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My beautiful blue daily driver in New England (Updated with Pics!)
UPDATES:
4. CEL issues (9/10/12) 5. CEL Issue Update (9/17/12) 6. Pre-post CEL Impressions (9/18/12) 7. Post CEL Impressions: (10/8/12) 8. 5K miles and quick update of things to come: (11/30/12) 9. 7k miles and mod updates! (And the world didn't end!) (12/28/12) 10. Hurricane nemo, small debadge, dash wrap, weathertech mats! (And a new tail light)(2/24/13) 11. Nameless overipipe/frontpipe, Hella supertones, and more! :D 12. First Autocross 13. Fall Mods 14. Spring Mods - Springs and shocks! ------------------------------------------------ In no particular order, my list of mods: (Updated 7/16/14) -Airraid Intake -Nameless 2.5" Axleback. 5" mufflers -Nameless 2.5" Frontpipe/Overpipe combo. High Flow Cat, Helmholtz Resonator -Hotchkis front and rear sway bars -Perrin Front endlinks -Weathertech Floormats and trunk mat -Hella Supertones -Kartboy Lightweight Crank Pulley -Kartboy short shifter -Valenti Smoked Tail lights -Enkei GP5 17x8 wheels -Koni front and rear shocks/struts -RCE Tarmac springs -SPC front camber bolts -SPC Rear lower control arms -Kenwood 12" Subwoofer and Amp -Cusco Front strut bar with Brake Brace -Innovate Non-IC Supercharger [/B]------------------------------------------------ On August 17, I was finally a proud owner of an Ultramarine FR-S. I ordered it a few days after July 4th weekend so I didn't really wait that long. Though, waiting for the car felt like forever! I shopped around as much as I could but alas, all the manuals in the area were scooped up by very lucky people. So a checklist for myself, and anyone else who wants to get one: (and because I was a bit worried about reading all the issues online)
And for the break in period, i'm babying my car and keeping it under 4k RPM and 60mph. Shift those gears often and vary your RPM! Initial impressions: I remember the day on August 11 when my dealer called me and told me that the car's status changed to 'built'... I was ecstatic. My car arrived with 12 miles on it about 5 days later, pretty much as new as you can get. The handling, the steering, the gear changing, all felt very solid. The seats held me in and going around corners felt immaculate. It was unreal to be sitting inside and OWNING! an FR-S. Bluetooth was easy to set up and the 300W sound system sounds wonderful (after I fixed the settings). The cabin quality was very good and there was a lot of nice soft touch areas and leather (probably fake but still awesome) in a lot of areas, especially the back of the seats. It was a nice touch. In terms of storage space, I knew going in that there wouldn't be enough. The globe box is kinda small and the middle cubby is ok. I need to figure out what to put in that tiny slot in the center console. I'm currently using the back seat as a large shelf, much easier than putting things in the trunk. And lastly, I set my rev indicator to 3500 RPM for the break in. The beep and light is actually one of my favorite features of the car, it makes it very fun. Here is my baby sitting in the lot after arrival: http://i.imgur.com/a1Irp.jpg A few cool/interesting things: The manual came with a first aid kit complete with scissors and pamphlet for common emergencies, hilarious but useful. I really liked being able to adjust the cabin light brightness. There is a second 12V plug inside the glovebox, great for radars and dashcams. And in the trunk, there were a few surprising extra tools. The included tow hook was very surprising (along with a screw driver). It's painted pink but very cool nonetheless. SNOW: So I can't avoid this issue, especially living in New England. Snow WILL be an issue and I will have to deal with all the salt and snow on the road. And eventually all the little dings and scratches from rocks on the road. So I definitely will be getting Blizzaks and possibly some cheap rims. I will update this section when it starts snowing. 1. First tasks: First thing I did for my car was to get some cleaning materials. I never really cleaned my old car (A 2002 Accord), other than going to the car wash and it's suffered some neglect in the past few years. So this was all new to me but the cleaning section of this forum was very helpful. Keep in my that I don't have a garage or driveway to clean so I plan on stopping by a friends house or a local manual wash to do that. But for the rest of the cleaning process (wax and stuff), here is my first initial modest cleaning kit: (Definitely incomplete)
