New Kouki. What should I mod first?

[SleepyHB]

Exhaust, coilover, 5 lug, z32 brakes, wheels.

[JSDEVILDOG29]

I didnt buy the car from them. haha. It seemed like a bad deal and a pain. I didnt notice the gauge cluster. They said it was completely stripped though. No I got mine fom a toyota dealership. Its actually very clean. And all stock for now.

[WutsDrift]

Man me and you are in the same boat. I just got a black 97 auto and the first order of business for me is to swap transmission. I asked if I should just wait and do the SR swap but he said not really, but KA only has 109k mi so... But the 5spd swap is first and foremost, then comes coilovers and hopefully wheels at the same time. then I will probably upgrade brakes afterwards. Good luck with yurs bro ham!

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Yes the auto must go. lol. I thought about waiting until I do the swap but the swap will be expensive because I want to do clutch, flywheel, pistons and everything while its out. So I only have to install it once. Check the monthly specials intensepower has a great deal on coil overs.

[WutsDrift]

Yeah thats true, I actually forgot about the fly and clutch lol. I was trippin. I think I should throw some Nismo motor mounts in during the swap to... You check out Jan/Feb issue of Project Car? They did a auto->5spd swap in a 13, and it gave me a good idea of what to do along with the swap.

[JSDEVILDOG29]

I actually just got that issue about a week ago. Mail is slow out here. lol. I am not going to upgade everything until I do the sr swap. I am just going to put a 5 speed in to hold me over. I dont want to upgrade it all then sell it when I do the sr. I already started ordeing all my suspension pieces.

[Lev_96_240sx]

Here is what I would do if I had a chance to redo my build:

1. Do any maintenance necessary to keep the KA running.2. Make a plan as to what suspension components you want to install, that way I can plan what bushings I need to replace now and what to wait for.3. Replace every bushing, body mount, steering rack, etc.4. Replace front tension rods and tie rods, rear toe rods and upper control arms, sway bars with adjustable quality aftermarket ones in preparation for coilovers. 5. Buy coilovers, or a Koni/Ground Control combo, nothing else.6. Brakes and 5 lug conversion. If you're going SR plan on at least a Z32 brake setup, I have stockies on mine and they're a bit scary at times. Get some stock SE wheels until after the SR swap, the KA won't like big, wide baller wheels, I have 18x8's with 225/40 and 255/40 on the SR and it doesn't even like it on stock boost.

After that you can seriously think about adding power with an SR swap or a rebuilt KA or whatever, because your car is ready for it. I did the SR swap first, ended up spending a boatload of money on that and the rest of the car is still not fixed up, so listen to what everyone else said and sit on your hands about the SR until the 180,000 mile chassis is ready for it.

[WutsDrift]

Lol, you just went off on the topic didnt ya!? jk Not bad ideas tho, makes since. See my joint only has 109k miles on it so yeah I figure I'll do all these other things first cause I'm good on the engine for a while, especially with routine maint and all that. AND I'm the second owner, this lady traded it with a Explorer for a Kia. Lol. JSDEVILDOG is already at 180k but he's in the desert now so I know he's getting tax free dollars out there. (A buddy of mine is in the desert now, AF, and that's all he does is order stuff on the internet)

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Yeah we make about an extra 750 a month out here. I wish we got overtime. lol. Sometimes Im up for 2-3 days depeding on the mission. I do plan on suspension etc first. I already ordered a bushing kit and I think Im going with some stance coilovers. I am kinda dragging on the motor. haha. I plan to start building that when I get back. But I want to do it right and start with a block and use all good quality pieces so itll be a while before I end up boosted. haha. But I will be doing a 5speed swap asap. Cant be using the granny transmission.

[Lev_96_240sx]

Sorry I didn't mean to go that far off topic. Still that's my honest opinion as to what should be done first based on my experiences with my car. I'm glad you're not one of those people that just jump on here with a closed mind.

