I need help deciding what to do next in my car.

I lay awake at night, at 3:17AM thinking about what to do?

I have only a simple rebuild, and a KN Intake.

The things running through my head:

I want a turbo....
Should I buy a TII and swap?
Buy a base TII and upgrade?
But what about Aaron Cakes NA turbo?
But I daily drive it...should i bother?
And what about doing full exhaust? I still have stock exhaust...
Man, you need suspension too dude. You look like you're driving a rally car...


WHAT DO I DO!?!?

Please folks, any input is appreciated. I just want to know what I should do for the next step...

Thanks.

 

I'll order the options you listed by difficulty:
Easiest -> Hardest

Exhaust < Suspension < Buy a TII < Turbo swap < NA-Turbo conversion

I'd go with a cat-back exhaust system & presilencer/resonator for now, since you would want them later on if you buy/build a turbo car. Then for later, it'll be a lot easier to buy a TII than convert your existing car. I converted mine, but it's a vert, so I have a good excuse .

 

if you are still working out what wou wanna do as far as NA or TII, i agree with rotaryrocket, if you ipgrade your exhaust and suspension then you can keep them if you do a swap. however, i sense that the big problem with you isnt what so do next, its if you wanna go turbo or not. let me say this, you should know that on a stock port NA, you wont make more than like 180hp (depending on if you have an s4 or s5). if you see yourself wanting more you will need some type of F.I. or portwork. on the other hand, it seems like a waste to pull out a good running rebuilt motor. also, if you are going to do a swap you need to figure out if you just wanna swap the absolute neccesities or the entire drivetrain. if you are just swapping the motor, ECU, etc, i say its worth doing the swap. if you wanna swap the whole drivetrain, just buy a TII. also, unless you plan on running a stock turbo/intercooler setup, i would go ahead and find out what turbo/ IC you are gonna use so you can just drop it all in at once (at least thats how i'd do it). this brings me to my last point(i kno, its about time rite?) if you are doing a 6 port turbo, be prepared. although its not as hard as aarons page makes it seem, it does involve custom fab/modding and basic mechanical experience and creativity. if you have the means to (although i wouldnt on a fresh rebuild) i would also put lower compression rotors (aka TII) in your motor. i think you would be fine using the stock turbo and IC at like 10 psi but anything above that is a little scary. i had high compression (NA) rotors in my supercharged gxl before it blew and i *RARELY* ran above 10 psi. i'm not saying thats why it blew, but i think it was a contributing factor. high compression + F.I. = LOTS OF HEAT = preignition

 

Keep the car you have if it is running well. Buy a shell and swap a TII into it. Or just buy a stock TII for $3000.