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**MNmopar** · **what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

I just bought a 1990 Daytona Shelby VNT and I have the engine out of it right now to be rebuilt (actually it came that way so I'm a little nervous about putting it back together)...

Anyway, I'm fairly new to this and I know that I want forged pistons and I have a new vnt turbo for it, but my question to all of you is if this was your car and you didn't care about drag racing, but you wanted more performance that stock, what would you do to it while the engine is out?

I'm thinking along the lines of "stock +", in other words not sacrificing reliability for performance.

I won't get into it for a little while yet because it's 1 degree outside today here in Minnesota, but I want to start getting parts so when I do get started I have everything.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

SpiritedShelbys · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Larger intercooler, computer, injectors, 2.5" exhaust, and possibly a larger fuel pump depending on what kind of boost you're looking for.

kermit · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

^^agreed spiritedshelbys, i would also do some porting on the head and both intake and exhaust manifolds, 180 thermostat, i personally am not a fan of the vnt turbo myself, and would get a different one myself...but that's just me.

**MNmopar** · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Do you guys have any specific suggestions as far as brand and model number of things like the intercooler, computer, injectors and fuel pump?

It would help me out a lot to know what will work for sure in this car!

Thanks!

josh

**crazymadbastard** · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

I would talk to Cindy at fwdperformance.com to have her make a nice upgrade package for you. They sell everything to make your car super fast.

kermit · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Welcome to FWD Performance, Inc.

I would get a computer from fwd (i like the stage 5 myself...i don't know if they make a special one for vnt though), the stage 5 will require a 3bar map, and +40s. Talk to Cindy though if you really aren't sure what you are looking for. They also sell ported manifolds and heads. I would look for a turbo off ebay. You can get a nice big 32x12x3 for like 100 bucks or so. Exhaust can be done by a shop...get mandrel bends though. I like 3" myself...but again, it depends on how much power you are looking to make.

SpiritedShelbys · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

I don't have one yet but from what I understand the Srt-4 cooler is a fairly decent upgrade over the stocker. I'm thinkin about upgrading the intercooler on my Srt-4 so I'd be able to let you know when I get my CSX back together. Looks like it would be a good choice as I've seen people do it on their Daytonas.

ironbird720 · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

eliminate the stock air box and go with a cold air intake and put on a aftermarket bov too.The stock intakes sucks up too much oil from the breather hose that goes to the turbo oil return line.Makes a mess of your filter and allows oil to go through your intake system.

SpiritedShelbys · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Ironbird-- I've talked to you about your car and turbo quite a bit and I LOVE what you're doing. The one thing I don't understand with the threat of overboosting is a BOV? You're going BIG vnt, big exhaust, more fuel.. the whole route but why a bov? Isn't the VNT supposed to spool quickly so why the need? If the vnt reaches potential overboost more readily than the others why strive to keep it there longer if its strength is its spool characteristics? I'm not criticizing here but I am looking for more information. I'm investigating the larger VNT like you have and want to do a similar set-up but three things I DO NOT want to do is; run a wastegate, install an exhaust larger than 2.5" and install a BOV. Maybe I don't have a complete understanding of the bov but I don't hold the VNTs on the same level as the other "laggy" turbos. ?? I'm interested in this!

bfarroo · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

A BOV releases the pressure in the IC plumbing to keep the surge from the throttle plate closing during a shift from stopping the compressor from spinning which is hard on the turbo and can increase spool time between shifts. Has nothing to do with the spool characteristics outside that. I'm not sure what you mean about not running a wastegate? Do you mean you want to stick to a vane controlled turbo? With the larger VNT turbo going with a larger exhaust can be nothing but good. I don't have that much experiance with VNT turbos but as long as it can control boost bigger is better for exhaust. I know the smaller ones had trouble when you opened up the exhaust to much.

Benji

SpiritedShelbys · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

I get it now.. I was wrong about the bov. It is a good idea.

tryingbe · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Get rid of the VNT turbo.

**MNmopar** · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Thanks spirited shelbys,

I'll look into that srt-4 intercooler and I'd love to hear what happens with yours, let me know ok?

Ironbird, that's good to know too. Is there any specific cold air intake that you know will work for it without too much fabrication? (i'm a rook to these but trying to soak up as much info as possible)

tryingb, Flame posting is weak. I'm keeping the vnt because I want to keep it as original as possible. If I didn't want a vnt daytona I would have gotten a different one. The rarity of it is one of the reasons I bought the car in the first place.

Thanks to everyone and if anyone else has any ideas, please let me know!

josh

SpiritedShelbys · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

Thanks man, let me just say that if you want to go extreme -Ironbirds car is going to be just that and then some. I'd like mine to be a fraction of that. My motivations have to be reliable performance, better flow, CA smog compliant both with emissions and the visual(ridiculous). I also have to consider that I'm not always going to both be the one and have a friend who can work on the car so I have to keep it "close" to stock. Maybe in your state you don't have these ridiculous regulations and problems.

**MNmopar** · **Re: what would you upgrade 1st on a daytona vnt??**

I think I'm pretty lucky as far as emissions regulations go, but maybe I should look into it a little more before thinking I'm safe...

I know we don't have the regulations that Cali does, and I live up in the "north woods" of Minnesota so they really leave us alone pretty much. That's one nice thing about living in a small town in the mid-west!

Ironbird's car is awesome for sure! Hopefully we can talk sometime and I can pick his brain because his car looks bad-ass and still looks mostly stock (from the outside anyway) which I like. The intercooler peeking through the grill looks pretty tough too.

I think I'm in the same boat as you are, I've wanted a vnt daytona for quite a few years now and I'm happy I found one in nice shape to restore, now I just want to make sure I do it right the first time.

I need to enlist some help with the engine rebuild too, I don't have the amount of knowledge or the tools yet to do it how I want to... but I have patience, it will get there.