Built Motor Guys...What do u regret? (Chapter 2 of was it worth it)
I just use those little bottles of mothers' cleaner wax that I had left over from old clay bar kits. My rear bumper gets pretty sooty but after a nice scrub down with that stuff it's good as new.
Ok, back OT...
Ok, back OT...
Originally Posted by taurran
I just use those little bottles of mothers' cleaner wax that I had left over from old clay bar kits. My rear bumper gets pretty sooty but after a nice scrub down with that stuff it's good as new.
Ok, back OT...
Ok, back OT...
Originally Posted by Alberto
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Had I driven a set-up like that I would have saved over $1500 in cams, valvetrain, install, and put it towards a better EMS, and you'll never have to deal with idle issues like some do!!!!
Had I driven a set-up like that I would have saved over $1500 in cams, valvetrain, install, and put it towards a better EMS, and you'll never have to deal with idle issues like some do!!!!
Thanks to everyone for the feedback and advice. My build will be completed and tuned in a few weeks. Just waiting on the AAM exhaust and downpipes and some installation work. I will give feedback when I have some.
The one thing I regret the most is:
- underestimating the time and effort required to get everything the way you want it. As has been alluded to, when you build, there are so many ancillary changes required to keep up with the power level. You can't drive the car while it's being built or while you're tinkering with it to add on that one last mod or fixing that annoying rattle or leak, etc.
If you expect that you'll either have to be tinkering or have someone else tinker, then it's not that bad. Having a 2nd car as spare is a prerequisite to building IMO (for those days when you can't get it put back together before you have to get back to work).
- other thing I regretted is getting rid of the cats (stinky and luxury don't go together for me). And what a PITA to come up with something that could handle the power...
- underestimating the time and effort required to get everything the way you want it. As has been alluded to, when you build, there are so many ancillary changes required to keep up with the power level. You can't drive the car while it's being built or while you're tinkering with it to add on that one last mod or fixing that annoying rattle or leak, etc.
If you expect that you'll either have to be tinkering or have someone else tinker, then it's not that bad. Having a 2nd car as spare is a prerequisite to building IMO (for those days when you can't get it put back together before you have to get back to work).
- other thing I regretted is getting rid of the cats (stinky and luxury don't go together for me). And what a PITA to come up with something that could handle the power...
- I regret not installing cams when I had the motor apart, but at the time nothing big was out for the Revup. So I kinda didnt have a choice.
- I regret thinking 600rwhp was going to be enough.
- I regret thinking 600rwhp was going to be enough.
I was pretty lucky with my setup. I went with a cookie cutter build and asked the builder what to add in to make things as smooth as possible. I know it's not as fun to have a pretty similar setup to other people, but it seems to work so I'm pretty happy.
The only regret I have it getting the AAM exhaust. At the time no one could get the Greddy Evo tt so i had to get what i could. It's just to loud for my taste.
I also more than likely would not have done open dumps if doing it all over again. Most people prefer them, but they can be a little attention grabbing.
The only regret I have it getting the AAM exhaust. At the time no one could get the Greddy Evo tt so i had to get what i could. It's just to loud for my taste.
I also more than likely would not have done open dumps if doing it all over again. Most people prefer them, but they can be a little attention grabbing.
Originally Posted by JAMEZ@CiNcity
^so if 600whp isn't enough, what is?
I should of just bought a TT viper.
Originally Posted by Alberto
Your welcome, its nice to read things like that.
Let me offer one more suggestion. For you guys who dont track your cars and are undecided about cams/mild headwork. Go drive a built set-up on a good EMS/tune with stock cams, then a similar car with cams. The difference between the two will be negligable power wise on pump gas, its just that the stock cam car will require 1-2psi more to reach equal numbers to the cam'd car-its a wash on the street for whp in the 500-600whp range IMO.
Reason I say this is because when I drove Jeremy@Forged's Greddy TT stock cam set-up on an FCON, it felt just as fast as my car with cams/valvetrain on a UTEC ($$$$). Had I driven a set-up like that I would have saved over $1500 in cams, valvetrain, install, and put it towards a better EMS, and you'll never have to deal with idle issues like some do!!!!
