Thread: got 2 grand to spend and not sure what to spend it on. who wants to help

^This! But this forum is always selling goodies for B13'ers. Keep your eyes on the classifieds.

Buy a VE. $980 shipped to me from Soko.

When I was in your position, I wished I'd taken the money and spent it on Auto-x entry fees.

Turbo's and new motors? Did you guys read his post or are you unfamiliar with what you really need on a track? ...

How about reliability, Suspension and Brakes, not to mention tires?


I'm with Benito for the most part, and will elaborate.

I am going to assume that all of your hoses, belts, fluids are top-notch right now. If not, fix that stuff first. You also have proper bumpstops, boots, thrust-washers, and whatever else OEM-replacement you need for your suspension install. Not to mentions sticky-ass tires of some sort.

1) Current and proper Helmet. You ain't doing shit on a track unless you have proper protection on your noggin. $300.00 for a current-safety model, quality unit, inexpensive, no frills, everything you require. And get white. They're the most common and the coolest (temps) on your head. IIRC, mine was 250'ish plus tax from Stumpy's in Houston, TX. Go to a place you can actually try one on. I have a HUGE noggin. Hats never, ever fit. I would have assumed an XL helmet. I only wear a Large in the helmet I picked out. You should grab the front by your chin, or my sales girl did it, and when you yank up and down, the helmet does not move, your entire skull does. Tight at first, they become firmly snug when the insides mold to your cranium.

2) NX2K fronts, P10/Maxima rears, Altima MC, SS lines, good fluid, proper pads. On the track it is about carrying your speed, late braking, and overall solid brake feel that does NOT fade. Get your rotors, pads, stainless lines and anything you want brand new from Greg V at G-Spec. He has raced a Classic for years. He has more expertise about what you need than anyone in this thread, including me and Benito (that's a strong hint to call Greg). Get whatever you can pre-owned in good shape (or rebuild it with a kit from Greg) from the salvage yard or our Classifieds. You could easily start with the NX brakes, SS lines, fluid, pads, NX MC, rotors at a minimum.

3) Radiator - NX2K and proper liquids at a minimum, can be done very inexpensively. Look into that radiator that Jimmithin7000 tested and helped prototype. Big aluminum thing with proper sized in/out, can't remember the name of it. Also consider your fans or fan shroud, etc...

4) FSTB, RSTB, IKEA Brace, Fender Braces. IF you have access to a welder (or friendly welder buddy) Collectively all those can be done for $420.00 plus welding expenses on those last two. $120, 100, 50 plus welding, 150 plus welding. Your chassis is a limp noodle, it needs Viagra. The chassis will determine how well your suspension performs when you are pushing things on the track.

5) UR Water Pump Pulley - Greg V at G-Spec. You need to slow down your water pump so it does not cavitate the coolant when you are at 6,500-7,500 rpm's for extended times on a track. Because then you would need a new motor. Don't forget the right belt from Greg while you are on the phone.

6) Prothanes, Miko Tranny Saver Bracket, quality tranny fluid. That is the minimum I would do to my tranny.

All of that will get you on a track and keep you reliable and safe.

Spend a hunk of the rest of your money on the track, learning to drive.

Your vehicle, after the mods above (including your existing basic performance suspension) is waaaaaaaaaaaaay better on a track (or road) than you are. Have someone who is an Instructor take you out and blow your damn mind on how capable a lightly modded SE-R is on the track. So you can see exactly what your car is capable of in skilled hands. It is going to be a loooooong time before you get as good as your SE-R. Chriscar demonstrated to me what a SE-R can do in Savannah. Holy fucking shit. Wow. Giggled like schoolgirl all the way. It was as fun as piloting the car myself and very, very enlightening.

Then add go-faster bits as you get better. Whatever is left....header, exhaust, intake, UR pulleys (the rest of them), lightweight battery or moved to trunk, tranny cooler, upgraded gauges..........etc........

Then turbo, VE, VE-T what the hell ever.

Shawn B








See above.

Mishimoto

Also, don't forget free mods, such as weight loss, and a timing advance.

I did this.

I've had my SE-R for almost 14 years, and the only power adders to date are a 2.25" header and K&N cone filter. Still stock exhaust, and only pulled the valve cover to install a new gasket.

Still, the car has easily done 70- or 80-odd autocrosses, half a dozen track lapping days, several RallyCrosses, a couple of SE-R conventions, a number of drag strip passes, and been a support vehicle for a stage rally SE-R.

thanks for all the idea's guy. car is in storage now and wont be out till next spring sense i cant drive it till then. dam cancer ruined my summer. i definitely want something fun and reliable.

Damn, sorry to hear! Get better man! What sort of cancer?

i have a germ cell tumor the size of a orange in my chest and its cancerous. im 21 im young and going kick the crap out of it. =D

You got it man, you'll be flying around a track in no time!