Here's the deal, I will have up to 9k to use to make all type of modifications to my Z (the wife approved of course ).

Here are a few things I would like to do:

1) Twin Turbo kit
2) Wheels (and tires)...did someone say Iforged Aero?
3) Body Kit (with Nismo spoiler)
4) Exhaust

Note: The priority is 1 being most important and 4 being least important.

So, out of this whole list, which ones do you think I should get using up to 9k in modifications (including installation)? What would be the best combination? Also, if you think I missed something important in the list, let me know...Thanks!

 

I'd go for a turbo kit. Top Secret supposedly has a single turbo kit for $3,800 (see FI section of this site). If you don't get that one, you can find a new Greddy with IC for around $6k. Some people on this forum installed it themselves; so if you do that, you'd have money left over for some nice wheels.

 

If you get a turbo and you don't install it yourself it might run you the whole 9k. If you go, S/C you might be able to save a little. You might be able to squeeze in an exhaust and maybe the spoiler. The wheels you mention can run pretty expensive unless you get something used. Just my 0.02.

 

Damn, so the turbo kit and installation is even more than I expected. So take out the Turbo Kit for now from the list. Do you think I can get everything else I wanted?

I think wheels (and tires) will be about 3k, body kit (intalled) about 3k and exhaust about 1k. Is this a correct assumption? If so, then that would be 7k right there.

I could probably use other 2k to do perfomance modifications.
So What would be the best bet on that assuming that I WILL get the turbo kit later on?....chip, etc?

 

You can get the other things done for $9k, but the TT kits need a lot of financial backing if you won't be installing it yourself. There's always more time and with time, prices will drop as more kits come out. Right now there are only the PE and Greddy TT kits and the UR, Xerd, APS, and Top Secret kits are on the way.

 

Id scrap the body kit personally. but that is very much a personal choice. just cant bring myself to spend 3grand on something like that.

rims and tires good, TT good. I dont think its unreasonable to do those 2 things with 9grand; perhaps get a partial sponsorship or something to cut down on labor costs.

youll want an exhaust and hiflowcats/testpipes down the road though for the turbo.

big brakes... suspension... so much Id want before a body kit.

 

You're right ares, right now there isn't one kit that I really love. Most of them are just ok in my book. I just thought that having new rims without a bodykit looks weird.

So you say than about 6k for TT and 3k for wheels and brakes...hmm. Besides having the TT kit installed, what other things would I HAVE to buy besides the hiflowcats/testpipes and an exhaust?

 

you dont HAVE to even have the cats and exhaust. they would get pretty nice gains on a high flow system, but it will work without them them.

I saw one place selling the TT for 5900 or so with the IC.

I dont know how easy or hard the install is in regaurds to disassembly. it might be a pretty easy bolt on part, or maybe you have to pull the engine to get access. either way, Id say it shouldnt be more than a 10hour install for a qualified mechanic, which would run you about 600$ in labor. 3000 in rims, your at 9500$. not bad for an easy 12sec car.

 

(Mr. Burns voice) excellent...

 

if i was you i would invest that money with turbos or a supercharger. dont you think it would be cool to have a stock looking car then you race a vette(V8) smoke it. he won't know what happened. granted though that turbos require other costly things such as an intercooler, intake, and labor for installation so you will probably end up spending all you money it. another problem of that the engine will not last as long. so what it really comes down to is do you like performace or appearance. me personly like performance but if looks is what floats your boat do what you enjoy

 

I would like a little of both (9k worth).

 

I dont know that a turbo means the engine wont last as long. ideally its tuned properly and maintained, it shouldnt harm the engine much if any.

 

I'd go with the GReddy TT, GReddy exhaust, test pipes, nice light rims with good tires, and maybe pick up just a carbon fiber lip/spoiler (veilside has a nice lip, as do a couple other companies, and the Evo-R carbon fiber spoiler looks really nice even without anything else) to add that little something on the outside while not going overboard

 

I would say go with the Greddy TT + IC and high flow cats and exhaust. Plus Install you are at about $9000, and smoking vettes all day long, all while looking alittle stock. After you do this, then you can do cosmetic additions waiting until theres something you really want. There will probably be some left over, and that can go to rims later on. Just my two cents.

 

Here's what I would do:

1) Wheels (and tires)...did someone say Iforged Aero?
2) Exhaust or other performance mods.
3) Body Kit (with Nismo spoiler)
4) Twin Turbo kit

The reason I listed Twin Turbo on the bottom is because it will cost you more than $9000 to have a proper tuned twin turbo. You will also need egt, a/f gauge, turbo timer, boost controller, clutch, plus more on top of that..

