Hey there everyone. I'm new to this forum and was wondering what I can do to my 1988 TN Magna wagon. It's a GLX, EFI and manual.
What I was hoping to find out is, what sorta mods can be done to make the car go just a little bit quicker?
I was thinking of doing a CAI for it but realised that the intake is behind the damn lights, so I really can't figure that one out unless someone has already done it. With an exhaust, I don't really know if I'm gonna go down that path as I don't have too much money on me.

Another thing is the stereo. How the hell do you get a new sound system in when its a wagon. I really can't figure out where I can put some speakers, as the stock one's are pissy little ones on your dash. Can I put them on the doors or what?

But other than that, I'm happy with the car. Just need to get the shocks done before I roll the damn thing.

Cheers,
Tiges

Welcome to Aussie Magna Tiges :D

I have a third gen, so my knowledge is very sketchy on first gens, but have a good browse through the first gen section as there is heaps of info to be found... there is also a search feature which can help too in a bind.

Welcome and hope you enjoy the stay :D

hey and welcome, you got a good start :cool:

CAI - most ppl just set up a crude CAI and put some flexible piping up to the airbox from underneath the car - and then you will need ot butcher your airbox to allow it to suck up the air. Most ppl have their own variations, pretty much use whatever you have and give it a go - try a search - heaps of threads on it

Exhuast - usual is around 2.25" cat back - lookin at around 250 dollars with a resonator (else sounds farty)

Stereo - wagons rule for stereos!!! Cept i dont really spend my money on the stereo so It's not all that great. Doors - probably go for 6"'s or splits, i've got 6x9's but they are average. In the rear, underneath the plastic crap there is room for 6" speakers, with all of this stuff there is usually a bit of adjustment required - drilling a couple of extra holes, mounting a spacer if no room. Don't let it put you off, drives can be quite boring with stock speakers and no tunes!! Check out the post your ride thread, you will see different peoples setups.

This is rather vague, but ask away, everyone's pretty friendly here

if your after a stereo system for your wagon, u might wanna snap this up;

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18776

for my crude CAI, my carby has the intake on the other side, and since i have no air con, i just pointed it down that hole behind the light.
I guess u could make up something like that with the hole that is near the battery (since im pretty sure the EFI air intake is from the drivers side)

Yes. There's a 80mm hole behind the driver's side headlight that you could run a pipe though. It's covered by a plastic(?) plug, that just pops out.

(Might need to move your battery around to see it, but it's there)

Yeah, as you've read no one can really do a proper CAI with moving the filter to get some fresh air (no ones tried) There is a kit a dude called THsmoker made which i think might work for us but someone's yet to give it a shot (my car wont work right without the airbox on so i can't do it) just have a look through the first gen section, theres a few smart cookies in here and just about everything from turbo's to transexuals has been ask by someone and cruely dismissed by the rest of us, well no not really, no one has asked about transexuals to my knowledge.

Basic "OMG>HARDCORE>UPGRADES>TURBO>MAN" things you can do to your car is like any. There is a K&N filter we can get, no one ever knows the right product code for it so just go into repco and ask them, its about a hundred new, get the filter-charger kit with it too (to re-oil your filter) and then get some headers (bout 300ish fitted) they're all pretty much the same, although i think pacemakers were deliberated as the best choice, get a bigger cat, like off a 6 or v6, go to the wreckers and get a commo/falc one or something and get it put on when your headers are getting done (or your cat-back if you only get one done at a time) i've got 2.25 (2 1/4) catback and it sounds nice, ive got a lukey 22" res and ultraflow muffler, lately for me it sounds a bit too muffled and i want something with a bit more bite, so if you want it loud and low go what ive just said (practically what everyone else has, albeit magnaflow/lukey/uncle bob's brand) and apart from that i think thats it? some good tyres are a must, help you go faster off the line etc (more grip) corner harder and sports treds look mad (especially yoko's) get 205/65 instead of 195, it may cost a little more but the extra tyre is good for it. In the way of suspension, i have some whiteline springs which dropped it a little, i got monroe GT's put in with it (they're not bad)

Here's a story; Went to the mechanic to get that done, service etc, the dude at the front desk (just a receptionist with a beard) said yeah no worries, came back that arv and the guy had a worried look on his face and said "Hey... did you want your car lowered? cause... they made it lower.." and i said "errm yeah it says 'whiteline flatout' on the box", by the way you can't get whiteline flatout springs (there's low and flatout) on 1st gens, if you want the flatout low ones get the compressed a little before they're put in (mine make my car pretty low and i have scraped the belly under some speed bumps) but your car will never look 'OMG>PIMPIN>SLAMMED' without having bigger rims to give it greater effect. Being a wagon your springs will have a different rear set to sedans, just so you know.

Something i think all first gens should have is a strut brace, if you look at your front suspension towers i bet they're already rippled to hell, mine weren't but now are, if your gonna do some driving get one, also a swaybar would help when your not going in a straight line. Brakes is a good thing to change too but i think you said you don't have 'too much money' so yeah i wont waste my precious typing energy. anything you want to know, use the search tool and if its not listed in the 1st gen section it could be listed under the tech section in general like supercharging and stuff.

ps i win for having the biggest reply.

:bowrofl:

Thanks for all the replies people. Really helpful that I know there are some people that have done this sort of stuff on this model car.

I'm gonna find that plug behind the light tommorow and see what I can use to make the air flow alot better. With the reply about the K&N filter, did it actually improve the "performance" of the car at all, or will it be a waste of money. Also, is it possible to fit or buy a pod filter for the first gens at all, as I love the sound.

With lowering it, is it worth it in the end. I know that the ride is improved during a corner and it looks tough but will it be good for a wagon or not?

With the brakes, I am going to get some new ones soon as I only have about 3mm left on the front and 4mm on the rear. What are some good brake pads for the first gens?

Seeing that post about the guy selling the box for the back of his wagon, has given me some ideas on how I should set up my sound system. I'll just have to measure out the back end and save up for some speakers, sub and a head unit.

Once again, thanks for all the replies!
Cheers,
Tiges

i got kings lows, only real drop about 1cm, cos the old ones were pretty saggy and crap anyway. Probably not the best dollar value, glad I bought it with it done :bowrofl:
i got a unifilter - some have found k&n increases performance, main advantage is re-usability - dont expect massive things from an airfilter, but it does save money over a few servcies so in that sense its good.

brakes - all sorts of options. I got bendix advance, they are good, i think there have been a couple of brake threads around you could read up on anyways