To Modify... Or Not To Modify?

[RB25PWR]

Right now I've got an R33 s2. Stock apart from cat-back and pod, running 162rwkw. It goes alright I wouldn't call it slow however I would just like more power.

Just wondering to all of you who have modded yours, was it worth it? If I understand correctly, if I want 270+rwkw i'm looking at $5k+.

There's firstly the decision to make whether to mod, then to what number? Everyone says "I only want 200-220rwkw" ... but then the always chase more. So I think if I end up doing it I'll just get a 3076r? And try and get around 270kw

I change my mind every day about this... halp

[HEKT1K]

Do it... but you'll need more than $5k to do it properly

[Pal]

its a bit more than strapping a turbo in. you have to look at all the ancillary equipment that goes with it. i think you will be struggling with 5k.

i spent about 8k to on mods to get 250rwkw over 6 years, yes it was fun but then sold the car for 10k. dont think i would have changed a thing though.

[R31Nismoid]

270rwkw "on the cheap" is:

Turbo + install + dump/front pipe + cooler piping - $2000

Injectors 2nd hand - $400

ECU 2nd hand + Tune + AFM - $1500

Clutch - $1000

Cooler kit - $500

You are @ 5.5k just before you start, and using 2nd hand parts and other parts that are not exactly the pinnacle of performance.

There are other factors like coil packs, other sensor issues, labour/drama/trouble shooting etc.

Also you make no mention of suspension or brakes with even just better rotors/fluid etc. Thats another 3k.

Realistically, to have it safe and reliable its a 8-10k adventure.

So its pretty simple. If you can't afford it, then don't bother.

[Justlikemusic]

I just got a GTS-T 2 days ago with 127k's on it... I thought it was horrible being auto but it's good in peak hour traffic everyday... it has a catback 3" with rice cannon out the back and Apexi pod filter. Turbo timer and rest is stock.

I was thinking of going with an R34 SMIC, SAFC2, RB20 actuator for 10psi and later on a 3" dump and hi flow cat as these mods aren't very expensive... but not really sure of the difference this is going to make to the car and whether I will still be satisfied. (I have an EB falcon project car with an EL engine ready to take a T04)... I'd really like alot more torque off the line, seems like the engine is really relying on the turbo to do anything. Can't even spin the wheels off the line.

[RB25PWR]

Oh I knew there was more than just strapping a turbo in, you have to have the supporting mods also. $10k sounds like a lot, I can afford it. However I'd feel guilty doing it haha.

[tridentt150v]

Your asking us if we think us spending $10K++++ on our car is worth it............nobody wants to say sh*t I just totally wasted 10 big ones - so of cos' it was worth it.

But the honest answer is its not just the getting there, its the journey, the things you learn, the pleasure you get, the mulling over idea's and setups with other Skyline fanatics, the satisfaction of building something___________and ohh yeah the f*cking power!!!!

There's always Toyota Yaris's/Nissan Micra's/Kia anythings etc etc etc

[GTScotT]

How about you do this:

Front mount $550 self installed

Hypergear hiflow $1000 self installed

JJR bellmouth front and dump $179 self installed

Z32 AFM and plug 2nd hand $250 self installed

Toshi remap $700

230rwkw (Toshi has stated this is doable with the above without injectors)

If you changed your mind down the track you could onsell the turbo and dump with the ecu to match (as anyone will be able to use these). Your monetary loss will be low in this case, maybe under $1000 considering what the turbos go for 2nd hand.

So thats under $3000 and your car should be quite substantially faster, and less regrets.

Best part is it will look the same as it does now except with a FMIC.

GL

[WYTSKY]

Your asking us if we think us spending $10K++++ on our car is worth it............nobody wants to say sh*t I just totally wasted 10 big ones - so of cos' it was worth it.

But the honest answer is its not just the getting there, its the journey, the things you learn, the pleasure you get, the mulling over idea's and setups with other Skyline fanatics, the satisfaction of building something___________and ohh yeah the f*cking power!!!!

