Wanting DSMer's opinions

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok i had just recently bougt my first dsm is a 90 eclipse gst, i only have the following thing done- NGR type s BOV, Excidy stage 1 clutch, turbonetics MBC, and 3in from the DP all the way back wtih no cat to the skunk 2 muffler. Ok so what i am wanting to know is what would be the smartest thing to start on minding that i am at a part time job and still in high school so the money flow is not huge. I was debating on gettin a FMI first then looking twords a new Manifold then possibly a 20g turbo? LMK what you guys think..and i am not that big of a newbie so if i have a question ill ask it

 

[srpjosh]

First mods should always be MAINTENANCE. Air filter, fuel filter, timing belt if needed, head gasket if needed. Then it's pretty straight forward. You need air and fuel. Get an metal intake of some kind, and a GOOD air filter. Leave the stock sidemount intercooler, you do not need a FMIC yet. Get a bigger fuel pump, and bigger injectors. Get a manual boost controller, to increase boost psi. Then get some gauges to monitor your engine. I'd recommend, boost, egt, air/fuel gauges. The get something to tune with, if your on a budget, start small like a APEX-i NEO, or SAFC. Then get it tuned by a reputable performance show in your town. And remember CHEAPly priced mods are just that CHEAP. We're all on a budget, but if you skimp on quality it'll Bite you is the @$$, down the road, especially if this is your DD.

 

[Kingnc02]

First mods should always be MAINTENANCE. Air filter, fuel filter, timing belt if needed, head gasket if needed. Then it's pretty straight forward. You need air and fuel. Get an metal intake of some kind, and a GOOD air filter. Leave the stock sidemount intercooler, you do not need a FMIC yet. Get a bigger fuel pump, and bigger injectors. Get a manual boost controller, to increase boost psi. Then get some gauges to monitor your engine. I'd recommend, boost, egt, air/fuel gauges. The get something to tune with, if your on a budget, start small like a APEX-i NEO, or SAFC. Then get it tuned by a reputable performance show in your town. And remember CHEAPly priced mods are just that CHEAP. We're all on a budget, but if you skimp on quality it'll Bite you is the @$$, down the road, especially if this is your DD.

very well put also a good idea when you have to replace parts is not to just buy oem rplacements but go with the better quality i.e.- better 02 sensor or uprgarded shock brakes and rotors ect. it might cost a little more at the time but doesnt take the whole chunk of change at one time to upgraded. there is a upgrade path on this site that will help you alot especially based on what you over all goal is

 

[Spoolin18]

After maintenance, I would get tunning tools, all the mods in the world are useless unless you know what its doing or whats going on. Run lean and you could blow it up overtime. I would get a wideband 02, and ecmlink and learn how to tune with it, this way you can always adjust for whatever you do to the car.

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok well i forgot to mention i have the delfi boost guage..and a walbro 255 fuel pump..new head gasket, and water pump and all new belt tensiors including the hydrolic belt tensior. Also i had planed on gettin the aem wide band to see how i am running...and as for a tune i would like to hold off a little on that untill i get a little more done with the turbo set up...and so if i just get all new intake piping and still run my SMIC i should have the same out-put as the FMI? and i read on how to clean the stock one so i will probibly start that this weekend... (AS FOR THE MBC i have that in the list up above...)

 

[RMawddsm]

I would suggest fuel management first (after maintenance) I know its one of those things that doesn't make the car go fast as soon as its plunged in, but its better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. SFAC & a logger or ECMLink.

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

what do u mean for fuel management? like a tune for the ECU or just the Apexi Controlers?

 

[RMawddsm]

Well there's piggy back systems like the Apexi SAFC which modifies the O2 readings to allow tuning. Plus you will need a logger to be able to tell what the car is doing.

There's chips which you actually replace a chip in the ECU and it changes the fuel maps, but to change these you have to take them out and reflash them or send them in to be reflashed. You will also need a logger for this. Often these are used with SAFCs to allow for minor tuning due to altitude/pressure and temperature changes.

DSMLink/ECMLink replaces a chip and will allow you to change things on the fly, so you won't need to pull the ECU every time you need to make a change. There is a built in logger for this program. This will also allow you to keep stock fuel maps for anything other than WOT (Wide open throttle).

