Graduation present and suggestions..

Well I'm less than two weeks away from graduating highschool! :naughty: My dad wants to get me something REALLY nice for graduation. This is what we have decided on...http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers_FS_Se ries&Dept=computers - with all the extra bells and whistles of course! Wireless internet, 15.4" LCD screen w/ XBRITE and ERGO technology (which by the way is AWESOME), etc. I'm can't wait to get it, especially since I'm a big computer geek (planning to double major in computer science and finance, actually).

Anyways, I told them I REALLY wanted something for my car, but they said no. The deal I have always had with them is that as long as I have a job (and I've been working since I was legally able to) and keep my grades up, they will let me spend my money on my car. Consequently, they feel that I've spent too much recently (3" intake, 850cc injectors) and want to wait a bit.

WELL, graduation means $$ from relatives. I am really close to just about all of my family (aunts, uncles, grandparents on both sides, etc) and they have already told me that I will be getting good gifts from them :) This usually means money. The money I get for graduation, I am allowed to spend on my car, but with a limit of ~$600. Since I've got quite a bit saved up from work, I'll probably use some of that too depending on what I choose to get.

Now here comes the fun part! I'm pretty much at a fork in the road about what to get. Here are my current mods:

95 GSX - manual
DSMlink
"50 trim" turbo with T04b cover
Dejon 3" intake w/ K&N
Dejon UICP w/ crushed 1g bov
Delphi 850cc injectors
Walbro 190lph (rewired)
3" turbo-back exhaust
Ported evo3 o2 housing
Ported 2g exhaust manifold (matches 7cm gasket)
NGK plugs/wires
Boost and oil pressure gauges
JoeP MBC

Everything else is STOCK! Yes that means stock clutch and stock sidemount intercooler :(

Now I have about 3 options to choose from that I CAN NOT decide on!
- Either a FMIC (ebay core w/ custom 2.5" piping) ~$400
- Slowboy Racing 3500 clutch kit with ACT XACT flywheel ~$650
- Dual stage (two nozzle) water/alcohol injection kit from coolingmist ~$300

Those are the three things I am looking to buy. I can not for the life of me decide which path to choose. My stock clutch is holding up wonderfully (it has less than 10k miles on it) and doesn't slip at all. It grabs fairly hard considering it's OEM. However, it will only take a day or two at the track to burn it up.

The part of my setup that is really holding me back right now is cooling. I REALLY enjoy the sleeper look of my dsm right now. Around here, people don't usually associate 4 bangers as being quick at all if they don't have a big front-mount hiding behind the bumper cover. In fact, nobody EVER knows this car is turbo (much less AWD) until I either pop the hood for them or take them for a ride :evillol: This makes for some fun racing because I usually get this look afterwards :eek: :eek2: :biggrin: This is why I'm considering going to all 2.5" hardpipes on the stock side-mount and just running a dual nozzle water/alcohol injection setup. This will actually provide cooler intake charges than just a front mount IC. The only downside to this is that the stock sidemount is going to become a pretty big restriction in the intake path. Now, I realize that a FMIC will do wonders for this car, especially on pump gas. Right now I'm limited to about 18-19 psi on pump gas and every now and then I'll put a couple gallons of 114 in the tank and crank up the boost to 21-22 psi if things get serious ;) BTW, this turbo hauls ASS at 21 psi! Even at 18-19psi on pump gas I was able to take a Mopar stage 2 SRT-4 from 20 mph roll by about a car or so :)

The whole "sleeper" look is ridiculously fun, mainly because the car is at stock ride height and the only thing you can notice is the exhaust and tinted windows :biggrin: However, a big front-mount hanging behind the bumper cover would look SO sexy.

Enough about my life story, I need some opinions on what to buy! ;) Please post which item you think I should purchase and why.

Thanks guys,
Matt

If you want the sleeper look, and want a bigger intercooler, I'd take a look at Dejon tool's big smic - http://www.dejontool.com/DSM-2g%20SIC.htm It's well within your budget too!

Congrats on your graduation. I get out of high school on the 12th, but thats not including the actual graduation ceremony which is on the 25th.

If you want the sleeper look, and want a bigger intercooler, I'd take a look at Dejon tool's big smic - http://www.dejontool.com/DSM-2g%20SIC.htm It's well within your budget too!

Congrats on your graduation. I get out of high school on the 12th, but thats not including the actual graduation ceremony which is on the 25th.


