The Official "What Should I Spend Money On?" Thread [Merged 10-6]

[EvolvingGST]

I recently bought a 1999 Eclipse GS OZ Edition with only 2,000 miles on the engine (rebuilt). I have 2,000$ to spend on upgrades and i don't really want to turbo it. Is there anyway i could make it almost as fast as a stock GST/GSX with headers,intake,exhaust etc? Please post what parts i should get and the best brands of them. Thanks

NO WAY possible... sell your car and buy a GST/GSX... that cash should make up the difference... or you could buy a lot of Nitrous and hope that doesnt blow up your car and you might go as fast as a turbo car once....

 

[prophecy7115]

I. If you don't want to hassle on going turbo you can do a couple of things.

~. selling your car and getting a gst/gsx

~. buying hard intake pipe i would preffer short ram but any will do, headers all the way back 2.5" and a nitrous kit i don't know much about N/A eclipses but instead of doing it on a budget, since you have the money to spend just go straight with a direct port and spend it right, or do the typical and drill a hole in the intake pipe, and with the money you save on your car. making it look like you want it, or weekend money.

I would get more in detail or prices but i have to get going i have seen these setups whoop some ass, and if you decide to build the motor for nitrous there is no is nothing you cant slap on there (150 shot easy overall)

 

[DSMcrazy3]

Turbo it! haha I know you don't want to...But you should

 

[K_Hill]

Here you go this might give you some options... http://www.dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/2gnt/

 

[prophecy7115]

Turbo it! haha I know you don't want to...But you should

Yea you should if you really want to be fast but to get it done right you will probably spend alt more than 2000 in the long run, and you also have to deal with oil running places were its normally shouldn't and serious leaks and risks on the motor and endless nights trying to figure out why you car isn't running, and dealing with turbos and bad seals and money later on down the road. The nitrous bottle cost about 25 bucks to fill up well at least down here, and if installed right the first time with safe amount inserting to the motor your only expense would be tires and filling back up again. I used to drive nothing but nitrous powered Honda's, and trust me i love my dsm allot more but because of all the hours i have put into it, see i grew that emotion with this car but never with the Honda's because i don't remember all the back aches and red irritated eyes trying to get the dsm running the next day and pulling an all nighters. My regular weekend on my eclipse is pulling the tranny out and answering allot of questions, with the Honda it was just going to the performance shop and filling up the bottle. But my dsm is like my girlfriend you know there are girls out there that give you less headaches and an easier life, but if you get up and leave you feel like you invested allot for nothing, so you hold on and try to make the best of the situation . I love my dsm.

Its also depends on what you like doing, i hate racing past 120 i am strictly quarter mile racer and off the line kind of guy, some guy tries me on the highway i laugh and keep speed limit. So you might want to look up the definition of lag and instant. But all in all i wish you luck on your choice, the only reason i am fond about you going nitrous is because my friend did, and he scares allot of cars to death, and they think he is boosting, (he knows how to hide the bottle ) we have no exact number but he is doing a 75 shot and is planning on a 100. Wish you luck there are all kinds of different opinions just choose wisely.

 

[fuzzyturtles]

I know this may not be what you want to hear but it will be a pain making a NT fast with a 2k budget. I would go for looks w that kind of cash myself on a NA platform. You could do alot cf hood looks nice an some nice wheels and tires plus anything else you think would look good. Maybe some suspension mods something on the interior? A new paint color you could do alot I think youll be happier in the long run not modding you nonturbo engin and making it look nice. If you realy want speed think about a GSX or GST like the guys said I hope this helps and good luck on your car. With a little creativity you could have a real head turner. PS just keep the 2gb bumpers stack an make everyone smile happy modding.

 

[darkness_fallz]

The Chrysler 420a motor is a peppy little motor... as matter of fact, a good number of the fastest FWD DSM's are turbo'd 420's... Take a look into a nice intake and exhaust as mentioned above.. Also consider a little headwork... Port\polish as well as maybe some more agressive cams. Underdrive pullies are another awesome option.

 

[prophecy7115]

I know this may not be what you want to hear but it will be a pain making a NT fast with a 2k budget. I would go for looks w that kind of cash myself on a NA platform. You could do alot cf hood looks nice an some nice wheels and tires plus anything else you think would look good. Maybe some suspension mods something on the interior? A new paint color you could do alot I think youll be happier in the long run not modding you nonturbo engin and making it look nice. If you realy want speed think about a GSX or GST like the guys said I hope this helps and good luck on your car. With a little creativity you could have a real head turner. PS just keep the 2gb bumpers stack an make everyone smile happy modding.

Agreed on, money for a nice looking car = lots of hot chicks wanting to ride it. But dont forget the reason why so many people disagree in nitrous and call it fake power is because its the most bang for the buck in power and also the easiest to have, a bottle never hurt well not to much of it.