Stand alone fuel management systems (like the AEM) allows you to make every map, usually these are a pain to tune for a DD.

The reason I suggest getting these first so you can control the car before adding parts. The way I've done my car is ad a part, tune for it, ad another part, tune for it, etc.

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok so basically i just have to see about getting my ecu reflashed and redone...would there be a advantage to having a lab-top instead of having a apexi or a SAFC?

 

[RMawddsm]

SAFCs modify the O2 output and usually require retuning constantly.

DSMLink/ECMLink actually modifies the ECU and the fuel maps and usually don't require constant retuning once its set as it works with the ECU. Plus when you get angry in a race you can yell "SHUT UP!" and slam that laptop (jk)

 

[inneed4dsm]

a buddy of mine as well owned a '90 gst and the only things he had different from you was an ebay front mount, 16g, and maft and he went 12.87 1/4mile on drag radials... im not sure if this helps any but if your looking for a quick car this should get the job done i forgot to mention he had kyb fully adjustable suspension which helped quite a bit with his launch.. hope this helps

 

[inneed4dsm]

as far as your little ecu discussion goes i recommend keydiver

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok well it just so happens my friend does chipping and socketing on ECU's so i think i am in luck there.. just buy him some and he said he would do it.. so thats good, and as for a wide band i think i am going to go with a AEM wide. and then after the tune and wide band i was thinkin of a 16g or 20g turbo with a new manifold...is that sounding decent? anyother recomendations?

 

[Spoolin18]

ok well it just so happens my friend does chipping and socketing on ECU's so i think i am in luck there.. just buy him some and he said he would do it.. so thats good, and as for a wide band i think i am going to go with a AEM wide. and then after the tune and wide band i was thinkin of a 16g or 20g turbo with a new manifold...is that sounding decent? anyother recomendations?

I would do a evo 3 16g, depending on what your budget is, I would go with a 2g ported mani if I didn't have money, I would go with a FP mani if I had a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket, and they are worth every penny.

 

[CHPerformance]

after all that get dsmlink or some programable ecu

 

[TastyTalon]

First investment should be a wideband. I have an AEM and its great, highly recommend it. If you start modding with a WB you will blow stuff up. Then save up and get DSMLink, you can do wonders with just these two mods!

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok so a AEM wide band a tune should do good for now correct?

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok i need a little help..i need to know were i can find a transistor plug (5-prong) i found one on ebay but i hate waiting for the parts for like a week and plus its used, i would like to find a mildly cheap one that is decent quallity ### i am saving for that chip and injectors...if anyone has any info lmk....

 

[tragdor]

Just a heads up-I know that it's difficult to follow the path outlined because in the short term, you may be able to go faster immediately with parts that aren't recommended without others (like a bigger turbo without an exhaust and more fuel, as a simple example). The problem is, you will certainly break something, and it will cost you much more in the long run. Listen to the recommended upgrades in order, buy the brands you want, and good luck!

 

[Spoolin18]

Just a heads up-I know that it's difficult to follow the path outlined because in the short term, you may be able to go faster immediately with parts that aren't recommended without others (like a bigger turbo without an exhaust and more fuel, as a simple example). The problem is, you will certainly break something, and it will cost you much more in the long run. Listen to the recommended upgrades in order, buy the brands you want, and good luck!

Correct, do it right the first time., and she'll reward you in the long run.

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok i know what your saying but i need to find this transistor plug so i can drive the car befor i do anything more to it

 

[Spoolin18]

ok i know what your saying but i need to find this transistor plug so i can drive the car befor i do anything more to it

Put a wanting to buy ad in the classifieds, if you don't have access to that yet, ask someone to do it for you.

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

ok so i was donig some research and read that a hyundi 1.8L/2.0L transistor would work as long as its off a 1990-1995...anyone know if this is true?

 

[slow_spoolin_1g]

hahah so i had a buddy lookin at my ecu and shit talkin about changing up the fuel maping a little bit, and come to find out it already has Eprom on it and they have already been changed up...thats me some money right there!