo will you be going. I would recommend getting a 2.5" exhaust as it will probably meet your needs. I recommend the megan downpipe because it looks great and it is relatively cheap and has worked well for me. The outlet on that downpipe is 2.5" and it is a cat eliminator. So then you need a 2.5" cat back system.

Also if you go 2.5" it "may" be easier to find a shop that can mandrel bend it (if they have a mandrel bender) or to have them crimp bend it... but most won't be able to bend 3" pipe well. At least that is what I have found when I was getting my exhaust done and tweaking it to actually make it fit. One other benefit is that a 2.5" "should" fit up over the wheel well atleast on a GST, a 3" will not. Incase you are going for a sleeper look.

Now for me, I went with a 3" SS setup because well.... I felt like spending $850 at the time (includes $500 for the exhaust, $100 to install it, $50 in resonators because it was too loud for my taste, $100 to install and rework the exhaust properly with cutting and reflanging the Megan DP for 3", $100 for a 3" hi-flo cat). But if I had to do it again, I would have gone 2.5" SS and saved myself $100 or so.

 

[Enki]

Final goal is around 250-300 at the wheels. But it will be quite awhile before that happens, as I'm in college right now so I don't have much of a budget. I can't even bring my car to school with me until I'm a junior (finishing freshman year now), so I can't justify spending much money on it this summer.

Would 2.5" be sufficient for those goals? I've always seen people on here recommending to go 3" right off. Unless the price difference is significant, it seems like 3" would be better.

I was planning to put a high-flow cat on in order to cut down on noise/smell/emissions etc. , so not really looking for a cat-eliminator DP. I have a gsx so I don't need to worry about that clearance either.

I doubt I will go with SS if it costs that much more. I'd be fine with the painted steel like VelocitaPaola suggested.

 

[Splitpi]

In my oppinion, 2.5" should be sufficient for 250-300 hp. And as VelocitaPaola said, just get exhaust paint and paint it from the cat back.

But while you are not looking at a cat eliminator, keep the Megan in mind because it is a cheap downpipe and you should be able to have it cut and the flange moved to the correct location and do so cheaper than if you got another downpipe. But shop around. Maybe you will find a shop that can do it cheaper.

Also make sure keep $150 extra for incidentals.... like you don't like the sound and want a resonator or two installed....