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As the title suggests I just bought my first skyline and am looking at doing some cost effective mods. I dont want to upgrade the power just yet so anything braking, handling, cooling, reliability related with a budget of around 5 grand

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well start off with doing the exhaust. yes it's power related but won't do much if you don't increase the boost level.

if it still has the stock suspension (not lowered) then you could do a set of coilovers. that will inprove the handling. depending on how good the roads are around you will determine what type is the best to get. if you don't like a rough ride or the roads are a bit dodgy where you are, go a softer set such as tein super street. some of the drifting coilovers are too stiff for some roads. i put a set in my 180 and round a rough corner, going slower than normal i was bouncing onto the wrong side of the road. pulled them out 2 days later and just bought a set of shocks and lowered springs.

also you could do wheels and tyres if it still has the stock wheels. again, the size you should go depends on the roads where you are. if the roads are shitty then i would stick to 17's. and if the roads are good then you could go 18's. but that is personal preference.

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Why fix what isnt broken yet, enjoy driving it instead of worrying about mods, how can you know the mods you make are better unless you have used the original stuff to its full potential, you might just be making it worse

But i would.

Lower it and rims so it looks :/

exhaust so it sounds :(

some form of boost adjustment, cause its :(

That could close to soak up 5k, depending how thrifty a shopper you are, aside that just just improve things as they get old , when your brakes are shot, get better ones, when your clutch is shot get a better one etc etc, your worrying about cooling, why, is it overheating yet, my cooling system is standard and has never overheated on me...yet...

As for reliability, you will find they are very reliable outta the box, anything you do change is going to make it probably less reliable if anything..the only thing that will keep it reliable is regular servicing.

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for 5g, you should be able to pick up (all secondhand) cvoil overs to lower it, wheels, exhaust, return flow fmic, high flow and a boost T, that will be all the basics covered, from there you have to start spending some decent money on any one area to make it better.

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Hey man, congrats on the new car.

for mods, and a budget of 5g i would take it in for a full service first. As it is getting on in years and kms, your timing belt might need a change; high quality fluids all round, new brake pads and discs etc

handling mods are debatable, if its a street car only, id suggest a strut brace in the engine bay and some shock/spring combo; ie nismo s-tune which is great on the road. I had an r33 many years ago and installed some koni shocks and springs - the thing was sooooo annoying.

power mods i personally would limit to an exhaust and boost controller - set the boost to stock as the exhaust will spike the boost which is not exactly best for the turbo and stock ecu tune.

oh and pop an apexi panel filter in the stock box or a pod with heat shield.

good luck and many years happy skyline ownership

-Johnny

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Is it boosted?? lol

I would upgarde the exhaust 1st, make it breathe easier... no need for CAI right away

Then a major service... engine, gearbox, diff oils, plugs, etc

Then a nice set of DBA rotors and green stuff pads

Then coilovers, sway bars... maybe even renew all your bushes as the car is gettin old and the bushes are most probably close to worn out

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Hey man, congrats on the new car.

for mods, and a budget of 5g i would take it in for a full service first. As it is getting on in years and kms, your timing belt might need a change; high quality fluids all round, new brake pads and discs etc

handling mods are debatable, if its a street car only, id suggest a strut brace in the engine bay and some shock/spring combo; ie nismo s-tune which is great on the road. I had an r33 many years ago and installed some koni shocks and springs - the thing was sooooo annoying.

power mods i personally would limit to an exhaust and boost controller - set the boost to stock as the exhaust will spike the boost which is not exactly best for the turbo and stock ecu tune.

oh and pop an apexi panel filter in the stock box or a pod with heat shield.

good luck and many years happy skyline ownership

-Johnny

This is the BEST way to start if you are going to Keep the car for a while ...

A Healthy Car Check!

Then Check the Brakes (For safety, No Point having a FAST Car that CANNOT STOP!) :)

Comes the Suspension for a Comfort ride

Sway bars for better Handling

Exhaust to make it sound better (Prefer to be FULL exhaust not cat back)

The ECU Upgrade with Possibly a Boost Controller to start off with ....

Hope this Helps :P

Enjoy your new RIDE ...

Best Regards,

Andrew

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