And here are the results, beautiful: http://i.imgur.com/C6JFG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OZZJ6.jpg Hood looks insanely shiny! http://i.imgur.com/rKwjd.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1xTma.jpg http://i.imgur.com/TRd35.jpg Sunset :party0030: http://i.imgur.com/sLYun.jpg And here it is parked in Boston: http://i.imgur.com/s513v.jpg And this is what I get when I drive at night (Pic taken the next morning). There was a bigger bug that went splat right in the middle of my windshield I should have taken a picture of. http://i.imgur.com/B9bF2.jpg 2. Some actual minor mods: So my first 'mods' are pretty minor. I mean, I just got the car and I need to break it in and enjoy it for a bit. I ordered wheel locks (Amazon), mud guards (Amazon), and LEDs for interior and trunk from AutomationLED on these forums. A lot of popular mods seem to be emblem swap, plasti-dip, new shift knob, frosted tail lights, lower rear lights, HIDs and a few others. The Scion logo is fine by me, I actually think it looks better than Toyota and I'd also need to change steering wheel to for a complete swap. In the end, I know it's a Toyota. Tail lights seem to be a lot of work and making them red or black doesn't really match my blue imo. I also like my curent shift know but I may consider changing it. Lower rear lights and HIDs will come in time I think. Those lower rear lights look like a pain in the butt to do though. Wheel Locks: Pretty easy and self explanatory install. Take one nut from each tire and replace it with a wheel lock. I used the cars own tools but I need a torque wrench in the future.Future mods: So far, i'm thinking about getting a Front Tower Bar, a new Exhaust, and anything performance wise but that will be after about 3000 miles or so. I've read that the car gets even smoother after that so I will wait until then. The bar will be a cheap and easy upgrade, So I may get that earlier. And maybe a cold air intake, but I see people posting about problems in which it looks like people need a tune. Other than that, I don't really know what I really want to change. Time will tell. I'm sure there are a few cosmetic things I can get too, like a fuel door, tinted windows, exhaust tips, Plasti-dipping all the things, etc. Maybe i'll get a new air filter, I dunno. And as for the turbo? I plan on keeping my warranty for now but it's definitely something I will consider in the future. This car definitely feels like it could use some more power. And for the interior, maybe I'll get a better sound system and a subwoofer in the trunk. I DEFINITELY need all rubber mats for the cabin and the trunk and I'll be getting those when they're released. I don't want to buy the carpet trunk mat and flip it, I can wait for a real one. 3. Post Break-In period: My car is around 1300 miles, all broken in. Still need to get to 3K to get everything smoothed out though. I'm finally able to go past 4K RPM and it feels amazing! The first few times the car sounded very... tinny, like a tin can but nowadays it's smoother. I'm sure it'll sound better as time goes by. It seems to easy to get to 80mph and I won't be able to tell unless I look at my speedo. Also, car keeps getting dirty and dusty all the time! Why are you so dirty Mother Nature! And driving at night brings in all the bugs, I think I hate driving at night now. I see moth... I see moth hit my car... I get home and I see moth on bumper along with a few friends... I clean moth and friends off bumper... Rinse and Repeat. It's a vicious cycle. |
(Now updated with pics)
4. CEL issues: (9/10/12) OH NO! The check engine light and the traction control light came on. Brought it to the dealer this morning and I was told there was a problem with the camshaft. I know there are a few threads here about the same exact issue. Other than a power reduction, my engine sounded fine. No unexpected random engine crickets or anything. Wish me luck. I have about 1500 miles on it so far and just filled my 4th tank of gas over the weekend. I did get a Camry loaner, eww. Update: They said they are going to replace the VVT-i gear and the ECU. Parts are coming in from Japan and all this should be fixed in a week or two. 5. CEL Issue Update: (9/17/12) |
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We should get all the NE people together hit up scikotics as well |
5. CEL Issue Update: (9/17/12)
Well, got the call that my car is ready to go. They ended up not replacing the camshaft and just flashing the ECU, I have no idea if they just reset it or put an actual update. I am very worried that it's going to come back up again but instead end up grenading... I guess it's nice thing is they gave me a free loaner and detailing. In terms of service, my service rep has been keeping me updated this whole time. I've been very happy with their service. The only thing this whole thing is going to cost is my time, not bad. 6. Pre-post CEL Impressions: (9/18/12) |
You are not the only one who got a new ECU flash. I might actually be bad software in the ECU causing the problems.
