ended up getting a Blueprint engines 355 BP35513CT1, 390HP, aluminium heads and scrapping the TPI and going to a Fitech EFI. Just ordered. Can't wait.

 

Lovin' this build!

 

i can only comment on suspension and brake mods iv done so far.

biggest improvement hands down was tires, 18x8.5" rims 30mm backspacing originally. went with some 245/40/18 rear 235 front. summer performance tires was a huge upgrade. now iv gone 265 35 18 rear in a ultra high summer performance tire (dot approved semi slick) and that was as much of a improvement as going from the stock tires to the first upgrade, i had moved my 245 rears to the front, but i still had a lot more grip in the rear than the front so i decided to square it up and put the same 265/35/18's i put in the rear on the front. hopefully get the new fronts mounted up soon.

i put ebc yellowstuff brake pads on my car.....huge improvement over stock pads. the stock pads would fade very quickly and much more bite with the ebc brakes. defiantly would recommend this upgrade.

front end alignment helped a lot put 2* negative camber in it and 1/8" total toe in, defiantly made the steering much more responsive.

will hopefully be able to comment soon on going to a bigger front sway bar and adding a rear. ordered them almost a month ago still don't have them yet.

car feels fantastic on spirited street driving, but when you actually push the car to traction limits its far too soft and way too much body roll. the body roll causes it to only corner on the outside of the tires you would need a huge amount of camber to actually keep the front tires flat on the ground hopeful that the sway bars when i finally get them will make it much better without having to also increase spring rates but time will tell on that.
other than that so far its just making sure all the stock stuff is in good repair.

this is a run at a autocross last weekend with the 265's in the rear and 245's up front

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=578259649531244

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@Ezrider Love that build and the blower sticking out and your youtube videos... Good to hear the stock suspension is handling the added power.

What brand of street tires are you running? I am thinking of 245/40/18 all around, or 245/40/18 front and the 255/45/18 in the back. How did you get the 265s to work?

On the BBS wheels I have I understand I need something like 25mm spaced up front and 20mm in the back. Been quoted $300 for fabbed up spacers. Pricey If anyone has an off the shelf source that would be great!

 

im running 18x8.5 30mm backspacing one mine no spacers. the 265's are very close to the fender lip in the rear, they clear but just. i rolled the fender lip just to make sure they couldn't rub. there is still probably 3/4-1" of room to the inside of the fender 25-28mm would probably be a better offset 20-25 would probably be pretty well centered on a 8" wide rim. i should really have more like a 9.5" wide rim for a 265 but it works. 30mm offset on a 18x9.5-10 you could probably squeeze a 285 in there not going to guarantee that and you might need to be willing to do a little hammering...lol

after running it last week and realizing how much better the grip was on the new tires i ordered 2 more right away a quick look says i should have no problem clearing a 265 up front as well so thats what i ordered i decided to just go ahead and square it up so i can rotate my tires. i was originally trying to stagger because the car torque oversteers so easily but really you just gotta mind your right foot. it will be good to be able to rotate tires.

245's have tons of room i originally went with federal 595ss in 245-235 i didn't want to spend a lot of money on tires not knowing for sure how things were going to fit and how much room id have but still wanted something in the summer performance category. there a pretty decent tire decent in the rain and decent dry grip. there not a competitive autocross tire by any means but there there leaps and bounds better than the 15" all seasons that were on the car. decent low buck tire and they wear really good. iv abused the hell out of them and there not bald by any means you can tell they have been driven hard and tracked but for what iv put them threw they still look good. i may throw them back on in the fall.

the new tires are federal 595 rsr-pro's dry traction is very good. they are a semi slick they have some rain groves but i wouldn't want to get cought in a downpour with them i haven't driven on them in the rain, only a slightly damp road so far and they were fine but i wouldn't expect them to preform well in standing water. the rubber compound is soft and very sticky once they get a little heat in them they wont last as long as the ss but for a little comparison the best 0-60 i had clocked in the car with the ss tires was 3.8 first and only try so far with the new tires was 3.22 stock tires i couldn't get under 4 seconds still have to walk into the throttle from a dead stop but really i wouldn't expect anything but a drag tire on a preped surface to dead hook on my car. also just changing rear tires and a alignment change and brakes gained my about 2 second faster lap time on the autocross. its a different course every time but that was figured from comparing where my times were compaired to some of the other cars that were at other events, seems to be between 1.8-2.1 seconds faster than before. that event the course layout wasn't very favorable to my cars characteristics either never really got to use much horsepower so the gains could really be even greater.

overall extremely happy with the rsr-pro very grippy still inexpensive enough your not going to cry inside every time you beat on them. the ss's are a good tire as well plenty of grip for spirited street driving a little lacking when pushed hard but a inexpensive long lasting tire with a good amount of grip.

 

@Ezrider great stuff, thanks for sharing the details. Man those are some monster meats!

 

i just thought that i would update that the 265's fit all the way around with my rims

 

@Ezrider Still can't believe those tire fit, after looking at my clearance. Need to get one mounted and test it.


Anyhow - one lump out another in.

Now need to figure out headers and the hood. Doesn't look like enough clearance when the air filter is on it.

 

First fire up of the 355, not tuned...

Odd - can't get the video to upload. Wrong file type?


Redid the clear coat

 


Try again as an MOV - first start.
file