Need some advice. Options

[bccentaur3]

After my 3s swap, I will have a little over a grand to play with. If you guys havent noticed I will need a paint job. To be honest I am in no rush to get my car painted right now, because I will still need the gt-four raiser blocks and front and rear splitters. And of course to compliment the paint job some jdm tails and hopefully by the end of summer jdm projectors.

What should I do with the grand left over? Should I just go ahead and get my car painted?

I was thinking about using the grand on buying an aem uego and a safc II. I know these are just toys, but they will come in handy.

Or should I just get a lsd for my transmission?

Or should I just finish up my suspension plans getting some suspension techniques sway bars and the TRD 3pt strut bar on ebay, since that one guy on the forum whos supposed to be making 3 pt strut bars just dipped and hasn't updated with any info what so ever on his progress.

Let me know. I've asked like everyone about what I should do wit hthe grand and they have no clue. Every thing I have listed is what I have planned on getting done by the end of this year.

[bccentaur3]

Oh, forgot to add. Theres some corbeau cr1 seats forsale locally for around a grand. I really want some corbeaus, but would it be wise to pick them up now?

[_mikeE]

Well, if you can sand down your entire car, the painting-the-car idea will become a lot cheaper, or if you even have friends who have a paintgun, just provide materials and pay him some and a nice dinner.
But are you running with an s54 tranny? Where are you going to find an LSD for that? i've seen someone selling Kaaz 1.5 way lsd, but not sure if that was for the s54 tranny. And its for nearly a grand...
Projectors are 775 from LewFX...
eugo & safcII will run you about 6-700 together...
Why don't you use that grand and upgrade your turbine and if any other money left over, you can get FMIC, or an ssqv BOV, change ur downpipe, upgrade injectors, etc.
Lots of things that you can do with a grand just depends on what you want first.

*edit* i would wait on those seats Will, make sure everything on your car works and runs perfectly first after that swap, who knows what miscellaneous problems might arise...that is unless you do the swap yourself, and can ensure that you're doing your 100% effort but even so, knock on wood. Are you getting Tweak to do the wiring?
Also, that TRD 3pt strut on ebay isn't in the best condition and overpriced, you're paying like 300 for it...just my opinion. I remember looking back on the Genuine TRD parts thread awhile back and still saw some members recently still being able to order the strut bar from their dealer, check if any of them are near you and just have them order it and ship to you or w/e.
Hope i helped your dilemma--can't wait to see the day I get to do a 3s swap. =[

This post has been edited by _mikeE: May 15, 2008 - 11:21 PM

[99Celica]

i'd wait on the paint job until you have all the exterior components. I'd use the G on projectors or a lsd if you really need it. Sounds like the cars gonna be hot by the end of summer. Btw have you chosen a color yet?

[bccentaur3]

Well, if you can sand down your entire car, the painting-the-car idea will become a lot cheaper, or if you even have friends who have a paintgun, just provide materials and pay him some and a nice dinner.
But are you running with an s54 tranny? Where are you going to find an LSD for that? i've seen someone selling Kaaz 1.5 way lsd, but not sure if that was for the s54 tranny. And its for nearly a grand...
Projectors are 775 from LewFX...
eugo & safcII will run you about 6-700 together...
Why don't you use that grand and upgrade your turbine and if any other money left over, you can get FMIC, or an ssqv BOV, change ur downpipe, upgrade injectors, etc.
Lots of things that you can do with a grand just depends on what you want first.

*edit* i would wait on those seats Will, make sure everything on your car works and runs perfectly first after that swap, who knows what miscellaneous problems might arise...that is unless you do the swap yourself, and can ensure that you're doing your 100% effort but even so, knock on wood. Are you getting Tweak to do the wiring?

I guess I'll wait for the seats. I will be using the s54 tranny and Monkeywrenchracing provides the factory lsd from the mr2 spyder. And after confirming this with another member it will fit, because he's done it.

Yes I am doing the swap myself, but sadly the harness will not be done by the Doc, because I will be put on a waiting list, and I don't really want to fork over an additional 150 to get it done asap.

About upgrading the turbo, I am planning on doing this by fall. I want my car to run right, then I am planning on getting the ct27 turbo with a front mount. Right now I know its kind of stupid, but I plan on using the top mount. I'm not looking to push the car past factory boost.

i'd wait on the paint job until you have all the exterior components. I'd use the G on projectors or a lsd if you really need it. Sounds like the cars gonna be hot by the end of summer. Btw have you chosen a color yet?

The color will be Pearl white. I just love the color.

[_mikeE]

=O...mr2 spyder lsd's fit in our s54's?! I NEVER KNEW THAT---SICKK!
But do you really want what happened to itchy_b to happen to you? But it doesn't happen to everyone, but damn guy, your plans are so similar to mine for next year. However, i'm finishing up all the exterior and interior stuff this year, next year will be the motor swap and modding and possibly tranny swap.
And i know using top mount sucks but atleast u have the hood to support it..hehe that's why it was designed that way speciifically for that tmic....

[bccentaur3]

Yeah, but I heard that the st205 hood center vent wasn't even designed for air to flow into the intercooler. I'm not too worried about my tranny. If anything happens I'll just convert the awd tranny supllied with the swap to fwd and use the lsd in that, unless the mr2-s lsd won't work with the e153 tranny. I'm not in a rush to get all this done, I just want my swap up and running. Once it is I will be fairly happy. I've gone for over a month bumbing off of people for rides.

Now the toys like the safc and the wideband isn't a must.
The lsd isn't a must.
The seats aren't a must either, but I do have rips up the hunan.
Suspension not really, but it would be nice. FMIC, not until I start pushing more out of the motor.

I just need someones opinion. To be honest the LSD stands out a lot. But you did make a good point about how my car should be running trouble free first, then start spending money on it.

[bccentaur3]

BUMP!!!! I'm stuck guys.

[azian_advanced]

nothing wrong in getting a paint job first.. since most of the body will be painted. it would be good if you painted the engine bay as well after pulling out the stock motor for the swap.
painting skirts or blocks separately won't be so bad, as long as you have some left over paint so that you won't have to paint-match.

and the trd strut bar on ebay looks to be in good condition.. all i see are some scuffs on the underside of the brace where it bolts to the strut mounts..
but a brand new one costs just as much.

[bccentaur3]

If thats the case I might as well try to track one down. I really don't want to paint my car until I have settled on what to do with my car, exterior wise. I guess sway bars and the front 3 pt isn't a bad idea.

[goferris]

if everything ends up running well why not by the extra exterior parts your looking for then put the rest towards paint?
of course my first priority would be to make sure everything is reliable and done right but still. you never know what to expect with a swap.

[808celica]

suspension mods could come into play?????