Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth Friday, November 29
2002 Volume 02 : Number 012
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 09:31:33 -0800
From: "Shawn Keren" <
nouveau3@attbi.com>
Subject: Re:
Team3S: New Struts, options
Most people that replace with the Gabriels are not that satisfied.
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Frey" <
mike21b@ptd.net>
Sent: Thursday,
November 28, 2002 8:11 AM
Subject: Team3S: New Struts, options
> I'll be replacing my front struts on my 92 RT/TT, probably the rears
> as well.
>
> I'm more interested in ride quality and value
over performance. In
> other words, I don't want anything that is stiffer
than stock when set
> on "Tour" mode. I never use the Sport
setting.
>
> AutoZone has struts for about $160 each, they tell me
that Gabriel
> makes them.
>
> Any recommendations?
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:33:52 -0500
From: Dennis Ninneman <
dninneman@comcast.net>
Subject:
Re: Team3S: New Struts, options
With a little extra cash and research, you can have both. Try to find
a
strut/shock manufacturer (Gabriel, KYB) that has a good warrantee (some
have lifetime), try for a low pressure gas strut. To top it off, there
are a couple of companies that make matched front and rear sway bars for
both the NA and TT versions of our cars. That will give you improved
handling with relatively good ride characteristics. The bars are a
bear
to put on though. The change, however, will be dramatic.
Dennis -==- Philly
Mike Frey wrote:
>I'll be replacing my front struts on my 92 RT/TT, probably the rears as
>well.
>
>I'm more interested in ride quality and value over
performance. In
>other words, I don't want anything that is stiffer than
stock when set
>on "Tour" mode. I never use the Sport
setting.
>
>AutoZone has struts for about $160 each, they tell me
that Gabriel
>makes them.
>
>Any recommendations?
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:43:19 -0500
From: Dennis Ninneman <
dninneman@comcast.net>
Subject:
Re: Team3S: This car is a nightmare!
Only you can be the final judge. Sounds like you had a 60k
maintenance
performed ......... great. Always a big $$$ project.
How's the engine
running, trans, condition of body, interior? Are all
the accessories
working? Tires? The costs of some of the items
seem a bit on the high
side. Dealer do them? What are you
looking to get out of the car? Do
you like the way it
drives/handles? Is it fast enough for you as it is?
Answer these
and you've answered your original question.
If the basic condition is good and you're satisfied with the engine
performance, there are plenty of mods you can make to dramatically
improve the car's handling. It all depends on how long you're going to
keep the car and if you want to spend a little more.
Dennis -==- Philly
Planet wrote:
>I got my '92 Stealth SOHC in late October. I have spent at least $3500
>on it already. But at least it has a new...
>
>Water Pump -
$161
>New exhaust between flex and muffler - $1217
>Gas tank -
$550
>Belts - $150
>Sway bar links - $85
>Front left lower
ball joint - $438
>Rear wiper switch - 34.18
>
>total labour -
$700
>
>AND IT ISN'T THAT FAST!
>Should I sell? I just bought
it in late October early November.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 13:35:00 -0500
From: "Planet" <
planet.j@sympatico.ca>
Subject:
Team3S: This car is a nightmare!
I'm just north of Toronto in Ontario. Yah I have seen a couple ES's.
Actually when I took it in to get the new water pump yesterday they asked
if it was the DOHC and if it was, it would of been a lot more. The base is
the cheapest. This is my first car and 3.0L v6 sohc is good enough for me.
Not good on gas but I don't really have to drive far all the often. It was all
leather interior, sunroof, power doors/windows. The car has 200 000 km,
but the engine has been rebuilt. I don't know how many km on the rebuilt
engine. I have had work done at a dealer (first mitsu in Canada), Speedy
and Midas. For some reason the smaller places charge wayyyyy tooooo much,
part wise and labour. I found out after that speedy could of got me a new
cat for $150 after I had it replaced at the dealer for $771. I thought the
dealer was a good price. I took it too one of the local shops that is
pretty good and they told me the cat was $1100. Everyone tells me never to
take it to dealers or chains. But it seems they have the lowest prices. I need
some opinions here, I will give you the numbers.
Bought the car for $3000
Spent $3500
Black book value. $6800
So I am still under what the government thinks this car is worth.
>You must have a Base Stealth. If you'd like to stick with the
Stealth,
>your best bang for your buck will be an ES model. 222hp,
not as
>stylish as an RT which just adds cosmetic body panels.
>Where are you in Canada?
