"I'm not going to mod it"

[DreXeL]

OK, due to a change in circumstances and a pretty decent payrise I have found myself with a bit of a windfall. First things first, as I said last week I will be replacing the Estima, but also Mrs D has given me the go ahead to spend a bit on the 'teg too

Now, I was dead set on coilovers, brakes, strip'n'cage, and lashings of carbon goodies.....

....However I have seen a newly built engine for sale good for 250+ bhp of screaming N/A madness, and I'm seriously tempted. Reliability issues are putting me off though, as it would defeat one of the main reasons I got the 'teg in the first place. Also, it would mean leaving the car pretty much as it is now (suspension, brakes).

But the thought of a stupid 10,000 rpm screaming N/A nutter of an engine is really appealling to me

Help

 

[DreXeL]

Sell it now you've got money, buy something tidy and not bodged with Dulux emulsion, and mod it properly. Throwing cash at that Teg is a daft idea. Start with a solid base.

In all honesty Fox it *is* a solid car, that paintwork is the only real issue, and of course that will be sorted before anything else.

Mechanically the car is absolutely sound, and aside from the aformentioned paint and stupid little things the bodywork is spot-on too.

The car has bugger-all mileage for it's age aswell (~40k).

You make it sound like a shed

 

[DreXeL]

Do not, however, fit eyebrows to it

/looks over shoulder.

It's the grill I like anyway

 

[DreXeL]

Hate to say it but I'd probably agree with Fox depending on how much spare cash you have to play with. Although if you're loving the 'teg is there any point changing it for type r? Or a dc5?

DC5 is out of the question, if had that kind of money I wouldn't hesitate. Yeah, I could sell mine and buy a mint Type-R, but what's the point? There isn't a huge amount of difference between my car and a Type-R, and seeing as I'll be modding it, it makes the differences even more irrelevent.

If my car was an old shed that needed thousands spent to tidy it up I would agree, but it honestly only needs some paintwork and some bits of rubber/plastic window trim to make it pretty much mint, there really isn't a lot wrong with the car.

This is like me fitting an M5 engine, M5 interior, etc etc.

No, it's not. The SiR and the Type-R are much closer than your car and an M5.

 

[DreXeL]

The spec:

B18c
LSD BOX
Polished head
2 Skims to head (raise compression)
1 Skim to block (raise compression)
Skunk 2 stage 3 cams
KMS retainers
KMS valves (Valves Re-adjusted to work with high spec cams)
KMS springs
Top line Oil pump
Top line Water pump
OEM Head bolts
OEM headgasket
All other gaskets OEM replaced
Skunk 2 pro series inlet manifold
Spoon pistons 11.6.1
Tuning Worx clutch (capable for 350BHP)
Aftermarket fuel rail
After market fuel regulator


10,000 rpm was just a figure I am bandying about to get the 'monster N/A' point across, I'm fully aware that this spec may not be good for 10k

Get a DC5. Get a DC5. Get a DC5. Get a DC5.

I'd love to, I'd love to, I'd love to. But I don't have that kind of money to spend

 

[DreXeL]

The all important question - how much for the new engine?

2800, plus obviously I'd need to add mapping etc on to that. The guy has 5k of reciepts for the build.

As for going down the forced induction route, yes the thought has crossed my mind, especially as my engine is more suited to it. But I can't help but find the idea of an N/A screamer very appealing.

Stage 3 cams will just make you look like a driving n00b every time you try and park in Tescos

Good thing the 'teg is never used for trips to Tesco then

 

[DreXeL]

I've got a BMI DVD on the SiR and Type R Differences, and I was under the impression there were quite a few...

There are a fair few differences in the overall spec, but the figures and real-world performance difference isn't huge. Indeed, my car makes more on a R/R than a stock UK Type-R

 

[DreXeL]

I was under the impression the car was a track weapon.

Well, more of a 'toy' that sees some tracktime than an out-and-out track weapon.

 

[DreXeL]

Sell it and buy a 318i.

I hadn't thought of that. I'm sold

 

[DreXeL]

What about other cheaper mods which will improve the fun factor, maybe a new ECU to drop the changeover point. If merlins old Teg is anything to go by that would be my chosen mod

The changeover on the SiR is already lower than the Type-R, mine changes over at 4800.

What about the rest of the bits, remapped or aftermarket ECU, decent exhaust manifold, light flywheel etc?

Yep, I already stated I would be needing the ECU etc a few posts up. I fully appreciate the cost of the engine itself is just the beginning.

In all honesty the more I think about it the more I'm leaning away from the engine idea, as people have said there do seem to be some question marks about that particular engine, and the potential reliability issues scare me.

I'm going to stick to my original plan

 

[DreXeL]

DP..

 

[DreXeL]

Oh and sod all that.

Just buy an S2000, 240+ hp 9,200rpm out the box and stupidly reliable.
Holds its value well, rear drive too

TBH I was looking at some in the trader yesterday........

Don't think I'd get a particularly good example for the money I would have though.

Keep the money.

I can't do that, I'm not that sensible

 

[DreXeL]

If I was fitting a cage, personally I'd go with buckets and harnesses

That's the plan.

 

[DreXeL]

What can I say, I'm just a serial modder

Besides, there are some cracking roads if you look hard enough, Cheddar gorge is one of my faves

 

[DreXeL]

Dual carriageway followed by a roundabout and then back onto more dual carriageways... I still remember the convoy to RR4

Yeah the ring-road can be great when it's not busy, I'm stunned that it is still scamera free too.

Right, been doing some potatochopping. Here is the car slammed, carbon bonnet, and (probably the most controversial part) a carbon bootlid running bare-arsed

I also badly chopped a cage in

I love the look, I really do. I have a feeling not everybody will agree though.......

 

[DreXeL]

the ones that lead to Castle Combe, if you go around 7-8ish on an evening it's quiet and you can have some proper fun!

Yeah, there are some great roads round there, and being about 5-mins from where I live I go for a blast up there quite often

 

[DreXeL]

The whole reason you got this car was to do exactly that wasn't it.

True, the whole reason for getting the car was to save on running costs, step out of the power chasing game etc, but to be honest the mods I'm thinking of doing won't effect reliability (decided against the engine idea now), and my insurance is so cheap any extra for the mods won't be an issue either. So most of the reasons for getting the 'teg will still stand: It being cheap to run and reliable.

I know you have some sort of modding-disease

So true

 

[DreXeL]

I would go with buying a DC5.

So would I, but unfortunately I can't afford one

 

[DreXeL]

Ben, what's the current engine spec? What did it make on the rollers, 190bhp?

Yep, made bang-on 190bhp.

Only performance mods are stainless exhaust system (still has cat), and CAI (wasn't on the car at R/R).

Anyway, there might be another change of plan, something else may have come up

 

[DreXeL]

Couldn't dissagree more, carbon bonnets look fantastic on white Integras. I'm a big fan of the bare-arsed look too, although a car has to be seriously lowered to pull off not having a spoiler of any description. I accept it is very marmite though.