what should my first few steps be?

[MaRShiN]

Ive never had a car worth tuning or the money to do it untill now, well the money thing is still a partial issue. Anyway, Im just wondering what the first couple steps are that I should take to start perfomance modding. Now while I would LOVE a turbo, Im in the army so Im not making alot of money, and I got my car off a lot so I have car payments for a few years. Im looking for unexpensive (free - 200) mods that will get a good performance boost. I have a 99 GS btw

 

[oldman]

Ive never had a car worth tuning or the money to do it untill now, well the money thing is still a partial issue. Anyway, Im just wondering what the first couple steps are that I should take to start perfomance modding. Now while I would LOVE a turbo, Im in the army so Im not making alot of money, and I got my car off a lot so I have car payments for a few years. Im looking for unexpensive (free - 200) mods that will get a good performance boost. I have a 99 GS btw

I would start with k/n filter and new exhuast.

 

[CyberEye]

http://dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/2gnt/

 

[blcknspo0ln]

many people will just say go turbo.. but if you're looking at a 13 sec or below car.. prepare to invest A LOT of money into the car.

but if you just want a little pep in your ride, i'd consider nitrous..

 

[demonchild]

Ive never had a car worth tuning or the money to do it untill now, well the money thing is still a partial issue. Anyway, Im just wondering what the first couple steps are that I should take to start perfomance modding. Now while I would LOVE a turbo, Im in the army so Im not making alot of money, and I got my car off a lot so I have car payments for a few years. Im looking for unexpensive (free - 200) mods that will get a good performance boost. I have a 99 GS btw

I hate to tell you this, but your 99 GS isn't really worth tuning either. What the other guy said about the intake and exhaust is pretty much all that's worth doing. My advice is don't even bother...I had a GS and it'll never be that fast. Sell it and buy a GSX and GST or just be happy with what you have.

 

[GSX0TIC]

I'd have to agree with the others...if you're looking to get your ride fairly fast then it will cost you thousands for a turbo kit, etc...and IMO it's almost not worth it but if you just want a little more pick up there are plenty of mods you can get...

Cold Air Intake, Header, Exhaust, Camshafts, Cam Gears, Port work to the head & intake manifold, bigger throttle body, lightweight pulleys and maybe even nitrous...Of course you could always get a turbo kit and i'd recommend hahn...

You could always look at it from the flashy POV.....Wheels, Suspension, Brakes, Window Tint, Sound System, Interior Accesories, Gauges.....the list goes on and on....it's just up to you.....happy modding

 

[MaRShiN]

Thanx for all the responces. Sad but true I suppose, I cant sell it and get a GSX/GST coz I still owe too much on this car, I got raped with my intrest rate, anyway I know it wont be a 13, I just want a little pep and a beter sound. Think Ill go Air Intake, High flow exhaust and exhaust header and intake manifold. After that I'll just do cosmetics and wait till I can buy a GSX/GST. Thanx again......btw this is my only car so keeping up with maintnance and trying to do aftermarket stuff gets a little costly. Ive only had it for 1 year now and so far Ive done; RF 1200W Punch Amp, 2x 12" Volfenhag DVC Speakers, 1F Cap, RF Head unit (wanna new one), a little painting on the interior plastic, Under dash neon, some exterior vinyl, 17" niche rims with sumitomo tires, 35% platinum tint, underbody LED's, Altezza tailights, clear side marker lenses. I have Halo Projectors in my closet waiting to put them in, diamond plate instament cluster bezel (havnt seen one b4 dont know if Ill dig it) and daimond plate dead pedal and floor mats coming from eBay. Ill post pix as the progress continues

 

[BMWHATR]

On the other hand you can do engine swap It will be cheaper then putting a turbokit on your car. Good condition 4G63 motor will run you no more then $1000 plus ECU and wires harnes. You can pick up a good condition 14b turbocharger for $100 It will be lot faster then just putting a turbo kit on your 420A motor

 

[JST2FST]

On the other hand you can do engine swap It will be cheaper then putting a turbokit on your car. Good condition 4G63 motor will run you no more then $1000 plus ECU and wires harnes. You can pick up a good condition 14b turbocharger for $100 It will be lot faster then just putting a turbo kit on your 420A motor

Dont do this, it is going to cost you a hell of a lot more money to swap in a 4G63 then to just buy a turbo kit (plus it will be a hell of a lot more work). If you want to get a quick boost of power with out spending a lot of money i would spray, but if you do spray make sure you do it right.

