Hyatt Harper

[Hyatt3kgt]

Hi Madison Motorsports, my name is Hyatt Harper. I am not new to MM, I have been a member since the fall of 2008. I usually don't use forums very much but I have been persuaded to become a member of this forum. A little about me: I am a junior here at JMU; biology major. I have been into cars my whole life and always wanted to own a 3000GT when I was a kid. Well, my parents remembered that and bought me one for as a graduation gift. It is a 1995 base model 5-speed non-turbo with a few modifications done to it. Currently it has 5000k 35w HIDs in the low beams and fog lights, Injen intake, off-brand downpipe, VR-4 stock catback, and a fuel rail loop. I have plans of twin turbocharging it in the near future and am searching for parts. Hopefully by joining this forum I can gain some insight and wisdom from y'all and perhaps provide the same.

Some pictures:

[TorinoCobra070]

Looks awesome. Good luck with the turbo install. MM needs more turbo :thumbup:

[Goodspeed]

What's the difference between the SL and the VR4 TT besides turbahs? Bottom end, trans, diffs, etc?

Pics of the super low mile '99 VR4 (replete with insane wing) that came to the MM show a few years back. So hot.

http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic....how#p77923

[andrew_j]

Hey, I know you.

[CaptainHenreh]

First off, Welcome!

Second, I'm not trying to be the DreamKiller here Hyatt, but by my back-of-buttcheek calculations, it's going to be way, WAY cheaper for you to just buy a VR4 than do a swap. And then you get AWD to boot.

This is ass-u-ming you don't just buy a wrecked VR4 and do a 'body swap' which is what I'd recommend doing anyway. Or, enjoy your pretty daily driver that I'm sure the chicks dig and get a more mod friendly car to tinker on...

[Dave]

First off, Welcome!

Second, I'm not trying to be the DreamKiller here Hyatt, but by my back-of-buttcheek calculations, it's going to be way, WAY cheaper for you to just buy a VR4 than do a swap. And then you get AWD to boot.

This is ass-u-ming you don't just buy a wrecked VR4 and do a 'body swap' which is what I'd recommend doing anyway. Or, enjoy your pretty daily driver that I'm sure the chicks dig and get a more mod friendly car to tinker on...

+1111111111

And welcome to the forum. Good lookn 3kgt you got there.
Methinks you should keep that one clean and buy yourself an actual VR4 to drive/have fun with/explode (hey, it's still a DSM). Then you can get it out of your system and move on to a new toy without molesting/blowing a ton of cash modding the nice one....

[TorinoCobra070]

First off, Welcome!

Second, I'm not trying to be the DreamKiller here Hyatt, but by my back-of-buttcheek calculations, it's going to be way, WAY cheaper for you to just buy a VR4 than do a swap. And then you get AWD to boot.

This is ass-u-ming you don't just buy a wrecked VR4 and do a 'body swap' which is what I'd recommend doing anyway. Or, enjoy your pretty daily driver that I'm sure the chicks dig and get a more mod friendly car to tinker on...

I would have agreed with you, but he was talking about the weight difference between the n/a cars and the VR-4 the other day... it is a massive difference. Although he might have some traction issues, adding a turbo setup to a base model car actually seems like a pretty cool idea :thumbup:

[Hyatt3kgt]

What's the difference between the SL and the VR4 TT besides turbahs? Bottom end, trans, diffs, etc?

Goodspeed, the difference is minimal. VR4 has lower compression at 8.5:1 and the SL/Base has 10:1. The transmission is a 6 speed for 94+ VR4s, while 91-93 had a 5 speed. The base/SL's had either a 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual. All internals are the same, except for the pistons. Basically the only differences are turbos, intercoolers, intake, and all the piping and oil lines associated with the turbos and SMICs. Then of course there is AWD, AWS, Active Aero, ECS, Tunable Exhaust, leather, etc, in the VR4 that adds weight. My car weighs around 3175, while a VR4 is about 3800.

That 99 VR4 is pretty rare, only 287 made in 99 and 15,539 VR4s shipped to the US ever.

First off, Welcome!

Second, I'm not trying to be the DreamKiller here Hyatt, but by my back-of-buttcheek calculations, it's going to be way, WAY cheaper for you to just buy a VR4 than do a swap. And then you get AWD to boot.

This is ass-u-ming you don't just buy a wrecked VR4 and do a 'body swap' which is what I'd recommend doing anyway. Or, enjoy your pretty daily driver that I'm sure the chicks dig and get a more mod friendly car to tinker on...

