Upgrading plan for this summer
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: San Diego
Upgrading plan for this summer Alright, i want a plan of attack on my car for this summer. My uses are everyday driver, and ocassional street racing (i haven't started going to a strip yet). I love power, and i never make long trips so comfort of driving isn't an enourmous concern. I want to remain smog legal in CA, or be able to become smog legal with swapping a few things (hopefully things i can do myself).
I have a '98 Formula, 6 speed. I have the CAGS eliminator, exhaust cut-out, free Ram Air mod, ported MAF, and maybe descreened MAF soon (haven't decided yet). I am getting new tires soon.
What do you suggest?
I have a '98 Formula, 6 speed. I have the CAGS eliminator, exhaust cut-out, free Ram Air mod, ported MAF, and maybe descreened MAF soon (haven't decided yet). I am getting new tires soon.
What do you suggest?
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Auburn, AL
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer I'm assuming you mean that you have ported MAF ends since I can't see how you could port your own and keep the screen. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />
Anyway, if you don't have a lid, FTRA, and a good ported TB, I would get those first. Then I would get pulleys. 4.10 gears will be the best bang for the buck for you, but they are broken easier than the stock 3.42s and they can put a lot of stress on the rearend if you launch hard with decent tires. If you don't change the gears, I would get
tune-up (change all fluids, plugs, and wires)
lid+filter
FTRA
good TB (Jantzer, MMS, TR)
ASP crank + alternator underdrive pulleys
then go for shorty headers and full exhaust
Anyway, if you don't have a lid, FTRA, and a good ported TB, I would get those first. Then I would get pulleys. 4.10 gears will be the best bang for the buck for you, but they are broken easier than the stock 3.42s and they can put a lot of stress on the rearend if you launch hard with decent tires. If you don't change the gears, I would get
tune-up (change all fluids, plugs, and wires)
lid+filter
FTRA
good TB (Jantzer, MMS, TR)
ASP crank + alternator underdrive pulleys
then go for shorty headers and full exhaust
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 123
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From: San Diego
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer I'll probably spend around $1500 this summer, but i'd like to have an idea of where i'm going after this summer (i want to stay away from spray and forced induction).
I had a tune-up done about 2 months ago. I ported the MAF ends, and i cut out part of the metal bar that goes across the actual MAF. What is the FTRA, i'm still a newbie to this stuff (i hate to admit it
, but at least i'm trying to learn
). The filter a pretty much a given. The gears i'm still trying to decide on, i've heard a lot of people snapping their rear end with 4.11's if they are getting good traction.
I had a tune-up done about 2 months ago. I ported the MAF ends, and i cut out part of the metal bar that goes across the actual MAF. What is the FTRA, i'm still a newbie to this stuff (i hate to admit it
, but at least i'm trying to learn). The filter a pretty much a given. The gears i'm still trying to decide on, i've heard a lot of people snapping their rear end with 4.11's if they are getting good traction. Thread Starter
On The Tree
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From: San Diego
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer Another thing, say i get LT headers and an ORP, i'm ok with being emission illegal, BUT it has to be pretty cheap and not too difficult to swap back to the stock/emission legal parts when i need to go in to the sniffer.
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From: AZ
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer If you just do occasional street racing on street tires your rear should be fine with 4.10s. I had 4.10s for about 20K miles and many 1/4 miles passes on ET Streets with no problems. That was one of the best early mods I did. Pulleys and headers are good too. I had Macs and liked them and the install was not too bad.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 123
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From: San Diego
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer So this is an idea so far:
Lid + filter
TB
Pulleys
Gears
Headers
That would probably round out the summer for me financially.
The question comes to headers. I am not afraid of the install, but i am wondering about the type. From what i know, i will get bigger gains from LT headers, but they aren't emissions friendly. If i am able to swap out the LT for the stock without much trauma, thats an idea. So should i go ORP with the headers? And what headers?
Also pulleys, how important are these, and when should they come in the order of things?
<small>[ June 08, 2002, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: cy ]</small>
Lid + filter
TB
Pulleys
Gears
Headers
That would probably round out the summer for me financially.
The question comes to headers. I am not afraid of the install, but i am wondering about the type. From what i know, i will get bigger gains from LT headers, but they aren't emissions friendly. If i am able to swap out the LT for the stock without much trauma, thats an idea. So should i go ORP with the headers? And what headers?
Also pulleys, how important are these, and when should they come in the order of things?
<small>[ June 08, 2002, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: cy ]</small>
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TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: TEXAS
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer ORP is NOT emmisions legal, but it only takes en minutes to swap in some cats for that once a year test. I say go with the LT headers, I like mine and have never regretted this decision.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 123
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From: San Diego
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer I understand ORP aren't legal, they lack catalytic (sp?) converters, which pretty much make the exhaust emission legal (not entierly, but a lot). I've heard that even with cats, the LT headers will not pass emissions. So how hard would it be, and how much cash would it take for me to swap in my stock headers and Y pipe again for sniffer time?
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From: Auburn, AL
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer Longtube headers are not legal to use in California. It would be a huge chore removing them and reinstalling them every time inspection comes around, IMO.
The FTRA just makes your free ram air mod work better by allowing a scoop to take in air from under the car.
So, on the MAF......the bar basically touches the screen on the front part, did you not cut it all the way out?
The FTRA just makes your free ram air mod work better by allowing a scoop to take in air from under the car.
So, on the MAF......the bar basically touches the screen on the front part, did you not cut it all the way out?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 123
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From: San Diego
Re: Upgrading plan for this summer OHHHH FTRA = Fast Toys Ram Air, i've looked into those, but wasn't sure if it was worth it. It said that you will run a little hotter b/c you are taking away from of the air ment for the radiator. I'm not sure if the money will be worth the gain.
On the MAF, so far i've only ported one half of the housing. I couldn't get the other half of the housing out of the stock airbox, and have heard its really hard. I plan on taking another try at it soon. I guess i'll remove the screen, but i'll decide when it comes down to it.
On the MAF, so far i've only ported one half of the housing. I couldn't get the other half of the housing out of the stock airbox, and have heard its really hard. I plan on taking another try at it soon. I guess i'll remove the screen, but i'll decide when it comes down to it.