There's always Toyota Yaris's/Nissan Micra's/Kia anythings etc etc etc

I think this is my reason to mod, the drive to the destination, the skyline, well mine anyway feels special because I make it special, so the ride is always fun... and to know your right foot has this mountain of power underneath it is very satisfying.

If you do decide to mod mate, choose things that can be reused, ie. dont get the next size up injectors to take you from 200-250rwkw, choose ones that will be in the 260+ mark so that when you aim for that 270rwkw you dont have to change things twice.

1 thing ash forgot is fuel pump aswell.. needs to be done.

it is 10k+ gone, and maybe if your very lucky if you sell it with all that gear on there you may get an extra $1500-2000, but i wouldn't change a thing.

[Randon_I_Am]

+ 1 with the journey.

There's no way I'd be as happy with my car if i just bought 290rwkw's worth of gear, gave it to a shop and make it go fast.

The self learning, having a go and nutting out all the problems. that and the experience gained was well worth it for me

oh yes and of course it's f**king awesome to have 270+rwkw under your right foot

[PM-R33]

Mod it. Go through the painful journey we all go through

[R31Nismoid]

Buy someone else's that's already had the 10-15k dropped on it.

[blk94r33]

+1 for the journey/learning curve.

To date, including buying the car, i've spent around $18k on what is still a pretty basic GTS, and that's with doing all the work myself. But I still think it's worth it. The satisfaction of knowing every time I drive it that it is MY car due to the way I have modified it, and enjoyed doing so along the way, is much greater than what you could get going out and buying a car that already has the bells and whistles.

Be prepared to live off Coles $4 pizzas, but you won't regret it...

[PM-R33]

Yeah I couldn't buy some one elses project. Would annoy me driving it.

[89CAL]

+1

Mine was a stock standard car when I bought it. If you like doing the work yourself then you will save some money along the way and you get more satisfaction out of it.

But if you want to do it as cheap as possible our probable better off buying an already modified one. Although hen you dot know how good or bad the worksman ship isof things that have been done to it till something goes bang

[luvpsi]

its like my vl i bought it as my first car as a complete stock n/a six then i pulled the motor out and have now put a rb25 in it still not running due to the fact of money bu its the satisfaction of building it myself. all my mates say why not just buy one already done but its not the piont.

its a hobby to do the work yourself you learn so much about different things on cars doing it yourself whic you can then share with others.

i say modify it mate you wont regret it

[DaveO74]

+1 For doing it yourself.

I bought my S2 waaaaaaay back in 2000 stock standard for the bargain basement price of a little over 30k. It had a genuine log booked/service history 28,000 odd k's on it and I have spent the last 10 years slowly modding it. I also went down the Hypergear highflow route and netted a nice 235rwkw (good bang for buck BTW),and suspension and detailed engine bay etc etc etc and it has been that way for a couple of years. But the bug has truly bitten and now I have a nice brand new 2835 pro s kit(Giggety!!!) big brake kit, new interior, about to get a respray, plazmaman plenum about to be ordered and so on and so forth.

For the money my car would owe me I could have a pretty nice 34 GTR by now but I dont regret it one bit, I love my car and I love feeling the difference all the little mods make along the way.

A word of caution though mate, Once the bug bites it becomes like a drug and you will always be chasing more. But enjoy it, you only live once.

Just do it right the first time or as I'm sure a lot of the guys here will agree to, it costs you more in the long run.

Good luck with it mate

My 2c

[Harey]

The fact that you are asking a car forum whether you should modify you car means you want to do it and are looking for reinforcement

I think you should save your pennies, get a nice share portfolio, put a deposit on a house... PYSCH! ONLY JOKING!

MOD IT! MOD IT! MOD IT!

I love my R34 with 280rwkw!

[DaveO74]

Im hopeing my 2835 will get me to 280, Should do

[Rolls]

Sell the car and buy one with 270kw, it'll cost you a couple of grand max, doing it yourself will cost $5-6k on the cheap and then stuff goes bust and there are hidden costs, probably be more like $10k once youve fixed all the broken stuff and got it 100% how you want.

You could end up with a brand new forged engine, turbo, suspension blah blah for only $2-3k if you just sell it and buy someone else's money pit.

Edited January 20, 2011 by Rolls