Thank you for the welcome. You sound alot like what most people on 3kgt forums say, "Your wasting your time with a base model, just get the vr4 and be done with it." If I would not have received this car for free, I would have purchased the VR4 right off the bat. As much that is involved with doing a TT conversion, I look forward to working on it and learning from mistakes, problems, etc. I know that its not going to come out perfect and be 100% straight forward, but I want to have fun. And it wouldn't be fun without any hiccups.

Purchasing a VR4 that was wrecked would be ideal, if I could find one.

[CaptainHenreh]

Thank you for the welcome. You sound alot like what most people on 3kgt forums say, "Your wasting your time with a base model, just get the vr4 and be done with it." If I would not have received this car for free, I would have purchased the VR4 right off the bat. As much that is involved with doing a TT conversion, I look forward to working on it and learning from mistakes, problems, etc. I know that its not going to come out perfect and be 100% straight forward, but I want to have fun. And it wouldn't be fun without any hiccups.

Oh man. It's like looking in a funhouse mirror. One day you'll see the wisdom, but you'll enjoy the ride (and the empty wallet) until then. :-p

[D_Eclipse9916]

Thank you for the welcome. You sound alot like what most people on 3kgt forums say, "Your wasting your time with a base model, just get the vr4 and be done with it." If I would not have received this car for free, I would have purchased the VR4 right off the bat. As much that is involved with doing a TT conversion, I look forward to working on it and learning from mistakes, problems, etc. I know that its not going to come out perfect and be 100% straight forward, but I want to have fun. And it wouldn't be fun without any hiccups.

Oh man. It's like looking in a funhouse mirror. One day you'll see the wisdom, but you'll enjoy the ride (and the empty wallet) until then. :-p

+ eleventy bajillion. Youll definitely enjoy the ride, but its an emotional experience.

[SlimKlim]

Hey, I know you.

O.RRY?

[Maengelito]

Thank you for the welcome. You sound alot like what most people on 3kgt forums say, "Your wasting your time with a base model, just get the vr4 and be done with it." If I would not have received this car for free, I would have purchased the VR4 right off the bat. As much that is involved with doing a TT conversion, I look forward to working on it and learning from mistakes, problems, etc. I know that its not going to come out perfect and be 100% straight forward, but I want to have fun. And it wouldn't be fun without any hiccups.

Oh man. It's like looking in a funhouse mirror. One day you'll see the wisdom, but you'll enjoy the ride (and the empty wallet) until then. :-p

Rex, you've been around long enough to know that every year we get a group of fresh faces with lots of ideas. You can dish out advice all you want but it'll either go unheeded or you'll sound like a dick for being such a naysayer. Now help me with turboing my non turbo and DIY painting my GRM2007 car. :mrgreen:

[JustinG]

take it from someone who has been down this path with a NA DSM. Don't do it, kept it like it is, throw on some twisty turny bits and get a cheap ass car to tinker with like a 1g DSM. I did my RS-T DSM, rebuilt everything etc etc and spared no expense, it was a great way to learn about my car, but being my DD it completely sucked balls. Don't waste the 3-4k, which it will cost to do correctly, and spend that on suspension parts, you'll thank me later. But if you choose to do it, then by all means have fun. But i would highly recommend doing as much research as possibly, make out a spread sheet with all your costs and have someone else's eyes look at the spread sheet. Then make your decision.

[Hyatt3kgt]

Thanks everybody for the input. I will consider what all has been said and think over everything.

[Dave]

Thanks everybody for the input. I will consider what all has been said and think over everything.

That's all we ask

Hell, even if you just pretend to take our ideas into consideration, we won't throw canes at you from our porch. We just don't want you as broke as we were in college (at least not from things we can advise against).

Now, go buy that $1500 Z on GRM so I don't have to build one of my own...

[.RJ]

make out a spread sheet with all your costs and have someone else's eyes look at the spread sheet. Then make your decision.

Probably the best advice here - if you are honest with the spreadsheet, the total number will be a bit shocking. But you have to include everything - you cant ignore odds and ends or small items, it has to be all inclusive, including any new tools or wear items that have to go in with a new motor. I did this after buying an old RX7 thinking I was going to go racing... pretty quickly said "holy shit I cant afford this" :lol: Dont ask what my honda challenge car cost to build.

I would be surprised if the total number didnt get pretty far into being able to buy a 2nd car (miata, e30, etc) thats ready to go for some autox fun.