04 Solara performance

[Nine97turbo]

Hey, first post here, let me start out by letting it be known that I live for racing. No, not street racing, track racing. So the purpose of my modifications are pretty much all for performance. I know I don't have the best car to have on the track but it's what I got for now, so I intend to make my 2004 Solara SE V6 more competative. I noticed some minor brake fade on the last lap of every session at Infineon so I got some crossdrilled/slotted rotors off ebay from a company called OC Autosports in Orange County, California which did wonders on the braking on stock pads. I just got some Enki 18 x 8 rims off my friend which drastically improved the handling. I got a TRD rear sway bar on the way along with a set of TRD lowering springs, I'll let you guys know how that goes.

I was wondering if you guys could let me know from your experiences, what really works and what doesn't. I am planning on getting the Injen short ram intake, a front sway bar, steel braided front and rear brake lines, and the TRD high flow muffler in the near future. I want to get the TEIN shocks and springs, but I don't have the 1k.. I also found that TRD makes a LSD for the Solara =D. Link here http://www.trdsparks.com/displayparts.php?Mdl_dtl=219&Part_cat=1&parts_id=1310 I think I'm going to get this before the TEIN shocks and springs.

Is there anything else I should know about? Perhaps some along the lines of engine parts, cat back, high flow cat, headers, or head?

Thanks.

[lilm]

so you want a big heavy slow car for the track

[lilm]

ohhh and instead of the injen get the cp-e....it actually adds horsepower


and dont ask what a cp-e is the forum has a search function

[Nine97turbo]

Well, I am saving up for a Porsche 944 S2, but this is what I have for now so I want to have some fun in it, I just want to know my options.

[Turbosolara]

welcome

i think your best option is to keep save money and get something that you really wanted.

if you use the search function, you would find many reviews and opinion about certain product

[Sebas007]

Welcome SG man !!! I like also racing at the track...look my cardomain page !!

[PhreakdOut]

Welcome to SG!

It looks like you have a good handle on performance parts for the Gen2. When you get to headers, you will be disappointed to find nothing out there already. Feel free to be the first to have a custom setup!

You will like the Porsche! I used to have an '88 944 Turbo back in the mid 90's. (One of the 14,000 exported to the US) I wish I had held out for the 89-90 Turbo S. It was a good jump in power.

Mine looked pretty much like this 89 except I had the famous (and ugly) phone dial mag wheels.


I was surprised to see you were waiting for the non-Turbo S2. Is this because it dominates the racing class it is in? There's nothing wrong with a slower car so long as you are racing in a class where you are the fastest. I imagine the 944T is pitted against the Vettes and and hopefully not the 911 N/T.

[Biggi_e]

honestly if i were u i would save the money for the porche. but if u want to mod the gen2, get the cp-e short ram mafci system, trd muffler, trd rsb, trd lowering springs.


has anyone tried the torue differential? i never knew they had that out for us.

[Sebas007]

has anyone tried the torue differential? i never knew they had that out for us.

Where did you get this info ???

[Biggi_e]

Nine97turbo posted it. im wondering if anyone has tried this before? never seen it listed anywehre and first time ive seen it. wonder if it makes a big difference for our cars or not

[Sebas007]

Yeah I see it now...I'm really curious about it !!! I need to know what it will improve on our ride...TRD Torque Differential seems to manage the torque steer at all time. I'm thinking that the TRD LSD is making the gear change time shorter...what do you think CRISPONE ??

Both have to be installed at the sametime as a complete kit

TRD Torque Differential
http://www.trdsparks.com/displayparts.php?Mdl_dtl=219&Part_cat=1&parts_id=1310

TRD LSD
http://www.trdsparks.com/displayparts.php?Mdl_dtl=219&Part_cat=1&parts_id=1336

[crispone]

OOOOOHHHHH YEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!

You better believe I'm gonna be checking into THIS! I need to re-allocate some purchase priorities JUST to start working on this item.

PERFORMANCE FIRST, guys. To HEIl with the JL audio system... I'll sift through some of the half-dozen old (but stout) amps I have laying around and do a "stealth" stereo off the stock head unit... just some high-end components up front, basic fill in the deck, and make my own sub....