What mods can I make on a base stealth. The only thing I care about is
acceleration. There isn't much need for good handling around here. Around
here off-the-line is what matters. There is an over excess of rice
rockets. I'm talking riced up sunfires, cavaliers, shadows. I want be able
to spank some crap as civic hatch-backs. What can I do?
Can the twin turbo's take 5.0L stangs off the line?
One more question. On the door panel the sticker says my car weighs
4000lb's. I sure the hell hope not. Last time I had it weight it was more
like 3000 lb's. What's the deal on this?
>If the basic condition is good and you're satisfied with the engine
>performance, there are plenty of mods you can make to dramatically
>improve the car's handling. It all depends on how long you're
going to
>keep the car and if you want to spend a little more.
Jason
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:54:48 -0800
From: "Riyan Mynuddin" <
riyan@hotpop.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S:
This car is a nightmare!
Jason-
should we revise the thread subject to... CARS ARE NIGHTMARES! cars are
expensive, period (that is, if you don't work on them yourself.)
Especially 3S. Mechanics get so excited when they see our cars since
they're complicated which means more markup for them.
1.
I personally feel that $771 was quite a bit for the cat. Did they replace
the pre-cats too? Any other stuff while they were there? Ask them to
itemize the invoice if they haven't already. And are we in Canadian
dollars or US dollars? Remember that speedy wasn't going to really do the
cat for $150. Maybe they quoted you on parts only. And since they're so
speedy, they probably would've stripped some nuts and billed you any
drilling, tapping, and that whole bit. They'd claim that "we're not liable
for rust on your car".
2.
If you've spent that much money on the car, I think you should seriously
consider keeping it. Don't you have an attachment to it yet? I'm so
attached to my car that I'd almost pay the full value of it just to keep
it on the road if anything happened...wait, I think I have already!! :O
Now I'm sure there's many who would disagree with me, since the other side
of the coin is to "cut your losses"... but wow if you've spent that much
on the car plus it's had a rebuild then IMO it's got quite a long future.
And I remember a previous thread on SOHC supercharger kits. You may want
to look into that (again, search the Team3S archives and e-mail me privately
if you're having trouble finding it). About weight, I think they put the
TT weight sticker on your car by accident. AWD, AWS, and turbos puts TT
cars at nearly 4000 lbs. You should be significantly less. Unfortunately
since I'm down in Cali, I don't know of any shops in Canada. Maybe someone
else on the list does.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 13:18:48 -0800
From: "Riyan Mynuddin" <
riyan@hotpop.com>
Subject: Team3S:
removing a Stillen downpipe
Just how do you do it? I got under the car today and I have no clue how to
reach the flange nuts with that little amount of clearance. No wonder the
exhaust shop charged a lot for the install. I want to clean out that rear
pre-cat though.
Riyan Mynuddin
93 Stealth RT TT
Stillen Intake, Stillen Downpipe, ATR SingleShot Catback, "Improved" main
and front pre-cat, 450cc injectors; cleaned and matched, MBC @ 12 PSI, EK2
Fuel Rail mod, EK2 EGR "upgrade", U.P. Cold Air Box, S-AFC, Boost, A/F,
and Fuel PSI gauges, TurboXS H-34 Bypass Valve, FP resistor
bypass+hotwire, U.P. Front and Rear S-Bars
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 23:31:03 +0100
From: "Roger Gerl" <
roger.gerl@bluewin.ch>
Subject:
Re: Team3S: removing a Stillen downpipe
Pretty easy with a long adapter for the ratchet to reach the nuts on the
rear flange. Just start with the flange at the cat-back, then the front
flange at the O2 sensor housing and then the rear ones. Finally remove the
bolts on the hangers and you're done. Take about half an hour if the bolts
are not rusted in.
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Riyan Mynuddin" <
riyan@hotpop.com>
Sent: Thursday,
November 28, 2002 10:18 PM
Subject: Team3S: removing a Stillen downpipe
> Just how do you do it? I got under the car today and I have no clue
> how to reach the flange nuts with that little amount of clearance. No
> wonder the exhaust shop charged a lot for the install. I want to clean
> out that rear pre-cat though.
>
> Riyan Mynuddin
> 93
Stealth RT TT
>
> Stillen Intake, Stillen Downpipe, ATR SingleShot
Catback, "Improved"
> main and front pre-cat, 450cc injectors; cleaned
and matched, MBC @ 12
> PSI, EK2 Fuel Rail mod, EK2 EGR "upgrade", U.P.