 

[jaxon23]

from your gallery pics looks like you already have exhaust

 

[MaRShiN]

I have a 1/2 exhaust. I ran 2 1/4 from the cat back to the new muffler, sounds good but I still have my stock manifold and stock cat. I'd like to get a new manifold and new high flow catback. There's no emission testing in GA but someday Ill be going back to cali, the land of SMOG TESTS

 

[MaRShiN]

Dont do this, it is going to cost you a hell of a lot more money to swap in a 4G63 then to just buy a turbo kit (plus it will be a hell of a lot more work). If you want to get a quick boost of power with out spending a lot of money i would spray, but if you do spray make sure you do it right.

How would I "do it right". Like I said b4 Im new to all this and everything Ive heard (probably false) about NO2 is that you have to do alot to the engine to keep it from blowing up. Also keeping in mind that this is my daily driver and only car, Im not looking for track times, but damn Id LOVE to have NO2. ...on an offtopic sidenote, Im thinking about removing the passenger side airbag and putting a monitor for a dvd player there, anyone done thins b4 and have pix or advice?

 

[jdm4g63]

Before you start modding you need to make a decision about whether you will turbocharge the car in the future. Don't do expensive NA mods that will have to be replaced when you go turbo like aftermarket non turbo headers. You should do things that will be used in the future with your turbo kit.
Do your suspension setup, the eibach pro-kit is fairly inexpensive and decent, front and rear strut tower can be found for cheap. Definately get an intake with k&n filter (the filter can be used on your turbo setup down the road but the intake cannot). Also you can reground the battery with a hyperground kit or make your own ground kit to save money. There are many mods that you can do now and not have to get rid of once you go turbo so you don't end up wasting your money.

Imho you should do a few things to this car and enjoy it. Then later on buy a 1g gsx for cheaper to mod. You can get one for around $2500 in decent condition. You can have you na 2g as a daily driver with bling and all then your 1g monster. I do not like the thought of turbocharging a 420a or any na motor for that matter. So then when you go to Cali you can race your 1g but be compliant to the strict standards with the 2g na.

Either way have fun

 

[JessesTalon]

really... with not to many mods on my 98 eclipse rs i could keep up/barely pull on a stock 2g gsx...

Intake, header, no cat, exhaust, throttle body, cams, cam gears, underdriven pulley, small shot of nitrous... 25-50 shot (you dont want to blow ur shit up with more than that)

get serious with money port and polish or go turbo


alot of people underestimate highway pulls by NT's... sure its easier and faster and more potential to go 4g63t turbo fwd or turbo awd... but NT's have 140 hp stock... modslisted above should get you over 200 easy crank hp without the nitrous, with it you could prolly pull a low 14 run with street tires (good ones) or with slicks dip into 13's...


almost stock I ran a 16.4 with 14" wheels and shitty bald all season tires on my old nt i had like 3 or 4 years ago

 

[JRichter]

I hate to tell you this, but your 99 GS isn't really worth tuning either. What the other guy said about the intake and exhaust is pretty much all that's worth doing. My advice is don't even bother...I had a GS and it'll never be that fast. Sell it and buy a GSX and GST or just be happy with what you have.

Ignore stuff like this ^^.

I agree w/ this:

really... with not to many mods on my 98 eclipse rs i could keep up/barely pull on a stock 2g gsx...

Intake, header, no cat, exhaust, throttle body, cams, cam gears, underdriven pulley, small shot of nitrous... 25-50 shot (you dont want to blow ur shit up with more than that)

get serious with money port and polish or go turbo


alot of people underestimate highway pulls by NT's... sure its easier and faster and more potential to go 4g63t turbo fwd or turbo awd... but NT's have 140 hp stock... modslisted above should get you over 200 easy crank hp without the nitrous, with it you could prolly pull a low 14 run with street tires (good ones) or with slicks dip into 13's....

These cars may not be the fastest, but w/ a little work they can definately be made faster and more enjoyable and fun to drive.

Engine swap is not worth doing, its much cheaper to bolt a turbo kit on the 420a.

 

[jdm4g63]

200 hp at the crank is a joke even with a 50 shot. I know that some people like NT but imho if I wanted a normally aspirated car it would be a Honda and by the way I have one. After JessesTalon has done all of those mods he will have spent a good deal more than I have on my latest project and I dare him to pull on me on the highway.