ANYWAY...

Around $1200.00 (that's what it looked like, did I get that right?) plus a few hundred for my local guy to throw it in.... yup, DEFINITELY the next item for me. (Unless I get the TRD springs going first...)

A vehicle is only as good as the sum of it's parts, and the parts always have to be balanced within a window of compatability from an engineered standpoint. Clearly, there is a "weak link" in the drivetrain, as even in the "stock" condition, the front squirms under acceleration, and with the CP-e, it's outright squirrely through second. I'm CERTAIN that this upgrade will be a good performance AND reliability improvement... MUST HAVE for serious tuners on this car. (And I'd like to look at head work a couple/few years down the road... when it's paid off...)

Those are my initial thoughts... who's gonna try this thing out first?


-crisp

[crispone]

I'm thinking that the TRD LSD is making the gear change time shorter...what do you think CRISPONE ??

Sebas,

I believe the following improvements will be realized:

- Improved distribution of power between front wheels
(both during cornering, and acceleration)

- More EFFICIENT delivery of power to the road
(logical when you are not "WASTING" available/supplied power)

- Improved durability through superior components and function

I believe one of the very big benefits of this setup is the elimination of dynamic shock caused by the current system which can "grip/slip/grip" in spikes as the wheels "fight" eachother for traction distribution to the road. The LSD setup will create a much more linear delivery and loading of both wheels in relation to eachother and to the power source, the transmission. I suspect this behavior may also benefit the transmission in the form of reduced backlash related stresses.

Anyway... I'm not an expert... but I FEEL like I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night....


-crisp

[crispone]

Hey, first post here, let me start out by letting it be known that I live for racing. No, not street racing, track racing. So the purpose of my modifications are pretty much all for performance. I know I don't have the best car to have on the track but it's what I got for now, so I intend to make my 2004 Solara SE V6 more competative. I noticed some minor brake fade on the last lap of every session at Infineon so I got some crossdrilled/slotted rotors off ebay from a company called OC Autosports in Orange County, California which did wonders on the braking on stock pads. I just got some Enki 18 x 8 rims off my friend which drastically improved the handling. I got a TRD rear sway bar on the way along with a set of TRD lowering springs, I'll let you guys know how that goes.

I was wondering if you guys could let me know from your experiences, what really works and what doesn't. I am planning on getting the Injen short ram intake, a front sway bar, steel braided front and rear brake lines, and the TRD high flow muffler in the near future. I want to get the TEIN shocks and springs, but I don't have the 1k.. I also found that TRD makes a LSD for the Solara =D. Link here http://www.trdsparks.com/displayparts.php?Mdl_dtl=219&Part_cat=1&parts_id=1310 I think I'm going to get this before the TEIN shocks and springs.

Is there anything else I should know about? Perhaps some along the lines of engine parts, cat back, high flow cat, headers, or head?

Thanks.

Nine97Turbo,

CP-e, CP-e, CP-e.....

Don't mess around, this is the single most impressive mod I've seen on a vehicle in a long time. You will NOT regret purchasing this item... Go back and read the thread on CP-e Intake...

Don't let us discourage modding out your Solara because it is not really a "tuner" car.... For heaven's sake, guys, I've seen Geos with more money in them than a used Lexus or Supra or Porche... STUPID? Maybe... but it's all about the PROCESS of what we do, not what we do it with...

.....besides, I want someone to take one of these to the hilt, and walk us through their odyssey anyway...

Keep hangin' on these boards, Nine, and you'll both help yourself and us.

One of my other cars is a 400bhp mkIII Supra, and I LOVE driving this Solara with the short set of mods I've made to it.

TRD RSB, FTS, MUFF, CP-e w/MAF programmable, etc...

HIDs in the works, TRD drop planned, and LSD a MUST/WANNA have... thanks for the post!

-crisp

[Sebas007]

Thanks crisp !! I always like to read your thoughts !!

I try to figure how much shipping fees it would cost me...but WTF...they let me enter Canada with my postal code...but there are only "only US" options in the shipping method !! haha I'm interested in this TRD kit...but I would need someone to be the "US stop point" to ship the stuff to me after...for now it is in project with the winter coming up...