Okay my situation, short version:

- Have TVT 265 kit and modified thermostat
- Engine tune was done by Jerry at LET, (set up to leave some timing off of the top end for N20 if desired later, allows up to a 75 shot)
- Have no desire for new wheels right now
- Paint has some swirl marks that I haven't been able to get out using scratchx2.0
- Tires are practically new
- Stereo's taken care of

So I just sold an old set of rims and currently have around 900 dollars in cash burning a hole in my pocket. I figure that during this time of recession it is my duty to help this economy however i can

I'm looking to spend no more than 500 for now. So i'm putting my options (as far as I can see) up in the poll, and if you think of anything I forgot, know that I live in CA but will soon live in NB, so no lowering for me.

PS - anyone with experience with "the juice" this will be (possibly) my first time working with it, is it possible to do as a self install? or leave it to a pro for now and just take it apart later? if done by a pro what price range am i looking at for install if you know.

 

I vote Ansa muffler. Very few left in "Group Buy"
A $350 muffler for only $200 is a good buy. And they are hard to get, you may wait a year or more to get another one.

 

Time for that Eibach Pro Kit.

 

Id say go for the Ansa. You already have the TVT265 kit, running around with that for a while doesn't sound like a bad idea. How long have you had it though?

For 900 dollars you can get your paint to perfect AND the Ansa.

With mods its fun to switch between categories. Go with a performance mod then after install something aesthetically pleasing.

 

my opinion is do the throttle body since that is your current bottle neck, the stock exhaust is plenty even for the srt folks and we do not have a resonator, if anything remove a set of cats to help flow easily cheap mod.


if you want to lower just cut the springs a slight bit and see how that works many have tried with good luck.

look at doing the c32 brake upgrade 4 piston brembo, with drilled and/or slotted rotors with ebc red stuff pads and the stainless good ridge lines.

the brake upgrade will run you around

$250 calipers
$220 for rotors
$120 lines
$120 pads
$250 Throttle body
$35 cut springs


total is $995 and that is a lot of modding for that price,


screw the paint just keep working on it, use some sort of cutting compound and then work it from there. the scratch stuff will do minor stuff but spend $100 in supplies and get a nice DA porter cable and hit that up your self.

paint will not make you go faster or stop quicker, so no fun for you but only fun for by standers. Either way they can not see swirl marks from 5 ft away.

 

screw the iridiums not neccessary for bang/buck value, NGK plats will work just fine, Bosch work just fine. I would do spark plugs later on in the future pull one and see how it is. How many miles on the car and service records showing plugs were changed. i think pick up a set of decent NGK platinum plugs or what ever is recommended for the car iridiums are way to pricey and you might might might might might get like 3 hp. SERIOUSLY. Save that money for a port/polish job on the intake manifold.

 

now if you are planning on running juice then you might want to run one step colder plugs to reduce detonation from the juice. If you are needing to change plugs because yours is toast then going to a step up like the iridiums is fine just pickup the IX series and maybe 1 step colder if you run boost or juice.

I don't want you to waste money thinking iridiums will throw you back in your seat versus stock, if anything your response time and idle will be slightly improved but your power and tq will probably stay the same. only change them if stock are crapping out or you want to run juice.

 

Yeah I know there's no hp to be had in plugs, just a smoother Idle.

Does anyone know if the ansa can re-use the stock tips?

 

I'd love to, but the roads get my car bad enough as is.

 

yes ansa can use stock tips

ask peterk in the ansa thread for pics had it modded to fit but he claimed it was slight bit louder than regular ansa.