Good luck to you sir. Stay safe and come home soon. We'll be waiting to see the hawt build pictures. And thank you and all your buddies for what you do for us.

[mrgrape]

k ur in camp pendleton so imma give u a few tips.1.STICK to KA24DE, operation crackdown in san diego is comming down HARSH.2. Check under ur car for RUST as its a common problem especially cars from New York.3.Check out PBM, its a local drift shop and lots of san diego guys run their coilovers/suspension- also the guys there are really cool.4. its up to u what u want to do with ur car, if u just want a cool daily i reccomend the koni/gC but if u want to make it into a drifting beast, then read up more on suspension.

[maj Andres]

can you elaborate more on operation "crack down"?

[mrgrape]

google operation crackdown san diego

pull over for anything modified, and cops will give u s***.i doubt its as highly enforced in pendleton due to the marines. though

[JSDEVILDOG29]

I googled it. I am not to worried about it because I am in the Marines. I was born and raised in San Diego but I went to college in Washington. I register all of my cars up there. Way chaper. haha. As long as I am not caught racing redhanded I should be fine. Cops typically will leave us military types alone. Especially because half of them are former military. I actually applied for SDPD and LAPD and am waiting until I get stateside to make a decision (Kinda want to stay Marines, but am tired of living in Iraq and Afghanistan). Dont worry though I love imports and wont impound everyones ride to be an a$$. Haha. Although I might pull someone over to check out their ride. I hate cops that pull ppl over for no reason when there are peple doing actual crimes.

[mrgrape]

I googled it. I am not to worried about it because I am in the Marines. I was born and raised in San Diego but I went to college in Washington. I register all of my cars up there. Way chaper. haha. As long as I am not caught racing redhanded I should be fine. Cops typically will leave us military types alone. Especially because half of them are former military. I actually applied for SDPD and LAPD and am waiting until I get stateside to make a decision (Kinda want to stay Marines, but am tired of living in Iraq and Afghanistan). Dont worry though I love imports and wont impound everyones ride to be an a$$. Haha. Although I might pull someone over to check out their ride. I hate cops that pull ppl over for no reason when there are peple doing actual crimes.

hahaha yeah we need more law enforcement like u.but since CA is bankrupt they are lots out....id def be interested in seeing ur car at one of the meets,but i highly reccomend a 5spd swap.

driving auto to me is only for daily use.....like s***ty daily lol

[JSDEVILDOG29]

Yeah Id love to come to some of the meets. Just dont laugh at the stockness of my car. Haha. I am def going to drop the auto. I cant stand autos. Although some of my other rides are autos, but thats just so my wife can drive them. haha

[pedobear-lovin]

first mod= biggest turbo you can buy, for sure.

ask anybody, they will sayPOWER > SUSPENSION

[JSDEVILDOG29]

I already started ordering suspension parts. Ive got coilovers and sway bars on the way. And I am going to order a bushing kit. Any advice on which one is good? As far as a turbo I def plan on getting it soon. But I want to do it right so it will take a while. I dont want to just turbo my ka. To high of mileage. And if I do go sr I want to do as many upgades for power and reliabilty as possibe. Luckily it doesnt have to be my dd. Although if its not being worked on it will be. haha

[240sxblacksr20]

i would do coilovers and rims and tires and it will look sick

[JSDEVILDOG29]

My very clean yet super stock Kouki. Haha. Nothing like a clean slate to start with. Not bad for 3600.

[I_LOVE_JDM]

(A buddy of mine is in the desert now, AF, and that's all he does is order stuff on the internet)

lol cuz theres nothing better to do out here. i know i spent a s*** load money odering parts for my car, but itll all be worth it

[DruidAT]

First thing I'm doing with my kouki is rust proofing it with Eastwood Chassis Black products on the subframe, fram rails, and engine bay just so that the car will last you forever lol. Then I'd go with mild suspension until you have big bucks to play with the big boys. nah mean?