Hey guys -

Been lurking for a while and figured it's about time I speak up. Spent the last 15 years in NYC - mostly carless - and just moved to the Bay Area, where my wife's family lives. My father-in-law, in an act of true awesomeness, rewarded me for bringing his daughter home by giving me his red 80kmi '93, bone stock, that he bought new. Nothing wrong with the car that a few more HP can't fix!

I'll mostly be using the car on the street, with some occasional autocross. I'm not really looking for top speed, more interested in response and low-end torque. Would like to start with a 140-150hp target and perhaps eventually get up around 200. I don't have a lot of experience wrenching on cars, but I've got a mechanic buddy (a Corvette guy) who's ready to help me out, and I'm very good with electronics. I want to keep my total spend around $2k if I can.

So here's what I'm thinking.

Start off with a DIY MS PNP and a wideband O2, and get myself comfortable with tuning. In the meantime order a BEGI Shanghai kit (with the standard, small turbo, and stainless steel lines) -- I'm willing to pay a little more to minimize hassles on install, and I need that CARB sticker. Borrow my Corvette friend for a weekend to look over my shoulder as I do the install; tune with the PNP for autocross and keep the kit's fuel management around for street and passing smog. (BTW I've got Maximum Boost and the Keith Tanner book on the way.)

What do you all think? Can a mechanically-minded but inexperienced guy like me pull off an install? Can I live with the stock injectors, clutch, and exhaust for a while? Should I spend the money on the PNP or just live with the "bandaid" fuel management that comes with the kit? And...given that I want low-end power, should I be considering a supercharger, even though it's more expensive and harder to install? (Dangerous question I know...)

And finally ... any chance anyone's got a used 1.6 kit with a CARB sticker lying around?

Thanks for all the info, and go easy on me ...

DJD

PS - Photos to come after I clay her this week...

 

Sounds great. Welcome

Except definitely get MS and not band aids. And might as well get some 1.8 injectors. They are dirt cheap and will allow you to run a bit more boost. 150whp sounds very doable with your budget and plans.

Definitely don't get a sc.

 

I think I have the sticker you are looking for I have a envelope of them somewhere.