Since I got asked by a few people, may as well share this car's back-story and future with you guys. Not like I don't have build logs on enough forums as-is. Hah.
After plotting and planning a Forged and Boosted 2.2L Ecotec swap into my last money pit ('98 Saturn SC2) I realized the more intelligent choice, however less original, would be to simply build off of a Factory boosted car. I had a few requisites in mind for the new ride: FWD or AWD, Four Door, Forced Induction 4 Cyl, decent Gas Mileage and enough aftermarket to support whatever stupid ideas I came up with. I began by looking at Ion Redlines, WRXs, Neons and a few others. After a relatively fruitless search, I came upon an '04 NSRT listed with 95k, stock, with a newer Trans and Engine for $6.2k. After a cursory examination, I picked it up under asking price and drove it home, only to have it utterly demolished by an F-250...
Before:
After:
All things considered, I got lucky as shit the collision wasn't any faster. I still walked away with a FUBAR Hood, Rad, Rad Support, Headlights, and some odds and ends. Total estimated cost to repair through a shop? 2k. With only minimum coverage on the thing...
Being the plucky bastard I am, I rolled the car into the garage, pulled out the credit card, Angle Grinder and BFH and went to work.
Everyone's Favorite, PARTS!!!1!
And back to hacking, Drilling and prying.
At this point, realized I had in fact, bought a used DSM. lol. Wastegate Reference port on the compressor plugged with a Machine Screw, AGP Trans Mount, T-Bolts on the Hot side piping, and more horrifyingly hacked wiring than I care to think about... 10 hours with a solder iron and shrink wrap in the cabin ALONE worth, to be specific. Stock, my fucking ass.
Ended up using a Discount Tire card I had sitting around to pick up some cheap 17x7.5 XXR's along with 225/45/17 Hankook V12's. Realizing that OEM style replacement parts cost twice as much as aftermarket shit, I grabbed a ViS OEM style Carbon Fiber hood, and an upsized aluminum Rad. For shits and giggles, I picked up a Catless Cutout 3" Turbo-to-Catback setup, welded a second O2 bung for my Innovate and bolted it up. The replacement Rad Support needed to be hacked up to fit the Front Mount and Piping, so went ahead and knocked that out, and welded that on.
Better...
Success!
Current goal is to have the car on stands in the new garage, once we move in the new house. I'll be dropping the Engine/Trans out the bottom, bolting up the new trans and Turbo Kit, along with cleaning up/adding some ricer flair to the engine. (Powder Coating the VC and Intake Mani, etc.) The Head is getting yanked, I'll be replacing the stock HG and Hardware with ARP Studs and a DCR gasket. Then I'll be replacing the Timing Kit, slapping everything back into the car, and heading straight out for a Tune, then RT66- Where I'm hoping to scratch out some 11's on Slicks. Go team!
And at last, for Aesthetics, I'll be slapping on a Wingless trunk, picking up some new wheels, and going to town with the Paint Gun. This is roughly how I'd like it to look by the end of summer:
That's all for now, folks. Feel free to share input.
After plotting and planning a Forged and Boosted 2.2L Ecotec swap into my last money pit ('98 Saturn SC2) I realized the more intelligent choice, however less original, would be to simply build off of a Factory boosted car. I had a few requisites in mind for the new ride: FWD or AWD, Four Door, Forced Induction 4 Cyl, decent Gas Mileage and enough aftermarket to support whatever stupid ideas I came up with. I began by looking at Ion Redlines, WRXs, Neons and a few others. After a relatively fruitless search, I came upon an '04 NSRT listed with 95k, stock, with a newer Trans and Engine for $6.2k. After a cursory examination, I picked it up under asking price and drove it home, only to have it utterly demolished by an F-250...
Before:
After:
All things considered, I got lucky as shit the collision wasn't any faster. I still walked away with a FUBAR Hood, Rad, Rad Support, Headlights, and some odds and ends. Total estimated cost to repair through a shop? 2k. With only minimum coverage on the thing...
Being the plucky bastard I am, I rolled the car into the garage, pulled out the credit card, Angle Grinder and BFH and went to work.
Everyone's Favorite, PARTS!!!1!
And back to hacking, Drilling and prying.
At this point, realized I had in fact, bought a used DSM. lol. Wastegate Reference port on the compressor plugged with a Machine Screw, AGP Trans Mount, T-Bolts on the Hot side piping, and more horrifyingly hacked wiring than I care to think about... 10 hours with a solder iron and shrink wrap in the cabin ALONE worth, to be specific. Stock, my fucking ass.
Ended up using a Discount Tire card I had sitting around to pick up some cheap 17x7.5 XXR's along with 225/45/17 Hankook V12's. Realizing that OEM style replacement parts cost twice as much as aftermarket shit, I grabbed a ViS OEM style Carbon Fiber hood, and an upsized aluminum Rad. For shits and giggles, I picked up a Catless Cutout 3" Turbo-to-Catback setup, welded a second O2 bung for my Innovate and bolted it up. The replacement Rad Support needed to be hacked up to fit the Front Mount and Piping, so went ahead and knocked that out, and welded that on.
Better...
Success!
Current goal is to have the car on stands in the new garage, once we move in the new house. I'll be dropping the Engine/Trans out the bottom, bolting up the new trans and Turbo Kit, along with cleaning up/adding some ricer flair to the engine. (Powder Coating the VC and Intake Mani, etc.) The Head is getting yanked, I'll be replacing the stock HG and Hardware with ARP Studs and a DCR gasket. Then I'll be replacing the Timing Kit, slapping everything back into the car, and heading straight out for a Tune, then RT66- Where I'm hoping to scratch out some 11's on Slicks. Go team!
And at last, for Aesthetics, I'll be slapping on a Wingless trunk, picking up some new wheels, and going to town with the Paint Gun. This is roughly how I'd like it to look by the end of summer:
That's all for now, folks. Feel free to share input.
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looking good man... ill be going to a 245 as well this year trying to make the car little more drivable - also have Megasquirt, fuel and ignition this year - maybe some more depending how much of my taxes i get to keep...
