2003 Z Touring-
Wheels
19"x8.5"front and 19"x9.5rear wheels.
Audio
2 10" Kicker CompVR 07 CVR104's
Kicker 08 ZX 1500watt amp
Zenclosure Box
Kicker KS600 6.5in speakers
Kenwood DNX7120 HU
Performance
??????


Hey all

I posted before about wanting to mod my car while I am deployed but took a bigger bite than I could chew and got grief for it and I understand that. Being deployed and seeing the money intake has made me set some realistic goals. The Z as of now is a daily driver but will eventually be my weekend car/project. After I re-enlist I am using my bonus to buy a daily driver. The goal for the Z is a eventual turbo setup with no means of only being a track car...rather being a well rounded Z in all areas.


Since I have been deployed I have set my goals and am trying to prioritize the second half of the deployment. First half I have finished a complete sound system, ordering headlights from CCD in two weeks(Blacked out), ordering and blacking out 06 taillights.

Now I want to focus on performance this next half of the deployment, I will have at least 3500$ to work with. I do not want to do anything to big, I am saving that for the next deployment when I am making better money. Rather I would like to do what I can now to build up to the big goal of a eventual turbo setup. Does anyone have some suggestions for me. I know suspension is an option and would probably require all 3500$ and I am down with that. I just do not want to put money into the engine and then turn around and have to replace it to put the turbo(s) in. I hope I was specific enough with my goals and appreciate any help.

Will_Evo

 

Those Walmart quality Kickers are good for 50whp each.

 

Wow you are too helpful, go somewhere else to leave your petty comments..you are useless here.

 

I'd look at a plenum, or spacer, test pipes/high-flow cats and an exhaust. Anything else will be a waste if you are going to install a turbo kit. You could also get gauges in the meantime since you will probably need them later down the line.

g/l

 

+1 good advice,that list will swallow $3500 no problem or you can take all that stuff out of the trunk and you will go faster too.

 

Well I kind of miscalculated on the money..its actually upwards of 7K I will be able to use. I have a friend that is going to do a stock for aftermarket exhaust swap with me towards the end of the year but, I am not sure of what kind, I didn't have a Z when he first got it so I didn't pay much mind, hopefully something useful for later on. So without the specs of the exhaust I cant really proceed any further. Thanks for the advice btw..helpful to help me for prioritizing my spending.

Yea yea I know the system is extra weight but, I do love it. My Z is not going to be just show or just performance..a nice mix of both with some class is what I am looking for. Again thank you for the reply's.

Will_Evo

 

Here's goal number one. Don't get your @$$ maimed or killed....and thanks for your service.

Number two, use the bonus money to further your education when you get home.

j/k...good luck with the Z and stay safe.

 

well first of all, you are stating that you are planning on making this a turbo set-up. you need to have a thorough plan for what your intended goal is. you cant just go and buy a bunch of mods blindly because you will find that you will have wasted your money on some once you are ready to install the turbo(s). do research! there are a lot of very experienced Z owners here that have turbo set-ups and they have made mistakes and learned from them. utilize this knowledge to build a strong car.

 

That is exactly what I do not want to do..is spend money on something that later on does nothing for me aka intakes, small exhausts, ecu programming etc...That is why I brought this up...I like the Greddy Twins and will plan and spend based on that being the goal. I am doing research...lol im not just gunna go buy the first test pipe or high flow cat I find...rather see how it performs with the turbo setup and set that as the basis.

I am doing my best to stay away but with my job..Im on the roads almost everyday. I am a 19K Abrams Crewmember but of course I gun on a humvee haha. Anyways, next deployment/ if there isn't another then later on it will be much easier for me to install a turbo setup. I am going Warrant Officer as an 153A Aviator and will be making all the money I need to do it and have plenty of time to do my research. Anyways thanks for the kind words, only 8 more months in this hell hole.

Will_Evo

 

http://www.firstcommand.com/ invest for your future first then use the rest for your car. I know we don't get paid well enough , and 99.9% of military members live paycheck to paycheck. pay yourself first, then the car.

Other than that, i suggest putting a single 10 in the stock location. Ghetto bumping kinda went out many years ago. Get yourself a nice suspension , wheels and exhaust and call it a day.

 

HFC's, TD exhaust, 5/16", and 3.9 gears. Will do good until you get turbo(s) and still be useful with the FI unlike 4.10 gears in which you'll prob have to start in 3rd. That should use....2300-2500 about. So use the last grand for suspension or wheels or body kit or what terramak said (listen to him)...anything you want really. Or just get like a used vortech now with the 3500 My friend actually might still have his. and 3500 is what he was thinking of asking for it.

 

True ok cool...yes some of the money is definitely going for suspension..I was looking at hotchkis sway bars with the BC coilovers. 3.9 gears are also a good idea. I also feel like working this kind of thing out now could potentially serve as a great write up in the future for new members trying to do the same thing.

So what I am leaning towards right now is HFC's, 3.9 gears, my free exhaust, plenum/spacer, sway bars and coilovers, with some money left over for install parts/problems. Remember my budget doubled so I am actually looking at 7K. Seems good to me...plus I gotta have some extra money to party with when I finally make it home for good right? haha

As far as investments..I started that already...TSP and SDP. Got that covered..everything I am making from hereon out is up in the air. I have my finances in order, no kids, no wife, no debt, no plans for any and all the test scores and credentials required for Warrant. I am golden. But I do know what you mean. I see that all the time in lower enlisted soldiers, living paycheck to paycheck and having trouble making it. Thankfully I have been able to avoid that and educate myself in finance management

Anyways again thank you for the helpful comments. I truly appreciate it.

Will_Evo

EDIT: After doing more research and reading product reviews..I changed the choice of coilovers to BC from Tein.

 

Don't get 3.9 fg if u plan on tt

 

3.9 to low? They seem to be a good medium for both NA and FI from what I understand. I mean unless you think the twin setup would run me past a 3.9 being practical? Explanation?


Will_Evo

 

maybe u should search every1 wants a thread of there own huh

 

Hey bro..your right actually..I will do some looking into it..I didn't mean for this post to be a hey tell me exactly what I need..rather just a way of giving me a push in the right direction and I think I have got that..so Thanks again to all who posted...I will post some pics on leave of the small stuff ive done so far.

Will_Evo