$5000 to spend - What to do, What can I do?
Thread Starter
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4
$5000 to spend - What to do, What can I do?
Be warned, I'm a N00b...
I Have a 2k1 Black Max (SE automatic), have already put in the stereo, tint, and put on some 18" chrome rims.
I would now like to add a body kit and some performance upgrades to improve acceleration/speed, as well as handling and breaking.
Thusfar Stillen.com has been the only site I have found somewhat helpful. Where else can I shop?
Also, I know little/nothing about what's going on "under the hood." Who will install for me, what will I be voiding?
Can I do Turbo or Supercharging with an automatic? Should I? I realize it may be cost prohibitive.
I am a physical therapist living in SW Connecticut. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated; I'm just not sure where to begin.
I Have a 2k1 Black Max (SE automatic), have already put in the stereo, tint, and put on some 18" chrome rims.
I would now like to add a body kit and some performance upgrades to improve acceleration/speed, as well as handling and breaking.
Thusfar Stillen.com has been the only site I have found somewhat helpful. Where else can I shop?
Also, I know little/nothing about what's going on "under the hood." Who will install for me, what will I be voiding?
Can I do Turbo or Supercharging with an automatic? Should I? I realize it may be cost prohibitive.
I am a physical therapist living in SW Connecticut. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated; I'm just not sure where to begin.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 687
just do a full suspension setup(JIC, D2, Illuminas/springs), intake, headers backs, and nitrous with bigger injectors, an AFC2 (or similar) and a larger fuel pump...i think supercharging and turboing a car alone is 4-5gs with proper installation etc...
i would do a compression check and leakdown test before attempting any forced induction including nitrous, but if all is well 175 shot!!!
i would do a compression check and leakdown test before attempting any forced induction including nitrous, but if all is well 175 shot!!!
Seoul Man
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,010
Since you're a little bit of a noob, you might want to consider improving your handling first. Your car isn't a speed demon or anything, but it is decently fast, and improving its handling now will be a good move, especially if you plan to make it faster. Things like a front strut tower brace and rear strut tower brace are easy installations. Even if you've never seen a wrench before, you can install the strut braces in just a few minutes. For mods like the rear sway bar, lowering springs, and stiffer struts, I would take the car to a shop or get an Org member near you to help with the install.
For performance mods, the only one you should try to do yourself is probably a less restrictive intake. Exhaust work, pulley installation, and other speed mods aren't necessarily hard, but you'll want to have somebody there to help you with tools and experience.
Technically, the mods are only a warranty problem if the dealer can prove that the mods caused a problem with the car. In real life, most dealerships will find a way to blame your car trouble on your mods. Warranty work is tricky where mods are involved. A lot will depend on how much slack your dealer wants to cut you.
For performance mods, the only one you should try to do yourself is probably a less restrictive intake. Exhaust work, pulley installation, and other speed mods aren't necessarily hard, but you'll want to have somebody there to help you with tools and experience.
Technically, the mods are only a warranty problem if the dealer can prove that the mods caused a problem with the car. In real life, most dealerships will find a way to blame your car trouble on your mods. Warranty work is tricky where mods are involved. A lot will depend on how much slack your dealer wants to cut you.
Id say just do suspension, Tein-S, Tein-H's, H&R, eibach, Sprint. I know there is a thread here that has a link to all the springs and setups with pics of cars that have them and how low they look. From what I have read it seems KYB AGX's, JIC's coilovers, or Tokico Illuminas are good for the struts. Also, you could go with a cold air intake and a y-pipe coupled with the stock rear exhaust gives you a nice growl and is not too loud but is still good for performance. Also get a strut bar which you can get cheap from ebay. They still work just as good as the expensive ones. If you want it complete there are also aftermarket rear sway bars. $5000.00 is quite a bit of money you may just want to save some of that for a rainy day too.
Originally Posted by max88q
Id say just do suspension, Tein-S, Tein-H's, H&R, eibach, Sprint. I know there is a thread here that has a link to all the springs and setups with pics of cars that have them and how low they look.
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html
Seoul Man
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,010
Originally Posted by Lontar1
Don't scream at me guys..... SAVE the money... your best choice.......
But, dcook42... if you can somehow muster more self-control than the rest of us, I suggest you save the money for something more important than your car. Whatever you do, good luck!
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38
if i had 5 grand to spend, id get an 89 mustang 5.0 for 3 grand, and spend two grand on heads/intake/or power adder, do smokey rwd burnouts all weekend, and if the tranny or engine goes, you still got yer pimped out ride for cushy daily driving
id point to saving the money if youve already done all the nice electronics... you could go full xenon highbeams and fogs.
id point to saving the money if youve already done all the nice electronics... you could go full xenon highbeams and fogs.
JIC FLTA2s ( I just got mine yesterday), rear sway bar, front and rear strut tower brace, and subframe connectors will do for suspension- your are looking at bout 3K dollars if you pay list price for all this- but the car will handle like its on rails, even with the beam rear suspension it will have no trouble with M3s around twisties.
Big brakes, Blehmco TTZ fronts are killer, with the right pads I wouldn't ever invest 2K dollars on a Brembo Grand Turismo kit when mine was aroung 700 bux all pieced togheter by me.
Get a Ypipe, Bpipe, UPD, Place Racing cold air intake, TechnoSquare ECU. If you have some $$$ left over then maybe ditch the Ypipe for some headers- Cattmans. Your car will be bout 1 second faster in the 1/4 than stock with all these mods, but most importantly- it will STOP on a dime, and handle like a little go kart.
