So far i have a large streetported engine, k&n Intake, working 5th and 6th ports, RB presilencer and header, RB springs, kyb Gasadjust shocks, strut tower bar, torque brace. This winter i am repainting the car. What would you suggest as my next mod/restoration?

I am looking at 2nd gen intake with a microtech ecu or redoing the interrior with new seats, and carpet and cleaning everything up. Any ideas?

 

oh yea, GSL-SE

 

I think you're on the right track. For performance definitely the 2nd gen intake and a Microtech. An aluminum flywheel is nice too. With the interior there's nothing wrong with cleaning it up or modernizing it.

 

im tryin to get a mix between quality of the car, and performance. lotsa have said to do a bunch of weight reduction, but i want the car to still look stock inside, or at least not torn apart so ive strayed from that. Im not sure what im doing for seats yet, thats whats going to determine my whole interrior if i do it

 

You can do some weight reduction while still keeping the interior appearing stock. Could always slap a turbo on there

 

To me weight reduction is an all or nothing modification. If all you are going to do is remove the sound absorption material from under the carpet then you are wasting your time. It doesn't weigh a whole lot on its own. People go crazy trying to remove as much weight as possible. They'll take out their interiors and cut holes in panels. Don't do this unless it is a full race car. While a lighter vehicle is faster, if it is only a few pounds less it isn't going to matter enough to feel. The car is pretty light already. I'd just set up the car the way you want to. Keep your interior intact. I'd rather be comfortable when I drive it then have to put up with no a/c, radio, carpet, etc all in the name of saving a few pounds. You would be far better off to find more power than you would to lose weight. This way you can still have better performance and also keep your comfort level. If you want a lighter car, look for lighter aftermarket products. You have a Racing Beat exhaust which is pretty nice but it is heavy. You could also look for lighter wheels. Different seats can weigh less. There are lots of things you can do to make the car lighter without tearing it apart like so many over enthusiastic, yet foolish kids do. In the end it's your car though.

 

I'd say 20lbs is a decent weight savings for taking out the tar underneath the carpet. Definitely not a waste of time as stated above. I haven't done it yet, but will eventually because not only of the weight savings but it also helps rust out the floor pans. I don't know about others, but I have chipped out some of that tar where there is ribbing in the floor and the tar did not settle all the way into it. I did find surface rust under it. Luckily it was only surface but I feel that it could have been quite a bit worse.

Also, the insulation layer under the carpet can been removed. It doesn't do anything but hold moisture in it and is easy enough to take out. Swap your electric windows/mirrors for manual stuff. Take out the rear wiper and motor and swap to a GS or S rear glass instead if you can't find plugs for the holes left behind. Switch to a clothe headliner if it doesn't already have one since it is lighter and looks better than the vinyl version. That's all I've done to the interior as far as weight savings go and it still looks stock and feels good to ride in there. I still have my radio (aftermarket by the way, remove stock radio and amps) and speakers though I don't listen to it that much since I enjoy my exhaust note

Other weight savings....if you don't need emissions, pull the air pump and rats nest, just leave what is needed to properly run the EFI. With R&B exhaust setup, you've already pulled the heavy exhaust manifold and cats. Drop all of the A/C stuff including the A/C pump bracket (it weighs quite a bit). Just role down your windows if you need cooling off. Our wheels only weight 13-14 lbs each, you'll have to pay some money to get some nice, lighter wheels. Aluminum radiator should net you some savings too. Remove everything not needed to run the car. Do the EFI cars have Hot Start and Cold Start assists? Remove it. Do you really need cruise control? Remove it, I don't know about you but I enjoy "driving" my car if you know what I mean.

All this done including both interior and engine bay should net

I believe with just this stuff pulled you should save somewhere between 75-100lbs at which point it is significant. Every 100lbs is, IIRC, a 10nth of a second off your 1/4mi times.

Have you done the throttle body mod to your car?

 

That's all fine and dandy if you want no a/c, alot more road noise, don't have to pass inspection, and only care about a 1/10th of a second gain in the quarter mile. Big deal. It isn't worth it unless it is a race car. No a/c might be OK in Michigan but try that here in Houston. You'll melt. For a street car it's a waste of time.

 

I live in Houston and I do not have a/c and it is my daily driver right now I do not care for a/c now the next car I buy when I decide to replace the other car I just sold will have a/c but only becuase other people will be driving it I do not care for a/c myself. I do like cruise control though.

 

First off I just moved to MI from a hotter climate. Sure, maybe not as hot as Houston but hotter than MI. I lived without it even in the 103-108F heat and 90-95% humidity. Like I said, roll the windows down and pop the sunroof. Surprisingly enough air moves through the car when you're going down the street to stay cool.

Next, the weight savings isn't only for drag racing. I've never drag raced in my life. It helps acceleration, handling and braking no matter what you're doing with the car. I suppose next you'll say moving the battery to the rear of the car isn't worth it either? The state I came from only had safety inspections, no emissions and the state I'm in now doesn't have inspections at all.

As for road noise, I wouldn't know since I haven't removed the tar yet. If I can drive the car with a louder than normal exhaust note (as compared to a piston engine) and drive with the windows down, I can live with it as it wouldn't make a signficant difference in the interior db level. Whether anyone else can is another story.

Hey BigJim, if you're coming down to East Lansing this weekend, you can check out my FB and see what you think in person.

 

I'm gonna say, clean the engine bay up and paint it really nice.