whats a good first mod

[marsh63]

ok i have about 500 saved up and i want to know what a good first mod would be. i already mad a 2.5 in turbo back exhaust but i need to know what i should do next. i did all the maintence things that need to be done to the dsms like o2 sensor, plugs and stuff like that. the timin belt is still good for like 30000 miles so eyah what sould i do next.

 

[turbosax2]

ok well i dont have the manual for the car. so where would i get one of those things. and as far as my ac goes its dead so i should just junk it. on doin the timing i have to take the head of the car? for what i know the timin belt has 30000 on it so i should just replace it to start out right? thanks for all the help so far.

http://store.forcedperformance.net/...ode=FP&Product_Code=CD&Category_Code=DSM-Misc

 

[Talesin]

...and while you have the head off, you might as well get the springs replaced with a set of Crowers or something, just in case you want to bump your cams up down the road, so you don't have to pull the head again at that point.

Feeping creatures.

The stock headbolts have been proven to hold over 20psi. He really isn't going to even be running that much until his fuel system is bumped up.
Seriously, read the Tech section. They have upgrade paths laid out.

As far as timing belts go, ours are more than a bit of a pain in the ass. You have to compensate for the tendency for one of the cams (exhaust cam IIRC) to turn a certain direction when you let it go (after the belt is on and everything is set), and keeping the timing marks all lined up when you're getting the belt on and taut is more than a bit of a chore. I'd say it's a two-man job, or one-man with ALL of the fiddly little specialized tools needed, like the cam gear locking jig.

 

[marsh63]

ok so i should do a timing belt, new cam gears, head bolts, springs, new head gasket. anything else i need to get since im goin to take ## guyes advise and go this pathway? where should i buy this stuff at?

 

[MountainDew]

...and while you have the head off, you might as well get the springs replaced with a set of Crowers or something, just in case you want to bump your cams up down the road, so you don't have to pull the head again at that point.

Feeping creatures.

The stock headbolts have been proven to hold over 20psi. He really isn't going to even be running that much until his fuel system is bumped up.
Seriously, read the Tech section. They have upgrade paths laid out.

As far as timing belts go, ours are more than a bit of a pain in the ass. You have to compensate for the tendency for one of the cams (exhaust cam IIRC) to turn a certain direction when you let it go (after the belt is on and everything is set), and keeping the timing marks all lined up when you're getting the belt on and taut is more than a bit of a chore. I'd say it's a two-man job, or one-man with ALL of the fiddly little specialized tools needed, like the cam gear locking jig.

And while you're that far, might as well get new valve seals put in.

OP, if you do decide to put ARPs and a new headgasket in, I'd recomend new valve seals, new valve springs if you can afford it, and don't forget to get your head surface checked for warpage and get it milled if needed. I think the local machine shop charged me $60 to install valve seals and mill the head.

I don't think new cam gears would benefit you.. at all. Get Crower springs and ARP headstuds. Everything else, stick to OEM. Check your water pump. Also I'd go ahead a and replace your thermostat. Dunno what the stock 1g one is, but I'd put a 180 or 170 in. Replace any old hoses as well that seem real brittle or "spongy" and the likes.

 

[Talesin]

Why would you need cam gears? They're primarily for show, or bought by people with too much money and not enough brain. I was talking about a cam gear locking jig... a little tool that clamps the cam gears in place in relation to each other, for when you're changing the timing belt, so the marks stay lined up while you're trying to get the new t-belt into place and tight.

...and some swirl-polished, undercut valves to help lighten the valvetrain.
Oh! And revised third-gen lifters (lash adjusters)!! DEFINITELY get those, no more lifter tick!! Cheap, too.

 

[marsh63]

ok so timing gears are not required. some people ive seen said to replace them just in case they are bent or somethin. and where should i get this jig tool at.

 

[MountainDew]

Why would you need cam gears? They're primarily for show, or bought by people with too much money and not enough brain. I was talking about a cam gear locking jig... a little tool that clamps the cam gears in place in relation to each other, for when you're changing the timing belt, so the marks stay lined up while you're trying to get the new t-belt into place and tight.

...and some swirl-polished, undercut valves to help lighten the valvetrain.
Oh! And revised third-gen lifters (lash adjusters)!! DEFINITELY get those, no more lifter tick!! Cheap, too.

We're going to kill this guy's wallet and checkbook!

 

[marsh63]

its ok i want to build this car correct. soon ill have alot more money once i sell my el co.

 

[MountainDew]

its ok i want to build this car correct. soon ill have alot more money once i sell my el co.

Atleast you're looking at this the right way though. Buy a stock car and do everything right the first time. Props to you.

Also just do what I do. I've read over half the Tech/DIY articles on here, just to learn. I also go to the junkyards every weekend, and strip DSMs for better parts on my own car or to sell the parts on ebay. I've made pretty good money so far, and it's all going towards my car.

Just a suggestion. It's actually kind of fun.

 

[marsh63]

yeah i already striped like 4 talons at the junkyard in the first day.

