I've been on here lurking and reading, and finally decided to introduce myself.
I'm 23, live in MN and I'm on Talon No. 2.
I got my first Black top/red body 97 talon about 6 years ago, last year I crunched that one. Picked up a 98 blacktop/red body for $400 with a bad synchro on 2nd. So I'm working to fix the old one for nostalgic reasons, but I've been piddling around with the 98.

All I have done for the 98 is CAI.
The 97 I put my effort into.
Complete 420a tear down and rebuild. I boosted it at one point on stock everything with 140xxx miles and ended up blowing all the seals out of it. So I undid everything and went NA once again. Rebuilt a known good 420a out of an Avenger cleaned evrything up, went to a couple meets.

Currently has CAI, 2.25" Header back, gutted CAT, Big fart can muffler.
AEM Tru-Time adjustable cam gears, Stock ECU, Stock Injectors. MSD Wires, BKR7E Plugs (I like em frigid). Plans are to keep it as DD but I do want to pick up an AFX ECU for a 97 so if anyones got one :) lemme know!

Other than that, I've spent many hours underneath and on top (lolz)
Hopefully I can contribute.

Thanks for havin me!

Welcome! And thanks for introducing yourself.

Questions:

Why one range colder? N/A applications typically run a range hotter. Why "frigid" as you state?

Also, what made you buy the cam gears? Just wanted some bling under the hood?

I thought 7s were our stock plugs? Ive always had them in mine.

No. 6 are stock.

Yeah I decided to go with the 1 range colder plugs when I boosted. I kinda stuck with em. I've also read that with N/A applications it tends to have a better outcome in the long run for people who like to hang around the upper RPM range. (e.g. ME)

As far as the cam gears go, my brother has owned every variation of the 420a, he builds neons all day NA boosted nitrous. So in his experience he found that retarding the intake cam just a bit helped gain a little power and run a little smoother. So he recommended the Tru-Times. I just have one on the intake cam, plus it was $25 for the gear!

For what its worth - when I had Mandy tuned (10.5cr, Crane 18s, MS2) they told me to put the 7E's in it :shrug

Welcome!

Thanks! Yeah, I figure going 50 degrees colder on my summer car ain't such a bad idea anyway. I still get 20MPG comb. with the way I drive.

Oh I forgot to add I have Unorthodox UDPs on both my 97 and 98. I love the way these cars take them. I don't even notice a lack of PS, A/C, or Alt performance with it on. I DO notice a little RPM boost though. She runs up there nice and quick.

Here's some photos of the 97. Last good ones before the wonderful accident.

And then Destruction...





Makes me sad... Now I have to undo all the poo.

Welcome! What's the juicy details on the crash? Im gonna guess you kissed a truck pretty good.

Yeah it was a slower crash only going 35. A Ford Freestar slammed on its brakes and I couldn't react in time, plus I was looking away so that might have been part of it too. In any event, it was a submarine crash so I took most of the damage on the hood. After I got it home and started ripping into it I found it to be mostly cosmetic. I had to replace the radiator, headlight, power steering pump and pulley, and the exhaust header got pushed in a little so I picked up another of the exact same. I already have a new hood and fender and the bumper just needs to be resprayed.