my car has 40k miles and stock, what order should I modify it?

[apzak]

I got 40,000 miles on my 98 240sx and I would like to modify it, but at the same time replace things that need to be replaced with aftermarket performance parts. At 40,000 miles nothing was replaced except for oil, tired 25k miles ago, the usual stuff. I looked at my cars history because I just bought it, and it looks like the spark plugs were never replaced. I would like to get these parts for my car:

1.) Sparkplugs and wires - They are cheap and suppose to be replaced at 30k miles but I guess they weren't

2.) CAI[/] - It's very cold out now and I want to take advantage of winter before summer comes

3.) Electric fans - Makes 2-5hp, better mpg and should couple well with CAI

4.) Headers - I'm going to do with header because they both will be off

4.) Exhaust - I'm going to do with header because they both will be off

5.) short shift - put some fun back in

6.) Pullys - I'm ganna want more power about now

7.) VLSD - cut some time off 0-60

8.) Cams - I don't wanna open the engine till there's nothing left

9.) Performance chip - Should come after cams

So what do you think about my order? I want to get the small hp mods up front so I won't get bored too quickly. Should I change anything?

So the wear and tear items that I could upgrade are:BrakesSuspentionTiresClutch/flywheelAnything else? When will these usually go bad? I think the brakes could be upgraded at 70k, tires preaty soon because my right foots made of lead but I still have to rotate them so maybe 25k more,How but the clutch, suspension?

I guess I'll upgrade these whenever it's needed.

I'd like some opinions from those of you that have done these mods, do you realy feel anything from ngk spark plugs, wires and electric fans? I hope if I do these together I should feel atleast a small gain. CAI should be huge because it's so cold here.

[Drift Machine]

If you haven't done suspension work yet, I recommend that first. I didn't start ordering engine parts for my project KA24DE, until I had completed my suspension.

[boarder445us]

i did plugs, CAI, and cat back first. Currently i am putting in a Exedy clutch and fidanza lightweight flywheel. I have a 97 with 50K miles on it. I noticed a big diff because i put all that stuff on at the same time.

[apzak]

I don't want to start my suspension now because I'm realy intrested in power and dragracing, although twistys are my favorite type of road. My tires are about halfway through their life, and if I get good suspension it will be preaty useless with bad tires, right? Rims, tires and suspension is A LOT of money. Shouldn't I get rims with an aggressive tire before I invest in suspension and have crappy traction, but top of the line suspension? I also haven't done much research on suspension yet so I'll have to spend time on that. In the mean time I have money for power, which I know enough about the products. I have 1,000 right now, which I was saving half for a HDTV, but I'm working so I'll have money come in while I research suspension. That 1000 is good for rims and a good set of tires to match, but I want to use my tires up before I replace them. They aren't old, just worn because of how I drive. They have low thread on the rear, and the front have lots of thread left. It's best to have the better tires on the back, right? That prevents understeer? I'm going to rotate them Thursday and put the good tires in the back. Better to have understeer than oversteer. (I'm not highly skilled, yet) I'm thinking of getting intake and maybe a used exhaust. 300 for a 2 year old greddy exhaust isn't bad right? Exhaust should last 5 years, or do greddy last longer? So I'll get Greddy exhaust (300), used CAI (100). Maybe plugs, I'll have my car looked over by a friend. I heard before modifing you have to make sure the car is tuned up. What should I tell my friend to check to make sure it's tuned up? It was recently serviced according to the service records, but it was like a sears service, they just checked what's good (belts, stuff like that) and what should be replaced. They didn't replace anything, just said everything was good and changed the oil. By tune up do you mean tune the fuel, air ratio? Don't new cars do that automatically?

[hotshot240sx]

dont for get the nitto 555 drag radials:D ...gotta havem if your racing the 1/4!!!other than that...u will also need suspension...to handle your power when u launch...everyone knows 240's get nutts when u pop the clutch

[hannibal]

Well, I think youre gonna hafta do some suspension work sooner or later. You gotta be able to put the power to the ground. Even with older tires, you'd definitely notice the inprovement.But, if the shocks arent worn out yet, you can probably wait a while like you said.

Jay

By the way, nice porsche!!! Any mods?

[apzak]

no, no mods on the porsche trying to keep it original. But I might need exhaust and headers because they possibly might be leaking, the car backfires. but stock for now, trying to restore it to it's original condition.

