Muffler
06-26-2003 | 08:37 AM
#2
Externally Wastegated
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,220
From: San Diego
Check out Motorsports Auto for the muffler. Their muffler system is very cheap compared to other systems for other cars. Struts can be found cheap at shox.com. Many people have bought from them, and they're located in El Cajon which should be fairly close to you.
John 82ZXT
John 82ZXT
06-26-2003 | 10:26 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
I think I've run across the Tokikos (I remember blue struts) when snooping around. I don't need anything adjustable, I have no clue what I'd personally need that for. However, I'm currently starting to refurbish the car a bit and would like to lower the thing a small amount, say .5 inch to maybe 1-inch at the most. How are people doing that?
And about the muffler, I heard some good ones can help me recapture a horse or two. Eventually I'd like to get into flywheels/clutches and maybe a few other things though still keeping the engine for-the-most-part original (no trick cams and all that.)
Next is a new dashboard and reupholstry of the carpet (everything except the seats.)
Anyway, I'm just starting to refurbish my ZX that I've personally had since 1988 and will keep watching these boards intently; however, we move this Sunday and I'll be Internetless for a few days...but I'll check back and hopefully get some good tips.
And about the muffler, I heard some good ones can help me recapture a horse or two. Eventually I'd like to get into flywheels/clutches and maybe a few other things though still keeping the engine for-the-most-part original (no trick cams and all that.)
Next is a new dashboard and reupholstry of the carpet (everything except the seats.)
Anyway, I'm just starting to refurbish my ZX that I've personally had since 1988 and will keep watching these boards intently; however, we move this Sunday and I'll be Internetless for a few days...but I'll check back and hopefully get some good tips.
06-26-2003 | 11:19 PM
#5
Super Siver & Black Stud
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,526
From: Hayward Ca
i went with the tokico springs and struts combo not the illuminas and im glad i did.. it lowered my car a lil more then 1" but the ride quality greatly improved.. and ive had them on my car now for a lil over 5 years and they still are pretty stiff.. as for mufflers... thats totaly going to depend on your personal taste.. theres so many muflers out in the market now that its pretty hard to narrow down what works and sounds good.. personally im going to be getting a borlla exhaust system... i dont want my car too loud but yet have that nice deep throaty sound like some of the european cars.. its a lil more expensive then most mufflers out there but to get that sound and the performace thats cash i wont mind spending... =)
06-27-2003 | 12:23 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm nervous about lowering my ZX more than 1". I really do not want to be bottoming out on speed-bumps or nailing my front end on things all the time. Just enough to make the car just a bit sleeker, but not too low that my old knees and legs have trouble getting me in and out. Anyway, it's a 2nd car for me and would be garaged most of the time and taken out when I want a little fun.
As for mufflers, I did read an article that suggests going with the turbo mufflers.
Right now my ZX is in the body shop to have some rust spots worked on and then will be painted. I only started doing online research AFTER I took my Z to the body shop and probably should've asked around here for tips. I hope it's a good paint job. I know it won't be a show car, but I'm hoping $3,000 gets me something nice to look at. He'll be matching the paint to the factory color which is denoted by a code on some plate on the inside of the engine area. It's a 2-step paint process I think he said with some extra prep thrown in.
Anyway, you guys will probably be hearing from me as I slowly rennovate my ZX because I'm clueless when it comes to autos.
As for mufflers, I did read an article that suggests going with the turbo mufflers.
Right now my ZX is in the body shop to have some rust spots worked on and then will be painted. I only started doing online research AFTER I took my Z to the body shop and probably should've asked around here for tips. I hope it's a good paint job. I know it won't be a show car, but I'm hoping $3,000 gets me something nice to look at. He'll be matching the paint to the factory color which is denoted by a code on some plate on the inside of the engine area. It's a 2-step paint process I think he said with some extra prep thrown in.
Anyway, you guys will probably be hearing from me as I slowly rennovate my ZX because I'm clueless when it comes to autos.
06-28-2003 | 12:19 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ice you have the tokico springs as well? Cause I have the struts and the springs and it lowered it quite a bit combining the 2. Casey if you just do the struts youd probably be ok. I got MSA sway bars on now and the handling is superb. Ice I dunno how you run that body kit on if its lower than the stock airdamn, my car would scrape everywhere, as it already scrapes the airdamn and muffler in almost all driveways as is.
