A co-worker of mine just bought a first gen. It's completely stock and I'm not familiar enough with the first gen to give her advise. What would you recommend she do first? I told her to streetport but she doesn't want to do that just yet. Something about driving the car and not having it in the shop. Oh well she'll learn... They're usually in the shop.

 

Its a 25+ year old car. First would be change all the fluids and all the rubber
parts. Then tackle mechanicals like brakes, tuneup, clutch etc. Then think
about mods.

Unless shes a girl that already works on cars or she has a boy friend that
can do it she should expect it to be in the shop often unless she does these
things first.

I always figure about $1,000.00 dollars to freshen a car up thats 10 years
or older. Thats with no labor but my own, just in parts

 

The car has been driven. It's in really good shape and has recently had a carb overhaul. The fluids are good, hoses check out. It's ready for performance. I just don't know where she should begin. I would suggest handling and brakes but that's my preferrence.... Know I can stop and steer before I go too fast and can't.

 

1st: Safety
2nd: Reliability
3rd: Performance
4th: Aesthetics and/or Comfort

You have to keep in mind that her ambitions for the car may not match your own. Send her our way, get her signed up, and we'll do our best to guide her in the right direction. But don't be too disappointed if you find out that she only sees the car as a daily driver and has no interest in modifying it for performance.

 

Cheap performance mods would be a k&n filter, ignition upgrade to dfi, electric thermo fan, maybe even cold air induction if your in warm weather. If there's more money to put into it, go with a sterling carb, definite exhaust upgrade, maybe an ewp if you're that way inclined

It depends on how willing she is to learn about cars, these mods are easy to do but a waste of money if a shop does it IMO