What to do next?

raininfire · Dec 27, 2005

My budget is roughly $2k. I want a fun street car that can hold its own. I want something reliable, and durable. Opinions and why? Already did the nitrous route, looking for something else. Here is what I have thus far:

-Edelbrock upper/lower manifold
-65mm TB
-76mm MAF
-24lb injectors
-1.7rr
-X-Pipe
-Cat-Back
-Electric Fan
-3.55 gears
-Aluminium Drive shaft
-17x9, 17x8 rims, with 255 rear tires
-Subframe Connectors
-Fiberglass hood
-Race Seats
-Short shifter
-Bilstein Struts and shocks
-Kenny Brown Springs

I feel like I have a good foundation, and I am pretty capable with my hands. However I am not sure if I trust myself putting heads on. My other worry is I have a little over 100,000 on the clock, and that makes me nervous of bolting on a supercharger. Would a compression test be the wisest thing to do first? And where might you get that done at? Thanks stangers.

Curse · Dec 27, 2005

raininfire said:
My budget is roughly $2k. I want a fun street car that can hold its own. I want something reliable, and durable. Opinions and why? Already did the nitrous route, looking for something else. Here is what I have thus far:

-Edelbrock upper/lower manifold
-65mm TB
-76mm MAF
-24lb injectors
-1.7rr
-X-Pipe
-Cat-Back
-Electric Fan
-3.55 gears
-Aluminium Drive shaft
-17x9, 17x8 rims, with 255 rear tires
-Subframe Connectors
-Fiberglass hood
-Race Seats
-Short shifter
-Bilstein Struts and shocks
-Kenny Brown Springs

I feel like I have a good foundation, and I am pretty capable with my hands. However I am not sure if I trust myself putting heads on. My other worry is I have a little over 100,000 on the clock, and that makes me nervous of bolting on a supercharger. Would a compression test be the wisest thing to do first? And where might you get that done at? Thanks stangers.

Well a compression test would be a good idea, no sense trying to modify a dying motor. You can buy the compression gauge kit and do the test yourself. If you can change your spark plugs, you can do a compression test. If you are going to have a shop do it, might as well have them do a leak-down test.

A head swap is not that hard, just a lot of little jobs all rolled into one, intake swap, header swap etc. Just work clean and label everything you remove. You will need some special tools, but a very doable job.

As far as heads/cam versus supercharger, it is really a question of what do you want. Both are going to make good power with an edge to the S/C route, but with H/C you will have a very good foundation to work with. Then you can add the blower to your H/C/I combo later and make block splitting power. Good luck

mackey · Dec 27, 2005

Heads and cam.

raininfire · Dec 27, 2005

Could you explain the difference between a leakdown test and compression test? Would A compression test be enough to give you ease of mind on throwing on a supercharger?

Camman · Dec 27, 2005

So you know what a leakdown test is I take it? A compression test is similiar, but you crank the engine over to build compression instead of filling the cylinder with compressed air. So basically you take a warm motor, open the throttle blade, take out all the plugs, disconnect the tfi module, and crank the motor until the compression gauge reading stops rising. Make sure all cylinders are within 10% of each other and your good. A leakdown test is a much more conclusive test.

raininfire · Dec 27, 2005

Actually I don't know what a leakdown test is either. How much would a shop charge for something like that normally? I have no problem doing small things on my car, but this is my daily driver, and I don't want to risk f-ing it up if I take on a project of this size, unless I can convince one of my buddies to help with the build.

Curse · Dec 27, 2005

raininfire said:
Actually I don't know what a leakdown test is either. How much would a shop charge for something like that normally? I have no problem doing small things on my car, but this is my daily driver, and I don't want to risk f-ing it up if I take on a project of this size, unless I can convince one of my buddies to help with the build.

Camman gave you a good description of both tests. I don't know how much a shop would charge, always just bought/borrowed the tools and did it myself.

Really a head swap is not bad at all, most people make it more complicated than it has to be. Just plan ahead and make sure you got everything you need, sucks having to stop working to go something you're missing. Good luck

Michael Yount · Dec 27, 2005

AFter checking the integrity of the engine (assuming it passes) - throw a set of AFR165's on it - and pocket the other $800 or so. Leave the cam stock to help meet your fun street car that's reliable/durable criteria.

raininfire · Dec 27, 2005

Thanks for the replies thus far. I am trying to really just save as much money as I can for the time being, cause I am also tyring to save to buy a house. Might just try and waiting till the motor gives up to get something a little nicer.

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