I hate to flood the boards like this, but now I'm suddenly at a fork in the road. Assuming I'm on a meager budget, do I:

Ebay CAI with K&N Filter
JDMshit Header
Highflow 2.5" Cat
Skunk2 2.36" Exhaust

and squeeze around, 5-15HP out of my engine, or do I go

H&R Sport/Race Springs
KYB AGX Shocks
ITR Sway Bar
Skunk2 Short-Shifter

and get no performance but better handling...?

 

speed first...looks second. to have better flow you should get a 2.5 exhaust too or go with a smaller diameter from header to exhaust

 

suspension...not a big fan of the 4x4 look

 

kb, what do you mean? should i get a smaller header collector and a 2.36" cat?

 

^ agree on 4x4 look.
go with suspension first, you will like the handling of the car and the way it sits.

 

Suspension definitely, You'll notice more out of that then a maybe 5-15 hp out of the engine mods.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wolfwood &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">kb, what do you mean? should i get a smaller header collector and a 2.36" cat?</TD></TR></TABLE>

well if your not going to be pusing high horses then yes small collector like 2" and 2.36" exhaust is good.
but if you plan on turbo or superchargin then 2.5" all around is good

your original setup 2.5"--&gt;2.5"--&gt;2.36" = not good exhaust flow
new setup 2"--&gt;2.25"--&gt;2.36" = good flow

 

maybe just do a little bit of both?

 

the header's collector is 2.5", though, so i'd have to find a 2.36 or 2.25 header

 

suspension is not all about looks.

fix the handling first. it'll make it more fun to drive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wolfwood &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the header's collector is 2.5", though, so i'd have to find a 2.36 or 2.25 header</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh you already bought it? they dont make 2.36" collectors. if you already ordered it then get a 2.5" exhaust.

 

i didn't, i'm looking at the stats

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSvtec03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">suspension is not all about looks.

fix the handling first. it'll make it more fun to drive.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

regarding the header collector size, a 2.5" collecter will be okay on 2.36" (60mm) piping, but will be too big and create a bottleneck for 2.25.

 

i think 2.5 is going to be way to big for a stock car.

you will like your car alot more once you get the suspension work done. i dont think you will notice the the (5-15) hp

 

That's for damn sure... Do the suspension first... What's the point of having the extra noise/power if you can't control it? Plus your car will look sick as ****.

 

Id do suspension... even though Im a big fan of power and speed over pretty much everything else, I just think a car at stock height and an exhaust and all will look kinda funny.. wont handle worth **** either.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb12 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">speed first...looks second. to have better flow you should get a 2.5 exhaust too or go with a smaller diameter from header to exhaust</TD></TR></TABLE>
The suspension setup he has planned is far from just for looks. I've seen to many people throw together a faster car and end up in a ditch. Get the suspension prepped and then go from there. IMO it should go:
(suspension)-&gt;(tires)-&gt;(hp/tq)-&gt;(exterior)

 

I was at the same fork in the road....

Right now I have:
AEM SRI
H&R Sports
KYB AGX
Beaks SRK w/ ITR rear sway bar
Beaks lower tie bar

suspension is good fun, and all that wasn't much more than a good exhaust


I'll do exhaust when it rusts out and I have a reason to replace it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gerbilo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
suspension is good fun, and all that wasn't much more than a good exhaust


I'll do exhaust when it rusts out and I have a reason to replace it </TD></TR></TABLE>
In the meantime enjoy your quiet stock exhaust. I HATE hearing my exhaust and miss the smooth sound of my b-series accelerating.

 

Hey Gerbilo, how much did you get the shocks and springs for? Those seem to be around 500+ total for me.


Modified by Wolfwood at 12:40 PM 7/25/2005

 

suspension is a way more noticable mod....you get a better look from the car and a lot more responsive feel

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb12 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">speed first...looks second. to have better flow you should get a 2.5 exhaust too or go with a smaller diameter from header to exhaust</TD></TR></TABLE>
Looks? I don't know about you, but I buy suspension parts to help the car turn and handle well, not for looks. I hate people who buy $1500 coilovers just to slam the car to the ground; if one wants to do that, buy some shitty sleeves, you know?

While I love lots of power, I honestly think it's a lot more fun to have a chassis that tucks in nicely and can handle the twisties at least somewhat competently. I would go with suspension mods first and foremost, and this is the route I'm taking on my DC2. I could've spent my money to boost the motor and make some power, but I'm focusing on the suspension right now. Lots of horsepower will get me going straight very quickly, but the chassis will still roll over like a trained dog when I turn the steering wheel. To me, this is not fun nor my ideal kind of car.

 

H&R Race is my setup $200
Koni Yellows (very soon) $400
Tie bar (free)
Volks on low pro's $1000
Intake $250 got ripped off about 3 yrs ago
Header $300

My biggest mistake : not getting the struts first!!! Could have saved my money and got really nice struts man... My 2 cents

 

yes suspension is all about handling but in the end most people do it to make their cars look better. but that's just what i've notice being around tuners