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I'd personally rather spend a few grand on suspension than on power. Anyone can go fast in a straight line, but flowing through some nice twistie's is much more rewarding and exciting, than going fast in a straight line. And if i wanna go really fast in a straight line i'll take the motorbike out.

The reason I modded my car is because I could, as a stocker it was good but if you drive one even slightly moded you realise that performance gains are easily and cheaply achieved. These cars are in a different class to most and for the money I've spent I have something truely unique that will hold its own against 98% of the cars around. 200kw is what these cars are capable of with simple bolt on mods, its achievable and reliable and it gives me something to do, and handling was my first priority.

I find it interesting to see how much you can get out of a said package

The way I see it, unless you're the mechanic doing all the work yourself....you are not actually getting anything out of said package.

I'm going to take a punt that most people building dyno queens aren't there losing skin off their own knuckles when modifying the car. They're paying for it, but that's like saying Wilhelm II came up with the Theory of Relavity because he was the Kaiser when Einstein published it while at the University of Berlin.

They're being proud of someone else's work that they happen to own - its just "cool by association".

Which is the least cool thing of all.

The way I see it, unless you're the mechanic doing all the work yourself....you are not actually getting anything out of said package.

I'm going to take a punt that most people building dyno queens aren't there losing skin off their own knuckles when modifying the car. They're paying for it, but that's like saying Wilhelm II came up with the Theory of Relavity because he was the Kaiser when Einstein published it while at the University of Berlin.

They're being proud of someone else's work that they happen to own - its just "cool by association".

Which is the least cool thing of all.

Yes and no, a lot of owners like me who cant do it all myself, at the end of the day have the final say in what's changed, whats purchased etc etc.

What spec this is, what spec that is... something isnt working right, does it get changed (cost) or not.

Just because i cant assemble a motor myself means little to me. I can do a fair amount...

But motor assembly, I dont have to know. There are people out there that are better than me.

I decide how far its pushed and all the rest. Its my own doing

At the end of the day (your example is not the best) i've worked for what i have. I've worked very long hours to get the car to where i want, and time is money.

If i changed profession i could do it myself after years of work, but i have no desire to do so.

Yeah i've done a fair portion myself, but some parts are best left to the experts.

Thats what they get paid for.

Totally agree with you there, I do all the stuff I can do myself and as fitter/welder thats a lot BUT things I think I know I dont do I leave that to someone who does it all the time and would rather pay than f**k it up, but it is still my work as I planned it this way.

  • 2 weeks later...

I modify my car to learn- i do all the work on my car myself and i have learnt a lot-(rebuilding engine, adding performance parts, changing brakes/sus, diagnosing faults.....)

if it breaks down i dont have to spend hundreds of dollars for someone else to fix it.(which is important being a student)

at the end of the day u can look at ur car and be proud of what u accomplished- engineering ur average car into something better, its about pushing the limits.

for example i wouldnt get off on buying someone elses 200kw modified liner, sure it would be nice to drive but its not the same as having chosen parts/doin the research/work urself.

The way I see it, unless you're the mechanic doing all the work yourself...

They're being proud of someone else's work that they happen to own - its just "cool by association".

While we all know where your coming from on this comment, I think it is a bit harsh on those out there among us that want a great Skyline but do not have the mechanical aptitude or the tools and time to do the work themselves.

I pride myself on all the cars I have ever had because I have done 98% of all the modifications, service and repairs, but you have to draw the line when you dont have the specific skills required to accomplish the job properly and safely.

Example is "MY" Intake Manifold. I did not build it because I have no knowledge of aluminium welding or the tools to do it and the experience to handle them as efficently as the experts I paid to do the job.

BUT I did all the design work and running back and forth inbetween test fitting etc. until they built it exactly as I had specd after they stuffed up a few times.

So is this manifold the product of the Owner of the building the Workshop leases it from where they have the equipment operated by the worker who does the welding at my direction or is it "mine"?

My GTS4 is an AUTO, when it died I took it to a specialist who rebuilt it to handle 500HP with kevlar clutches, bearings, oil galleries etc etc, WHO could do this without years of experience. Would you do it your self?

Would you do a Wheel Alignment, Regas your aircon, change your clutch, remove your engine to change the bearings?

Not many of us would, or would want to if we could.

And those that do are probably crazy!

While we all know where your coming from on this comment, I think it is a bit harsh on those out there among us that want a great Skyline but do not have the mechanical aptitude or the tools and time to do the work themselves.

Would you do a Wheel Alignment, Regas your aircon, change your clutch, remove your engine to change the bearings?

Nothing's stopping you from having it. I just think its disingenuous to take more credit than is due.

I probably couldn't change the engine oil in my car on the first attempt, let alone the various modifications to it. So no, I wouldn't do that work either. But, when I look at the finished product, I own it and I helped pick the parts but I won't say I "built" it. Its final output isn't a result of my genius, but other people's.

When I got an exhaust, I didn't go out and test all the different ones on the market before settling on the one I got. Other people told me their experiences, and based on that I bought one. Same with my intake, and suspension, etc. None of it was "my" idea. It was my choice, but while the car is mine the performance is not.

Even if you're not getting your hands dirty, how many people here can say that they're breaking new ground? Gone for a completely different part that no-one's ever used before, and didn't ask people for their opinions?

Or sat there from first principles and examined the data logs from exhaust flow to design their own turbo with the perfect A/R, wheel size, etc for their intended application and then went through several custom cam grinds to find the ideal profile to suit said turbo?

As opposed to asking a bunch of other people, for example, "Hey what's the best turbo for 300rwkW on an RB25DET out of an R33 GTS-t?" At which point not even the knowledge or engineering was theirs.

I'm going to guess that, percentage-wise, the amount of people here who "built" their own cars without basically just copying previously achieved results or asking actual experts could be written off as a rounding error.

However, when I pull whatever time it is I do down the quarter or around a track.....I'm the one behind the wheel and making it do its thing. I used my (in)ability to get it to the finish line. Those are my times and that's what I take pride, or shame, in. But I'm the one doing the work.

And just like the race engineer for Renault can't say that he'd beat Schumacher around a race track, Alonso can't say that he built the car that got him a world championship, even though undoubtedly he had a lot of input into its setup.

This thread has turned pretty lame. Now it seems that guys who chase high dyno figures are doing it impress others?

What about people like me?

I've spent every bit of money on my car on power mods. From the outside, the car looks exactly the same as the day I bought it. Stock everything except front bar and skirts.

Going around corners the car feels the same as well. The previous owner had dropped it an inch but that's it. The handling is nothing special.

But when I put my foot down and feel up to 240rwkw ripping at the ground, that's what makes me smile and appreciate my car.

Some (note: some, not all) of you guys think you're better because you spend money on handling and brakes. You assume people who built straight line monsters are doing it to impress others but the fact is, people do to their cars what will bring them the most enjoyment. Some people want a car that looks hot. Some people want a car that handles on rails. Some people want to be able to get slammed back in their seat at the press of the pedal.

Who the **** cares?

The question was/is, Why 200kw, above that your looking at fairly serious mods, and the mods to get this magical figure can be done by anyone with the basic knowledge of cars (except maybe the tune), does this answer your question?

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