99 Eclipse GST Spyder. Need advice for $2,500 build up.

[KitsuneZero]

I have an automatic 99 Eclipse GST Spyder. I have about $2,500 I'm willing to spend on it at the moment. What I'm looking for is performance for the buck. I don't want to do things like cut springs, I want to do things right, which is why I'm asking here.

So, which parts/what kind of parts should I be going for? There's alot I can do myself, but is someone would really need to be done by a professional, let me know.

At the moment, the car is completely stock.

[Thor06]

What do you want out of the car? What do you want to improve? What will the car be used for?

[KitsuneZero]

The car is my daily driver. I'm looking for more horsepower/speed and maybe some improved handling. Something that will be more... fun, but still be tolerable to drive a couple times a day.

If that helps any.

[steviek]

exhaust system 400
intake 60
Bov 50-150
and hmm handling ss tein would be awesome 1000
boost guage
hard IC piping or maybe a FMIC kit

[gthompson97]

Originally Posted by steviek

exhaust system 400
intake 60
Bov 50-150
and hmm handling ss tein would be awesome 1000
boost guage
hard IC piping or maybe a FMIC kit

plus...

dsmlink
e316g turbo
fuel pump
injectors

[scottsee]

2500 wont get you very far.. DSMtuners & RRE have an upgrade path.

[Thor06]

$2500 will get you a long fuckin ways if you spend it smartly and do the work yourself. Sounds like you have similar goals as mine, I will share what I would do if it were my car.

Performance-
3" turbo back (eBay is fine) ~$500
MBC/boost guage $80-$100
DSMlink $550
walbro 190 $100
650cc injectors $150?
eBay FMIC $250?
1g BOV $25
used 16g $200?
Handling-
Sportline/AGX combo ~$500
Front and rear strut bars $50-$100

If you shop around and do your work you should be able to swing that for around $2500ish and you will have a butt fucking perfect street car IMO. Ha ha, actually that is what I am going for except I already have like half of that list.

[spyderturbo007]

Timing belt (If needed), plugs, wires, fuel filter, fluid replacement, etc.

Do all of the maintence first, then worry about performance.

[KitsuneZero]

Originally Posted by spyderturbo007

Timing belt (If needed), plugs, wires, fuel filter, fluid replacement, etc.

Do all of the maintence first, then worry about performance.

I do keep up on maintainence.


Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions. Especially Thor. Time to look around online and see what I can find pricewise.

$2,500 is just to start. I'll have money and time in the future for this kind of thing. I just want something to start out. I'm new to car modifications in general. But everyone needs to start somewhere.

[Thor06]

Any time homie. Good you keep up on maintainance, I bet 90% of DSM's unreliable reputation is due to dumbasses that dont maintain their cars while they start modding it. Shit keeps breaking so they sell it and the unsuspecting new owner inherits all the cobble jobs and problems. Ask me how I know.

Once you get that other stuff done, I would suggest a 2g AWD front big brake upgrade. All you need is the 2g AWD front calipers and brackets along with new pads and rotors. Its direct bolt on and very worth it IMO. Also, witht that drop you're probably going to want some rims. To keep cost down, you can go used and to keep it down even farther I would suggest another car's stock rims. For example, I picked up some 300zx rims for my Talon and BAM I think they look like the shiznit on my car, I wouldnt buy new ones for it even if I had the money to throw at them. To round out the suspension mods I would also suggest some sway bars, I bet those would help get a stiffer, more "on rails" feel. Since you are FWD, some prothane motor mounts are also a good idea, help out on wheelhop. You'll want a new clutch somewhere in there, I would suggest a sprung 6 puck 2100. That keeps the pedal pressure down theoretically reducing the risk of crank walk but the pucked disk can take like 419ft lbs of torque where as the street disk can only take like 340. Also, there is no noticable driveability issues with a ACT sprung 6 puck disk, not that I noticed anyway. Probably the last thing I would suggest is a 6 bolt head swap. Its pretty direct but there is a bit of customization that needs to happen. That 2g head seems to be so worthless to me, the intake runners are so damn small compared to a 1g it just makes me laugh. Couple that with a 1g intake mani and TB and thats just about everything I would suggest to you. The last thing I would do if I were you is get cams, I wouldnt even bother with a FP1/264/101100 grind just go for some FP2/272/101200 grinds. The head swap, should you do it, is a good time to do that. Anyway, good luck homes.

[KitsuneZero]

Is there any way to make a 3 inch exhaust... not extremely loud? I'd rather the car not piss everyone off at 3k rpm. I know someone with a 93 Civic Si with a 2.5 or 3 inch exhaust on it with an equally large muffler, and it's loud as hell. Something more tame would be nice.

[gthompson97]

I have a 3" Apexi N1 exhaust on my Talon and it has a nice low growl too it and doesn't get that really "raspy" noise to it. Me likey.

[WaFFeL]

I also have that exhaust and it does have a rather nice growl to it

[KitsuneZero]

Ok, thanks. Would it be too much to ask for a video/sound clip for an example of one of yours/something close?

I don't want to spend money axhaust setup just to make me not want to get my car above a couple thousand rpm. I want to stay away from the ricer image. I'll look out for/look into Apexi.

[NOFX0617]

I have the Apex'i too...and it is loud but only if you are on full throttle...at just cruising speeds its not that loud...and it doesnt sound like a fart can like honda's do...it has a nice throaty sound to it.