I have always meant to start this thread for the benefit of others considering modifications (particularly engine modifications and swaps). My question is really for the people who have engaged in fairly serious modifications. Perhaps we can help others learn from our mistakes. So, here it is: Based on your experience and current knowledge, what would you do differently if you were starting all over with your 6gc project.

I will start.

I would have bought a ST205 front clip, kept it stock except for intake, boost controller and exhaust and sold the ST205 tranny for big $ to the alltrac guys. The fact is that 250whp is all you really need (and can usefully use) in a FWD setup. The newer engine, better turbo, and intercooler are a real plus.

I would have then switched the GT4 front end over and had the whole car professionally painted.

I would have bought Greddy guages rather than Autometer.

I would have gone immediately to Tein SS coilovers instead of springs and new struts and would have skipped my sway bars (due to all the rubbing problems I have had).

I would have bought 8" wide 16" TE37's so I could run 245/45/16 tires.

If I had done that, I would have spent less than I have and had a better (although similar) car.

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or get the newer design.

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I have the first set of the newer design and guess what? I am still having problems although now only on offramps at speed. I am 80% sure its the sway bar.

Very funny. This forum already helped me then. Every point (exept the 16 inch rims) is accounted for here Teins will come end of summer.

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You are on your way to an intelligent build, my friend.

Oh, and the 16's are not the real issue - that just helps you get a little wider sidewall for ride quality. You just need more than 215 wide to put down the power.

This post has been edited by jgreening: Mar 12, 2006 - 1:15 AM

Instead of GOing 7AFTE - i would went 3S Swap way... Spend HUGE amount on 7AFTE setup - and only when i finished i realised what it wasnt worth in reality - but the knowledge level i got - was impressive..

I would've done my 4A-GE swap by myself and gone with an ultra-light flywheel and an AT200 C52 instead of using the AE101 C52.

should of went with a better tranny. After my swap I blew up 2 cheep s54 trannys. I now am swapping in an e153.

Another thing I should of done was a front mount. My top mount get so hot I could cook eggs off of it.

hmm good question .

i guess the st205 clip would have been a better way to go, but i tried to find one when i was doing my swap, and couldnt. so looking back, there was really no way to change that. its one of those things that you alwasy dream about the thing you dont have.

in reality, if i knew what i know now, i probably would start with a brand spankin new motor from somone like ATS and build everything up the way i want it. .... and taken full advantage of the free sanblaster that was in the shop i was swaping in, but too dumb to realize that maybe i should take off everything and clean it. ..lol


jay, if you knew what u know now, would you have tried to do the swap on your own?

This post has been edited by lagos: Mar 11, 2006 - 5:52 PM

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I've always thought 16's were prefect for our cars. I don't know why more people don't run them. You think you could put the power down with an 8" tire? I would go for ten, but I don't know how that would affect streetability and gas milage.

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No, I believe in the use of experts if you can afford them. I charge alot for what I do and do not mind paying others for other things. I have no desire to be a mechanic, although I totally respect and am thankful for the talent where I find it.

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Just curious, but why the GReddy over the Autometer???

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I really injoy working on my car, but I agree. If you can afford it, go with a professional. I wouldn't try a port job on my own. I want to hire someone to come into my house and install central cooling. I bet I could do it on my own, but I'd rather have a pro do it. Same with the swap, I bet I could do it on my own, but I would rather have an expert to do it. Although, I think I would have to be there while he or she was doing it. Got to learn all you can if you want to build the things I do.

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greddy has a lot better build quality for not that much more money. a lot of people tend to have issues with their autometer gauges not reading correctly

I would have rebuilt my 7afe, made my car a very reliable daily driver.

Then I would have bought and AE86 and put my RC motor in there, or buy a blown foxbody mustang.

If i knew what I know now.

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Just wishing you had that kind of power in a RWD chassis Jeff? I was surprised to read your post...I've heard nothing but good things about your car.

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i agree its sad to hear a 3sgte guy regret something

Dont get me wrong the car is awesome.
But as I see it, its kinda pointless to go any further. Last year while launching, I couldnt give it all it had. I would need to baby the car in first gear. This car would be a perfect track car(road course), those tracks are very expensive to race on.

My car is almost at the point where the power becomes usless. So why would I want to upgrade further if I cant use the power ? From my experience a 3sgte would be much better in AWD or RWD for serious tuners. If you want to swap one in and keep it stock form, I would then recommend FWD.

I have said it before many times and i will say it again

get a damn fuel pump if you are turboing your stock engine

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BAN HIM !!!!!!!

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With so many people posting things like these, we all need to find out a better way of getting these cars to hook up. There has to be something with the suspension that we can do. If nothing else, you should put slicks on if your up the 250hp mark. I think the price of a swap should include the price of a set of slicks if you intend on taking the car to the drag strip.

i dont think its as big of a problem as jeff makes it out to be. its all in how you drive, what tires you have and where you boost is set at. its not like you are at a dead stop when your tires break loose, you are still moving fast. i can see it becoming a larger problem when u upgrade the turbo, but with a stock ct26 its not that bad.

the only time it might piss you off is when you go to a track and try to get the best time possible.... but lets face it, how many times a year do people go to a track, 1-5? i have never been to a track in my life (not even as a spectator).

99% of your driving will be done on the street where you can totallly control your traction.

I think the biggest problem is that the 3SGTE configuration in our cars using FWD isn't effective enough in drag racing, especially using the patheticly short gears of the S54. The E153 is a totally different situation, as you're sharing the longer more effective gears used in more powerful cars. On the track or street in stock form, I'm sure its much better suited.

As far as what I would have done differently......I wouldnt have soaked so much money into the stereo when I first got my car, and I would have done a 3SGTE swap several years ago when I had the cash for it.

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Whats a AT200 C52? Is that the stock St tranny or something like that?

in regards to the traction issues and launching

Nemisis 2.5 has staged boost control + slicks i think could help the issue a lot

if i knew what i was getting into....

I would have:
Not sold the 6gc (surprise!!)... instead i would have kept it, taken a little better care of it and saved my money. Eventually I would have purchased a 350Z i think (surprise again!!) and kept my 6gc.

reasons: the MR2 is a badass car... but knowing what i know now, and where id eventually go with cars and motorsports, i would rather have a fun good looking daily driver (6gc VS my current cobalt) and a badass new competitive race car (BS classed 350Z) rather than blowing all the money i did to end up where i am... with a cobalt lease and a NA MR2. heinsight is 20/20.

not bought the first car i looked at.

Not bought 18" alloys...17" handles alot better + the tyres are alot cheaper.

Done alot more reading and research before starting things I knew little about.

Thats about it really.

This post has been edited by Insanity-74: Mar 13, 2006 - 2:13 PM

Greening, this is an excelent post.

for me...
listened to senior members more when i was starting out...