If everything works out how I've planned, I will have roughly 10K to spend towards my car before next spring. If you had 10k to spend toward your car, how would you spend it?

Well you didn't tell us what your car is but if it's the 90 GSX in your profile I have a simple answer for you. I woun't put $10k into a 1990 GSX. Seriously if you did and sold the car a couple years later you'd maybe get $4000 for it total. $10k into a car worth $2k tops is not really a great idea. JMHO.

Assuming you have a decent car to build on, Id put 2000 or so into having a tranny built by one of the pro's down south, along with 700 for a new clutch and flywheel.
1000 or so for your choice of big turbo (lots to choose from... Forced Performance is where I'd put my money though...
500 for your choice of big fuel pumps and large injectors...
600 for DSMlink to control that big fuel system, and the other goodies it offers.
300 for an Eprom ECU assuming you dont have one.
1000 or so for a custom FMIC with full 2.5" or 3" piping, and possibly a MAF-T or 2g MAF w/e floats your boat.
500ish for a custom built 3" mandrel bend exhaust
Now for the engine, you can easily get into spending thousands and thousands building an engine, what I would do if you have a strong block to work with is build the head to your liking, possibly a set of cams, and of course all new gaskets and fasteners, this should run you 1500-2000 bucks I would say if done professionally.
Aside from that there are countless things you can do to spend your cash, and I'm sure you will find alot of them...
IMO though its better to take things one step at a time rather than buy everything at once and slap it all on... Take your time and enjoy the car, since thats what its really all about anyways.

I totally agree with Mike, but I was having fun with putting some numbers out there, theres been lots of people who have spent thousands and thousands only to have their cars never run right, and they end up parting it out and losing their shirts.

So, what you're saying is don't even bother with this car? It's in great shape for a 90 with less than 100000km and no real rust. Am I just wasting time with this car, and yes it is a 90 GSX. I wasnt really interested in selling it a few years down the road, i was hoping to keep it for a long time.

i think they just mean dont put so much money in it that you will regret later on....

That's all we are saying. $10k is a chunk of change so make sure you really want to spend it on a 16 year old car.

Sorry I know some kids that as soon as they get some cash it goes into thier cars. Cars are a black hole for money. These guys would be so much better off spending it on something else in thier lives but they are compelled to spend it on thier cars. In the end there's a lot more important things in life then cars .

Just a word of caution from an old guy who's been there done that.

Anyway if you are serious and a true enthusiast I wish you all the luck. Here are a couple options:

Level 1
$600-EVO16G
$300-550 injectors
$300-S-AFC 2
$1000-clutch/flywheel
$1000-quality FMIC
$1000-suspension
$1000-rims/tires
$1000-turbo back exhaust
$400-264/264 HKS regrinds
$100-2G MAF and airfilter
$200-2G exhaust manifold
$100-MBC
$100-fuel pressure regulator and gauge
$200-3G lifters
$200-Boost gauge, EGT
Save the rest for maintanance and repairs.

This level is easy to tune and the stock unmodified engine will have no issues if tuned right. 20 psi and low to mid 12s on pump is no problem. This is the best choice for the average joe enthusiast. Don't go much bigger in injector size with the S-AFC. The injectors then limit the turbo choice but the EVO16G has very little lag and can flow a lot of air.


Level 2
$1200-turbo (50-1, 60-1 etc)
$300-720 injectors
$800-DSMLink
$1000-clutch/flywheel
$1000-quality FMIC
$1000-suspension
$1000-rims/tires
$1000-turbo back exhaust
$800-264/272 HKS cams
$100-2G MAF and airfilter
$200-turbonetics exhaust manifold or custom tubular
$100-MBC
$100-fuel pressure regulator and gauge
$200-3G lifters
$200-Boost gauge, EGT
$400-Wideband o2 sensor
$400-Metal HG and ARP headstuds
Save the rest for maintanance and repairs.

This is a little bit more of a step in the tuning department but not nearly as bad as a stand alone. More power is available with the bigger turbo but with more lag. The metal HG and ARPs are a good idea.

Level 3
$1200-turbo (50-1, 60-1 etc)
$300-720 injectors
$1500-AEM Engine Management System
$1000-clutch/flywheel
$1000-quality FMIC
$1000-suspension
$1000-rims/tires
$1000-turbo back exhaust
$800-264/272 HKS cams
$200-GM MAP and airfilter
$200-turbonetics exhaust manifold or custom tubular
$100-MBC
$100-fuel pressure regulator and gauge
$200-3G lifters
$200-Boost gauge, EGT
$400-Wideband o2 sensor
$400-Metal HG and ARP headstuds
Save the rest for maintanance and repairs.