 

[Talesin]

No idea, I never bothered getting the cam gear jig. Just grabbed a friend and a couple of wrenches, had them hold it in place, and smacked them if the timing marks were off on the cam gears after the tensioner was set.

 

[marsh63]

ok that sounds good ill try that. ok now what site should i order all this from. who do u guys feel has the best prices?

 

[turbosax2]

ok that sounds good ill try that. ok now what site should i order all this from. who do u guys feel has the best prices?

http://www.maperformance.com/store/home.php

They will price match parts most of the time too so search around and find the lowest price then give them a ring. Great customer service.

 

[talonalex92]

I prefer Slow Boy, and Buschur. They all gave me the best service. And eBay of course!

 

[marsh63]

ok thanks for the info. i should just stick with the oem timing belt right?

 

[turbosax2]

ok thanks for the info. i should just stick with the oem timing belt right?

Yup.

 

[marsh63]

ok do i order timing belt from a store or from mitsubishi?

 

[ROOKIE1]

I would order from a supporting vendor onsite . Everyone will suggest this and that , but just follow the upgrade path . It really is the most reliable and I think proven way to go . Good luck .

 

[marsh63]

ok ill do that route. thanks for all the info. i will follow it and as i get money ill do more upgades. thanks again!!!

Marshall

 

[mach4g63t]

In the mean time, I think you should do A LOT of reading on these forums. Even if it doesn't necessarily pertain to what you're looking at doing at the moment... read it if you can make sense of the title subject. That will help you learn a lot.

I had SOME, limited DSM experience before I got on this website as I owned a 95 TSi AWD that someone else had built and I wrecked. I've only been on this site for like 4 months since having gotten my GSX and aside from doing basic stuff (boost gauge and some bolt ons) I still read this site at least 4 hours a day on any subject I can find and make sense of. You got a LONG road ahead, like most of us, and reading and getting opinions here will be a big help.

I still think you should REALLY look at the 1g upgrade path though.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/sub.php?page=1gtupgrades

And start with this...

The first thing you need to do is a complete tune up. Replace all worn belts, including the timing belt and balance shaft belt. If the timing belt/balance shaft belt haven't been replaced within the last 60k miles, or you're not sure when they were last changed - change them now. If they break, you'll be paying for a cylinder head rebuild (not cheap). You'll also want to change out all filters, fluids, worn hoses, spark plugs/wires, and worn/leaking gaskets. Check the compression, do a leak-down test, check your ignition timing, etc. Basically, do all of the checks that your repair manual tells you to do - you do have a repair manual already, don't you? If not, pick one up now before moving forward with any modifications.

Use the search forums to find out how to do a boost leak test and compression test.

 

[ChunkyLover53]

I would like to add my vote for Road Race Engineering as a good vendor. I don't always buy from them, but 75% of the time I do.

 

[s13totsi]

best way to do it is deffinitly to read up on this site first. extremely informational. i found this site over a year ago and i read up on it as much as i could. i was a honda guy goin to a talon and i realy didnt know what i was doing. I learned alot and bought my first talon. now i have a pretty well built fwd talon running mid to low 13's. thanks dsmtuners!

 

[marsh63]

yeah ive read alot so far and its all helped so far. id be workin on my timing belt thing but ive been investing my money on chasing all the little dsm problems that are really haunting me right now. i think my sensor is out on my idle control and thats like $250. thanks for all the help ill keep u guys posted on this build.

 

[marsh63]

In the mean time, I think you should do A LOT of reading on these forums. Even if it doesn't necessarily pertain to what you're looking at doing at the moment... read it if you can make sense of the title subject. That will help you learn a lot.

I had SOME, limited DSM experience before I got on this website as I owned a 95 TSi AWD that someone else had built and I wrecked. I've only been on this site for like 4 months since having gotten my GSX and aside from doing basic stuff (boost gauge and some bolt ons) I still read this site at least 4 hours a day on any subject I can find and make sense of. You got a LONG road ahead, like most of us, and reading and getting opinions here will be a big help.

I still think you should REALLY look at the 1g upgrade path though.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/sub.php?page=1gtupgrades

And start with this...

The first thing you need to do is a complete tune up. Replace all worn belts, including the timing belt and balance shaft belt. If the timing belt/balance shaft belt haven't been replaced within the last 60k miles, or you're not sure when they were last changed - change them now. If they break, you'll be paying for a cylinder head rebuild (not cheap). You'll also want to change out all filters, fluids, worn hoses, spark plugs/wires, and worn/leaking gaskets. Check the compression, do a leak-down test, check your ignition timing, etc. Basically, do all of the checks that your repair manual tells you to do - you do have a repair manual already, don't you? If not, pick one up now before moving forward with any modifications.

Use the search forums to find out how to do a boost leak test and compression test.

as far as reading ive been looking up everything in the tech articals and other peoples problems and man has it helped. this site has proven to be the best. and ive changed all the fluids and some sensors itS just alot of electrical stuff thats been goin bad.