I just bought a 97 celica st with about 126k miles on in full stock and im looking somewhere to start with mods. i was thinking about starting with either a cold air intake or dropping a K and N filter in it.(im not sure how many ponies each are giving if u can tell me send me a pm plz ) So if someone could give me a rough idea of where i should start with a limited amount of money that would be awesome .

Start with maintenance:

Spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor
Oil and filter
Radiator fluid (with water wetter)
Brake fluid flush (check your pads and shoes while you are down there)
air filter (K&N drop in = best) and remove the resonators that reside behind the driver side fender.
transmission fluid

after that:
a) brakes: quality pads and good fluid, plus stainless steal lines
b) Tires: make sure you got some good quality rubber to help you stick
c) New shocks and Springs (or a coilover set like TEIN SS)
d) rear strut tower bar (OEM is great and cheap)
e) sway bars
f) header + exhaust

This post has been edited by playr158: Oct 6, 2008 - 11:26 AM

playr158, do you think I could benefit from doing some of that? I'm 300 miles away from 70k, so that's pretty low mileage and I'm figuring that there's not as much wear and tear on it.

And more details about those resonators?

I think that everyone can benefit from this process.

Maintenance should ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS come first. Its building the foundation for your "investment", and w.o a good foundation what you build will be weak.

People talk about upgrading brakes and such but the most commonly over looked and cheapest upgrade for your brakes, changing the fluid regularly, is over looked.

Resonators for your intake reside within the driver side fender, if you remove your wheel well plastics you'll see several large black plastic boxes that can go bye bye