 

[SolidBoostTSi]

As most DSM'ers, my car is down and it is getting the full bolt-on treatment. So far the list goes:

Jeff O. stage 3 chip
new ECU caps
Apexi Turbo timer
MAFT v2.02
3" GM MAF
RC 550cc injectors
Dejon Tool LICP 2.5"
Dejon Tool UICP 2.5"
HKS SSQV
HKS SuperMegaFlow (universal)
2.5" intake pipe
Intrax 1.75" drop springs
ACT 2100
FP TDO5H-18G 7cm
AMS MBC
Pace setter 2G header
ported 2G o2 housing
Starion FMIC
SS oil feedline
Symborski bushings and bearings
MOMO Race steering wheel
Arospeed chaos 18"s

Now that those are all done and over with, I am stuck on wether to make my car look good with a 1G DRIFT KIT or get a 2.5" exhaust.?? or maybe 3" it all depends on wether i can afford it or not too personally if I got the exhaust, I'd want it a complete 3"/2.5" from the o2 housing back. I need your input, any help will be appreciated

 

[Pitman99505]

Since you are doing "the full bolt on treatment" then it would make too much sense to do the exhaust. You need to open your exhaust all the way. Leaving the stock exhaust will not help you in anyway. Nor would the drift kit. Not to mention the hp gains you will get from opening up your exhaust. An exhaust is something you should put on before you put on half of the mods that you are already putting on. This is a no brainier, everyone is going to tell you that. depending on what your hp goals are that should dictate what size to get. I would go ahead and get the 3" exhaust. You have enough money to get a decent catback. You already have a ported 02 and i am assuming you mean pacesetter downpipe, i hope you did not get headers, since those are for n/t cars.

Bottom line, with all of the mods you are already doing it would be stupid not to put on an exhaust.

 

[BGGSTin]

My lifelong Motto:

Function
Form

I agree go with an exhaust, Ef! the outside

 

[amp9211]

I got a full turbo back exhaust a little while ago for $750 shipped. It may be something to look into, it was a 3 inch SS with Magnaflow cat. and muffler.

Just an idea. I would stay away from doing exterior mods right now, though.

 

[yangtech]

i would go with an exhaust too... for some reason i never liked 1g's with body kits...

 

[94mitsuGST]

You are already lowered the car and put rims on it and to me thats really all you need to do to a dsm to make it look good. Go with the exhaust. And doesn't it take more than 550 dollars to buy and install a body kit due to fitment. Unless you do it yourself which i heard can be a pain. Plus then you need to paint it.

 

[speedy13]

exhaust,you can easily ontain a turbo back for that much money.(if you look).I agree with 94mitsugst,just look at his car.

 

[SolidBoostTSi]

I do have the Pace Setter 2G tubular Exhaust manifold, and all this stuff are DIY. Where can I find a decent downpipe+catback for $550? I'm in a crunch because of school, and 1 month before it starts to snow. Thanks again

 

[funniegus]

I say go for a full 3in custom built exhaust, then youl still have money left over for more goodies.

 

[nightstocker99]

OK so you have like 500 to spend on an exhaust I would go with that because just like everyone else said it will open up some ponies for you. When I lived in L.A. I use to see all kinds of people drive around without their bodykits painted I hate that, and like you said you only have 500 and that is how much a kit is. So same the up the money and put the body kit on later. Make power now cause you have the money.

 

[99gst_racer]

Performance over Appearance.
3" turbo-back over the body kit.

 

[SolidBoostTSi]

Sounds great guys! Now another question WTF HKS HiPower or Apexi' N1????

 

[nightstocker99]

Does it really matter it is pipe they give you the same HP don't they what you are buying is the name for the part.

 

[amp9211]

If I were you, i would get a SS exhaust because of the area that you live in. I think that the winters there would be pretty hard on aluminized exhaust.

Check these guys out. I got one from them, and it seems to be of pretty good quality.

http://www.appliedforce.com/

 

[Starch]

Apexi N-1
Just because I have brand loyalty.

 

[andytalon]

You are already lowered the car and put rims on it and to me thats really all you need to do to a dsm to make it look good. Go with the exhaust. And doesn't it take more than 550 dollars to buy and install a body kit due to fitment. Unless you do it yourself which i heard can be a pain. Plus then you need to paint it.

Agreed, plus they dont look that great I think 1g's look the best lowerd just a little with a nice set of rims. Plus all the parts you got, i'd think you would need an exhaust, who cares about apperance when you can spank a V8.

 

[babell2]

My decision was to buy or build. I built due to not being able to find Stainless systems. Full 2.5" turbo to tip.