Serious RS-T Question....

[Hpnotiq86]

Ok, so I have a $7,000 loan to spend, plus a little extra cash i have saved, and what i'm SERIOUSLY wondering is if I should perform the following mods to my current 1997 RS:

Bottom-End Engine Components
1. Wiseco Forged Pistons - 8.8:1 Compression (turbo) - Standard bore (piston rings included) - $481.52
2. Eagle ESP H-Beam Connecting Rods - $330
3. Clevite 77 H-Series Rod Bearing Set - $49.95
4. Clevite 77 P-Series Main Bearing Set - $49.95
5. ARP Main Stud Kit - $199.95
6. Fel Pro Lower Gasket Set - $39.95

Top-End Engine Components
1. Crower Cams (pair) - Stage 2 - Agressive street use or nitrous/turbo. Idle 1000 to 7000 RPM - $434
2. SBR Stage III 420A Head - 100% Hot Tanked - Fully Pressure Checked - SBR 5 Angle Valve Job - SBR Stage 3 Port Work - New Valve Stem Seals - New Stainless Steel, Undercut Valves - New Valve Guides - Crower Springs and Retainers - Fully Decked Head surface - $1,499

Turbo Kit
1. SBR - Intercooled Kit w/ Fuel Upgrade - $3,695 (see www.slowboyracing.com for details) and this kit cost pretty much exactly what it would to build a kit with the same components on your own, which is why i like it.

Drive Train
1. ACT 2600 Clutch Kit w/ Street Disc - $462

OR get a 97+ GSX and do what I can to it with the extra cash....I was really leaning toward building the sick 420a..but i figured i'd throw it out to the online community.

Thanks.

[SilvrEclipse]

I say build up the 420a, theres not that many of them out there. If you set up everything right they can put out some serious power. Your set up looks good so far, but I think you need to pay a little more attention to your fuel. Since the motor is built you will probably be running high boost, it seems you have a big budget so you might want to look into a megasquirt fuel system.

[steviek]

Well I guess one main question is do you care about all wheel drive? And you gotta also take into account how much time it will take you to do that. If its a hobby for you then it doesn't matter but if its a labour because you really want a turbo then you gotta decide how much your time is worth. Your upgrades seem good if thats the route you choose to go no problems there I can tell you've done your research. So I guess its really up to you. I like the AWD but I don't want to persuade everyone to get one cause when its time for me to buy another one they'll be none left.

[Hpnotiq86]

That turbo kit comes with an Apexi S-AFCII, Accell 550cc Injectors and a
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump...that not good enough? I plan on running about 12psi daily, and 20+psi on track night...

Oh, and I see a Quaiffe LSD approaching soon after these mods come into play...other wise AWD is just a heavy waste to me, besides most of my racing will be done from a roll anyways...

Any other opinions or suggestions?

Thanks.

[l_eclipse_l]

Imagine what $7k puts you at with a 4g63. Even if you sell your car and it costs you an extra $1-2k to get the GSX, you still got $5k to dump into it and make it a monster. It just seems like a waste of money on the 420A. If you want the most power for your money, get the GSX. If you want originality and to do something not many people do and don't care about what it costs vs. what power you make, build up your 420A.

[ez1286]

Honestly i'd say got for a gsx. Awd > everything and everyone.

[Killa]

Originally Posted by ez1286

Honestly i'd say got for a gsx. Awd > everything and everyone.

agree

[gthompson97]

Everything looks good on paper, but can you actually do these mods is the question. I used to want to build up my 420a, then I got a TSI AWD and have a monster motor for it, now I'm back to wondering what to do with my 420a. If I were you, go ahead and build it up, there aren't that many of them out there and you'll have something a little more "out of the norm." Or you could do a 4g63 swap like I'm seriously considering

[Hpnotiq86]

Thompson, what do you mean, "can you actually do these mods"? Ofcourse I can...with the help of a few friends that is. And how can ANYONE call doing something to make an unlikely/unique engine 4x as powerful as it was stock, a WASTE? of money....wow.

Anyways, for some reason I can't stop thinking about this (obviously, im up at 4:35AM posting still...), but I can't see how you guys figure $7k straight into the 420a and drivetrain isnt going to out perform a GSX with $3-4k tops invested. I mean, isn't a $850 LSD good for any kind of traction in a FWD? and even if I wouldn't beat a AWD in 60-80' I think I could pull hard on him the rest of the 1/4...

