Well, on the eve of having my fully-built motor FINALLY completed (Arias 9.0 pistons, Pauter rods, ARP studs, etc) I have decided that it's time to go back to stock. I realize that modifying a car is an illness and I have contracted the virus!

I'm a bit embarrassed (disheartened, guilty, etc) to "give up" this close to finishing everything but it's the best choice for me in my situation. This car is my daily driver, it's a friggin' entry level luxury sedan not a "real" sports car for crying out loud, and I can see that even with the built motor I would never be done. There would always be more HP to chase, more worries keeping me up at night, more tuning issues, etc.

So, for now, assuming I can get fair prices (see my postings in the classifieds) I'm going to sell the PE TT kit, the built motor, and all of the other FI goodies and wait for... well, I dunno what I'm going to wait for exactly. Maybe the Infiniti GT aka Skyline. Maybe the Z06. Maybe I need to wait until I have a 3-car garage and can toy around with a car that I don't depend on daily. Who the hell knows, but I gotta step off this merry-go-round.

This isn't goodbye because my addiction to this forum runs at least as deep as my addiction to modifying the car. But, alas, my 11 second timeslip isn't going to happen in this car.

--Steve

 

DAMN!! You're a good guy, hate to loose ya. I say keep the sedan and get yourself a toy, like a used 350z and pop the turbo and motor in it.

 

You have just shown an incredible level of maturity that most of us will never attain. I envy you!

 

so does that mean you have a motor for sale???

pls let me know
TODD

 

Zimbo...I have had the same thought's . But Im stuborn and like to see things thru . My other half hasnt been happy about it since I started this money pit project . I even tried to get plates...MONEY PIT .
Good luck...Bill

 

Yes, I have an unused, just completed, built motor for sale. See the classifieds.

Booger, I would LOVE to see this one through but I'm worried that if I get the built motor installed I'll just go right on tweaking until my kids have no college fund. As that fat old white haired country singer dude used to say "you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run..."

--Steve

 

For what it's worth, I think you made a wise choice, Steve. I'm sure it was fun while it lasted, but family comes first. Good luck to you.

 

I made the same choice years ago. Once you start modding it is difficult to stop. I've come to the conclusion that if I am going to want 400+ rwhp I am going to just buy a car that comes with it already AND still has a warranty.

'06 Z06 Corvette for $65k (new)
'02-'03 Porsche Turbo for $75k (used)

Yes one could buy a 350Z for $20k then dump $15k into a built motor and turbo and blow the doors off the vette and porsche above but you lose resale value and piece of mind. I don't care who you are if you have serious mods to your car you always worry.

 

Best of luck Steve...I know this is the best decide for you.

Just start saving up for that GT-R.........and for the turbo upgrade, ported heads...wheels.....suspension....ok...kidding.

 

Man, last night I took the car for a spin and "got on it" a bit. That car is going to be no fun at all once the turbos are off. Fact is, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to take the car back to stock without at least swapping in the built motor first, if even only for a couple of months.

--Steve

 

Unless you own your own shop or have one within a few minutes of your home, owning and operating a highly modded high power car will always carry with it ongoing worry, ongoing expense, ongoing hassle. My previous venture before the Z was a $40,000 car +$40,000 in mods. 440 hp, 515lb-ft torque. Pure neck-snapping acceleration. But.....I was always needing to do something to keep it running at peak performance. I always worried...what if something went wrong when I was on the road, far from home. Nobody would be able to service my car. What if one of my upgraded turbos broke. What if my custom ECU started throwing codes. I decided that the hassle and worry of ownership wasn't worth it anymore, so I sold the car. Sure enough, it put a huge grin on the face of the 22 year old kid whose Mom bought it for him. Go for it kid! Hope you live to tell about it!

When I bought the Z, I wasn't sure what I would do to it, if anything. Didn't really know what the aftermarket was for this car. Initially, knowing that it was an NA vehicle, and that putting an FI system on an NA vehicle is never a simple task to do properly, I imagined that from a power standpoint I would stay at or near stock. I liked the Z in stock form , actually. After about a month, it seemed fast. Of course, it had been 6 weeks since I sold my modded Audi S4, and I had been driving around in my Honda Pilot in the meantime. I actually said to myself "I like the car the way it is. It is very nicely balanced". Still....once the kits started appearing, the power junkie in me gave in, and I purchased an FI system. Well....I was lovin' the power again, but my worst fear came true. I started having problems with the system, and after two seperate, expensive, and time consuming problems, I pulled the kit. Yes, at first, the car seemed slow again, but in a few weeks, I was used to it, and it seemed faster. I also found more fun in being able to drive the NA car harder than the FI'd car. I upgraded the suspension and brakes, (mods that have little risk involved, and great benefit) and now have a handling monster.

I'm still thinking about another FI venture, but I really can't blame you for choosing the path you are taking. I still debate it every day. I do know, however, that when my Z was disabled, I was heartbroken. At least now, I know I can go out there every day, turn the key, and it will start up and run for me, pass emissions, etc. It is still fast enough and beautifully balanced in its overall performance.

If one is a performance enthusiast, and is buying a new or relatively new car, one should always buy a car whose performance is acceptable in stock form. Mods should only be extra icing on the cake.

 

Zimbo...don't stop now! You don't know the power of the dark side!!

 

Zimbo,
I feel you, I go through that same debate in my head every day......I want to stop but I can't,,I think I have to join MA! Modded Anonymous..lol...sometimes I think with the money I spent modding I should of just waited for the M5..but then again the lines on that Z is Gorgeous & that is I haven't even gone as far as to building an engine but I am sure close!

 

I'm in the same predicament as you Zimbo, except the only difference is that you have already plopped down all the money for the parts... I already have well over $10k in the car, but have another $10k planned with F/I and supporting mods this fall - but the question is - do I pull the trigger and have a fun ride while it lasts, or do I save for it for the inevitable (downpayment for the GT-R?)

I think I might just buy some factory Brembos and buy a set of coilovers and end it - imo, this car is servicable with the power it has (260 whp) but there's always the want for a 400+whp beast... modding sucks...

 

Come on Steve, your this close it's time to have some fun, just buy a cheapo daily driver! I totally hear where your coming from, that's why I got rid of my car. It killed my pockets plus it was very frustrating. Well that lasted 5 months and I swore I was done, no way. I bought a SC300 and I'm about to bolt a single turbo on it, shooting for 700whp, it never ends! It's good that you can admit that your spending too much, most guys cannot. Good luck with your decision. But I do hope to see that built motor in your car pretty soon

-Bill