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

[keymaster]

Then you're going to the wrong machine shop. That machining shouldn't cost more than $50-60.

 

[gurmanator]

I would spend the money on engine parts...17's dont look very good on a car that doesnt run.you can buy a engine kit for 500.00 with pistons and everything.you dont need forged pistons unless you plan on nitrious.bore it .020 over,balance the motor,remove balance shafts and you will be fine.I have a car with cast pistons and nitrious and 23,000 miles,timing is the secret.

 

[v2ner]

The internals in the 4G63T are really robust. Most people on here don't really need to upgrade their pistons. I've seen 590WHP on stock 1G pistons and rods. You should think about upgrading if you're going to run loads of boost. By loads of boost, I mean anything over 32psi. Also, you're not going to feel a difference by upgrading your pistons to that compression ratio.

 

[Coder24]

my situation is that i have $1000 for my rebuild. i could buy wiesco pistons with 8.3:1 comp ration or buy 17'' tires for my car. which one would be better??? also how much hp do you get by using the higher comp ratio pistons? and are the factory pistons foreged?? thanks for all the help!!

Honestly man i think that both of your choices are a waste of money and time...by looking at you vehicle profile you have no bolt on mods...Is this true? if it is then i would invest in some bolt ons...a.k.a. get a FMIC,2.5-3" exaust,new intake & K&N Filter, LArger or ported out turbo of course, new clutch and flywheel, ect. those mods would give you more horsepower than your new pistons when you dont really need them. also if your gonna race it i wouldnt go any bigger than 16's.

 

[turbodsm87]

the reason i don't have any bolt on yet is because i am building this car from the ground up. at this time i just want to biuld a solid foundation so that this summer i can turn up the boost and add all of my bolt ons( exaust, fmic, bov, boost controler, intake, gm maf conversion, ect..) will running 17s make all that much of a diffrence at the track??

 

[Coder24]

yea you will have slower wheel spin...like the bigger your rim the more it weighs and the less wheel spin you have because of tyhe bigger circumfrence...a buddy of mine has a civic with 15's just for the faster wheel spin...its a little hard to explain in a text...plus im watching a movie but let me know if u dont know what i mean.
ALSO DONT BUY CHROME!!!!!ITS HEAVY AS A MOTHER!

 

[v2ner]

17s is not all that bad. They're actually pretty good at the track with winter tires. IMO, 17s is the ideal all around size. All around meaning: strip, auto-x, street (looks). I like 17x8 and 17x7 is ok.

 

[Coder24]

17s is not all that bad. They're actually pretty good at the track with winter tires. IMO, 17s is the ideal all around size. All around meaning: strip, auto-x, street (looks). I like 17x8 and 17x7 is ok.

there you go...now you have a couple different opinions to start you off...but i wouldnt do the pistons b/c there really is no point b/c by the time u get money again to "deck" your car out you will have sold it or junked it due to it being a DSM...also mines a fwd so i need all the wheel spin i can get ...

 

[TheRealist]

Im in your same boat man, i have 1000 also, not sure what to get, but i do have Tubalar Turbo manifold and Injen IS series intake, thats about it. so im not sure what to do .

 

[Coder24]

if i were you guys i would just upgrade you bolt ons..because the internals are fine...then when it does blow due to being old mess with it then...but i really dought you guys will have your cars long enough for the new pistons to matter...Go with bolt on

 

[TheRealist]

if i were you guys i would just upgrade you bolt ons..because the internals are fine...then when it does blow due to being old mess with it then...but i really dought you guys will have your cars long enough for the new pistons to matter...Go with bolt on

I mean i have 114k miles on my car? how is it fine? wouldnt you lose power of the pistons haveing that many miles on them?

 

[Coder24]

I mean i have 114k miles on my car? how is it fine? wouldnt you lose power of the pistons haveing that many miles on them?

my pistons and rings have 177,xxx on them and i have no problem yet..but i did blow my head gasket...and my whole head is rebuilt i just have to redo the gasket b/c the guy who did it for me did it wrong and it blew.

 

[creed1857]

Definately work on the motor. That's the heart of the car, you car only do so many bolt ons without having problems with the stock motor. Rims can always wait, why make your car look fast if it isn't.

 

[v2ner]

Another way to save your motor, besides regular maintainance is to make sure it has enough fuel. Invest in injectors, pump, and a tuning device. Lay the ground work before you get the big stuff. That way you have better chances. DSMs aren't bad at all, if you know what you're doing. I don't know why people say they are prone to breaking down so easily. That is why I think experience is also key.

 

[NOFX0617]

Depending on what you plan on doing with your car you might want to hang on to those 17's. If you are going to do auto X or street racing and plan on putting some bigger brakes on your car, most big brake kits have rotors that require at least a 17 inch rim to fit over them.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Personally, I would put the money into something worthwhile, like maintenance. I guarantee that alot of us DSMer's, as much as we love our cars, could use a little TLC. I would go with suspension, but that is just me. I love knowing that whatever other mods I drop into my engine bay or my tranny, my car on the other side will be able to handle whatever I throw at it. Buy the ES Hyper Flex kit and/or the MM inserts, or something with suspension. I see guys all the time with only an intake and muffler, bad a$$ body kit, and that's it, nothing else. Do something with your car that will benefit your car in a long run.... trust me, you'll be better for it...

 

[Slippi84]

Personally, I would put the money into something worthwhile, like maintenance. I guarantee that alot of us DSMer's, as much as we love our cars, could use a little TLC. I would go with suspension, but that is just me. I love knowing that whatever other mods I drop into my engine bay or my tranny, my car on the other side will be able to handle whatever I throw at it. Buy the ES Hyper Flex kit and/or the MM inserts, or something with suspension. I see guys all the time with only an intake and muffler, bad a$$ body kit, and that's it, nothing else. Do something with your car that will benefit your car in a long run.... trust me, you'll be better for it...