Thanks, congrats on your graduation too! It's a weird feeling knowing you're so close to being done with grade school, eh?

Anyways, I have actually considered going with an upgraded SMIC. However, that means I'll still have to buy a water/alky injection kit along with the SMIC to get what I want (which is good cooling). I'm thinking maybe a Supra side-mount with 2.5" hard piping and a water injection kit would suite me well. However, I have no idea how well the Supra side-mount flows, as that is the only thing holding me back from keeping the stock side-mount.

And I'm not really aiming for the sleeper look, it just so happens that it's turned out that way so far and it's quite fun :) I don't mind at all going with a big shiny front-mount, but I'm unsure if the other choices are better for me at this point in time.

Heh ya bud, it is weird. I'm also going into a computer related career as webmaster and all that internet related crap lol

Anyways, you could also maybe paint or powder coat a fmic black so it doesn't really shine lol

If you get a FMIC or water/alch injection to turn up the boost, you said yourself you are looking at a new clutch. I don't see why the 3500 is needed, though. Hell, even Kevin had the 2600 on his car. Do you know someone that could make you FMIC piping? With the limiting factor being pump gas, even a FMIC and alch injection isn't going to get rid of knock, so I'd go with the FMIC. For the record, you can piece together alch injection for way less than $300.

If you get a FMIC or water/alch injection to turn up the boost, you said yourself you are looking at a new clutch. I don't see why the 3500 is needed, though. Hell, even Kevin had the 2600 on his car. Do you know someone that could make you FMIC piping? With the limiting factor being pump gas, even a FMIC and alch injection isn't going to get rid of knock, so I'd go with the FMIC. For the record, you can piece together alch injection for way less than $300.

The "3500" in the kit name doesn't refer to the clamping force like the 2600 does in the ACT kits. If you look on the SBR website, they say the 3500 kit has a tad bit more clamping force than the ACT 2600, but with a slightly softer pedal feel. I know, the 3500 confused me at first, too :)

Yes, I do know someone that can do my intercooler piping for me. I've seen his work on my friend's turbo Honda and was EXTREMELY impressed. The guy made a custom tubular manifold w/ external wastegate and dumptube rerouted back into the custom downpipe HE made, as well as full intercooler piping for the Honda for a mere $500. Considering most tubular manifolds cost that much alone, he is good with his pricing. He has already quoted me at $150 to do my intercooler piping. All I have to do is leave my car at his shop and show him how I want it to be routed and then let him work his magic (he already has a shitload of mandrel bent pipes and they are included in the $150). It's amazing how well this guy can route piping. If only I had a picture of that Honda's setup..


A FMIC and water/alky injection is a bit overkill right now, even though that would let me run probably 22+psi on pump gas with little to no knock (seen it many times on the dsmlink forums). So right now it is either or, not both :(

I would save at least $500 for during college, your funds get stretched really thin over the course of the school year, especially if you're driving alot or if you have a girlfriend or are in a fraternity. The $500 will cover any silly costs that might pop up (and with a DSM they tend to) and will keep you from having to beg your friends for a dollar or scrounging around the couch so that you can go to taco bell.

Also, I used to be a CS Major, writing code is REALLY boring and code bugs are one of the most frustrating things i've ever dealt with in my life.

I would save at least $500 for during college, your funds get stretched really thin over the course of the school year, especially if you're driving alot or if you have a girlfriend or are in a fraternity. The $500 will cover any silly costs that might pop up (and with a DSM they tend to) and will keep you from having to beg your friends for a dollar or scrounging around the couch so that you can go to taco bell.

Also, I used to be a CS Major, writing code is REALLY boring and code bugs are one of the most frustrating things i've ever dealt with in my life.


Good advice! I've been saving about 1/4 - 1/2 (sometimes all) of each paycheck since I started working 2 1/2 years ago into a savings account that I am not allowed to touch. This is mainly for those "emergency" situations like you mentioned, and having a DSM raises the chance of "emergency" situations by about %110 :grinno: I haven't looked at that account in a while, but I'd assume it to be well over $1k.