Let me offer one more suggestion. For you guys who dont track your cars and are undecided about cams/mild headwork. Go drive a built set-up on a good EMS/tune with stock cams, then a similar car with cams. The difference between the two will be negligable power wise on pump gas, its just that the stock cam car will require 1-2psi more to reach equal numbers to the cam'd car-its a wash on the street for whp in the 500-600whp range IMO.
Reason I say this is because when I drove Jeremy@Forged's Greddy TT stock cam set-up on an FCON, it felt just as fast as my car with cams/valvetrain on a UTEC ($$$$). Had I driven a set-up like that I would have saved over $1500 in cams, valvetrain, install, and put it towards a better EMS, and you'll never have to deal with idle issues like some do!!!!
^^^^
jacking up the idle rpms doesnt "mean" smooth idle btw... by this i am getting to the point that seriously agressive cams = not worth it if you are having somethign you consider a "street car"
jacking up the idle rpms doesnt "mean" smooth idle btw... by this i am getting to the point that seriously agressive cams = not worth it if you are having somethign you consider a "street car"
Originally Posted by IIQuickSilverII
^^^^
jacking up the idle rpms doesnt "mean" smooth idle btw... by this i am getting to the point that seriously agressive cams = not worth it if you are having somethign you consider a "street car"
jacking up the idle rpms doesnt "mean" smooth idle btw... by this i am getting to the point that seriously agressive cams = not worth it if you are having somethign you consider a "street car"
Originally Posted by Alberto
I dont know if you are serious. If you are, thats the type of thinking that makes me not want to share my experiences with the community anymore, why potentially help you if your not doing the same? Good luck with your build.
Getting to the OP's question:
*Better EMS from the start, but at the time FCON was only choice and having a locked down EMS wasnt an option!
*L19's instead of 1/2" studs
*No sleeves, but again at the time they were thought to be required for 550+whp
*If I hadnt done sleeves, and studs I could have likely done some mild headwork which would have proven beneficial.
*HKS DLI ignition, while I did feel smoother throttle response, who knows what if anything its doing for me, $$$$ better spent elsewhere
*Braille 11.5lb battery, POS died on me within 1 week of having it? Actually 10 min with the HU on and car off = dead
Replacement was also garbage. Perhaps 15lb is better
*Wish I had done crazier cams other than JWT S1, but midrange TQ was nasty. BC stage 3 should pull like a raped ape up top
EDIT
*Wish I had "just" done Eagle rods, Pauters are nicer but for my power levels Eagles would have been more than fine and I could have saved $600
Let me add some things, I DONT regret:
*Carbonetics triple disc clutch, if it can handle my abuse, it can handle yours
*Koyo radiator, cheap and effective
*SS clutch line, made clutch pedal feel much better
Ok, Im done
Getting to the OP's question:
*Better EMS from the start, but at the time FCON was only choice and having a locked down EMS wasnt an option!
*L19's instead of 1/2" studs
*No sleeves, but again at the time they were thought to be required for 550+whp
*If I hadnt done sleeves, and studs I could have likely done some mild headwork which would have proven beneficial.
*HKS DLI ignition, while I did feel smoother throttle response, who knows what if anything its doing for me, $$$$ better spent elsewhere
*Braille 11.5lb battery, POS died on me within 1 week of having it? Actually 10 min with the HU on and car off = dead
Replacement was also garbage. Perhaps 15lb is better*Wish I had done crazier cams other than JWT S1, but midrange TQ was nasty. BC stage 3 should pull like a raped ape up top
EDIT
*Wish I had "just" done Eagle rods, Pauters are nicer but for my power levels Eagles would have been more than fine and I could have saved $600
Let me add some things, I DONT regret:
*Carbonetics triple disc clutch, if it can handle my abuse, it can handle yours
*Koyo radiator, cheap and effective
*SS clutch line, made clutch pedal feel much better
Ok, Im done
I regret not taking it to a shop and just paying to have the work done. I think in %90 of the cases time is worth more than money but I wanted to do it myself for the "fun" Right now my car is in a million pieces in my garage. Hopefully I can find some time to finish the build-up and get this beast on the road. If I had to do it all over again I'd take it to a shop. Also, I'd turbo and build the engine first than do all the other supporting mods after (less time in work)