I understand what your saying but for most of us going fast takes priority over suspention stuff. Take a look at ost of the people on this thread alone. You will see a really long performance list and maybe 3 thinsg suspension wise. These cars have a descent suspension stock so I mean for most of us we just use the dsm modo if it aint broke ride it till it does.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

I understand what your saying but for most of us going fast takes priority over suspention stuff. Take a look at ost of the people on this thread alone. You will see a really long performance list and maybe 3 thinsg suspension wise. These cars have a descent suspension stock so I mean for most of us we just use the dsm modo if it aint broke ride it till it does.

I understand too, but why be second best in suspension. Yeah, DSM's have a good suspension, but there are better and best upgrades for it. Thats like being a powerhouse lifter wearing no socks and 20 year old shoes with no traction or support either. I mean come on, think about it for a second. I have speed and strength as well and comfort and stability, the best of both worlds. You have to keep everything balanced in moderation with these parts, you change one, you have to change the other. Just like a push and pull system, or a team sport, they all work together. Oh well, any person will tell you, hp and tq are fine, but it also the suspension that keeps you there and gets you there comfortably... and it was just a thought.... I mean, he did ask for suggestions

 

[dnhieu]

Hmm that's interesting you don't hear many people spraying and using water injection. Nitrous will have a better cooling effect than water injection by far but ofcourse you wouldn't spray 24/7 like you can with water injection.honestly I would do one or the other but that's up to you. To let you know people are wrong and somewhat right about nitrous on stock motor. It won't hurt your internals but with stock head gasket and stock head bolts you may run into trouble when trying to boost hard and spray. I would atleast get a MLS hg and arp head studs before spraying that way you have atleast a little more security.

I know this was further in the thread but my buddy uses nitrious and alky injection. hes about to break into the mid to high 7s in the 8th with a evo 3 16g, set at 24psi, and a STOCK INTERCOOLER! hes also pimping a STOCK auto transmission with no torque converter. the guy is nuts. anyways thats besides the point. he has done alot running them both. i would advise getting a walbro 255 because at 24psi of boost and 100shot of nitrious he over ran his walbro 190 and he had to coast half way down the track because he fuel cut. he ended up running a 8.6 on that pass . hes running dsm link and a built bottom end tho....

 

[Slippi84]

I understand too, but why be second best in suspension. Yeah, DSM's have a good suspension, but there are better and best upgrades for it. Thats like being a powerhouse lifter wearing no socks and 20 year old shoes with no traction or support either. I mean come on, think about it for a second. I have speed and strength as well and comfort and stability, the best of both worlds. You have to keep everything balanced in moderation with these parts, you change one, you have to change the other. Just like a push and pull system, or a team sport, they all work together. Oh well, any person will tell you, hp and tq are fine, but it also the suspension that keeps you there and gets you there comfortably... and it was just a thought.... I mean, he did ask for suggestions

Ok I am not disputing the benefit or suspension parts but like you said the original poster asked for suggestions but on how to go from 12's to 11's. Do you believe that suspension work would take him from 12's to 11's and do it the most cost effective way for this guy cause just by lookin at his mods he isn't rolin in cash just like the rest of us.

 

[Slippi84]

I know this was further in the thread but my buddy uses nitrious and alky injection. hes about to break into the mid to high 7s in the 8th with a evo 3 16g, set at 24psi, and a STOCK INTERCOOLER! hes also pimping a STOCK auto transmission with no torque converter. the guy is nuts. anyways thats besides the point. he has done alot running them both. i would advise getting a walbro 255 because at 24psi of boost and 100shot of nitrious he over ran his walbro 190 and he had to coast half way down the track because he fuel cut. he ended up running a 8.6 on that pass . hes running dsm link and a built bottom end tho....

Yeah that's alky and nitrous I have heard of that but he said water injection and nitrous. Like Vipers inuject propane and nitrous for huge gains but I haven't heard of many nitrous and water setups ou there

 

[dnhieu]

Yeah that's alky and nitrous I have heard of that but he said water injection and nitrous. Like Vipers inuject propane and nitrous for huge gains but I haven't heard of many nitrous and water setups ou there

hey man im not trying to fight with you. im just saying he runs 80% alky and 20% water and has good success with it. im drunk as #### right now and im about to pass out so sorry about the spelling. its just and optiong. its probably not going to get him into 11s but it will most cerently help in the future.

good night everyone
david

p.s. i cant feel my toes

 

[dnhieu]

hey man im not trying to fight with you. im just saying he runs 80% alky and 20% water and has good success with it. im drunk as #### right now and im about to pass out so sorry about the spelling. its just and option. its probably not going to get him into 11s but it will most cerently help in the future.

good night everyone
david

p.s. i cant feel my toes

 

[dnhieu]

hey man im not trying to fight with you. im just saying he runs 80% alky and 20% water and has good success with it. im drunk as #### right now and im about to pass out so sorry about the spelling. its just and option. its probably not going to get him into 11s but it will most cerently help in the future.

good night everyone
david

p.s. i cant feel my toes

sorry im wasted and my computer is ####ed up. moderator please help.....

 

[Slippi84]

sorry im wasted and my computer is ####ed up. moderator please help.....

Ummm ok . Man you shouldn't post while in a altered state of mind. Your post wasn't the one that i questioned I just reiterated that I said before that I hadn't seen any pure water & nitrous setups out there. I have heard of people doing what your brother does and think it works well from the numbers those setups seem to put up. It's the suspension mods that I doubt being able to decrease times not water nitrous or any variation of mixtures.