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Nice ride!
I am under the impression that this engine "break in" period you are speaking of is really a non-issue in today's engines. I was given some convincing reasons but forget what they are, and am not much of a mechanically inclined guy. thoughts? |
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Where in MA are you? I live like 8 minutes south of nashua, NH in MA
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6. Pre-post CEL Impressions: (9/18/12)
Why "Pre"? Because all it takes is one week in an automatic Camry to desensitize myself! The moment I sat back in my own FR-S, it felt like the "first" time again. I felt like I was sitting way too low, the windshield view felt cramped, the clutch felt SO heavy, and the shifter just felt... weird. The first 30 minutes felt like riding a bicycle or swimming for the first time in 10 years. Shifting and reversing was very wobbly and I got really close to stalling but I compensated by giving more gas first (between 2-3k RPM). So for the CEL issues, I got a free loaner and free detail. I don't want to complain about the detailing, they did a nice job on the interior... but the exterior looks great only from afar. It is when you get closer you will see smudges in a few random spots and the windows... oh dear the windows were full of streaks. In the evening in the sunset, all the smudges and streaks showed up and I couldn't see out the window. I don't mind the rest of the car getting dusty and bird poo but the windows... I look through them! So they need to be maintained often. I will take care of all that after work today for sure. Yes, I know i'm really picky. But it's my car and I will clean it as often as I please. They did use a nice tire gloss again, maybe it was some silicone stuff but whatever they use it's super slick, I like it. I don't know where the ECU is but I took a quick peek under the hood and it looked fine. Chirping- So I finally paid attention and I hear it now. I'm sure they were there before but I don't really remember. I have to conclude that my engine is fine and the chirping is fine. What I get is a quiet constant high pitched chirping noise (a spinning wheel, slightly lubricated metal on metal I assume) and the ticks every now and then (one of the wheels starting and stopping). The stereo system will easily drown out the noise and even the wind noise too. I'm sure most people complaining about chirping are actually fine, i'm thinking it's mainly a cosmetic thing but it's entirely reasonable to complain about it because I'm sure it can get annoying to some people. I've seen some videos where the chirping is really loud and those are definitely issues. Idle Dip- I've had this 'issue' beforehand and I still have it now. It's when i'm coming to a stop, I go into neutral and my RPM dips down to maybe 500-700 RPM for a split second. Short enough to hear my engine almost stall out. I never really minded that and I assumed it was part of the pseudo start/stop technology we have that will probably be smoothed out in time. I believe it was something along the lines of stopping the combustion when you downshift and when you do a combination of gas and then braking (or vice versa, I don't remember). Maybe it is a problem, but so far my car has been running fine. My experience is from an old manual Honda Accord where there were plenty of chirps, ticks, and idle dips... which is why a lot of these things seem 'normal' to me. Sure it's a new car, but it's not a luxury car and don't forget we're literally using explosions and tons of mechanical moving parts working together to go places. EDIT: Ok, I take this back. Apparently this really is an issue: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...&postcount=476 More to come as I adjust back to my car. Hopefully in the next few days so I can do a real analysis. And also, forgot to mention that i've driven about 40 miles so far. 7. Post CEL Impressions: (10/8/12) |
7. Post CEL Impressions: (10/8/12)
Almost 900 miles post fix... So I wanted to give an update a bit earlier but I wanted to make sure my findings were correct before I made a post. My initial impressions were that I was getting crappier mpgs but after filling up two more tanks, it proved to be wrong. I ended up getting around 28mpg for the next two fillups... Keeping in mind that I am a spirited driver and also a part-time redlight hero. This car is just fun to drive. So I am happy and sad to report that post CEL, absolutely nothing changed as far as I can tell. I'm happy that everything felt great and worked as expected. I'm sad that Toyota didn't sneak in some extra horsepower, but that was never going to happen anyways. I haven't seen (if any) other reports about post-CEL but I imagine that they will be pretty uneventful. Car drives wonderfully and I hope it stays that way for the next several years. 8. 5K miles and quick update of things to come: (11/30/12) |
Glad to head you got it sorted! Toyota's usually pretty good about finding a fix quickly.
