Was curious about the intentionality of the owners on here...

How many of you guys have a full build budgeted for your cars? Are you building your car for any specific task? Or do you simply snap up parts as you see them, and hope for the best chemistry?

I have the full monty -- a spreadsheet with part numbers, prices, purpose of the part, etc... I know within a reasonable degree of accuracy how much $$$ I will sink into the car, as well as a tabulation of the money already invested. By doing this, I can also better plan other mods -- to prevent double work.

I'm roughly where I need to be regarding engine mods and interior dress-up, now I'm turning the focus to suspension, braking, and rolling stock. Think lower, bigger, and lighter -- in that order. My goal for the car is not simply straight-line speed... It needs to handle better than stock, brake faster, and still retain enough compliance for daily use. While function is important, form is imperative -- no stripped interiors or rough edges for this car. If the part doesn't improve both aesthetics AND performance, it doesn't make the cut.

So, let's hear it -- are you OCD or ADD about plans for the car?

Cheers,

 

i WOULD LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SPREADSHEET!

 

^Me too. My plans for a car start with looks and then go on to speed, thats about it for a plan. And the amount of money in my bank account tells me what i can do next.

 

I feel the same way as you John, for the most part. I have been putting together my lists and sources for rebuilding the motor I will pick up tomorrow. Then it's suspension, then brakes, then double back to long term reliability. My ultimate goal is to have the car down start to finish so that when I do drive it will literally be completely different on every aspect, in a good way.

Funny though... I have already been asked a few times, why are you choosing that motor vs a complete, it will cost more. First of all, motor swaps on almost every car are going to be more expensive if the higher model is priced near the same... (DUHHH)... but IMO if I can mostly rebuild it with new parts then the money extra was well spent and I will be better off than buying a full complete, tearing it apart and doing the same thing... and so far my totals are well above me just selling mine and buying an SRT, but what good is a project someone else completed. I want MY 6 SPEED SRT!!

But to answer your question, I'm pretty OCD on projects, or **** I guess. I get determined and don't much care for nay sayers lol.

 

Well, John since I am an OLD man and 1 ft in the grave to some on here...I would never put anything on my car to make it fast......so I am AARP...... and if you believe that, which I know you won't...........lol....planned out by the R&D of others....

 

I have spreadsheets and do LOTS of research before doing much of anything to a car, but I also have a vision for the car that does not always translate to paper, sometimes when we are in the paintshop, I may change something at the last minute, because it doesn't look 100% right, to me.

I think this is more true with aesthetics than with performance mods, but I try to make sure no matter what I do that it does not detract from the car or scream aftermarket (ricer) LOL

 

It's classified

Agree 100% and I'm looking forward to your build, this should be awesome!

I will say, there have been several "surprises" along the way that have made me rethink a few things. Namely, Rudy's developments

 

^^^ This.

I don't want anything to scream aftermarket. This means no chrome "blingy" wheels, no titanium exhaust tips, and no obtuse LEDs in random locations (nothing against those that like LEDs in every crevice).

I want the car to look faster, lower, meaner -- and have the performance to back it up. But I also want it to be civilized enough for people to ask "what model is that?" not "where'd you get your go-fast goodies?"

Great minds work alike

 

I did research and created a list of mods when I first bought the car. After installing the first batch of mods I was happy for a day or two.

After that, I knew what I wanted and jumped on the items as soon as they were available for the price I could afford to pay. Also, some of my mods have been acquired out of necessity, due to running lean from other mods.

I currently don't have a list of mods I want, but I'll know what I need when I see it - if the price is right.

 

John, Anthony is on to something there. When I would do a mod I liked, it would lead to something else out of necessity to enhance that mod even further. So, you really do have to do your homework. I want to add the meth injection, but I need to data log, so I invest in the Dashdaq/ZT2. When I do that mod, I will have to modify an intake to move the AIT senor up in order to take advantage of the spray. So, I don't have to purchase anything but do have to have the ability to TIG weld or know someone who does...and it just keeps going on and on...so you are right in planning out your attack, but it's the little things that will add up too...but it is fun as long as you can be frugal and afford it...which is hard to do in today's dollars....I am done buying, but not done installing....out of cash for now...

