I spend time reading and trying to learn before I ask any questions, but sometimes it seems the more I read the more confused I get. Note that I have 2 strikes against me: I'm about as efficient with a wrench as a monkey with a chainsaw, and I don't have big piles of money sitting around. So upgrades and modifications to my car come in stages, leaving me with what's next syndrome.
Quick history: Car now has 52,xxx original miles. Signature has what's been done, plus there are various other things not in the signature (all fuel lines replaced, all brake lines replaced, aftermarket gauges for boost, water, and oil, adjustable FPR, wastegate, etc) which I did to try and make the car more reliable/drive-able (it only had about 500 miles put on it between 2006 and 2014 while is sat garaged in Florida).
I'm running 93 pump gas and can go about 14.5-15# of boost on the stock turbo. Anything over 15# results in knock (I occasionally get small knock, but never seems to exceed about 1.7* of retard, and only briefly).
I'm focusing more on engine mods for the time. I realize that proper suspension & tires (and brakes) are part of going faster, but that stuff is going to come later.
I have a list of things that I know/assume I should do, but with limited funds, I lack the ability to prioritize what should be done.
My ultimate goal would be to have this a mid-11 car. Its a street/cruising car, I'm not a track guy so far. Given a budget of say, $2,000 (parts only - not labor) what would be the next best steps? Here's what's running through my mind, but again, I have no idea what the best order is:
MAF pipe and translator (and do I go LS1 or LT1)?
Downpipe (do I go 3"? 3.5"?)
Boost knob?
Turbo Bell?
Alky?
New/bigger Turbo?
Bigger injectors? (always thought 11's were reachable on the 009).
T/C?
Cam? Pistons?
Or is it smarter money to make sure everything is up to date simply due to their age, such as oil/trans cooler hoses, 150amp alternator, starter etc.?
Appreciate any insight.
Quick history: Car now has 52,xxx original miles. Signature has what's been done, plus there are various other things not in the signature (all fuel lines replaced, all brake lines replaced, aftermarket gauges for boost, water, and oil, adjustable FPR, wastegate, etc) which I did to try and make the car more reliable/drive-able (it only had about 500 miles put on it between 2006 and 2014 while is sat garaged in Florida).
I'm running 93 pump gas and can go about 14.5-15# of boost on the stock turbo. Anything over 15# results in knock (I occasionally get small knock, but never seems to exceed about 1.7* of retard, and only briefly).
I'm focusing more on engine mods for the time. I realize that proper suspension & tires (and brakes) are part of going faster, but that stuff is going to come later.
I have a list of things that I know/assume I should do, but with limited funds, I lack the ability to prioritize what should be done.
My ultimate goal would be to have this a mid-11 car. Its a street/cruising car, I'm not a track guy so far. Given a budget of say, $2,000 (parts only - not labor) what would be the next best steps? Here's what's running through my mind, but again, I have no idea what the best order is:
MAF pipe and translator (and do I go LS1 or LT1)?
Downpipe (do I go 3"? 3.5"?)
Boost knob?
Turbo Bell?
Alky?
New/bigger Turbo?
Bigger injectors? (always thought 11's were reachable on the 009).
T/C?
Cam? Pistons?
Or is it smarter money to make sure everything is up to date simply due to their age, such as oil/trans cooler hoses, 150amp alternator, starter etc.?
Appreciate any insight.