What to spend $2K on?!?
02-09-2009, 01:37 PM
#1
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tigard, Oregon
Posts: 3,875
Total Cats: 2
What to spend $2K on?!?
My wife has some money coming in soon. She said she'd like to take part of it and call it mad money for each of us. She was thinking 2 grand each for some kind of splurge.
Here's what I've got. 94 C package with a hardtop. Tein RA's with a mix of springs 9/6 currently on the car. 15x8 6UL's with 225/45 RS2's with plenty of tread. 15x7 K1's with 225/45 r comps for the track. RB hollow front bar. Factory front lip spoiler. Have a seat to swap in for track days along with 5pt harness. Hard dog HC hard top bar. BEGI S4 with 2860rs. MSPNP. 2 1/2" enthuza. AEM wideband. FM frame rails. Have Energy bushings waiting for me to put in.
Complaint.
Rides lousy. Tein RA's are race shocks. They aren't jarring but strangely the car doesn't feel well damped. Lot's of movement. Feels like I'm riding on springs. Other cars are stable next to me on smooth freeway and I'm going boing boing boing...
Other thoughts to upgrade. 6 spd. Rear end gearing. 99 headswap. Look for a built bottom end. Improve aero. Certainly would love to have that magic 300rwhp figure at my command.
So the question is this. If you had my car how would you spend 2K to make it better? More power? Better ride or handling? Stronger tranny and rear end? (has torsen)
I'm hoping someone says something that sets off a light in my head that says "ding ding ding that's perfect!"
Keep in mind I could spend more than 2k since the parts I replace might be worth something too!
Here's what I've got. 94 C package with a hardtop. Tein RA's with a mix of springs 9/6 currently on the car. 15x8 6UL's with 225/45 RS2's with plenty of tread. 15x7 K1's with 225/45 r comps for the track. RB hollow front bar. Factory front lip spoiler. Have a seat to swap in for track days along with 5pt harness. Hard dog HC hard top bar. BEGI S4 with 2860rs. MSPNP. 2 1/2" enthuza. AEM wideband. FM frame rails. Have Energy bushings waiting for me to put in.
Complaint.
Rides lousy. Tein RA's are race shocks. They aren't jarring but strangely the car doesn't feel well damped. Lot's of movement. Feels like I'm riding on springs. Other cars are stable next to me on smooth freeway and I'm going boing boing boing...
Other thoughts to upgrade. 6 spd. Rear end gearing. 99 headswap. Look for a built bottom end. Improve aero. Certainly would love to have that magic 300rwhp figure at my command.
So the question is this. If you had my car how would you spend 2K to make it better? More power? Better ride or handling? Stronger tranny and rear end? (has torsen)
I'm hoping someone says something that sets off a light in my head that says "ding ding ding that's perfect!"
Keep in mind I could spend more than 2k since the parts I replace might be worth something too!
Last edited by cueball1; 02-09-2009 at 06:23 PM.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 02:23 PM
#5
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tigard, Oregon
Posts: 3,875
Total Cats: 2
Shifter cart would be a kick. I really am wanting to improve on my little girly Miata though. It's a tough decision between more power, better ride or a combination of both.
Last edited by cueball1; 02-09-2009 at 06:23 PM.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 02:40 PM
#6
Elite Member
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunny Spanish speaking Non US Caribbean
Posts: 3,224
Total Cats: 3
I hear what you say about the Teins but; that just means that the suspension shouldn't be your top priority.
If I were you, I'd combine a WI kit with a 99 head. Btw, you can get a 99 head for around $300 plus shipping and the WI kit would be another 350 or so, you'd still have around $1350 to upgrade your suspension if you wanted to do so. Now, you can then sell your current Teins (say for around $700) and buy yourself one of those fancy ones for around $2,000).
See, I've spent your $2,000 for you
If I were you, I'd combine a WI kit with a 99 head. Btw, you can get a 99 head for around $300 plus shipping and the WI kit would be another 350 or so, you'd still have around $1350 to upgrade your suspension if you wanted to do so. Now, you can then sell your current Teins (say for around $700) and buy yourself one of those fancy ones for around $2,000).
See, I've spent your $2,000 for you
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 02:48 PM
#8
Elite Member
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunny Spanish speaking Non US Caribbean
Posts: 3,224
Total Cats: 3
FWIW, I already bought a used AEM WI kit.
Another suggestion: if you don't want to mess with the suspension (btw, I wouldn't if I were in your shoes) you could also think about one of the new Begi intake manifolds.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 02:48 PM
#9
Having been in a similar situation myself (it was my own windfall, but still), I can agree with your situation and attitude. You have to enjoy some things even when others are not going so well.
In any case, I'm in the process of doing a mildly built bottom end (forged rods and tri-coated pistons), 99 head, 6-speed swap, and 3.6 gear swap. You probably won't get much return for the old parts. In any case, it's not exactly a cheap route, you'd easily spend almost all of your $2k on the engine alone, and that's with smart shopping for people selling parts cheap. IDK if you have machining experience, if you do, you can kill a lot of labor costs.
