Customizing a 98 Custom

I just got a 98 custom that is completely stock. I wanna get some
aftermarket stuff to add to the marker that will give me an edge over the
other guys I paintball with, but what? I'm on a limited budget, and I want to
make my $$ count. What are the first 2 or 3 things you would upgrade on a
stock 98 custom?

Are you new to paintball?  Have you been playing long?  I ask because if you are still new to the sport your 98C will be far more capable of shooting your buddies out as it is then you will be.  This means that practicing with your new 98C and spending money on air, paint, and field fees (if necessary) will yeild far better results than anything you could bolt onto it at the moment.

If you have been playing paintball for a while then much of what Jordan posted fits.  First though, ask yourself what it is you want to do by upgrading your marker.  Do you want it to shoot faster?  More consistantly?  Have a certain look?  Once you figure out what your top priority is go for those upgrades first.  Maybe you're happy with the stock barrel but want to increase the marker's rate of fire...then look to things like response or electric triggers and high speed hoppers or the Cyclone feed.  More consistancy?  Look into a better barrel and a regulated air source like HPA or a Palmer's Stabilizer for CO2.

Also, if you have more than one goal be sure to prioritize them and keep the "needs" of one goal in mind when beginning to upgrade.  For instance, if you know you eventually want your 98C to look like a M4/M16 assault rifle but your first priority is to get more range out of the marker by changing to a range enhancing barrel then you probably would go with an Apex barrel since the Flatline wouldn't really lend itself to the M4/M16 look. Planning like this will keep you from waisting money in the long run.

Figure out what you want to do first and then figuring out what to get to achieve that makes upgrading a lot easier.  I have a full article I wrote up on this on my site (link in sig) if you want to read more but it won't tell you EXACTLY what to get just things to consider when deciding to spend your hard earned money.

Edited by Robotech - 02 September 2008 at 3:32pm

What you guys say makes a ton of sense-I appreciate the great advice. I've been playing woodsball inconsistently for a few years, but haven't ever really thought much about upgrading my marker. (I guess for the
reason robotech pointed out in his post: my gun was better at paintball than me). I guess I'm just getting to that point now where I'm thinking about how to trick out my marker.

Yeah, I felt pretty sure that the barrel should be the first thing to change out, which is why I have a 14" J&J ceramic in the mail. I'm glad to have had my instinct confirmed (though I'm kinda starting to think a 12" might
have been better?...) I'm not too into the tactical look on a paintball marker, so I don't think I need to be worried about how my upgrades will lend themselves to that look.

I'm thinking my next move will be a remote system. I read on the sticky that jordanpischke left me that a remote can work as an expansion chamber. Anyone have any more info on that? I've been wanting to get my
tank off my marker and it seems I can kill 2 birds with 1 stone with a remote if indeed it will work like an expansion chamber. The thing is, I'm clueless about remotes, so any suggestions on them would be much
appreciated.

Sounds like you have a good grasp on starting out your modification plan. :)

I agree on everything thejudge said about remotes.  I have heard there is also a ball valve that you can use instead of a slide check and they tend to be more reliable (improperly maintained slide checks can develop leaks).  I have no experiance with them personally though so I cannot vouch for this.  I use slide checks on all my remotes.  They will act like an expansion chamber.  An expansion chamber is basically an area that allows the liquid CO2 to expand into a gas.  That's it.  Most people get an expansion chamber to keep liquid CO2 out of their marker and a remote line will achieve the same result. Keeping liquid CO2 out of your marker helps make it shoot at a more consistant velocity. 

Edited by Robotech - 03 September 2008 at 2:39pm

On a slide check, when you move the slide check to the "off" position the air that is between the marker and the slide check is vented out of the slide check and the marker is de-aired.

I'm not sure if this is also true with an on/off valve.

Edited by Robotech - 04 September 2008 at 3:03pm

A slide check isn't a necessity but it makes life SO much easier.  I won't own a remote without one.

Some other little things that you might want to look into, are a rocket cock and a RVA. They're not so much 'performance' upgrades, but they make the operation of your marker a little easier. The rocket cock will cover the cocking knob and the groove in the receiver half where dirt and crud could get in. The RVA (Rear Velocity Adjuster) just makes life a little simpler when it comes time to chronograph your marker.

I owned a 98 for a while, and besides the exact same barrel you bought, these two upgrades were the first ones I went for.

Good luck!