Advice On Modifying My Baby

[zjdaruwalla]

Hi, People!

I have the most beautiful 1998 AeroGX Series FTO...Even Paul Nolan was well impressed with it. Its one of the cleanest cars around and I am absolutely in love with it. Was covering the motorsports event recently in Phoenix Park and was the doctor on site for the event...Met quite a few people and made contacts so much so that I am now going to take up racing as a hobby! Only thing is, I don't wanna use my FTO so may buy an RX7 or Supra for a purely racing purpose.

However, I need some advice with regard to the FTO...Can anyone suggest what I can do to modify and upgrade my baby? Engine wise, gearbox wise and dashboard wise? And if so, where I can get the parts and whether or not anyone in Dublin would have the knowledge to fit them. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. I just want a little more horsepower and kick. Either post a reply here or e-mail me at zjdaruwalla@hotmail.com Thanks, guys!

Cheers,
Zubin

[optical illusion]

A new engine? I don't think there is a need if you're not racing it... A RX7 engine would be nice though... but all that is soooo expensive...I don't know much but you could make some adjustments rather than replacements to introduce some more horsepower, get rid of the air conditioning unit, get a good induction kit, get good performance cams and a larger exhaust, get lighter alloys, get rid of anything heavy that isn't really necessary...

[optical illusion]

Oh and I just found this place, verrrrry handy!!

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question395.htm

[Myfeckin FTO]

Man - your user name is a mouthful. Mind if I call you "ZJ"!
You don't need to ask the same question across three different sections on the forum - "general discussion" for this topic is fine.

There is no easy way to big power on an FTO - you can spend a LOT of money on manifolds,downpipe, decat, high flow exhaust, iridium plugs, Cold Air Induction, Upgraded fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, ECU etc and still see fairly minimal gains (will sound great though).

I reckon as per Optical Illusions advice that the best way to make an FTO go faster for the track is to :
1: Loose weight - strip out rear seats, everything in the boot, remove Air Con and air con fan, change heavy seats and brackets for much lighter aftermarket items etc You should be able to loose well over 100+ kgs which will give you an extra 20bhp per ton which you'd never see with NA engine mods.
2: Improve suspension - change dampers and springs, top mounts etc or fit coilovers, upgrade all bushes (to poly where possible) - strut braces front and rear and Lower Cusco type braces front and rear. Fit a roll cage if you are serious about tracking the FTO - it will improve ridigity (handling) and will be safer to boot.
3: Improve braking - especially if you are talking about tracking the car - a nice set of 4 pot calipers with 300mm + disks on the front and 2 pot calipers with 280mm disks on the back and some track pads and braided hoses etc. The better your braking the longer you'll be able to spend on the throttle and they won't fade after a couple of corners like standard brakes.

The other option is to fit a turbo kit but personally if you were to go to this length you'd be better off buying a different car or buy an FTO that already has all this work done - there are a few in the UK - keep an eye out and they occasionally come up for sale.

[elaine]

So the way I pick you up is you want to mod the FTO for eveyday use(I don't wanna use my FTO) and buy something else for racing If I could I would love a Supra TT nice looking car ,and so are the RX7 (CJ)

[Wildhound]

I want the FTO's big brother - GTO TT.

[Myfeckin FTO]

So the way I pick you up is you want to mod the FTO for eveyday use(I don't wanna use my FTO) and buy something else for racing If I could I would love a Supra TT nice looking car ,and so are the RX7 (CJ)

Well CJ has the right idea TBH - he has really modded his FTO for everyday use - suspension, brakes, class interior, kept the Tip box and upgraded induction and exhaust. Then he bought the RX7 and has upgraded the car primarily for performance which he can use on the weekends. All for considerably less than the price of a Zed (Of course not including mods or not taking into account the running costs of keeping 2 cars on the road).

If I was to run a car alongside an FTO for ultimate performance I'd probably buy an 1990 R32 Skyline - strip it out - and upgrade turbo,brakes & suspension. You don't have to go to great lengths - 400bhp is easily acheivable but the skys your limit - there was a 1000bhp R32 at the drift in Mondello last weekend. - 0-100mph in 4.5 secs - thats considerably quicker than a Veyron - Phew!

[Myfeckin FTO]

I want the FTO's big brother - GTO TT.

Too big - too heavy - handling not great - better options out there IMO.
RX7 / Supra TT / Skyline / EVO /Scobby STI all have better performance for similar running costs.

[Wildhound]

Last time I checked the RX7 had nowhere near the performance of a GTO. Supra is more or less the same! Evos and STis are ugly.

Nah for me it's the GTO. Gorgeous car.

[CJ]

Last time I checked the RX7 had nowhere near the performance of a GTO

I'm biased of course but I think you're way out there Wildhound. A GTO will get to 60 in 5 sec while the RX7 will do it in 5.1. The GTO tops out @ 155mph or so, a delimited Rex will max out @ 165mph, there or therabouts

Remember that the GTO is a heavy car (400kgs more that the Rex!) with most of the weight up front, due to the 50/50 weight distrubution in an RX7, it will easily out-handle a GTO without much difficulty (in the dry!) in stock form. The braking system in the Rex is far superior to the GTO. Remember that performance is not just about power, how a chassis handles the power is key.

Both are sports coupes but the Rex is better set up for competition use - how often do you see a GTO on the track?

