Figured I would start off my first post on the new forum and make up a post of my build as it has happened (to the best of my memory) from beginning to end.
July 2010: Bought my 2008.5 Metro Grey MS3 with 19k miles on it. Came with a CP-E CAI and HTP Inlet pipe, otherwise stock as hell.
2010-12: Did almost nothing to the car for 2 years so I could pay it off. Bought a hypertech at one point (didn’t know any better, plus I got it for cheap). After 2 years is when things started to go down hill…
Day I got her:
2013: The year when the modding addiction started
Over the next year or so I bought an AP and, then a downpipe, then a front mount. Then in April 2013 my OEM turbo had had enough so I all in with a GT3071, HTP 3.5” intake, Freektune, new tires and all the goodies needed to go fast.
Justin had a hell of a time tuning my spike happy GT3071, so I picked up and EWG manifold and we got that shit dialed in
Did my first track day on that set up and it was a blast. Swapped out the OEM suspension for koni yellows and cobb springs.
Where it all started going down hill:
2014: The year of the paper towel
So late in 2013 when I was working on my car I cleaned out some blow-by oil from my intake (no catch can yet) and I must have left some paper towel in there. (Trust me, I was sufficiently mocked, and rightfully so).
At the time I was broke and found some back woods shop that put a 6 blade by 55x76mm on my turbo and made it the franken-turbo it now is. I have been very lucky that this has held up for as well as it has. Turbo spools super fast and has reached pretty damn good power up to this point.
“New” turbo in, and still broke, I decided to give my best try to tune myself. Rob from hypnotic was the biggest help here. Guy was amazing and helped me every step of the way. Not just told me what to do, but really explained why he was recommending doing one thing or another.
Old and busted and New Hotness:
2015: The year of the motor build
I picked up a motor over the winter that the short block was assembled by freektune. Ported my head on my own, and assembled it all together. With the help of Geoff and a few others we knocked it out in a weekend and got it up and running after lots and lots of set backs.
Also over the winter added a TR1035 intercooler core and under route piping, AIS meth system with 2.5 gal tank and a DIY throttle body plate. Towards the end of the year picked up some sexy gold RPF1s and a few other things.
New motor in:
2016: Running out of mods to buy
As far as plans for 2016, looking at all new gauge set up, I have a Wilwood BBK to install, redoing all the meth lines to stainless steel and working on my own DIY port injection set up that will go with a JMF V2 manifold I snagged.
Hopefully I will be able to hit the track a bit more this summer, but we shall see.
I will update more as things progress.
As she sits now:
July 2010: Bought my 2008.5 Metro Grey MS3 with 19k miles on it. Came with a CP-E CAI and HTP Inlet pipe, otherwise stock as hell.
2010-12: Did almost nothing to the car for 2 years so I could pay it off. Bought a hypertech at one point (didn’t know any better, plus I got it for cheap). After 2 years is when things started to go down hill…
Day I got her:
2013: The year when the modding addiction started
Over the next year or so I bought an AP and, then a downpipe, then a front mount. Then in April 2013 my OEM turbo had had enough so I all in with a GT3071, HTP 3.5” intake, Freektune, new tires and all the goodies needed to go fast.
Justin had a hell of a time tuning my spike happy GT3071, so I picked up and EWG manifold and we got that shit dialed in
Did my first track day on that set up and it was a blast. Swapped out the OEM suspension for koni yellows and cobb springs.
Where it all started going down hill:
2014: The year of the paper towel
So late in 2013 when I was working on my car I cleaned out some blow-by oil from my intake (no catch can yet) and I must have left some paper towel in there. (Trust me, I was sufficiently mocked, and rightfully so).
At the time I was broke and found some back woods shop that put a 6 blade by 55x76mm on my turbo and made it the franken-turbo it now is. I have been very lucky that this has held up for as well as it has. Turbo spools super fast and has reached pretty damn good power up to this point.
“New” turbo in, and still broke, I decided to give my best try to tune myself. Rob from hypnotic was the biggest help here. Guy was amazing and helped me every step of the way. Not just told me what to do, but really explained why he was recommending doing one thing or another.
Old and busted and New Hotness:
2015: The year of the motor build
I picked up a motor over the winter that the short block was assembled by freektune. Ported my head on my own, and assembled it all together. With the help of Geoff and a few others we knocked it out in a weekend and got it up and running after lots and lots of set backs.
Also over the winter added a TR1035 intercooler core and under route piping, AIS meth system with 2.5 gal tank and a DIY throttle body plate. Towards the end of the year picked up some sexy gold RPF1s and a few other things.
New motor in:
2016: Running out of mods to buy
As far as plans for 2016, looking at all new gauge set up, I have a Wilwood BBK to install, redoing all the meth lines to stainless steel and working on my own DIY port injection set up that will go with a JMF V2 manifold I snagged.
Hopefully I will be able to hit the track a bit more this summer, but we shall see.
I will update more as things progress.
As she sits now:
