Top Swap

[mpiacent]

So basically I'm on the fence about doing a top swap..

Things stopping me -
-the cost involved (poor college kid .. cost of parts/gaskets/bolts/supporting mods)
-not knowing if i can handle doing it without messing anything up, the only real car knowledge i have is from installing the mods in my sig ( not worth doing in my mind if i pay someone to do it and iv read the topswap instructions at least 6 times and im still kind of mystified and dont know what certain parts are)
-reliability of it because I've heard a bunch of different things regarding this (need this car to last me at least 3 more years and it has 103,000 miles on it now)

Why I want to-
-definitely wanna learn more about cars and how they work and such
-the limits of staying NA, all I'd really have left to do is Rockers or Cam and at that point why not go topswap?
-Always wanna go faster lol

So anyone have any opinions? or suggestions to sway me one way or another?

 

[matt5112]

If you do decide to go top swap, you might want to consider headers and DEFINATELY consider a 3" DP.

Also, don't know of anyone nearby whos willing to lend a hand?

 

[kfish]

its really not that hard. i did mine about 2 months ago. i ran into a few snags though so heres what NEEDS to be done with the top swap. definately get a 3"dp. and depending if you have emissions testing get a catless. i would reccomend headers but they arent necessary depending on what your goals are with the car. you already have a plog so thats a plus. keep the 3.8" pulley on the sc. get someone to tune for you or get intense top swap pcm. if i lived closer id be more than willing to help.

 

[99prixgt]

where in ny are you?

fwiw my GT has almost 133k and all the mods you see listed in sig.

 

[mpiacent]

99prixgt im out in the middle of LI, and yea I just don't need if I'm gonna be able to do all the install correctly, I've got some wrenches and a ****ty torque wrench lol and minimal knowledge

 

[kfish]

thats all you need basically. no real specialty tools.

 

[Deathwish99]

mpiacent I'm in a similar boat as you. I'm a poor college student as well and have done the 3" downpipe, ZZP Plog, Poly Mounts, and K&N CAI, but I do fear about messing up my car when it comes to tearing off the heads and UIM/LIM. My advice to you (from what I've been doing) is to hit up the libraries and view their AllData (mechanic auto repair sites) and also check out some repair manuals and it will give you a better understanding of some of the parts. However, there is still some things that you must know before beginning like injector connectors, supercharger bypass w/ the pcm, and longer Map sensor wire. I've read through the manual many times and still am a bit confused. I think that in some places it really leaves you confused because the wording is either off or they are assuming you are doing other mods (ie: downpipe removal step)

Would just like to say you are not alone and I am trying to figure this all out as well. Best of luck to you!