It's not cheap to play with twin turbo..

 

Take it in stages like I am.

I can't afford a Twin Turbo right now. I view turbos as a 10k investment my book. You need Injectors, gauges, ECU flash, clutch and maybe even then should consider rods and pistons for extra protection.

Go with:

1. Plenum ($300 or so)
2. Exhaust ($800 or so)
3. Hi-flo Cats ($300 or so)
4. Wheels (iForge & Tires $3500)
5. Intake or drop in Filter (120 or so JWT or K&N)
6. Nice Lip Veliside v1 ($450 or so painted)
7. TEIN w/ EDFC - $2100 w/ install
8. Kinetix Racing Complete Suspension Setup ($789)
9. UR Pully kit (you can use this a Turbo in the future $250)


Get your ride aligned correctly and lower it a bit if you choose. That gives you some good looks done CORRECTLY (no use in blowing money on tires).

Yes, TT is nice.
I personally would not take out or move my safety features to add boost. Too much trouble, too much danger. Greddy TT would be the last turbo option on my list. I'd look for JWT or PE kit instead (more expensive but ready out of the box for YOUR car).

If you have any money left over head over to the local driving school and take a class... you'll be suprised how bad you drive your car compaired to an instructor.

I personally have gone crazy with my Z and the price only seems to keep going up as new mods come out. Being that I got my when it first came out #879 on the US line I have adopted a lot of stuff that I may should not have.

Plan things in phases and don't just jump on slapping things in there. No one Plans to Fail... They Fail to Plan.

Enjoy!

 

Damn, now I'm just confused...so many options. Here the thing with me though:

1) I want the turbo done right so I would probably reserve another 9k or so in the future just for it, but after thinking about it a bit, I've decided that TT is not priority right now (maybe 2 years from now)

2) If I'm not getting TT just yet, then I would want to have a nice looking car (non-rice looking) with some performance this year.

3) I don't really want a full body kit such as Veilside V3. However, I at least want a Nismo spoiler and Iforged Aero wheels and tires.

So having reserved about 5k out of the 9k for number 3 (3.5k for Iforged and tires, 1.5k for spoiler), what can I do with 4 k for performance (no FI nor NOS)? assuming that I will be getting the TT 2 years from now. This is the question I should have asked from the begining

p.s.--> is it really 3.5k for iforged and tires? wow.

 

I won't recommend the body because that's personal taste.

1.) Plenum (either Crawfords or Kinetix - I have parts from both on my car - I liked the Crawford due to rugged design and future FI considerations)

2.) Exhaust (either Borla or a custom Y pipe if you want to save some $$$)

3. Hi-Flo cats (Kinetix makes some for a great price)

4. Intake (JWT PoopChanger)

5.) Grounding Kit


The remaining is a toss up. If you want to lower your car and do it cheap - get a low cost kit and drop it. MAke sure you get camber/caster kit from Kinetix so you don't eat up tires.

BTW - 19" Rims/Tires are easly $3500+ One G for the tires alone so protect your investment with proper equiment for alignment. Speaking from experience - 10k and my $1200 Toyo Proxies looked like drag slicks.

 

1500 for spoiler?!
get the evo-R CF spoiler (similar style to Nismo, but without the ugly base); you can have it painted or leave the CF exposed. Then just get a nice, subtle lip kit (GReddy, INGs half kit, VS type 1, etc), all that will put you back 1500. Then you got the rims, tires, and look into performance. Since you're not going turbo, start FI then change if necessary. I have the Borla exhaust and am happy, but also look into Injen, Apexi and GReddy. JWT popcharger, UR pullies (w/belts), grounding kit, test pipes or high flow cats, and plenum come next. That will put you down another 2 grand. Then you can either look into N2O, put headers/cams in, or get turbo or supercharger.

 

Dont do the turbo kit unless you plan on doing some motor modifications... after looking at several z motors torn apart, and seeing plenty that have had trouble... it is not worth it to just slap on a turbo/supercharger on these motors. the connecting rods are smaller than some honda motors!!!

You will spend 9k before you know it and not touch a supercharger/tt setup. Body kit, painted, wheels, suspension, maybe some seats, and some motor bolt ons will ring up 9k in no time. My first stage of mods to my z (just a couple motor bolt ons, not counting supercharger, and just all around parts without gettin too crazy) rang up 15k. since then i have dropped another 25k. all of this does not include labor.

just make sure you buy quality parts, dont shorthand certain things just to get more crap.