Whatd u do?

[240SXedUp]

Just because Im bored and Im looking for some ideas as far as what order to buy stuff.... whatd you guys buy (in order) when you started modding your car. Did you start with stereo, performance, handling, looks, etc. Just curious. Got results from your bolt ons? Post those too

[quiksilvia]

thats all upto u, on my first car, it wasnt fast so i put a sick stereo in it, but with my 240 i went all performance and but the sr20, depends on what u want or can do money wise

[240SXedUp]

Ya i know. i kinda already have rough draft for what i want. sorta leaning towards KA-T. not sure yet tho, may go SR. but so far ive figured:Exhaust (DONE), Intake (DONE), Rims, Springs & Struts, Rotors, Brake Pads, Brake Lines, Headers & Catalytic Converter, Cams, Gears, ECU, Pulleys, Short Shifter, Driveshaft, Clutch & Flywheel, Pistons & Rods. Thats as far as I can think right now. Should take me a while just to get this. Probably 1 1/2 - 2 years. I was just wondering what you guys did just for the sake of discussion. And to learn from you guys' mistakes. Anything you guys did that you regret doing now? Besides the obvious "i didnt need a stereo" or "body kits are pointless". Just want to learn some stuff.

[Anand]

first make the car run great... a thorough service should be done... belts, engine/transmission/diffy oils should be changed along with filters... radiator flush... mget some seafoam through the engine/gas tank/brake booster... change spark plugs/wires... you know basic maintenence things... it will end up costing because of all those little things add up but your car will perform much better.. you won't get mad gain in HP but you will def. feel the change... it's also going to be great for your car... that's what I did when I first gor my car....minus the seafoam.. I didn't know about that back then... I did take later on...

[WingsNThangs]

Maintenance should be first and foremost. Replace what needs to be replaced to get the car in top running condition.

Aftermarket-wise, I'd go suspension. Usually more rewarding per dollar.

[toki]

GET FATTY OVERSTRETCHED TIRES ON SOME 15" AND DORIFTO. hahaha no just kidding. To me it sounds like you are going the NA buildup route without most of the actuall build up, which would come from bore and stroke adjustments. Get ready for a whopping 20whp gain and the ability to turn with the 160whp you have. Your car will be someplace between show and go. It will have shiny rotors and "forged internals" but still be an underpowered KA. Atleast if you take the outlined route. Sorry to be kinda harsh but my friend is doing the same thing with his KAE. With intake and exhaust he "figures" 170 hp. Sorry. Not the case. Pistons and Rods arn't going to do much, and neither are intake and exhaust, the cams will help, but only on the high end really, which still leaves you with a low end HP loss from the exhaust. Building the KA will take you 200hp crank and thats with thousands and thousands of dollars. Not worth it on any level. My advice would be to get suspension, brakes, and some nice rubber and learn how to drive as hard as you can push the car. Once you are confident, take the money you've been saving and make a real power upgrade to a SR/RB/CA or turbo KA.

[Onizuka]

Aluminum wing -> 7" MONSTER TACH -> Cut oem springs for 4" drop -> Big body kit -> Altezzas -> Muffler with 6.5" tip on stock exaust -> Lime Green paint job (except for the body kit) -> 4 pyramid 1000w subs -> 18x5 inch chrome rims -> 2 A-pillar mounted Guages (non-working, just for show) -> matching lime green interior with Neon orange accents

[Rockenreno]

Well I got my car at the beginning of the month and I have done the following with it:removed pinstripesremove chrome piece on front grill that was put on by previous ownerwashed it oncefilled up on gas twicebought FSMbought gauge cluster from SE (for white faces, misc repair parts)bought new rear deck lid from SE for speakers

Next up:4 new speakersnew headunit (have stock tape deck with crappy 6cd changer in trunk)get car buffed and detailedreplace all fluids/basic tune-up/get brakes checked since one grinds a tiny bit

Still pondering, but perhaps in near future:17" rims or 5 lug conversion/SE alloys/300zx brake upgradeEibach Prokit springsKYB AGX shocks/strutsintake (CAI or just k&n filter)

[APEXi240]

APEXi WS coiloversExhaustDrop inNew plugs/wiresFSBNew head unit/speakersTranny oilTires

Currently doing new (stock) rotors and pads, flush anti-freeze, new plugs, distributor cap, and rotor. My brakes are being a b**** though. Oh yeah fuel filter too. Luckily when I first bought my car the dealership did a very thorough tune up on it. Didn't have to replace anything for nearly a year and a half. Starting to change stuff recently though.

My opinion...thorough tune-up, very every and all problems the car has, then begin "tuning" it.

[Onizuka]

for real though:

Apex'i dual N1sCatco 3" catKYB AGX ajustable shocksEibach Sportlinesvarious sound system stuff

Bought but not installed:s15 dual ball bearing T28Hot PipeBlitz Super Sound BOVSPL turbo manifold (JIC ripoff)s13 SR20DET red topNismo Moter mountsR32 skyine front brakes and rotorsWalbro 255 fuel pump

What else i still have to spend my ($3000) pile of cash on:paintjob5 Lug hubss14 SE wheelsKoyo RadiatorPermacool fanWire harness sevice a la heavy throttlejunkyard intercooler (either early MK IV supra or starion)custom IC pipingSilvia front endApexi S-AFCGreddy Profec BGreddy Turbo timerGreddy Guages (B, EGT, oil pressure)

[240SXedUp]

Im not going N/A. I will only be doing the internals if I go KA-T. If I go SR then forget half of that stuff. Like I said, I have a while to think about it. Its not like Im ordering all this stuff right now. For all the brake stuff Ill probably just do 300ZX or Q45 brake upgrade. The only thing I consider "show" in that list are the rims. That is just phase 1 of a long project I hope to do for quite a few years. I assumed you would need to upgrade your internals if you woulfd be boosting the KA. Maybe Im wrong. Im leaning towards the KA-T because its just alot easier for a 17 year old to deal with (though I doubt ill still be 17 when I get to that). I am currently reading books on performance and turbos and stuff so Ill know alot more when I get to that then I do now.

[toki]

ah ohk. good job i must have missed the "Garret Turbine" on your list of mods.