budget dsming. Cheapest bang for the buck

[Whathits14]

I wrote this up awhile ago on another forum...thought i'd post it here.
Ok, so I don't have a job and money is hard to come by and when it does, it goes into my car. Heres what I have done so far, and is a good path for an upgrade, according to my research and personal experiance for a super budget dsm.

1) FREE MODS---> cant beat them, there cheap, quick and work. Especially the BCS mod, and intercooler flow mods.

2) intake--> spend a few bucks on a GOOD intake, I would reccomend FIPK by K&N, but that can be pricy... Look around.

3) MAS to turbo pipe. This one is hella easy and costs about $12, anyone can do this. Check out this article: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67085

4) Exhaust---> heres where it gets kinda tricky, finding a good exhaust can be hard and expensive. I actually got my TURBO back for 40 from some guy in SF who sold his talon to his mom, but thats a rare oppurtunity. The guy said he got the DP off ebay for like 150, so I would look around, also punishmentracing.com has a good DP for like 130. Get a used high flow cat somewhere, spend no more than 50 on it. If you are going to use this as a street car, get it past smog now, with stock parts on it so you don't have to worry about it for 2 years when you get your performance parts on it. For the cat back, try to get some scrap exhaust, and compare it to your stock exhaust, to find the right bends..There are not very many, and the exhaust is fairly simple. If you can weld, great you will save yourself a lot of money, if not take it to a friend, or as a last resort, an exhaust shop. Put it together, don't give a shit what it looks like, no one is going to be looking under your car for chromed SS exhaust if you are on a budget. It is possible to get a GREAT turbo back system for around 350-400. It will require a fair amount of work and time.

5) Boost gauge. This is a must, i don't care about EGT, oil temp or any of that, right now, you MUST have a GOOD aftermarket boost gauge. If you don't get one, and you get boost spike, or creep you can ruin your motor. Find a used one or get one off ebay for about $40, the install is simple.

6) Upper intercooler piping, from david brode. This repalces the plastic POS which constricts all your air flow. It made a HUGE differnce when I put this bad boy on. Its only like 80 dollars, shipped, and David is super nice and easy to work with. You will need a 1g BOV, or if you already have one a Greddy bov. (David can weld on a greddy flange instead of 1g for about $12) Install this mo-fo and be amazed how your car sounds like a 747 taking off. David also offers a MAS to turbo pipe, one of the parts you should be getting, for about $20, I ordered mine with the UICP and the total, shipping incl was $107. Dejon tool, greddy etc charge like 2x this just for the UICP.

Lets do some math: For an air filter, spend no more than 100, unless you are getting FIPK which I beleive is worth every penny. Build your MAS to turbo pipe, it will take you 10 mins, and your turbo will spool mas rapido. Exhaust, spend anywhere from 40 to 400 dollars on this. It is the most expensive part you will need to buy *For this step*. It can be done for cheap, but will require a lot of work, eg going to exhaust shops and bugging them for scrap peices....I HIGHLY reccomend David Brode UICP, your car not only sounds sick as shit, but allows for a huge air flow improvement. all in all you are looking at about 600-700 dollars, plus a BOV, which can cost from 20 used to 300 for a HKS or Greddy. All this costs about the price of a excellent name brand catback exhaust. I have not dynoed my car, but let me tell you, these mods made a tremendous differnce, and if it was you versus a gst with a "good name brand exhaust system", youd spank the shit outta him.....

These mods basically allow your turbo to flow easier and faster. Your next step will be cranking the boost, or what I am planning to do, get a 14b used turbo (or another cheap used turbo) from a 1g for about $120, take a weekend off and install that mofo. With a 14B and all of the above, running 16psi, you will be into the 13's. I also reccomend you get an upgraded fuel pump, either from a VR4 or a 255 LPH kit. If your goals are not over 400 hp, then get the 190lph kit, which will be a little less noisy.

Any questions hit me up @ [email protected]


STEP 2
So you have got your car smashing mustangs and are now well into the 13's. You want more, you say? Alright well here is the next few things you can do to decrease your times.

First off would be a SAFC. These babys are invaluable, and can be found used in perfect working condition for about 200 dollars...just do some shopping around.

Some decent performance tires....not much you can do about price here...I hear great things about goodyear eagle f1's, although a little pricy.

If you decided not to get an upgraded fuel pump yet, now would be a good time since you just got your SAFC.

By now, you should be running somewhere between 14-16 psi on a upgraded turbo, and always have your SAFC tuned by someone who knows what they are doing.

Next would be a used set of 550 cc injectors, to really get the turbo fed. I am not sure, but I beleive the rx-7 turbo II had 550's in it that should fit into your dsm. Otherwise look on ebay or something for a set of used injectors. Worst case you spring 290 for a new set at roadraceengineering.

By now, you should be running 16psi all day, and you should have no problems since your car was tuned by someone who knew what they were doing, otherwise you might have fucked up your car if you screwed up the A:F.

Now, the next thing to do is not very inexpensive and could be considered out of a "Budget" price range, but I will post it anyways, for those of you who aren't totally stingy.

If you are going just for 1/4 mph times, a phantom grip lsd is a good choice to some of those damn expensive lsd's. Phantoms are actually good, unlike lots of knockoff products like the "Turbonator"

The other option you have is to spring for ANOTHER turbo. Again used is cheaper, but when most people get there car modded up to this level, they usually change over to a mitsu turbo or a full garret, or a good hybrid. If you are a 2g, well you might be running a t/28, but you should consider a bigger one.... Bullseye-power has a "Make your own turbo" device on their website, the drawback is that it is new and starts at 600. They also have some full garrett upgrade kits for a turbo good for a SOLID 375-400 hp (capable, you won't put that much to the wheels.....yet) which run about 700. Since you are doing everything budget style, get a die grinder (not very expensive) and some GOOD carbide bits, take the weekend off and do some real porting: o2 housing, exhaust manifold, turbo inlet and outlet. It takes a looooonnng time, but will help flow signifigantly. If you only have a catback on right now, a good downpipe would be worth investing in. No need to spring for some super expensive one, but please don't get some shitty one by someone like ssautocrap. Even budget dsmer's shoud stay away from them.

Thats it for now....after this is doesn't get any cheaper...

Last but not least DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I spent at least 20 hours spread out to figure out how to do this nice and proper.