Small/**cheaper** FD upgrades
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Small/**cheaper** FD upgrades
Hey guys,
recently picked up a rhd 93 fd 13b-rew. Car is damn near stock besides upgrades steering wheel, intercooler piping, and intakes, boost gauge.
I know that FDs are not known for being cheap cars, but currently have a year of school left after an internship. Have a decent chunk of cash that I could comfortably spend on the car, but would like to save some bigger things for when I’m done. What are some cheaper small upgrades I could do to satisfy the itch?! Things like shift *****, interior pieces, engine dress up etc. Preferably under $400 would be nice for now. Plan to do a kit of some sort after school!
Thanks everyone!
recently picked up a rhd 93 fd 13b-rew. Car is damn near stock besides upgrades steering wheel, intercooler piping, and intakes, boost gauge.
I know that FDs are not known for being cheap cars, but currently have a year of school left after an internship. Have a decent chunk of cash that I could comfortably spend on the car, but would like to save some bigger things for when I’m done. What are some cheaper small upgrades I could do to satisfy the itch?! Things like shift *****, interior pieces, engine dress up etc. Preferably under $400 would be nice for now. Plan to do a kit of some sort after school!
Thanks everyone!
Last edited by Trigs; 08-04-19 at 05:08 PM.
#2
Rotary Freak
iTrader: (10)
Originally Posted by Trigs
Hey guys,
recently picked up a rhd 93 fd 13b-rew. Car is damn near stock besides upgrades steering wheel, intercooler piping, and intakes.
I know that FDs are not known for being cheap cars, but currently have a year of school left after an internship. Have a decent chunk of cash that I could comfortably spend on the car, but would like to save some bigger things for when I’m done. What are some cheaper small upgrades I could do to satisfy the itch?! Things like shift *****, interior pieces, engine dress up etc. Preferably under $400 would be nice for now. Plan to do a kit of some sort after school!
Thanks everyone!
recently picked up a rhd 93 fd 13b-rew. Car is damn near stock besides upgrades steering wheel, intercooler piping, and intakes.
I know that FDs are not known for being cheap cars, but currently have a year of school left after an internship. Have a decent chunk of cash that I could comfortably spend on the car, but would like to save some bigger things for when I’m done. What are some cheaper small upgrades I could do to satisfy the itch?! Things like shift *****, interior pieces, engine dress up etc. Preferably under $400 would be nice for now. Plan to do a kit of some sort after school!
Thanks everyone!
The following users liked this post:
Trigs (08-04-19)
#3
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
Agreed. Don’t blow what budget you have on “engine dress-up” and especially on some overpriced and tasteless body
kit that will de-value the car and maybe even make people snicker.
The car is new to you, change ALL the fluids and anything else that requires attention. Download a copy of the Factory Service Manual, search for reliability mods in the 3rd Gen tech section with special attention to cooling. That includes making sure you have a decent aftermarket temperature gauge as the Factory one is useless. Learn your way about the car.
kit that will de-value the car and maybe even make people snicker.
The car is new to you, change ALL the fluids and anything else that requires attention. Download a copy of the Factory Service Manual, search for reliability mods in the 3rd Gen tech section with special attention to cooling. That includes making sure you have a decent aftermarket temperature gauge as the Factory one is useless. Learn your way about the car.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Agreed. Don’t blow what budget you have on “engine dress-up” and especially on some overpriced and tasteless body
kit that will de-value the car and maybe even make people snicker.
The car is new to you, change ALL the fluids and anything else that requires attention. Download a copy of the Factory Service Manual, search for reliability mods in the 3rd Gen tech section with special attention to cooling. That includes making sure you have a decent aftermarket temperature gauge as the Factory one is useless. Learn your way about the car.
kit that will de-value the car and maybe even make people snicker.
The car is new to you, change ALL the fluids and anything else that requires attention. Download a copy of the Factory Service Manual, search for reliability mods in the 3rd Gen tech section with special attention to cooling. That includes making sure you have a decent aftermarket temperature gauge as the Factory one is useless. Learn your way about the car.
I should have specified that the car will be stored at my farm while I'm at school. So sometimes small stuff like changing some pulleys can be fast and easy things that you see right away and give you that good feeling <3!
As for tasteless body kits, isn't it really only the owners opinion that matters? Hoping to do RB or RE kit so I guess thats other peoples issue if they don't like them
Last edited by Trigs; 08-04-19 at 06:37 PM.
#5
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
With the the silly cost to purchase plus shipping aside, without exception I’ve never seen a body-kit without significant fitment issues. They WILL need professional tweaking and refinishing....more cost. Plus they almost always compromise safety/crashworthiness and rarely add real performance. Frequently they reduce it. The car is desirable partly because people already like it’s looks which has aged really well. Body-kits then narrow any potential market for re-sale because of the above, and...put as politely as I can, it’s lack of broad appeal.
So yes, I’d defend your right as an owner to do what you want. But few really will “own the car forever” and you should understand ALL the consequences. It’s really YOUR issue if you like them, not ours if we don’t.
