inuissus_cendi

Alright, here it is...



I'm gonna be gettin' a low-mileage red '83 GS sometime in June, but I'm absolutely itchin' to get to work on it. So i'm tryin' to come up with an upgrade plan. I wanna get some decent power (enough to smoke Civics and the like), but most likely stay Naturally Aspirated (unless i could get a real cheap supercharger). I'm on a budget and I don't have the money OR the skills for a TII swap. I'm also shooting for some tight handling (I'm not only into draggin'), and some quick stopping (I can't afford any accidents)



If anyone has some good ideas for me i would really appreciate it. Also, I'm not even close to a highly experienced mechanic (pretty much a beginner ) but I learn fast. Thanks again for any ideas.



Joe

j9fd3s

step 1 is to open up the exhaust. www.racingbeat.com, if you have the $ get the long "street port" system, it gives you more low end



step 2 is to put decent shocks in it (for a mild car tokiko bules in the front and gsl-se rear shocks on stock springs is nice), maybe some lowering springs. if you have the coin go for eibach/tokiko illuminas.



step 3 tires! get some 195-60-13's or 205-60-13's they dont have to be the best tire, just something decent. or find some bigger wheels for it



step 4 bigger radiator, every aftermarket radiator is a 2 row gsl-se style, they run about $100-140, its worth it.



step 5 find a rear end with limited slip, out of a gsl or gsl-se. and i'm not sure but theres a decent chance a 94-now miata rear end will bolt in, and they have a 4.30 rear gear



step 6 stainless brake lines, good pads etc if youve got the spare time find a gsl rear end and put it in, you get 4 wheel discs



step 7 get a flywheel, i like the 17lbs racing beat for a street car



if you do all of that, you end up with a car thats faster than stock but its still fun to drive and very streetable. these arent in any absolute order either, you can do em anyway you want

inuissus_cendi

thanks alot, thats just what i needed. what about ignition? is it worth it getting the "high performance" plugs and wires?



foam intake filter?



and what about the carbs? any modifications there that would help me get some more power? (i'm sorry, i know NOTHING about carbuerated cars, all i've ever known is fuel injection)



oh, and what about strut tower braces? worth it?



electric fan?



underdrive main pulley?



oh, and how much power can the stock clutch hold?



thanks again and sorry for all the questions, but i need all the help i can get if i'm gonna do this right. and anyone else have any brilliant suggestions?







Joe

fcrotornut

j9 would be the man to talk to, ive learned alot more then ive realized from im'ing him.

j9fd3s

the stock wires are fine, however there are some tricks you can do for the ignition. basically you get 1 more coil and ignitor and run 1 coil for each leading plug, this also bypasses the distributor cap, ive never done it myself.



keep the stock air filter or get a k&n, the best thing you can do is duct the stock air cleaner to cold air.



theres plenty of carb tricks to get more power, i'm not really the guy to explain em though, again ive never done it, i have to pass smog



strut tower brace made my car understeer like crazy, maybe if you ran a stiffer suspension it would be worth doing.



electric fan is nice, not really needed though



underdrive pulley, is like the fan



stock clutch is good for lots of na power, as you dont really add torque. theres also plenty stronger ones out there

inuissus_cendi

damn, you got all the answers

thanks man. only two more questions... where can i pick up one of those aftermarket radiators? and does the SE differential mate right up to mine? (83 GS)



many thanks

joe

j9fd3s

anyaftermarket radiator is gsl-se style.



the diff wont work, the 84-85's have smaller axles.

rootbeerdragon

go for the sterling carb at pbandjracing.com openes everything up, good carb

j9fd3s

these arent meant to be hard and fast rules btw, build the car how you want. that list is just how I like MY 12a 1st gens

rootbeerdragon

well your 12A first gens are awesome