where to spend the first $1000 on a KA-T

[pella]

i was wondering if you guys can lend some advice.i have 95 240, making into KA-T. this car will not be my daily driver but will be driven often. i plan to get the engine running in its stock form, smog it and then put the turbo kit on and if i need to do again in two years, just return to stock. the question i have (well lots haha)is when i replace head gasket on motor and swap to a 5 speed, what should i spend the first $1000 on performance upgrades? ideas and examples of personal experience would be cool.

[Lonismos14]

One thing for sure dont spend your money on them janky promoters.

Russel Red and Jellyroll Entertainment sucks.

Naw before you turbo check the compression.

The easiest way to go turbo is the t-25 route. But what ever you do, dont use a fmu(soorywdiloveyou) or piggy-back.

I would recommend nistune, jwt, or efi specialist. Believe me you are going to wnt to crank the boost up.

[GTR PrYdE]

Is 1k your budget? If not, what's your total budget? We need to know so we can give you some ideas.

A cheap and effective setup for keeping the stock block would be a t2 setup w/ an fmu and ~2 degree's timing retard.

The fmu will work fine, however i'd frequently check the resistance on your injectors (11-18ohms, any higher and they're going bad)

A T3 setup provides much more room to grow but is alot more costly up front.

+1 on compression check, report results.

[Gabes13]

Believe me you are going to wnt to crank the boost up.

So you recommend a t-25?

[trackslut240]

t25 is only for cheap low boost setups, you will grow out of it in a week or less. a t3 is a little more upfront but will save u in the long run.

i wish i had gone a t3 from the start, t25 gets old in two drives. its still fun but not fun enough.

[biggie]

My first main purchase was Tune/injctors/MAF, happen to find a package deal from someone selling everything together (JWT/480cc/Cobra MAF). After that about everything else can be changed depeding on what you are looking for.

[pella]

my 240 has a blown headgasket, and an auto transmission. i know a guy at work who is going to attempt an LS1 conversion. he will have them out this weeked and wants to sell me his motor/ 5 speed for 800. i dont know what this is worth. any ideas? after i get everything running. i was just wanting to do a decent turbo upgrade, that will be reliable and leave a lil growth for the future. im starting to hear enuff about the T3, so thats an option. how much is a lil more? my plans(hahahaha) were to get everything running, and put $1K into the turbo upgrade. but if it goes a lil more, she wont find out ;-) ive heard it easier better and cheaper to just piece it all together, vs buying a kit. all ideas and help is apreciated.....

[pella]

thanks, that helps.

[Lonismos14]

So you recommend a t-25?

No i dont. I have a Td06.

What turbo kit can you get for a grand? With quality parts that is. Remember out of that 1000 at least 400 is already gone for a good tune.

[pella]

[QUOTE=Lonismos14]

ah, i had a feeling that was coming. Ok, well minus the tune. around 1K not counting tune. then will take from there....

[Lonismos14]

You just gotta look around there is lot of deals going on, but for a 1000you should be able to get.

turbo manifold

decent t3

injectors

jgs oil lines

wideband and water and oil pressure gauge

intercooler

AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN STILL HAVE SOME DOLLARS PUT BACK FOR THE TICKET YOUR GOING TO GET FOR SPEEDING+LANE DRAG.

[pella]

lol i got some points to burn. i found this kit online, seems to have alot. would do injectors and tune as well. do you see anything wrong with this one? found on ebay for $1100 but under $1k at advancedjdmparts

http://www.advancedjdmparts.co...age=1

[hannibal]

^ That kit probably has a Chinese made turbo and WG. Thats a lot of goodies for under $1000.

EDIT: Certainly not a real Garrett turbo. They have a GT3076 listed for $400!

[trackslut240]

better to buy used genuine stuff than ebay stuff, there are two ways you can do it. cheap out now and pay later or pay more now and enjoy longer.

lonismos plan is a much better route, i am sure if you hunt around you can find all those parts (genuine good quality) under your budget.

most of the "jdm" kits have garbage you arent gonna use. looking at that kit the useless stuff is the turbo, wastegate and blow off imo.

[scotty-2-forty]

i was wondering if you guys can lend some advice.i have 95 240, making into KA-T. this car will not be my daily driver but will be driven often. i plan to get the engine running in its stock form, smog it and then put the turbo kit on and if i need to do again in two years, just return to stock. the question i have (well lots haha)is when i replace head gasket on motor and swap to a 5 speed, what should i spend the first $1000 on performance upgrades? ideas and examples of personal experience would be cool.

As a first, I would spend the money on tanking the block, some low compression pistons and forged rods. You can still drive the car, but the power will be lacking. But it's good preparation for boosting it later. When building a performance engine, always plan first and then build from the inside out. Just my 2 cents. I'm sure you can still boost your stocker; it's just me - I wouldn't.

[ashibah83]

As a first, I would spend the money on tanking the block, some low compression pistons and forged rods. You can still drive the car, but the power will be lacking. But it's good preparation for boosting it later. When building a performance engine, always plan first and then build from the inside out. Just my 2 cents. I'm sure you can still boost your stocker; it's just me - I wouldn't.

i agree except fo the low compression pistons.....they are unnecessary, throw a thorough STOCK rebuild at it, that will give you a good solid platform up to a proven 350hp mark, thats around $4-500 depending on parts and machining, spend another $400 on good engine management( if you feel capable of doing your own tuning, then i suggest Nistune), that leaves $200(unless you dont include the EM in that $1000), look for a decent turbo, be it used and have it rebuild or new either way, a manifold, wastegate(reputable brand), intercooler piping, exhaust setup

the way i looked at piecing together my setup was........Turbo(have to get started somewhere)ManifoldFuel SystemEngine ManagementGuages( Wideband, boost, coolant temp, oil presure, volts)WastegateBlow Off ValveIntercooler SetupEngine BuildExhaust

the way i purchased my setup was determined because i did not want to skimp on anything major, buy doing things in that order i was able to get what i wanted and not be tempted to rush into installing anything untill i had everything

(FYI my setup is Rebuilt KA24DE, JGS Manifold, Garrett T3/T04E, 550cc injectors, Nistune, z32 Mafs(blow through), Tial Wastegate, Synapse BOV Custom IC piping, Custom 3'' downpipe with wastegate dump into exhaust)

[scotty-2-forty]

Well I wouldn't call low compression pistons 'unnecessary' as detonation can be a real enemy. Like I said, my 2 cents and not the way I'd spend it.