try to help me change my mind

[420a-t]

ok ive been thinking about what my goals are. i want to have a fast, street legal, reliable, clean car that i can take on long trips and withstand idaho winter, but mostly focus on the fast part. i really like my car now and am proud of what i've accomplished so far.

with that said, ive recently been thinking about purchasing a 2g gsx. IMO, i think it would be more reliable (already set up for turbo) better in winter, and already faster stock than my car is now. i would really like to keep my rs, but i think there is more of a opportunity for more hp and a faster car.

will someone tell me if there is any advantage to having a rs-t to a gsx?

 

[ericmetcalf11]

rs-t is cheaper on insurance. 4g63 are not more reliable. You also know the history of your car. You would need to to fix any problems with a new car and customize the car to how you like it. Your car is already how you like it.

AWD would be nice for the winter time and from a stop. You could use that 14b for the gsx.

There are lots of ways to go fast. A turbo 420a and 4g63 are both ways to do it.

 

[dr1665]

As Eric mentioned - you know what you're dealing with right now. Sure, having a GSX would be nice, but while AWD can accelerate faster in the snow, it takes just as long, if not longer, to come to a stop. Were you sporting a mostly stock 2GNT, I'd say look into the trade, but you've got a lot into your car as it stands right now.

You'll never get the money you've invested back out of it. You will have to sell off your mods for pennies on the dollar. When you post up that you're looking to sell your car, the vultures will come out of the woodwork, asking you about parting it out. You might not think this is a big deal, but let me tell you; for any DSMer who ever really gave a shit about his car at some point, to learn later on that it was parted out leaves you with a sick feeling. Sure, it's just a car, but it's your car. It is what it is today because of the work you've put into it.

If nothing else, revise your current plans for your car to include some form of reliability for the winter. Consider buying an LSD for better traction on slippery surfaces. Spend some time really making sure your car is ready for winter and looks the way you want it to look. Then save your money over the winter and meet spring with a bigger turbo, injectors, and MSnS. Your car will look good, run good, and be your own.

Just my thoughts...

 

[Blitzeclips]

Sell it. You are not worthy enough for the 420a at this point.

Have fun with that 4g63 EVERYONEand their family has. You'll be at ground zero again, fresh start at 15 seconds in the 1/4! Hell, that boosted 420a you have could probably pull on a stock 4G63...

I don't know what to tell you, you're going to do what you want to do either way. You know the saying, measure twice, cut once? Well, Think twice, buy once.

 

[420a-t]

i am not worthy enough? why do you say that? just because i was thinking of what would be better in the long run? anyways, i dont want to get into it...

dr.1665, that is true about what i know about my car. i also do everything that ive done to it and dont want to start over. dont get me wrong, i love my car, and i dont want to part it out. that would suck to know that i did all of that work for nothing. i am most likely planning on keeping my car, i just wanted to see what everyones unbiased opinions were (even though that's hard to do on here)

one more question... if i were to get a spare motor to build on, would it be ok if i just got the bottom end, or should i pay the extra couple bucks and get everything. i want to build the bottom end so i can really see what 420a's can do. if i was to do all of the work myself, (besides machining) how much would i be looking for everything else besides pistons and rods? what else would i need to buy? thanks

 

[dr1665]

one more question... if i were to get a spare motor to build on, would it be ok if i just got the bottom end, or should i pay the extra couple bucks and get everything. i want to build the bottom end so i can really see what 420a's can do. if i was to do all of the work myself, (besides machining) how much would i be looking for everything else besides pistons and rods? what else would i need to buy? thanks

You can start with the bottom end, sir. No worries about that. Find a block and strip it down. Once you have pistons (with rings), rods and bearings, take them with the block to your local machine shop. If you don't know what shop to use, see if you can't find more local DSMers who can point you in the right direction. Even a friend who knows of a good V8 shop is better than picking one at random. Most like referal business and, depending on how long you can afford to wait on it, will take care of you.

I had a local V8 shop that has done enough DSM work to ask me if my 420A was going to be boosted or not when I dropped it off do my bottom end. For just under $600, they tanked the block, decked it for the HG, bored it, balanced the internals, gapped the rings, and assembled the bare shortie. So, to give you some idea what you're looking at to get this far, assuming you get the same prices I managed to get...

$600 machine work and assy
$500 Venolia 10.5:1CR custom forged pistons (w/ rings)
$400 Eagle ESP connecting rods
$100 main and rod bearings*
$1600 - total cost

You would still want to buy: water pump ($100), oil pump ($150), UDP ($150), timing kit ($200), accessory belts ($30), hoses ($10), 9qts. oil ($10), two oil filters ($12), coolant ($15), and water wetter ($15) if you wanted a truly comprehensive bottom end rebuild.

Hope this helps, some.

*Note: This estimate is on the high side. Personally, I just grabbed some Napa bearings. I mean, they're like spark plug wires - who gives a shit what brand you used?

 

[420Adriver]

I say keep your 420a it seems like you have alot of work and pride put into it.