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I was just surfing random threads and saw that you didn't drill the extra hole for each mud guard. Are they still holding up well without that extra mount?
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8. 5K miles and quick update of things to come: (11/30/12)
Haven't posted in a while so I figured i'll make a quick update of things to come: Oil Change: I got it changed around 3.5k miles. Mentally I feel my car is healther. Physically, I think the car a bit more refined. Mud guards: They're holding up even though I haven't drilled the last hole for the rears. Over the Fall there were chunks of leaves stuck in between but they were easy to clean. I'm sure they'll be fine in the snow because I think the last hole just prevents it from moving side to side. The snow is coming up from the bottom, which the guards are stable. We will have to see. Mods: Gimmick Motorsports Hood Dampers, Airraid intake, grimmspeed brake brace, and Nameless offset axleback Exhaust. Reviews are already all over the forum but I'll make a big post later. Exhaust literally arrives today. Snow: A day after Sandy, I drove in about 1 inch of snow. On stock tires... Nope, I could barely stay in line. I just didn't feel safe at all. Any sudden acceleration and deceleration caused my back end to swing into the zig zag of death. Surprisingly, while at a red light on a hill I was able to actually move.. albeit a ton of slip but I got moving and was on my merry way. As a last resort, sure the car can get me somewhere in a pinch if I really need to be there. Which brings me to... New shoes: I decided to designate my stock rims as my snow rims. I got a set of 4 Blizzak WS70s. I think i've lost some traction, but it's more fun. And even better with snow. These tires haven't seen snow yet but i'm no longer worried. This is just a summary of what's to come! And of course pictures! 9. 7k miles and mod updates! (And the world didn't end!) (12/28/12) |
9. 7k miles and mod updates! (And the world didn't end!) (12/28/12)
Well, i've been driving around with a bunch of mods for the last few thousand miles and forgot to post. So here's some mini reviews: (In the order I installed them) Airraid Intake: I bought this totally expecting little to no gain. I got this for more sound (before I get my exhaust) and they had a good deal going ($200 after rebate). With that in mind, I thought this was a great mod. It gives off a high 'whir' sound especially in the higher RPMs. Install was pretty painless as expected... loosen everything, old intake out, new intake in, tighten. Kick in the pants powah? Not really, nor any real performance gains as far as my pants can tell. Maybe some improvements, but i'm sure it's just all in my head. Sound wise, I love it! So I guess I have to address bogging, which a lot of people here have been complaining about. If I do the 'bogging test', yes my RPM stutters but other than that I haven't experienced any actual bogging in my daily spirited driving. YMMV Also, I used loctite (I used purple) for the four top screws because I read that they came loose. I'm sure you've seen this same exact pic somewhere http://i.imgur.com/6AoeO.jpg Hood Dampers and Grimmspeed Brake Brace: Can't say much about the hood dampers... easy install and it holds my hood up. I guess it will be more convenient in the future. The brake brace was also a good mod. I have never really paid attention until I got this. There's pretty much no flexing after I installed this. Install was straightforward (just don't drop anything into the engine!). The difference is instant. You physically feel like you're pressing up against a wall when you fully depress the brake. The brace doesn't make the brake more touchy, but rather just less distance traveled and removes almost all the flex. What an exciting pic! (i should remove the stickers) http://i.imgur.com/oCOSQ.jpg It was tough to get a good angle http://i.imgur.com/oarHQ.jpg Nameless Axleback Exhaust (2.5" exit, 5" mufflers, offset): Again, I got this for looks and sound. As you can tell I think this car is lacking in the sound department. As another bolt on mod, this was also a straightforward install: 4 hangers and 2 bolts. The hangers were a bit tricky but simple nonetheless. As a last resort, I was going to use WD40 but I didn't have to go that far. As far as sound goes, the moment you start the car up my pants got a bit tight. I was greeted by the deep grumble, very satisfying. I decided to get the offset version so that it's not too loud. So honestly, it is a bit loud too loud for me during the engine 'warm up' stage. Once