CST said:
After that last topic I had about thinking of pimping out my 5m, I decided that was not gonna happen. Too risky and just too pricey to get what I want. So if I were to get me a 7mgte from jap exchange fitted for a 5speed it would run about 700. Should I rebuild it or not? And then after, what kind of stuff do I need to replace on my car to fit the 7mgte? And these put out what? 230hp? What's the cheapest (but not insanely dangerous) way to bump that up around 280-300?
Buy a donor car! Look for a good running MKIII that is, for whatever reason, totaled.
For mods to get to 300hp: 3" mandrel bent exhaust, 3" o2 elbow, and a straight though style muffler with no chambers. you would be suprised how big of a difference in performance exhaust upgrades make for a turbocharged car. If that doesn't get you to 300 then up the boost a few psi.
Figure $700-$1000 for exhaust mods + $30 for a manual boost controler or $0 for a shimmed wastegate. And with the 7mgte in a MKII you'll have to install a K&N filter ($230) because neither MKII or MKIII stock airboxes will fit.
So for roughly $1000 to $1300 in performance mods you'll have a 3000 pound car making almost 300rwhp which is about 345 crank HP. 8)