I don't know, maybe i'm just being too stubborn to let my "dream" go, and besides, a 350+ whp 420a would be quite unique/friggin' sweet sleeper, and I should think it would satisfy my needs, especially in my location...regardless of if could beat a GSX with the same amount invested or not. There will always be faster cars no matter what I do...

So, FINAL QUESTIONS!!

1. Mid-Top end...what would take it (no AWD bias!): My 420a as listed above w/ $7k in it, or a AWD 4g63t w/ $3k in it.

2. How strong is my (420a) block, and will the stock crank hold-up to these mods?

Thanks.

Oh, and my car KBB's for something like $3k, and a nice '97+ GSX would run right around $7-9k, correct? And my total CASH budget is $7,500 to buy and mod a GSX....meh..

[gthompson97]

I just asked because there are people that ask about doing these mods and they don't know the first thing about an engine, they would be lucky to change their own oil, sorry if I offended you. And I never said it was a waste of money, in fact I might be building up my own 420a so I don't know where you read that I said it was a waste of money.

Anywho, a modded 4g63t will always outperform a modded 420a with the same amount invested, that's just the way it is. As for your 420a block, it can hold quite a bit of power if built right. Hahn is running 10's on a 420a block and still on the stock head!! If done right, it can be a very strong and very powerful motor.

[Hpnotiq86]

Yah sorry, I was actually quoting |_eclipse_| about him calling it a waste of money, not you lol.

So, no worries about the block that's good...but what about the crank? Also, about that first "final question" in my last post about the mid-top end perfomance (top speed, and high speed accel.)....any ideas?

[gthompson97]

I'm not sure about the crank. I know I've seen some performance cranks for the 420a being sold somewhere, but I can't remember where, I'll do some searching in the morning.

About your final question, I don't know if I completely understand what you're asking. If you want to know which will be better at what stages, the AWD will own anything off the line but the 420a will probably be faster in the long run just because of the drivetrain loss (even though it is minimal).

Also, in your first post, I don't see how peiceing together your own turbo kit would cost anything NEAR as much as the kit you posted. I could probably find a damn good setup for roughly $1500-$2k. It all depends on where you look and what you're looking for, but $3700 for a turbo kit is fucking insane, I don't care if you're Dave Buschur, that's still too much. Alot of that kit is just a bunch of their stuff put together in addition with some others, all of which are brand new and you are paying top dollar for. Their "Intercooled Kit" just has their intercooler added on which is like $800, about $500 too much for a good intercooler. There are others too, that's just a prime example.

[Hpnotiq86]

Honestly, I picked every single specific part that SBR had listed for that kit, and searched around a little on each of them and the price really did come out within a couple hundred dollars of my pieced together one, and theirs. Now the kit included a rather large FMIC, 550cc injectors, and S-AFCII. Or maybe I just looked in the wrong places for parts...I don't know. I know I have a thing for buying used parts though...some things are OK but other stuff....i'm weird about, I can get over that though.

...and yes that's what I was getting at about the whole mid-top end range, I have no doubts about AWD ripping me a new asshole off the line, and possibly keeping a few car lengths on me for maybe an 1/8 mile before I pulled on him if not passed him completely, all depending on who im racing.

So bottom line...I think i'll build me one hell of a 420a then once that loan is paid off...take out a $12k one and THEN hit up the whole AWD world.

I guess my view on cars is to mod it while youve got it, and move on...

Thanks for all your help thompson, and I would still really like for others to post what they think about it...

Also, one last thing.....if someone could help me piece together the strong kind of turbo kit i'm looking for for a reasonable price...i'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to knowing what new parts are worth, whats a steal, and whats a rip off ...so if ANYONE wants to help me on that one...feel free.

My E-Mail is [email protected]

[gthompson97]

I was planning on doing that tomorrow anyways to show you the price difference. It may be a big difference (which I'm betting on) or it may not be and it also depends on how much work you want to put into it yourself. I know that I could make a turbo manifold instead of spending $200 on one that would work just the same. There's an interesting link on www.2gnt.com about a DIY turbo kit but the damn site isn't working right now. It's under the tech articles if you get it to work. But enough of this, I need to get at least 4 hours of sleep before work.

[Hpnotiq86]

Ok, I better sleep some too, but just get on AIM sometime tomorrow...i'll be online random times of the day. I'll just check if to see if you're on when I am. It would be alot easier to communicate in IM's than in a forum....

G'night then.