it's over and sitting happily around 1k RPM it's nice and quiet (for a car). Now for the good stuff... I am very happy with this exhaust. It produces the best sound between 3-4k RPM and really drops out somewhere around 5k (which then my intake sound kicks in). It's a bit louder between 1-2k RPM too but it's ok. It's also practically silent during idle (700 RPM), so at a stop light i'm not causing any attention (until I accelerate). The tips are also huge! My rear end finally looks complete. Overall, I am a satisfied customer. The exhaust was also so much smaller than stock. One issue some other members had was that one side sticks out more than the other. My right tip sticks out about a centimeter more than the left tip but it's not noticeable until you get really close. So not a big concern for me. I'll forget all about it when I start my car up and drive. All that noise that gets muffled in the humongous stock exhaust http://i.imgur.com/4Btk3.jpg My friends WRX in the back http://i.imgur.com/KWS1N.jpg They stick out quite a bit! Also the tips are chrome but the frosty weather has them looking really hazy. http://i.imgur.com/xjRyh.jpg Hotchkis front and rear sways: Last but not least, I ordered the Hotchkis front and rear sways from the groupbuy. So during the install, I (stupidly) misplaced one of the bolts for the rear but I found a replacement at Autozone. The instructions were straightforward but the install took longer than expected. I haven't done any modding or mechanical work at all so I did expect this. I took it slow and read through all the instructions carefully so it took several hours (with plenty of breaks). If I were to do it again... I'd say it'd probably take me an hour. It's actually pretty easy if you know what you're doing. Rear sways took no time at all the but for the front sways there are two ground panels and you have to take off two support arm things. My turns were noticeably stiffer. The car felt more resistant to 'swaying'. I chose the softest settings for now. Turn ins feel much better and more stable. I guess I actually don't need new sways right now but I figured I will eventually and couldn't pass up a good deal. But they're installed and I can adjust them easily now. Now to do some autocross next year! http://i.imgur.com/3HggO.jpg Front sways http://i.imgur.com/Gectn.jpg Shorty Antenna One thing I forgot to add was that I got a shorty antenna. Got it off of ebay for $10. I'll post a pic later. If you're interested in one, go to Ebay and search for something like "1.5" black short stubby volkswagen". Fits like a charm and was cheap too. http://i.imgur.com/fU4UcvR.jpg 10. Hurricane nemo, small debadge, dash wrap, weathertech mats! (And a new tail light)(2/24/13) |
10. Hurricane nemo, small debadge, dash wrap, weathertech mats! (And a new tail light)(2/24/13)
Tint! I finally got my tint. I ended up with 40% Ceramic tint (Because the next level up was 30%... we are only allowed 35% in MA). It wasn't that much more expensive so I decided to try it. Does it live up to the hype? We'll see in the summer. I think I noticed it staying a bit warmer in my car when I come back from grocery shopping, for example, but there is no way to quantify it. Just a few pics from hurricane nemo: Buried! http://i.imgur.com/kVb3Nqw.jpg All cleaned up http://i.imgur.com/saSlXvW.jpg Out grocery shopping http://i.imgur.com/LoajCc6.jpg I also removed the FR-S logo from the back, I think it looks pretty clean: (And I was testing out the Stillen roof spoiler fit before I paint it) http://i.imgur.com/xpGSv4D.jpg First time vinyl wrapping: I've seen a few threads about people vinyl wrapping so I decided to start small. I've never wrapped anything and I already have a heat gun lying around. Here's the dash, which came out pretty great! There is a small mismatch but that doesn't bother me. I did have some trouble with the corners where the stereo goes in. It doesn't quite stick and comes out every now and then. Anyways, looks great for a first timer! http://i.imgur.com/pNi7YA7.jpg As for me second attempt... it didn't turn out so good. But this is a journal and I will document my failures as well. I'm going to remove it eventually. What happened was that it looked great when I wrapped it but when I was putting it back in, the sides got pushed up by the plastic. I tried to do it right on the other door but it didn't work. I really needed an index card or something. Bad vinyl wrap! http://i.imgur.com/JSHdadK.jpg Weathertech floormats: I ordered both the floormats and trunk mat too. They look awesome! They mold around the edges and are pretty thick and rugged. They'll probably last longer than the car. Driver side: http://i.imgur.com/E0GZEsN.jpg Passenger side: http://i.imgur.com/R2nflvQ.jpg I forgot to take a pic of the trunk mat... Extras: I have a stillen hood and trunk spoiler sitting in my room. I'm waiting for all the snow and salt to clear out before i'm going to install it. The fitament is pretty good and I like that it's discrete. I am still unsure whether I should paint it ultramarine or black. |