Big brakes, Blehmco TTZ fronts are killer, with the right pads I wouldn't ever invest 2K dollars on a Brembo Grand Turismo kit when mine was aroung 700 bux all pieced togheter by me.
Get a Ypipe, Bpipe, UPD, Place Racing cold air intake, TechnoSquare ECU. If you have some $$$ left over then maybe ditch the Ypipe for some headers- Cattmans. Your car will be bout 1 second faster in the 1/4 than stock with all these mods, but most importantly- it will STOP on a dime, and handle like a little go kart.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,554
honestly, man
go straight for the blower... You sound like you have the income to deal with the issues in time, and that to me is paramount. Suspension of course, yet hell, for the 3 grand + labor for the vortech then maybe u got a grand left to do basic suspension, then fine tune everything later. Yea sure, this might be bad advice, but sometimes u gotta say, wtf ? right. Go for it!.
Don't tell the guy to save his money, obviously he got a job and can do what he pleases, i respect that and jealous people shouldn't discourage.
go straight for the blower... You sound like you have the income to deal with the issues in time, and that to me is paramount. Suspension of course, yet hell, for the 3 grand + labor for the vortech then maybe u got a grand left to do basic suspension, then fine tune everything later. Yea sure, this might be bad advice, but sometimes u gotta say, wtf ? right. Go for it!.
Don't tell the guy to save his money, obviously he got a job and can do what he pleases, i respect that and jealous people shouldn't discourage.
Turbo rocks hard with auto trannies. You just need to beef up the tranny internally. I would recomend some Raybestos Kevlar clutch packs, VB mod, diff stall TQ converter and a big tranny cooler with external oil filtration system. You don't loose boost with auto tranny between shifts like a manual tranny does.
Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
I think you're referring to Housecor's site... even if not, its a good site for reference...
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html
Thats the one. Im planning on purchasing a 2k or 2k1 sometime this year, so Ive been doing my research alot lately. The weird thing that is setting me to go for a 2k1 over a 2k is the steering wheel cruise control and audio buttons. On the 2k1's they look cleaner and more formed with the steering wheel. Which ever one I get later this year I will be pleased though. Ive had my 1988 Maxima for 6 years and it was my first car so this will be a drastic improvement for me. Im still keeping it though. 2K/2K1 will be my weekend enjoyment car. If all goes as planned I will have 3k to play around with for it.
Thread Starter
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4
A quick thanks to all those who have posted, some interesting posts have got me thinking, esp. 'bout the G35!! How did you know I've been looking at those?
I suppose my next step is to find a reputable mechanic in Fairfield County, CT. Do you know any??
Are any of you sponsored?? If so, what's the commitment there??
I am just a few months from being paid off on the Max. Am I a fool to do performance mods to an automatic?? (*can you change an auto to a stick??)
Maybe I should just sell and save for the G35 Coupe, they just look sick even stock. But, there is part of me that wants to keep my Max for as long as she'll run and upgrade her along the way until it spits Nitrous and has Lambo doors... btw, where can you shop for turbo kits?
I suppose my next step is to find a reputable mechanic in Fairfield County, CT. Do you know any??
Are any of you sponsored?? If so, what's the commitment there??
I am just a few months from being paid off on the Max. Am I a fool to do performance mods to an automatic?? (*can you change an auto to a stick??)
Maybe I should just sell and save for the G35 Coupe, they just look sick even stock. But, there is part of me that wants to keep my Max for as long as she'll run and upgrade her along the way until it spits Nitrous and has Lambo doors... btw, where can you shop for turbo kits?
Originally Posted by dcook42
A quick thanks to all those who have posted, some interesting posts have got me thinking, esp. 'bout the G35!! How did you know I've been looking at those?
I suppose my next step is to find a reputable mechanic in Fairfield County, CT. Do you know any??
I suppose my next step is to find a reputable mechanic in Fairfield County, CT. Do you know any??
Originally Posted by dcook42
Are any of you sponsored?? If so, what's the commitment there??
Unless ya have a hook-up or something... or someone who can vouch for ya... even then, that might not be enough...
Originally Posted by dcook42
I am just a few months from being paid off on the Max. Am I a fool to do performance mods to an automatic?? (*can you change an auto to a stick??)
Maybe I should just sell and save for the G35 Coupe, they just look sick even stock. But, there is part of me that wants to keep my Max for as long as she'll run and upgrade her along the way until it spits Nitrous and has Lambo doors... btw, where can you shop for turbo kits?
Maybe I should just sell and save for the G35 Coupe, they just look sick even stock. But, there is part of me that wants to keep my Max for as long as she'll run and upgrade her along the way until it spits Nitrous and has Lambo doors... btw, where can you shop for turbo kits?
Auto to stick conversion? Ya might as well buy a new car...
If the Max is running fine and ya like it... sure... mod it and run it down to the ground... but if you can afford the G35...
If ya really cared about the Max, no Lambo doors... some people think its cool... I think its
and 
at the same time... For turbo parts for related info... check out the Turbocharged forums...
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxVideo6.wmv
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun4.wmv
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun3.wmv
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun2.wmv
Thats all I got.... in one video- the 3rd one you can see that at 5K when the VIAS kicks over to high mode I get tire spin- exept mine don't kick over cause my rod is removed and it gives me max power from 4500-6700RPM.
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun4.wmv
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun3.wmv
http://home.comcast.net/~blackbirdvq/MaxRun2.wmv
Thats all I got.... in one video- the 3rd one you can see that at 5K when the VIAS kicks over to high mode I get tire spin- exept mine don't kick over cause my rod is removed and it gives me max power from 4500-6700RPM.