Forgive me for the ramble.
Trying to get a game plan on my car hobby.
It's not been much of a hobby really the last 6 years or so really to be honest.
Work and raising kids have sapped the time, money, and energy.
The cost of gas has even hurt my pleasure driving.
I wanted a GN since I saw one new in 1987 I was like 19 in school and too poor to even think about it.
I had my mid life crisis and purchased a nice 62k mile car from a guy in Texas about 5 years ago.
It was everything I wanted except being a T- top car. I looked at a hardtop car but it was beat to Heck where the one was rust free and still had a new feel and even smell. Then the transmission started slipping np got a rebuild unit from Brian hofer that has worked great, then I blew a head gasket ... NP pulled the engine impacted it to to bottom finding it in great shape I put a timing set,new valve springs,and a Mild bowl blend .
Picked a used TE 44, a stretch SLIC, alky control alcohol system, scan master, TT5.6 chip, used42 lb injectors
Replaced the AC compressor, fixed the wipers, installed a hydro boost Brake system, new stereo and few other things... Now I think the turbo seal is failing I get some smoke at idle. I m bummed the performance is just ok by new car standards a good running LSx gm or 5.0 old probably beat me ... Or be close
I have my old TA. It would smoke my GN and I built it beat the snot out of it and it has never been such a money pit. So what now to get the car to a mid 10 second level which seems to be where to get respect these days is I fel I am looking a total new engine to not have a time bomb.
So do I keep own this path with this car? Or should I sell it off find the hardtop I really wanted that's already got the mods I need for the power level ?
Maybe pulling the v6 and going with a proven Lsx combo that would maybe cost more upfront but be much more durable and able to make the power easier ?
Trying to get a game plan on my car hobby.
It's not been much of a hobby really the last 6 years or so really to be honest.
Work and raising kids have sapped the time, money, and energy.
The cost of gas has even hurt my pleasure driving.
I wanted a GN since I saw one new in 1987 I was like 19 in school and too poor to even think about it.
I had my mid life crisis and purchased a nice 62k mile car from a guy in Texas about 5 years ago.
It was everything I wanted except being a T- top car. I looked at a hardtop car but it was beat to Heck where the one was rust free and still had a new feel and even smell. Then the transmission started slipping np got a rebuild unit from Brian hofer that has worked great, then I blew a head gasket ... NP pulled the engine impacted it to to bottom finding it in great shape I put a timing set,new valve springs,and a Mild bowl blend .
Picked a used TE 44, a stretch SLIC, alky control alcohol system, scan master, TT5.6 chip, used42 lb injectors
Replaced the AC compressor, fixed the wipers, installed a hydro boost Brake system, new stereo and few other things... Now I think the turbo seal is failing I get some smoke at idle. I m bummed the performance is just ok by new car standards a good running LSx gm or 5.0 old probably beat me ... Or be close
I have my old TA. It would smoke my GN and I built it beat the snot out of it and it has never been such a money pit. So what now to get the car to a mid 10 second level which seems to be where to get respect these days is I fel I am looking a total new engine to not have a time bomb.
So do I keep own this path with this car? Or should I sell it off find the hardtop I really wanted that's already got the mods I need for the power level ?
Maybe pulling the v6 and going with a proven Lsx combo that would maybe cost more upfront but be much more durable and able to make the power easier ?