This is getting serious. The AEM EMS is challenging but rewarding. It is not for the novice. You might need to save for stronger engine internals as well.

Not sure if I missed anything.

I certainly like level 3. How does the saying go? "Go big or go home?"

But a standalone isn't for the green tuner .

Don't think I'll be going for stage 3 but i say that now. I want something quick and somewhat reliable. I'm sure once i get really into I won't be able to stop. I could care less if my car was the fastest, i just love the looks of these cars. More so the 1G than the others.

10G's = 4 B's and the H to go with it

Boost
T3/T4 with 44mm wastegate
EBC
Tubular Mani

Bang
Rebuild the engine, stroke it to 2.4L
Injectors, Port the head, dual springs, 1mm
valves, HKS 264/272's, 3G lifters.

Blow
3" Mandrel Bent
FMIC with 2.5" piping
MAP
Intake

Brains
DSMLink
Guages to monitor WTF is going on
Turbo Timer
SAFC-II


Handling
Suspension
Bushings
Sway Bars
Tires/Rims
Clutch/Fidanza

K, so I'm probably WAY over 10G's... but you get the idea.

I'd say something close to Stage 1 then. It will be reliable and you don't need to be a rockets scientist to tune it. I forgot to add a datalogger to the list of stage 1 and brakes to all the stages.

Curious, is your car stock right now? I think its important we know your current state of mods...
FYI, with AWD you can EASILY run mid 13's with less than a grand in mods, if you chose mods correctly, log your ecu feedback, and actually know how to make sense of all the pretty graphs.
I say this because going from stock to mid 13's will probably tide you over for a season.

It's mostly stock. Balance shafts removed and an aftermarket clutch, boost gauge and a/f gauge. I have a ported 2G manifold, fuel pump rewire kit and a 3" exaust but nothings installed. Car also came with a 75 shot nitrous kit.

I would get a Walbro 255, AFPR and larger Injectors. Control all of this with DSMLink.

That would be a good base to start with.

Pick up a larger Turbo (EVO16G is a good start) with a FMIC and the Piping.

Add on a WB and ditch the NOS.

All of this does not even come to $10 000.

Trow in some Rims and Tire and you'll be all pimped up.

Ghislain.

ill take your nitrous kit

I wasnt overly interested in the nitrous kit. I tried selling it when i first got the car but it never went. It's still for sale if anyones really interested.

You're giving them sound financial advice, Mike? Come on! Where's your spirit of adventure?!?

Seriously, you and I know that we could have just bought something like a Corolla that is dependable, even to throw a bit at it to make it handle better... and then watch your bank balance grow. Use the money on RRSPs, investments and trips to Mexico...

But seriously, even thinking of how many of those trips I could have had when I was young and single... would the experience have been the same as owning something like a turbo DSM?

If I had it to do over again, even knowing what I know now...I'd buy the car all over again.

So if it's $10k you got to waste, and don't care, throw it into the car! You'll NEVER get it back, but it'll be a fun investment if you don't kill yourself. Otherwise, put half into the car, and half into an investment or something that you can grow into more money.

Or take a trup down to Cancun during Spring Break. YOWZA!!!

Do what Ghislain said... and put the rest in the bank.

Seriously.

Tune one part, get the car running well, and then investigate what to do next.

The DSMLink is a building block, and tuning tool, for ANY stage of engine.

Besides, it would suck to dump all of the cash in, only to discover a month later, that you had a spun bearing or something, and no way to pay for the repairs.

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As a nosey sideline... where's the cash coming from?

Being a man-whore has its bonuses. Hopefully coming from my fulltime job that I'm supposed to be getting before summertime. 10k was a rough number that i figured i could save by then after all my debts are paid off. It could be more, it could be less. Thanks for the help guys, but I really wanted to know what you would do to YOUR car if you had an extra 10k to spend on it.

To my car? I'd just get brakes. If I was really motivated I might build up my motor. I'm fairly satisfied with the current state of my car .

I have other things to spend that kind of money on now a days (if I had it).

You mean you like how it's spread all over your garage in peices?

If I had 10k, which I don't, I'd buy a new car.

Ian, you should really get the cash in the bank before you start your plans. You'll be surprised what else you spend your cash on and how quickly it disappears.

"You mean you like how it's spread all over your garage in peices?"

It's called winter storage. I like to take some serious weight off my suspension and tires when it's sitting there that long.