Hi guys--

I have been very fortunate to get such large responses on other topics - - - giving great advice!

Now for another question!

...this is a big one...what you say in this post is going to go into action on my car!

here it is:

What would be the best performance upgrade for me to do on my 94 Celica GT?
(Without it being a turbo or engine swap! >>

...I have been looking at sway bars/strut bars...

I’m putting this out, because I have a budget, and this will be basically the last thing i do for quite some time...I’ve already spent a large amount on restoring my beautiful celi... >> >> >> (top of the line paint and body work...you can go look at my profile...)

...so i want to hear your opinions on what i could best do! The final herrrrrrrA!

Alright 6gc, have at it...looking forward to your postings!

(Go check out my profile...)

snapshotgt

I would do performance springs before sway bars. Sway bars are very nice though and would recommend them too.

-jgreening+Nov 2, 2005 - 11:49 AM

Why performance springs? What is the performance benefit of them?

i would do 3 different things

first option:
suspension

tower brace front and rear
sway bars front and rear
sturts kyb gr2 all 4
lowering springs

second option:
bolt ons

header
cat back
intake
plugs wires


third option:
turbo time

full turbo kit (like presure2 set up)

Can you explain what these upgrade do?

esp. these--

first option:
suspension

tower brace front and rear
sway bars front and rear
sturts kyb gr2 all 4
lowering springs

thx...learning >>

i think i want to stay away of exhaust (mostly b/c i don't like the sound...would just getting a header improve performance (does it change sound? how much?)

turbo is interesting...but expensive...

turbo is expensive. so is your $140 CAI lol..
anyway. i would work on suspension set up first. then headers if you can find any or custom fit others. exhaust. or leaf blower lol.

-snapshotgt+Nov 2, 2005 - 12:34 PM

~strut tower braces front and rear do exactly wat the name states
they brace the frame between the strut tower (tops) to reduce chassis flex and increase handling potential

~sway-bars (really ANTI-sway) are designed to reduce "body roll" a effect of phyics from when you turn the top of your car leans towards the out side of the turn these bars reduce the cars ability to lean, increasing handling potential

~struts keep a good ride and absorb shock

~lowering springs do what they say, replace the stock springs and lower your car a specified height, the advantage here is the lower your car, the lower the center of gravity is the more handling potential your car has

a header is pointless with out a full exhaust

If you dont know much about your car nor its engine, do not go turbo.

and i know your learning very good
but learn this and learn it fast please your asking questions we've answered ruffly around 1000000000 times

if you scroll to the top of this screen and look in the top right hand corner
you will see this

" Control Panel · View New Posts · 0 New Messages · Calendar · Search"

please USE this feature in the future, the search feature that is

This post has been edited by playr158: Nov 2, 2005 - 12:51 PM

Great responses!

thanks a lot!

Out of the "First Option" which would you guys suggest doing first?

...if i were to choose one...which one would you go with? (my thought is sawy bars?)

basically...which makes the biggest difference?

about the turbo...the main problem is that i would have to have a shop do the install (b/c if i don't have instructions...do they come with instructios?)( i've built a kit car...but that had instructions-- >> )

....and the exhaust...don't think i'd do that...i don't like the sound...

first option:
suspension

tower brace front and rear
sway bars front and rear
sturts kyb gr2 all 4
lowering springs

waitin' for thoughts!

This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Nov 2, 2005 - 3:55 PM

bump

you want to go wtih springs first
and then strut tower bars
and then sway bars

do it all and find it on eeeeeeeeeebay.

get lowering springs or coil overs then sway bars. strut braces for front and rear, underbody brace if you want them.

if you lower and crappy streets, you will feel every bit of em!

What you will probably want to do is go on Ebay and buy a set of TEIN S-Tech lowering springs. They will lower 1.5 in front and 1 in back (in inches of course). When you install these I would recommend installing struts/shocks(KYB GR-2's, Koni Yellow's ect.) this will make those bumps in the road a little less stressful on you and/or passengers. After that the next step would be to put on Strut Bars. I have heard that you can take a Dodge Neons and have them adapted, or buy specific ones. After all of that, then you can have Sway bars put on. I would go with ST sway bars, because the cusco ones are more expensive.

This post has been edited by 95CelicaST: Nov 2, 2005 - 4:21 PM

aren't the gr2s just stock replacements?

brand new ones are better than riding on 11 year old ones..

whoa, how much do you think all that will set me back?

- - - If i choose one...which is the best - - - what will effect my performance the best? (sway bars right?...not sure though)

i went with sprint springs 1.5" drop all around ($150), and bought some bilstein struts on ebay for $300. Neon strut bar was $20. GT4 rear strut bar is $65?, no idea how much sways go for. so about $600?

I have noticed minimal differences with my strut tower bar - and I even have a convertible that should benefit more from it. I would do that mod last.

I'm not an idiot, any part brand new is better than something 11 years old, thats obvious. Mine were replaced about 3 years ago and I would like to upgrade. Thats why I asked if they were the same as the stock struts, because if they are, there isn't much point to replacing them.

What is the most effectivfe suspension performance upgrade?



This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Nov 2, 2005 - 8:49 PM

I would suggest not rushing into things and read to get a general idea of what is on your car, how things work roughly etc.

springs and shocks are not the same, they work together but they are two separate items.

What is the most effectivfe suspension performance upgrade?

--if you had to choose one--

effective >>

personally i think they all go together really, If your going to do suspension you might as well do the whole thing.

This post has been edited by ILuvMyCelica95: Nov 2, 2005 - 8:55 PM

-snapshotgt+Nov 2, 2005 - 8:51 PM

springs (or coilovers), sway bars, and good tires. Its part of an entire package. If I were doing just one, it would be springs.

This post has been edited by jgreening: Nov 2, 2005 - 9:03 PM

I'd say just good tires. It's easy and it really helps. Although, once I got really sticky tires, I couldn't do burnouts very easy anymore. Burnouts are pretty stupid anyway.

If I had your Celica and wanted the best upgrades for the money, heres what I would do.


1.) Springs/shocks or if you get a good deal on them, Coilovers. I have Tein Coilovers and they're fantastic, but I've ridden in several Celicas with springs that handle great also. Tein springs are a good choice for price and performance.

2.) Suspension Techniques Sway Bars. Go to Nopionline.com and pic up a set of the redesigned ST Sway Bars after you do the springs to really reduce the body roll and stiffen things up just right.

3.) TRD/TWM/7th Gen. short shifter. The latter is the cheapest, but take your choice. I think it would compliment the seats and tighter suspension perfectly.

4.) Header, Exhaust, Fuel tuning(Apexi SAFC II). If you dont want to go as far as a turbo, fitting a header and finishing it off with a modest sounding exhaust around 2 1/4"-2.5" diameter with resonators will give a nice boost. Then wiring in a SAFC II to control your fuel curve can help bring it all together and give you a little more kick in the pants.


This is how I would complete a nicely balanced performance package based on what you already have in your car, and altogether make for a sharper, more balls-y Celica. >>

-Bigmeanbulldog55+Nov 2, 2005 - 11:25 PM


I just bought some performance Yoko tires and put them on a couple hundred miles ago...