Right now I'm leaning mostly towards the FMIC setup. This would cost me less than $500 and would be a good option right now. Water/alky injection would allow me to boost a little too much right now, and next thing you know I would have to drop another $600 on a new clutch/flywheel setup. However, I do have a birthday coming up at the beginning of July :iceslolan

Congrats man! Im walking the stage on june 10th and getting $1000+ off family. yeah u should go with the fmic setup. good luck and once again.. congrats! class of 2005! haha

that cas will go fast in school. I'm just finishing up my second year in school. I live off campus and work to be able to keep it going. By off campus I mean still at home so no costs there... But you will spend a pretty penny on food/hanging out with friends and stuff.

Anyway in terms of the car nice list of mods, If your stock clutch is holding up and you don't intend on going to the track anytime soon I'd leave that for now till it's toast and maybe hit up the FMIC

I would go with a good fmic setup to support your turbo safely, with as little knock as possible. I'm not a fan of water/alcohol injection just because of the potential for it to fail (clogged nozzles, broken pumps, ruptured lines, etc), although I have no experience with it. Air moving through good piping and a good FMIC core is a sure-fire method of keeping intake air cool. Do the good FMIC first, and deal with the clutch when you cross that road.

I would be wary to go with a 2600lb. clutch, as well. I've heard too many horror stories about 2600 installs and crankwalk within weeks. When my stock clutch goes, it will be a 2100 that replaces it. The decision is yours, though. There is no conclusive proof, just many bad experiences I've heard through personal accounts.

I'm sorry that 14b didn't work out too well for you, Matt, but I'm glad you seem to have found a better solution ;). Congrats on graduation, and don't forget that you can never have too much money in college :grinno:. Where are you headed for college? When are time-slips coming?

I was just saying that since a FMIC and alch won't even be enough to avoid knock completely, I'd go with a FMIC... especially if you can get custom piping. I don't know exactly what is more effective between smic + alch or a plain FMIC, but I personally would go with the FMIC.

I forgot that SBR did a name for that kit, I've been through the site but must have thought it was the next step up from the ACT 3200 by accident.

you drive a damn nice car for someone in high school. ever consider visual mods? how about a 97-99 style turbo wing....

Where are you headed for college? When are time-slips coming?

Well the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) is only 10 minutes from me and they have offered me a good deal of scholarship money. I'll be attending UAH for the first two years or so and then transfer to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa (roll tide baby ;) )

As soon as I can get these injectors dialed in a little more, I'll take it to the track. I ran a boost leak test a few days ago and the intake tract would only hold ~8 psi :disappoin So I've got to fix those boost leaks before I can dial the injectors in. Trust me, as soon as I get a timeslip I'll be sure to post it up :)


you drive a damn nice car for someone in high school. ever consider visual mods? how about a 97-99 style turbo wing....

Thanks, it helps to have worked since I was 15 1/2 ;) Since then I've worked almost non-stop. Hell, just last summer I worked a full time job (40 hours/mon-friday) that paid $8.50/hr and made some damn good money considering almost all of it went straight to savings.

I'll definitely be doing some visual mods here before too long, but I want to get most of my go-fast mods out of the way first. I think all I'm going to do visually will be lowering the car a tad and a set of wheels+tires (probably Rota Subzeros).


I was just saying that since a FMIC and alch won't even be enough to avoid knock completely, I'd go with a FMIC... especially if you can get custom piping. I don't know exactly what is more effective between smic + alch or a plain FMIC, but I personally would go with the FMIC.

Good point. I think I'm set on the FMIC. A well set-up FMIC can do wonders over the stock side-mount, even though it won't completely prevent knock. You guys think an ebay core will suffice? They go for SO damn cheap, but I've heard some good things about them. The ones I'm looking at are ~$200 for the core. Custom piping will be $150, so I've got a front mount with short-route piping for $350! :biggrin:

Thanks for the help guys!

I'd only get a spearco core on ebay... they are cheap enough. Hopefully with the end tanks. Otherwise you don't know what you are getting with the cheap ones.

I don't know how much power you're planning to make, but the PTE small core sells for $175 on ebay, with $20 shipping. SBR charges $350 for the core, and PTE rates it able to support 350 whp, which is usually a conservative figure. That is probably the core I will be going with. Email or pm me if you want more info.

I was going to suggest some racing bucket seats (nice and comfy) to spice up the interior and make it a little more showy I also like the FMIC idea alot. it always looks sweet driving down the road and seeinf that intercooler. even walking to your car after school youll be like YEAH THATS MY CAR RIGHT THERE.

even walking to your car after school youll be like YEAH THATS MY CAR RIGHT THERE.
i know the feeling....

<--sophmore in high school. :loser: