R34 Mods What Order -chasing Low Down Urge - Advice Needed

[colossus]

Hi guys,

I recently bought an R34 GTT tiptronic coupe, my first Skyline but I have owned many turbo cars over the years.

Current mods are limited to a HKS catback exhaust (came with the car) and since reading your illustrious forum I have done the free dual stage boost disable mod and ordered an R32 wastegate actuator (havn't had time to fit yet) but have been told this will give me a solid 10psi.

Basically I commute a lot in traffic which is why I chose the auto, I'm usually a manual man. I find the tiptronic pretty good and not too boring but it does have that auto syndrome where it takes a while to get moving on light throttle applications. So I'm really chasing low down/mid range urge combined with decent fuel economy. I must say I was dissapointed with the first tank - 320km then the fuel light came on (my 03 WRX used to give over 400km every time with spirited driving).

From research I have done on here my options for further mild performance mods could include:

- front/dump pipe $199 approx.

- High flow cat - $180 approx.

- Apexi SAFC NEO - $295 + install and tuning

(above are the best online prices I have found)

Now I'm thinking for under $1000 the above would give me a nice little gain - BUT I dont want to ignore cosmetic mods either. Unfortunatly car did not come with a rear wing so I am desperatly trying to source one (PM me if you have one) and also thinking some nice lowered Tein springs and some 18" black rims would finish the look off nicley (car is white).

Of course all of this adds up so what in your esteemed opinions should I be looking at first? I am keen to get the fuel consumption under control which I have been told an SAFC should be good help - but is there any point in installing one without doing the dump/cat first? ect ect. Because if I do the dump/cat later surely it would then require a costly retune??

Any comments appreciated!

Edited March 11, 2008 by colossus

[R31Nismoid]

Fit all the parts, get it tuned.

Best way to save costs. No point tuning and then changing exhaust etc etc.

[Howie]

- Split/dump pipe $199 approx.

- High flow cat - $180 approx.

- Apexi SAFC NEO - $295 + install and tuning

(above are the best online prices I have found)

Got links to those prices? $199 for a split dump and $295 for a AFC NEO seem a little too cheap.

Anyhow, i'd definately be doing the split/dump and the high-flow cat... then having your afc fitted and tuned. See how you go, before spending money on a turbo upgrade, computer management, etc.

[R338OY]

Do the mods, you will get gains. The full exhaust will give you meatier acceleration.

Fuel consumption= service the car if you haven't. I mean fresh synthetic oil+filter, NGK plugs, clean the AFM, throttle body cleaner, flush the intercooler with degreaser, clean oxygen sensor, injector cleaner and only use top fuel (IMO V-Power or Ultimate).

Since i did all this my Skyline pulls 500km per tank (manual).

[colossus]

Got links to those prices? $199 for a split dump and $295 for a AFC NEO seem a little too cheap.

Anyhow, i'd definately be doing the split/dump and the high-flow cat... then having your afc fitted and tuned. See how you go, before spending money on a turbo upgrade, computer management, etc.

Woops edited original didn't mean split but it is a dump/front pipe in one. Still good prices - they are from Just Jap.

[colossus]

Do the mods, you will get gains. The full exhaust will give you meatier acceleration.

Fuel consumption= service the car if you haven't. I mean fresh synthetic oil+filter, NGK plugs, clean the AFM, throttle body cleaner, flush the intercooler with degreaser, clean oxygen sensor, injector cleaner and only use top fuel (IMO V-Power or Ultimate).

Since i did all this my Skyline pulls 500km per tank (manual).

Thanks I'll give this a go - its got about 99,000kms so getting due for the 100,000km service anyway - which is going to cost a bomb just in parts ($100 for sparkplugs is ridiculous) - I'll do it all myself of course. Can you clean an O2 sensor? not having much luck finding a new one under $200 to fit an R34 (not sure if the EL one fits R34).

[R338OY]

Thanks I'll give this a go - its got about 99,000kms so getting due for the 100,000km service anyway - which is going to cost a bomb just in parts ($100 for sparkplugs is ridiculous) - I'll do it all myself of course. Can you clean an O2 sensor? not having much luck finding a new one under $200 to fit an R34 (not sure if the EL one fits R34).

Just get copper plugs. $25 a set and change them every 10-15,000kms or so. If Iridiums get fouled they're not much use.

Yeah most of the servicing is easy. The O2 sensor can be carbie cleaned to wash off the carbon buildup. That should do the trick.

Hope the mods get the power you want mate. Good luck.

[R31Nismoid]

yep, iridi/palti, whatever... $100 for plugs are a waste.

They VERY rarely last that long in a modified car.

Factory, yes no problem... but soon as you up the boost, exhaust, tune - coppers are the way to go and regular servicing