Cold Air Box, S-AFC,
> Boost, A/F, and Fuel PSI gauges, TurboXS H-34
Bypass Valve, FP
> resistor bypass+hotwire, U.P. Front and Rear
S-Bars
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 22:53:47 -0500
From: "Andre Cerri" <
cerri@intersystems.com>
Subject:
RE: Team3S: New Struts, options
The cut throat dealers do the stock struts for $126 or so per corner.
- -----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Ninneman
Sent: Thursday,
November 28, 2002 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: Team3S: New Struts, options
With a little extra cash and research, you can have both. Try to find
a
strut/shock manufacturer (Gabriel, KYB) that has a good warrantee (some
have lifetime), try for a low pressure gas strut. To top it off, there
are a couple of companies that make matched front and rear sway bars for
both the NA and TT versions of our cars. That will give you improved
handling with relatively good ride characteristics. The bars are a
bear
to put on though. The change, however, will be dramatic.
Dennis -==- Philly
Mike Frey wrote:
>I'll be replacing my front struts on my 92 RT/TT, probably the rears as
>well.
>
>I'm more interested in ride quality and value over
performance. In
>other words, I don't want anything that is stiffer than
stock when set
>on "Tour" mode. I never use the Sport
setting.
>
>AutoZone has struts for about $160 each, they tell me
that Gabriel
>makes them.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 23:03:30 -0500
From: "Planet" <
planet.j@sympatico.ca>
Subject:
Team3S: 3S Parts on ebay. What do you think?
I find these two links. I actually wanted to replace my 10 year old stock
muffler from my '92 I found this, seems cheap
Here is the K&N 'style' intake mod.
I like the muffler. Mine is missing one of the chrome tips.
Is the real
air filer mod or some cheap version of a better one?
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 22:26:40 -0800
From: "Riyan Mynuddin" <
riyan@hotpop.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S:
3S Parts on ebay. What do you think?
The muffler may not be that bad of a deal, but I'd definitely ask about the
details... who made it etc. Get the manufacturer name and do a search on
them to find street value. Just don't buy the muffler "for the tip", since
you should be able to get them at your local auto parts store for pretty
cheap.
Assuming you're more concerned about the lost tip than having a new
"performance" muffler, your choices for tips would be to get an OEM
replacement for the one your lost or buy two new matching aftermarket
ones...whichever is cheaper I suppose. Also, remember that you're
not going to get 12 hp off the mod like advertised. That is a completely
false claim IMO. NA cars get just a few hp, if any. You can plan on 2 or
3. If your were TT, that's a new ball game and depends on the other mods
that accompany it.
About the intake:
The air intake is not the real thing, it's an imitation. This also means
that it won't come with the CARB sticker. Here in California that's a very
BAD thing. Both K&N and Stillen intakes come with the CARB
sticker. First of all, no CARB sticker in Cali = autofail smog check. I'd
fail anyway with clean cats and upgraded injectors so I'm not too worried
about that. I'm worried about the other problem around here... which is
that once a cop sees an aftermarket intake w/o a carb sticker then they
start looking at the rest of your car for illegal mods. If you want your
car to have an "aftermarket upgrade" future, then it's good to have a CARB
intake sticker to reduce the suspicion. Now I'm not sure if that guideline
applies to you in Canada, but be sure you do your research before buying
something uncertified. If your research finds you no worries, then buy all
the uncertified stuff you want (granted it's good quality).
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 12:05:48 -0800
From: "Gross, Erik" <
erik.gross@intel.com>
Subject: RE:
Team3S: removing a Stillen downpipe
> Just how do you do it? I got under the car today and I have
> no
clue how to
> reach the flange nuts with that little amount of clearance.
I've always been able to get the connections to the O2 housings off with
(all 1/2" drive) a 19mm mid-length 6pt socket, a U-joint, a 9" extension,
and a breaker bar or socket wrench. The U-joint is key for the
passenger's
side rear bank nut. The others can be done with just an
extension. For
the rear connection to the cat-back, all you need
is a wrench or two of whatever size bolts they stuck on there (stock bolts
cannot be reused there with the Stillen). Of course, getting the
nuts off is probably only 20% of the fun. Yours is a 1G, so it may be
easier (I hope!) But on my 2Gs, I had to wrap my arms and legs
around the downpipe and hang like a monkey to get the @#$% thing
off. Sorry, no pictures :-) It took 30 minutes of hanging, rocking,
prying, beating, and swearing to get it off. The price you pay for
using a BFH to install it :-)
- --Erik
------------------------------
End of Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth V2
#12
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