11. Nameless overipipe/frontpipe, Hella supertones, and more! :D
Haven't been updating my journal in a while. A lot has happened since my last update. Summer Rims! Enkei GP5 17x8 in SBC I've always been a fan of chrome rims on blue cars. Maybe it's stupid, but love them or hate them, I love them. They're also a bit heavier, but i'm not sure if it matters that much... http://i.imgur.com/yknbz6D.jpg Hella Supertones! Bumper was a bit of a pain to take off, though it wasn't hard. I also ordered a harness to make wiring a bit easier (was quite expensive!). They sound much better and now people can hear my little tiny car. http://i.imgur.com/Oaz0zYy.jpg?1 Top of the trop meet! Meet was great, met a lot of people, saw a lot of cars. Pretty awesome. (Pic thanks to Shadow215) http://i.imgur.com/jJN9fRc.jpg New Dashcam and 3D printed cover I got a new BlackVue DR500G-HD. It was expensive but worth the cost if someone hit me. I also got the parking addon for it (Magic Pro) and hooked into the fuse box. The cover didn't fit anymore so I printed my own. (I also made a 3D Printing journal for anything I come up with) http://i.imgur.com/HLenPy3.jpg Nameless Frontpipe/Overpipe combo and Grimmspeed license plate relocation kit Just installed this today. I already have their axleback and this was the next step. Right off the bat, the car felt much peppier and my butt dyno said it was faster than before. I ordered the Nameless frontpipe with overpipe and the helmholtz resonator because I plan to get their headers when they release it. They had said it was going to be loud so they recommended the helmholtz. Sound wise, compared to just the axleback it didn't change too much (as expected). It actually sounded 'fuller', like more sound from the throat (which makes sense). Also, the deeper tones that I had before are now even more pronounced. Pretty awesome. The relocation kit was a breeze to install. The instructions were pretty straightforward. I think it gives me +5 horsepower :lol: But anyways, it looks great. A tip if you're going to install the frontpipe/overpipe yourself: You have to lift the engine a little bit, there's no way around it. It sounds daunting but it was pretty easy to do. Take a bolt off the engine mount and lift with the oil pan (make sure to get a block of wood or something). I lifted it maybe 2 inches (The wiring from the fuse box to the alternator(?) got caught so I didn't lift it anymore). That was just enough for me to get the pipe in. http://i.imgur.com/KfC0ygz.jpg http://i.imgur.com/rXKT3x7.jpg |
12. First Autocross
I decided to try out the SCCA Starting Line class and had a blast! I have video, but I just need to find the time to edit and upload it. If you haven't tracked your car yet, I highly recommend it. Not sure where to start... there's just too much. But anyways, being able to drive the car in it's natural habitat was such an awesome experience. http://i.imgur.com/6b5ND5N.jpg?1 |
13. Fall Mods
Whoops, haven't updated in a while! Got a few mods over summer/Fall to share. Kartboy Lightweight Crank Pulley The crank pulley was a phenomenal upgrade! I don't expect any hp+ and neither should anyone else. My revs go up insanely fast (in neutral) and also drop like a rock. Rev matching is so easy and has made my driving experience so much more enjoyable. There is a whine around 3-4k rpm that sounds like a faint supercharger which makes it even cooler. All in all, a great improvement and cheap mod. The install was very simple. Just read the DIY warnings and you should be fine. I did need to buy a new socket since I didn't have the right size. One tip I found out was that you should have a friend stomp on the brake while you try to break the crank pulley bolt. Even in 6th gear it was way too spongey. The stock crank pulley is very heavy! http://i.imgur.com/ttjOSDE.jpg Kartboy Short Shifter Much like the Crank Pulley, this was another 'experience' mod. Sure, my shifts are faster but it's only 30% shorter at the end of the day. The shifts feel insanely short... possibly too short at first. It took me about a week to get used to the shift and afterwards I shifted like normal... but shorter. Gearbox feels notchier and