If I were in your shoes, I'd make it a point to get those bushings in (don't forget your Zerks), resolve your suspension issue since a well planted car can get the power to the ground more efficiently, and do the head and trans/rear end swap. Leave the built motor out of the equation for now and just make sure that you have a damn good tune. Then research the aero part of it, seems that there's a lot of cheaper DIY options popping up now. And as Rafa suggested, toy with the WI idea, it helped a good bit on my car.
In any case, I'm in the process of doing a mildly built bottom end (forged rods and tri-coated pistons), 99 head, 6-speed swap, and 3.6 gear swap. You probably won't get much return for the old parts. In any case, it's not exactly a cheap route, you'd easily spend almost all of your $2k on the engine alone, and that's with smart shopping for people selling parts cheap. IDK if you have machining experience, if you do, you can kill a lot of labor costs.
If I were in your shoes, I'd make it a point to get those bushings in (don't forget your Zerks), resolve your suspension issue since a well planted car can get the power to the ground more efficiently, and do the head and trans/rear end swap. Leave the built motor out of the equation for now and just make sure that you have a damn good tune. Then research the aero part of it, seems that there's a lot of cheaper DIY options popping up now. And as Rafa suggested, toy with the WI idea, it helped a good bit on my car.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 02:52 PM
#10
Ah, I'd say get as much as you can for the 2k.. a 6 speed, some used tires/rubber (not 6ULS), and the 99 head. My thought process is this:
2k will last you a lot longer if you pick up a bunch of the little things you've wanted, and take the time to enjoy the install. Buying 2k suspension right now probably will yield you about 2 hours of installment fun (depending on rust)
2k will last you a lot longer if you pick up a bunch of the little things you've wanted, and take the time to enjoy the install. Buying 2k suspension right now probably will yield you about 2 hours of installment fun (depending on rust)
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 03:06 PM
#11
I work in my business 7 days a week and haven't written myself a paycheck in over a year. My wife has a fantastic job and does very well for us. She thinks I deserve a little something from a windfall coming in. Apparently you disagree.
You know where to stick that comment.
You know where to stick that comment.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 03:07 PM
#12
Elite Member
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunny Spanish speaking Non US Caribbean
Posts: 3,224
Total Cats: 3
Having been in a similar situation myself (it was my own windfall, but still), I can agree with your situation and attitude. You have to enjoy some things even when others are not going so well.
In any case, I'm in the process of doing a mildly built bottom end (forged rods and tri-coated pistons), 99 head, 6-speed swap, and 3.6 gear swap. You probably won't get much return for the old parts. In any case, it's not exactly a cheap route, you'd easily spend almost all of your $2k on the engine alone, and that's with smart shopping for people selling parts cheap. IDK if you have machining experience, if you do, you can kill a lot of labor costs.
If I were in your shoes, I'd make it a point to get those bushings in (don't forget your Zerks), resolve your suspension issue since a well planted car can get the power to the ground more efficiently, and do the head and trans/rear end swap. Leave the built motor out of the equation for now and just make sure that you have a damn good tune. Then research the aero part of it, seems that there's a lot of cheaper DIY options popping up now. And as Rafa suggested, toy with the WI idea, it helped a good bit on my car.
In any case, I'm in the process of doing a mildly built bottom end (forged rods and tri-coated pistons), 99 head, 6-speed swap, and 3.6 gear swap. You probably won't get much return for the old parts. In any case, it's not exactly a cheap route, you'd easily spend almost all of your $2k on the engine alone, and that's with smart shopping for people selling parts cheap. IDK if you have machining experience, if you do, you can kill a lot of labor costs.
If I were in your shoes, I'd make it a point to get those bushings in (don't forget your Zerks), resolve your suspension issue since a well planted car can get the power to the ground more efficiently, and do the head and trans/rear end swap. Leave the built motor out of the equation for now and just make sure that you have a damn good tune. Then research the aero part of it, seems that there's a lot of cheaper DIY options popping up now. And as Rafa suggested, toy with the WI idea, it helped a good bit on my car.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 03:46 PM
#18
I would figure out what you want to do with the suspension, if you're unhappy with it now you'll always be unhappy with it. Then sell your RAs.
You're already setup for the track but if you want more power the 6 spd is going to give you the reliability you'll need to keep hitting up every track day you can afford.
As for aero you can do alot of that yourself with ABS and whatever that birch crap is savington is working with to make his own splitter.
You're already setup for the track but if you want more power the 6 spd is going to give you the reliability you'll need to keep hitting up every track day you can afford.
As for aero you can do alot of that yourself with ABS and whatever that birch crap is savington is working with to make his own splitter.
Reply
0
0
02-09-2009, 03:49 PM
#19
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tigard, Oregon
Posts: 3,875
Total Cats: 2
If I were in your shoes, I'd make it a point to get those bushings in (don't forget your Zerks), resolve your suspension issue since a well planted car can get the power to the ground more efficiently, and do the head and trans/rear end swap. Leave the built motor out of the equation for now and just make sure that you have a damn good tune. Then research the aero part of it, seems that there's a lot of cheaper DIY options popping up now. And as Rafa suggested, toy with the WI idea, it helped a good bit on my car.
Good list! That's pretty close to what I was thinking. The WI I'd never thought about. With you and Rafa mentioning it I'll have to look at it again.
Last edited by cueball1; 02-09-2009 at 06:24 PM.
Reply
0
0