I don't want to be upsetting the GTO fraternity here but some things need to be cleared up In terms of looks, beautys in the eye of the beholder - everyone to their own!

Then he bought the RX7 and has upgraded the car primarily for performance which he can use on the weekends. All for considerably less than the price of a Zed (Of course not including mods or not taking into account the running costs of keeping 2 cars on the road).

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep 2 cars (3 if you count the missus' Colt) on the driveway, insurance, petrol and road tax don't pay for themselves! That said, the combined tax on the 3 cars is less than a single GTO

CJ

[zjdaruwalla]

Thanks, people for the replies...And sorry for posting my question on all 3 forums...Apologies! Also, you can call me Zubin...Zubin is my first name. I am not planning on racing my FTO on the track. I'd buy another car to race on the track. I'm keeping my FTO for my everyday use and don't want to abuse it in any way at all. Keeping it in fine condition as I'm sure the person who I sell it to ultimately when I move back home in a few years after my surgical training would appreciate the car being in tip top condition.

And for the record...The Skyline...I was doctor on site for the motorsports racing in Mondello 2 weekends ago...I was in the chase car for every race...A 1990 Skyline...George Dixon (former racer) owned it and was driving me in it...It puts out 450bhp! And did 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds! How is that for specs?! Needless to say, I had sooo much fun!

[CJ]

I was doctor on site for the motorsports racing in Mondello 2 weekends ago

Were you in the Phoenix Park for the races a few weekends ago?

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... php?t=5551

CJ

[Wildhound]

Often derided by the Supra and RX-7 crowds because of its weight and lesser aftermarket support, the 3000GT VR-4 is easily modified and can reach very high levels of horsepower. Its only from-the-factory shortcomings are its small turbos and poor stock fuel system - its weak fuel pump, and tiny 360cc fuel injectors. Once these are upgraded, the 3000GT VR-4 is equally on par with the other Japanese imports of equal upgrades.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1036586

Hehe, I don't want it for racing, I don't know where this notion has come from! I think they're beautiful cars and I plan to own one. Besides, 320hp and a 0-60 of 4.8 seconds out of the factory's not to be sniffed at. Also, the 155MPH top speed is electronically limited.

Also, just to clear it up I wasn't trying to say anything against RX-7s. I think they're gorgeous too. I've wanted a GTO for a long time though and I just prefer them.

[PT FTO]

Were you in the Phoenix Park for the races a few weekends ago?

Tut tut CJ, unlike you to get caught out like that..........

Was covering the motorsports event recently in Phoenix Park and was the doctor on site for the event...

[CJ]

Tut tut CJ, unlike you to get caught out like that..........

You're dead right Paul, I'm usually as sharp as a pin A wedding the night before and a couple of hundred k's of driving that day obviously took its toll!

CJ

[elaine]

Evos and STis are ugly.

My Hub has an sti I think they are nice and they handle very well .but he now thinking of get an EVO VII

[Wildhound]

Well sorry I didn't mean to be so blunt. It's a matter of taste and they just don't appeal to me.

[colm_mcm]

I just love the idea of a car being called an STI !

[kevinod]

Going back to Zubin's original question... lots you can do. Here's a few websites with FTO goodies:

http://www.funkystyling.co.uk
http://www.freakyparts.co.uk
http://www.hostileperformance.co.uk
http://www.kmc-dials.com
http://www.rb-performance.co.uk - does 1/4 miles, making lightweight & performance parts
http://www.trojan-sport.co.uk
http://www.ftoshop.co.uk/ - UK FTO Owners Club shop
http://www.ricerocketuk.co.uk
http://www.reddragonstyling.co.uk
http://www.camskill.co.uk

I'm sure there's a few more I haven't thought of, but plenty there to get you started!

[zjdaruwalla]

Thanks, guys! Will look more into your suggestions once I do the second part of my postgrad surgical exam in exactly two weeks! And, CJ...Yes...I was at Phoenix Park...Was the doctor on site...Pretty cool. Got to ride in George Dixon's 1990 Skyline...It put out 450bhp and did 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds! Sweeeeeeet! As for the RX7...If you know anyone who is selling one, let me know. Its been my dream car for a while now! And, CJ...Mind if we meet up some time you're free so you can check out my car and suggest things since a couple of people have mentioned how you've done your car up nicely? Let me know. Ai'ight, lads...I'll catch ya later. Is there anyway I can post videos here coz I wanna upload some of the clips I took from Phoenix Park and include some of the pics of me and the Veyron! : )

[colm_mcm]

CJ's already checked out your car!

[zjdaruwalla]

And how's he checked it out already, if I may ask?

[zjdaruwalla]

Hahaha! I just read CJ's post...Yes, yes...That was my baby in the paddocks...The 1998 FTO GX AeroSeries! Though she was dirty on the outside with all that mud...Gave her a good wash and vacuum yesterday so you should see her now! Were you guys there, too? What were you all doing?

[colm_mcm]

I went to see a few other FTO's, didn't know how few or how many site members would turn up. also went as I was curious as to what the Veyron would be like in the flesh.

The first modification I would make would be to lower the suspension, as the front in particular seems to sit very high off the ground.

[zjdaruwalla]

Does anyone know if there's anyone out there who would be able to do a good job and put in a sunroof into my baby?