[Dattebayo]

hey sounds like a phat project. If i knew where you lived i would help or do the work (not for free but close). oh well. make sure you do it all in the right order though. fans, headers, exhaust, intake, vlsd. Then do the rest in any order but you should go with pistons and an ecu if you wanna get some real power. just my .02

[unleash the beast]

Personally I wouldn't worry about the suspension to start. I also am concerned primarily with the 1/4 mile. I have a 97 with the stock suspension and CAI/header/exhaust and to this point the suspension still puts the power to the ground very well with 225/50R16 Yokohama's and I have over 140k on the suspension too. With only 40k, I'd try to up the power until you feel like your suspension is a weak link and then go for some springs and struts.BTW my order was intake/exhaust/header

[apzak]

With those modifications was there a significant gain in power? Are you happy with it?

[unleash the beast]

Yes, it was very significant. It's like driving a whole new car. I'm happy with it, but always wanting more.

[Bobby_Wu]

Yes, it was very significant. It's like driving a whole new car. I'm happy with it, but always wanting more.

unleash the beast...is that your engine bay in the pic...what do you think about the cold air extension ??...i heard you get alot of dust and water into your intake...i'm going to be getting a InJen CAI soon and was just wondering...i just seafoamed my 95 240 and got denso iridium plugs, magnecor wires and MSD ign with HVC coil....i think the igniton part is done so i want to work on the engine's breathing now...

[unleash the beast]

...i heard you get alot of dust and water into your intake...

I have had the intake and cold air extension for a year, every time itgets cloudy and looks like rain I remove the cold air extension and just use the short ram in the rain. But yes the filter does get very dirty very fast when using the cold air extension. But other than the hassle of changing the cold air extension when it rains I have no complaints

[Bobby_Wu]

if you leave the cold air extension on in the rain ... does alot of moisture get into the intake...what kinda damge am i looking at???...i would like the cold air extension..but knowing how lazy i am i probably just leave it in the rain...it's doesn't really rain much here anyways...

[unleash the beast]

I couldn't tell you for sure how much moisture would get into the intake because I have never left it on in the rain. It could potentially destroy the engine, if you go through a deep puddle and suck a bunch of water in the engine. This happened to a friend of mine with an Acura Integra on the very first day he installed his intake, blew up the engine. This was his first and last mod, he's saving for an engine. Moral is if you're gonna be lazy I wouldn't risk it, I can do a complete removal of the cold air extension in less than 5 min, so it's really not that hard

[unleash the beast]

oh yeah, AEM offers a bypass valve for about $50 that is supposed to eliminate the possibity of water getting into the engine

[Bobby_Wu]

It could potentially destroy the engine,

thanks for the advise...if it only takes 5 minutes then it's no biggycompared to blowing your engine...

what about the dust that accumulates on the filter...do you just wash it out once in awhile the a filter cleaner???

[Bobby_Wu]

oh yeah, AEM offers a bypass valve for about $50 that is supposed to eliminate the possibity of water getting into the engine

yeah i've seen that too but wasn't sure if it fits on the InJen CAI...do you have one??what's that black box between the two pipes on your CAI...???

sorry i'm new to this and still learning...

[unleash the beast]

I'm pretty sure the bypass valve comes in 3" size that would fit the injen intake, but I don't have one and can't say for sure. As far as the dirt, yes just use the k$n filter cleaner and oil and the filter is like new again. The black box between the two pipes is the MAF sensor, it is a stock part that injen intake connects to. It tells the ECU how much air is coming in the intake so it can adjust fuel levels

[Bobby_Wu]

thanks for the information beast...this will help me alot

[kevdog240]

the first performance part i did was the injen CAI. helped out, nothing special powerwise but i havent taken the extention off yet and ive had no problems with it. i do try to not drive in the rain if possible but if i have to i have to. ive had it on now for probably 8 months.... by the way i was thinkin about buyin the aem bypass valve for it but i was told that you cant put it on the injen one.... is that BS cause its just a universal piece?

[kevdog240]

didnt read to the second page. sorry guys........ so 3" is what i would need to get in the bypass valve?

[sixxdeuce]

Hey Unleash the beast, is that a greddy header? If so how do you like it and how long have you had it?

[apzak]

I heard with the bypass valve you lose 3-4 horsepower so there isn't a point in getting CAI if your going to install the bypass valve.

[kevdog240]

when the bypass valve first came out they ran tests on it in sports compact car. they gave the best to the worst conditions. i mean they actually put the filter right into the water. they never had any problems with hp loss at all. thats why i wanted to get it

[SigmaNIN]

the only reson u will lose power is because the baypass valve is not smooth like the rest of the intake and cuases a turbulance in the intake causeing the air going to your engine to slow doen slightly. but some ppl say y get a better mixture in the combution camber with the turbulance so is hard to figure out . hope this help. by the way if u get water into your intake the engine will hydrolock and u will need a rebuild, thats why i have short ram. i live in michagan and its always snowing or raining so can't do what Kev does.