 

Painfully true. I've had several spendy maintenance issues pop up unexpectedly... And when that happens, you quickly toss the "plan" to the side.

Part of wrenching

 

I started out without a plan. As I added power and didn't get faster I quickly realized that until I learned how to get the most from my car as a driver, no modification would yield much. A few driving schools got me headed in the right direction. From then on it's been suspension, brakes, driver improvement and trying to keep running cool. One change at a time to learn what works and what doesn't. I've wasted some dollars along the way trying to be cheap but it's been worth the learning experience. I'm handicapping my car by not committing to one specialty. I want to be good at 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile and solo or time trials. I'm weakest at the 1/4 mile but that's about to change ....... well, here's hoping. My spreadsheet is how I stack up against the competition, where they excel and where I need improvement. At this point in time I'm just refining what I have and making sure it's optimized. Then I'll take another look at the potential mods available to see if any make sense. Next for me could be areo. Splitter, lip, air dam or the like.

Les

 

I'm usually pretty **** about keeping track of things, and often make spreadsheets for mods/costs. However, the Crossfire was bought as a daily driver. My goal with it, is make it look a little better and a little different than all the others (which I know there aren't that many, but). Eventually I may start to play with some go fast goodies, but I have a '67 Belvedere II convertible with a sizeable spreadsheet that's almost complete, plus a '79 K5 Blazer that just has a list... The Crossfire just has a list of maintenance items and fixes right now.

 

I guess I am more on the ADD side, but I have to say I am quite satisfied with my car overall, even a year after buying it. I am watching the turbo threads with interest, as that is my only real want/need mod for the car, simply to get a little more out of the loud pedal, but everything else I have done/will do is simply aesthetic to improve the appearance in my own eye.
I would place myself into the "opportunist" category, ie when I have my eye on something I will probably pick it up if it is a screaming deal, otherwise I will just continue to eye it and wish.

 

Most everything on my car was not just because I wanted it, but because it HAD to .

Had stone chips - painted it
rims curbed - got new ones
center console scrached and nasty from that stickon cf - painted it and got matching switches
Stereo broken - New upgraded
High mileage engine - replaced and upgraded
almost smashed into a car on 2 seperate occasions - upgraded brakes
Cupholder broked - put in my own cupholder
headliner dirty - replaced it
shock blown - upgraded to Koni's
CF hood - I just wanted that but it is not on my car because it scares the heck out of me
HID's - better night vision

I planned and saved for everything except the engine. That was supose to be a honds cbr 600RR but changed my mind at the last moment because they didnt have any left in green

 

You got it. Yours has always been one of my favorite cars here...

This is pretty important too, if the price is right, I will grab even though I do not need it. I have had a set of valve covers for over 2 years, a friend finally blasted them for me, and hopefully at some point I will get them painted and on the car. They were cheap, so I jumped.

I couldn't agree more, it shakes to beat the band. I just drive slower

 

Thanks for the kind words, John.

The CF hood was on my wish-list, but when I saw the complaints of "flutter" at speed, that sealed it for me (that I wasn't getting one). Yes, you can pin it, but at that point, you may as well install a roll cage and race-spec wheels because "subtle" just went out the window.

I will say I jumped on a few car parts simply because they came up at the right price. If nothing else, I can sell them later once they're obsolete

 

If I had the money my xf would be on the ground , in the words of Honda boys it would be "hella flush"
(Talking about my suspension) Lol

 

You sir are my hero. Just so you know i share the same goal in life. But, at the same time, what do you need money for to lower this car? I lower mine for free, if your saving for the coil overs dont waste your money please.

 

Lol

I was actually thinking coilovers or some kinda cup kit , how else would i lower it ?
I posted a thread a while ago asking if It's possible to get the car lower with just a set of lowering springs , short answer was no