So yes, I’d defend your right as an owner to do what you want. But few really will “own the car forever” and you should understand ALL the consequences. It’s really YOUR issue if you like them, not ours if we don’t.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 08-04-19 at 07:25 PM.
#6
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (19)
AST, downpipe, bigger radiator, maybe a set of dual oil coolers from an R1. Cooling cooling cooling. I'm no mechanic either, but I was able to install those in my backyard with plain ol' Craftrsman hand tools.
A full bodykit + halfway decent paint + all prettied up and looking flush = get read to pay 10k plus when all's said and done.
A full bodykit + halfway decent paint + all prettied up and looking flush = get read to pay 10k plus when all's said and done.
Last edited by Natey; 08-04-19 at 07:20 PM.
#7
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
Perhaps less expensive is to just add a good metal ast rather than delete. If you’re set to delete, do it right by using AN plug on the t-stat housing to also delete the nipple. I also endorse one of these
Billet Aluminum Filler Neck.
Billet Aluminum Filler Neck.
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#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
With the the silly cost to purchase plus shipping aside, without exception I’ve never seen a body-kit without significant fitment issues. They WILL need professional tweaking and refinishing....more cost. Plus they almost always compromise safety/crashworthiness and rarely add real performance. Frequently they reduce it. The car is desirable partly because people already like it’s looks which has aged really well. Body-kits then narrow any potential market for re-sale because of the above, and...put as politely as I can, it’s lack of broad appeal.
So yes, I’d defend your right as an owner to do what you want. But few really will “own the car forever” and you should understand ALL the consequences. It’s really YOUR issue if you like them, not ours if we don’t.
So yes, I’d defend your right as an owner to do what you want. But few really will “own the car forever” and you should understand ALL the consequences. It’s really YOUR issue if you like them, not ours if we don’t.
Thanks for all the awesome input!
AST, downpipe, bigger radiator, maybe a set of dual oil coolers from an R1. Cooling cooling cooling. I'm no mechanic either, but I was able to install those in my backyard with plain ol' Craftrsman hand tools.
A full bodykit + halfway decent paint + all prettied up and looking flush = get read to pay 10k plus when all's said and done.
A full bodykit + halfway decent paint + all prettied up and looking flush = get read to pay 10k plus when all's said and done.
Perhaps less expensive is to just add a good metal ast rather than delete. If you’re set to delete, do it right by using AN plug on the t-stat housing to also delete the nipple. I also endorse one of these
Billet Aluminum Filler Neck.
Billet Aluminum Filler Neck.
Last edited by Trigs; 08-05-19 at 12:06 PM.
#10
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
A quality aluminum radiator, fresh coolant, new stock t-stat, maybe the S5 FC fan switch, decent aftermarket temp gauge, new cap(s), new stock coolant hoses (including turbo coolant lines) all around, and dual oil coolers would all be higher on my priority list than removing the AST if it were all-metal. AST deletion was sort of pushed on me with my choice of SMIC. The mounting location was designed for the shape of the stock AST and the aftermarket versions didn’t fit well or at all. That said, I’ve not seen any real downside. Maybe just a bit harder to purge air when I change coolant in the spring but...
Again, doing it right and you reduce failure points. Doing it on the cheap and lazy you just add them. And that Banzai neck is the shiz.
Again, doing it right and you reduce failure points. Doing it on the cheap and lazy you just add them. And that Banzai neck is the shiz.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 08-05-19 at 05:49 PM.
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
A quality aluminum radiator, fresh coolant, new stock t-stat, maybe the S5 FC fan switch, decent aftermarket temp gauge, new cap(s), new stock coolant hoses (including turbo coolant lines) all around, and dual oil coolers would all be higher on my priority list than removing the AST if it were all-metal. AST deletion was sort of pushed on me with my choice of SMIC. The mounting location was designed for the shape of the stock AST and the aftermarket versions didn’t fit well or at all. That said, I’ve not seen any real downside. Maybe just a bit harder to purge air when I change coolant in the spring but...
Again, doing it right and you reduce failure points. Doing it on the cheap and lazy you just add them. And that Banzai neck is the shiz.
Again, doing it right and you reduce failure points. Doing it on the cheap and lazy you just add them. And that Banzai neck is the shiz.
Last edited by Trigs; 08-05-19 at 09:52 PM.
#12
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (19)
Yeah, the stock plastic AST is infamous for failing. That and a down-pipe are typically the 1st mods to do for reliability. I went ahead and just replaced mine with a metal one because
1: It came with an AST from the factory and I trust Mazda more than anyone else about the 'AST or no AST' debate.
2: because I plan on keeping my engine bay near stock and I'm not worried about making room for a bigger intercooler or whatever.
I'll bet you can find a metal AST in the FS section here for under 100 bucks, and it'll take about 10 min for a novice to install it with a screwdriver & crescent wrench.
1: It came with an AST from the factory and I trust Mazda more than anyone else about the 'AST or no AST' debate.
2: because I plan on keeping my engine bay near stock and I'm not worried about making room for a bigger intercooler or whatever.
I'll bet you can find a metal AST in the FS section here for under 100 bucks, and it'll take about 10 min for a novice to install it with a screwdriver & crescent wrench.
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