takes some extra effort to get into gear. Going into neutral is still sometimes a challenge for me since you can easily go into another gear. Overall, a very good mod and enhances the driving experience. I have to say this wasn't really on top of my list... but I had an itch and i'm quite satisfied. The install was pretty straightforward. I followed the DIY here and only got held up once. The little cubby hole next to the USB port was angled weirdly and was a pain to get out. The DIY mentioned it was a pain with the rubber cover on the shifter joint but I actually had no trouble getting it off and on correctly. http://i.imgur.com/0A1uSCj.jpg Valenti Smoked Tail Lights I've been eyeing Valentis for a long time and also the Toms, but decided to bite the bullet and get some smoked Valentis. Pictures don't do them justice... they are just unbelievable in person, especially at night. The signal LEDs are both a little weird and very cool. Install was very easy and painless. Pull two plastic rivets out of carpet lining, unplug the lights, and then unscrew the four bolts. I didn't have the right size bolt so I tightened it with an adjustable wrench. So far, no condensation. http://i.imgur.com/RGNFV8T.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Td2hNbf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/9QMt48R.jpg |
Those valenti tails look good :thumbup:
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nice car man...but chrome rims:thumbdown:
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Nice
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14. Spring Mods - Springs and shocks!
It's spring time! A whole bunch of mods now that the weather's warm. In no particular order: 1. RCE Tarmacs, Koni Shocks, SPC Rear LCA, SPC Front Camber bolts Finally time to do some suspension goodies! Decided to skip the coils and save money with a good spring/shock combo. After lots and lots of research and comparing what I really wanted, I ended up getting some RCE tarmacs because of the stiffer spring rates than other springs. And Konis because Bilsteins weren't out yet when I bought them (Not that they were bad, I would have preferred to get a comparison) I also got some sacrificial front struts off the forums and the nice DIY really helped. The install wasn't too bad. It took longer since I stripped both of my endlinks (All 4!) As always, take your time (especially with the pipe cutter) and you'll get nice clean cuts. The combo feels very nice! The combo feels very good! Body roll has been greatly reduced and ride has been a bit bumpier (of course). I already had front and rear sways, but they didn't really do too much (as far as I could tell). This combo is very DD-able and not too harsh as long as you don't set the Koni's to full stiff. After an alignment, I got -1.6 front and -1.5 rear. The whole party! http://i.imgur.com/e2dbgxt.jpg Inserts done! http://i.imgur.com/QNSkOdI.jpg\ Rears assembled http://i.imgur.com/FeLZxCJ.jpg Installed http://i.imgur.com/eBL54Xo.jpg 2. Front Endlinks So... I stripped the OEM front endlinks (dam New England weather!). But it means new car parts! I ended up getting some from Perrin. (Taken from a potato) http://i.imgur.com/3MMuGba.jpg 3. Sub! I needed some extra bass and this definitely hit the spot! Saw this DIY here on the forums and decided it was the best choice for me. I got a 12inch Sub and amp combo from Amazon. I mounted the amp in ceiling of the roof and the sub is strapped in quite nicely. Very easy to take out for autocross. Winter modding... http://i.imgur.com/uQPqGun.jpg Can't see it unless you look underneath http://i.imgur.com/4nSKW2U.jpg 4. Grimmspeed Tower Bar This was actually a mod from August. I don't think I ever posted it here, but here it is. The install was way too easy. Just make sure you torque the bolts correctly (very carefully). I've been reading a lot about how they do nothing (for other cars, in general), but I had the itch and there was a group buy. I was actually very surprised at how much it changed... or rather how much our front bends. Not sure how to explain it... but I could tell that the front felt much more solid. It was a very good surprise! Purdy! http://i.imgur.com/gZD4E6E.jpg |
Haven't updated in a year... so here's some picture updates:
Friend needed a jump haha http://i.imgur.com/8331cba.jpg?1 Autocross http://i.imgur.com/M7mKQbn.jpg?1 This winter was pretty brutal http://i.imgur.com/PHxpOlK.jpg?1 New 4th brake light! http://i.imgur.com/XVTBkXW.jpg?1 Fresh wax, only to be covered in a few hours later http://i.imgur.com/NV2VXng.jpg?1 |
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