06-28-2003 | 01:21 AM
#8
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 116
From: Tennessee
I'm also running the Tokiko struts and springs. I put a 1" spacer all the way around to raise it back up a bit and it is probably an inch or so lower than stock. For the money I think the Tokikos are the best buy for handling and appearance. I had no problem scraping on anything until I put the body kit on (and ripped the air dam completely off in a pothole).
As far as mufflers go, I had a turbo muffler on my NA car and it was VERY loud. I put a Ractive straight-thru type on my turbo and it gave me the deep, throaty sound I was looking for. It is the one with the 4" outlet. My catylitic converter has been gutted also so that helps if you can get away with it.
$3000 should get you a real nice paint job. Much better than some of these places that offer a paint job for $299 and your tires end up the same color as the car! I'm sure you will be happy with it.
-Kel
As far as mufflers go, I had a turbo muffler on my NA car and it was VERY loud. I put a Ractive straight-thru type on my turbo and it gave me the deep, throaty sound I was looking for. It is the one with the 4" outlet. My catylitic converter has been gutted also so that helps if you can get away with it.
$3000 should get you a real nice paint job. Much better than some of these places that offer a paint job for $299 and your tires end up the same color as the car! I'm sure you will be happy with it.
-Kel
06-28-2003 | 03:57 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
and your tires end up the same color as the car!
Dang about the turbo muffler making your car so loud. I don't really want anything loud, just maybe a few more horses. I was planning on the 2.5" pipe from the catalytic converter to the muffler. But I don't want it loud. What does a "resonator" do?
I was also planning on Tokiko struts and springs, but maybe my springs are still good. I don't get a whole lot of squat when accelerating as it is. I was also planning on some type of sway bar too.
After that, possibly a lighter flywheel and corresponding clutch. And then maybe a new coil and ignition system. And that was really it.
How would a spacer impact the ride? Is it a rougher ride or no impact at all on the movement up and down of the car?
My catylitic converter has been gutted also so that helps if you can get away with it.
Last edited by CaseyZX; 08-07-2003 at 04:00 PM.
06-28-2003 | 10:52 PM
#10
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 116
From: Tennessee
I just realized you live in California. Gutting the CAT won't do you any good because you will fail your smog test. We can get away with it here in TN. You can buy a hi-flow CAT and that will give you a few more horses and still pass smog. Maybe the other CA guys can help you more with that.
As far as the spacers--I don't know how much of an impact that had on the ride because I never drove it without them. The ride is very firm and the handling very precise. For the money I don't think you can beat the Tokikos. As long as you don't put a body kit on your car you won't have to worry about putting spacers on your struts.
-Kel
As far as the spacers--I don't know how much of an impact that had on the ride because I never drove it without them. The ride is very firm and the handling very precise. For the money I don't think you can beat the Tokikos. As long as you don't put a body kit on your car you won't have to worry about putting spacers on your struts.
-Kel
06-30-2003 | 07:47 PM
#11
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 903
From: Alameda, CA
Just a small note:
Random technologies has a very good high-flo cat for a very decent price (I think around $150.00). I'm getting one myself in the future.
I'm looking for a header that I can put on myself and not have it bent at a muffler shop to fit.....anyone know a good header that has an o2 sensor hole? I heard that Monza headers are ok, but you have to wrap them even with the ceramic coating.
My car is N/A by the way.....'83 zx. (pics posted)
Random technologies has a very good high-flo cat for a very decent price (I think around $150.00). I'm getting one myself in the future.
I'm looking for a header that I can put on myself and not have it bent at a muffler shop to fit.....anyone know a good header that has an o2 sensor hole? I heard that Monza headers are ok, but you have to wrap them even with the ceramic coating.
My car is N/A by the way.....'83 zx. (pics posted)
07-02-2003 | 12:29 PM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yes, I wondered about the catalytic converter. Maybe one day I'll go with a high performance model. For now though, the car does need a muffler and that's where I'll start. Maybe later I'll deal with a 2.2" pipe from the converter to muffler and maybe new converter. But the muffler is all rusted out and does need replacing.
Here is a nice article on exhaust systems:
http://www.zcsd.org/tech-articles/exhaust-upgrades.html
Here is a nice article on exhaust systems:
http://www.zcsd.org/tech-articles/exhaust-upgrades.html
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