Off the forums for the last 5 years - What advances did I miss?

So I'm finally back in a position where I can spend some money and time on the VR-4. Seems there have been quite a few advancements and changes on mods over the years, and hoping someone can give me the essentials crash course.


To give you an idea, my mods are from 7-8 years ago.

- Tec 15G's
- GReddy E-Manage Blue
- MAFT v. who knows...
- PPE FMIC Pipes / FMIC
- GReddy Type S
- RC720CC Injectors
- Walboro 255
- Stillen DP
- ATR Single Shot
- Spec Stage III
- 300M 18 Spline
- K Sport Coilovers (all blown)
- Stainless steel fuel loop


Ideally, I'm going to pull the motor and trans to do some basics (ABS delete, remove non essential things in the engine bay, remove cruise control, etc) I also need to redo all the subframe mounts, suspension, bushings, etc. Car has 132k on it, and has been running e85 for the last 5 years. Would appreciate any input on things to get the car up to do date, more reliable, simpler, and will never turn down power options, but I do think I'll stick with 15G's for now.


Thanks from an 3/S Old timer. Can't believe it's been 10 years now.


Random modification goals:
- Cooling system (smaller radiator or move forward to make more space)
- Fuel System (get it updated better for e85)
- Removal of ABS, AWS, Cruise Control, useless weight/items
- Suspension & Steering updates/mounts/bushings/etc


I'm selling a local car I picked up and will use this to help fund the restoration: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3969132090.html

For your fuel system I would recommend the new E85 approved Walbro 400.

This board is the most awesome advance.

Welcome aboard! :)

You had a different screen name on the other site right?

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

You had a different screen name on the other site right?

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StealthXtreme I think.

Hey, HI Matt!!!!

Bob. :)

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Originally Posted by OhioSpyderman

Hey, HI Matt!!!!

Bob. :)

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Hey Bob! Glad to see you're still around. How are things? It's weird do think about how much has changed! Went from having this car in High School, through college, and now I've been out for a few years, and just made my first career move and left Allstate for a newer Software company that is experiencing rapid growth.

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

You had a different screen name on the other site right?

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Yup. StealthXtreme4 on the other. Join date of Jan 03. Started as a young dumb 16 year old, and have grown up with my car over the years. (Personally, and professionally). Graduated from Purdue, started as an Entry Level Network Engineer, and moved up to be the Manager and Technical Team Lead of F5 Engineering at a Fortune 100 company. Moved to Indianapolis 2 months ago for a company called Interactive Intelligence. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and figured no risk, no reward, so it was time to try another company and see what happens.

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Originally Posted by mb3000

For your fuel system I would recommend the new E85 approved Walbro 400.

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i'd go with aeromotive stealth. i don't like whinebros. :) i'd also just go to dual feed rails, rather than loop it--but that's personal preference.

if you feel like upgrading, flashable ecu > piggybacks now...at least that's what everyone keeps telling me.

there's some high-quality coilover offerings available now. jfast has a thread where people have been posting dyno plots on their shocks.

I can't remember or cover it all but I'll mention a few things. We've broke 600AWHP on stock motors, TD04s, stock smics, stock catback, stock fuel system outside of injectors and a hotwired fuel pump, and all with torque of a V10 on our tiny 3.0Ls. Ray sold his 1000+AWHP Chameleon car. I don't know who bought the whole motor setup but the guy that bought the car put a 16G 3.5L stroker E85 setup in it. Ray's 96 VR-4 that replaced it is running a built 3.1L heads, cams, etc with many factory parts on it making 650AWHP on TD04s. A stock JDM GTO automatic transmission running switches to the solenoids instead of the TCU ran high 10s on billet DR-650s proving you can have a cheap and fast 500AWHP car without Ray's mad driving skills. ;) Some bigger TD05s than MHI turbos have made 700-900+AWHP further bridging an affordable gap between TD04s and T3s. There was a successful Eclipse 6G75 transplant into a 3S fully built on big T3s that made over 800-900AWHP. We've also had one or two Mivec head systems on big turbos make 1000-1100AWHP.

Like the Evos and many platforms you can flash a 98/99 ecu with full control over too many things to mention which makes piggybacks a silly upgrade. There are flex fuel engine managements for our cars so you don't have to swap maps as it automatically interpolates.

There seems to be somewhat steady sources for solid F&R subframe bushings, poly front subframe bushings, solid diff bushings, and a number of other small suspension items needed during a restoration. A few have taken stock cam gears and repinned them at +1 intake -3 exhaust settings for optimal power on a stock cam minimal resurfaced block/head combo. Ray came out with a 6G72 stroker. Using a cut 6G74 crank we can get a 3.5L displacement motor that fits everything with no modifications. There are now billet crankshafts available for our cars. For those with enough money Ray can build a 4.0-4.2L stroker competing with some of the biggest displacement V6 twin turbos cars that have come out in the last few years. We now have billet 6-speed endcases, billet bellhousing braces, a Supercar Engineering upgraded center differential, and even SCE adapters to run Evo coilovers if you want. There has been a new revision of Addco sway bars but nothing yet that fit as well as the discontinued Saner bars. Cianci moved to Mexico, product quality and leadership went down the drain, they change to C7 Carbon, and while seem to be doing a little better are making a slow comeback as one of the few companies still making body parts for our cars. IPS left the 3S market development in favor of doing R&D on the Vettes where big money is at, but still supports our platform with the parts they made awhile ago.

It may have been right before you left or after can't remember which but Matt Monett broke into the 8s, sold his car soon after with the record never to be touched, and Permanent Grin that bought his setup using billet DR-1300s(DR-1400s as they're called) not being tested yet just ran 9s and made over 1000bhp with tons of potential left. Nelson still to this day can't run a fast pass his car should be capable of and is still stuck in the 9s with a built auto; I think he may have sold his car also??? Chris Hill made over 800AWHP on stock heads and cams using E95M5 fuel. Trevor just sold his 96 Stealth with a built 3.7L GTX4202R setup to someone that's changing up the tire setup to run a 9 sec pass hopefully. 13Ts and 19Ts broke 500AWHP with 19Ts being on pump gas.

I'm sure there's much more but I could only come up with so much off the top of my head.

That's a pretty solid update. Keep em coming. I guess I'll have to flip over to the flashable ECU setup while doing everything. Would love to get rid of the greddy and maft setup.

Amazed Trevor sold his car!