Originally Posted by GinNBoost

I'm sort of at a crossroads on my modding path. I have all these parts ready to be installed (Exedy Twin HD clutch, FP HTA Green, 880cc injectors, just to name a few...) and just a week ago I was totally pumped up about having this 500whp street car.

After doing a lot of reading on this site and searching through tons of old threads, I'm starting to realize that I'm about to enter a whole world that I may not be ready for. My car is not quite a daily driver but I drive it more often than I'd like. With the amount of power I'm looking to put down I'm starting to realize that I'll have to worry about my motor blowing, my meth kit failing, and all these other dangers.

I'm not ready to build my motor nor do I want to. I rarely take my car to the track and pretty much grandma it unless I'm feeling spirited and want to rip it down an empty highway. I didn't really want to turn it into a racecar, but it looks like I'm headed in that direction. All I wanted was a fast headturner that I could feel proud of driving every day.

I'm starting to get doubts and I'm thinking of selling my car and all the parts I just recently bought and going down another road. (Maybe a Corvette? Or an M3?) I hate to say it but I'm actually starting to get sick of my EVO. It's the same symptoms I developed with all my old DSMs. I loved them for the first two years but then sold them and got something else.

So what would you guys recommend? Should I put the parts in and get it re-tuned and drive my ticking time bomb around or should I reconsider and start fresh somewhere else?

It's really stressing me out and I know this hobby shouldn't. I love my car but am I getting in over my head? Thanks for reading...

Originally Posted by GinNBoost

Well after talking things over with a close friend I decided to keep my EVO, ditch the meth kit, get the car retuned on plain old 93 gas, and leave it as is. I'm selling all the parts I bought and intended to install so you guys can keep an eye out for that For Sale thread in the near future.

I plan to purchase a motorcycle sometime soon. I figure that can quench my thirst for speed without costing me an arm and a leg and a blown motor.

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Originally Posted by Hardware

I figured a built motor meant it would be able to handle abuse, but really it just seems like it can handle abuse at a higher power level but for a limited time like anything. That's another disappointment.

At this point I'm thinking I may throw in the towel, get a stock block thrown in, sell all of my go fast mods and just be happy with the stock Evo. Imagine spending $10,000+ on a built setup and then you blow a motor? That could be reality. I'm not looking forward to that.

Originally Posted by GinNBoost

Well that's part of what has discouraged me from modding any further. Like Hardware said, if I'm going to dump thousands into a motor, that thing better be bulletproof and last me a decade. For it to be just a temporary thing is VERY discouraging and makes you ask yourself if it's even worth it. I'm not sponsored, I'm not a shop owner, I can't afford to be blowing my motor every month down at the track. Yes you gotta pay to play, I realize that, but it starts to become insane. And isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Originally Posted by GinNBoost

OMG YES, finally someone who knows my pain.

There is no bigger killjoy than crappy Jersey roads, stop and go traffic and CONSTANT highway construction.

So maybe my car isn't to blame. Maybe it's just my environment...

Originally Posted by GinNBoost

Well that's part of what has discouraged me from modding any further. Like Hardware said, if I'm going to dump thousands into a motor, that thing better be bulletproof and last me a decade. For it to be just a temporary thing is VERY discouraging and makes you ask yourself if it's even worth it. I'm not sponsored, I'm not a shop owner, I can't afford to be blowing my motor every month down at the track. Yes you gotta pay to play, I realize that, but it starts to become insane. And isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Originally Posted by GinNBoost

Well that's part of what has discouraged me from modding any further. Like Hardware said, if I'm going to dump thousands into a motor, that thing better be bulletproof and last me a decade. For it to be just a temporary thing is VERY discouraging and makes you ask yourself if it's even worth it. I'm not sponsored, I'm not a shop owner, I can't afford to be blowing my motor every month down at the track. Yes you gotta pay to play, I realize that, but it starts to become insane. And isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Originally Posted by FJF

Your environment isn't all that different than mine; though, with the kind of winters we get I'm willing to bet that most of our roads are in worse shape. I love driving my IX anywhere and everywhere; rarely does it see the highway. My car is almost stock: FMIC, MBC, TBE w/HFC, and a killer tune from STM geared for drivability and reliability. That's it. It's capable of running 11s with better than stock drivability. Looking at your mod list, you have a lot of parts that aggregately compromise much of that makes the car a lot of fun to drive. More like a chore. For example, cams on a IX, why, or a stiff motor mount? If it were me, I'd put the car almost to stock, have it retuned (not for max power), and enjoy driving one of the most rewarding machines ever created. It doesn't have to be like this.