rlpaul's CBS BRZ journal
 

Scroll to bottom of post for current mods/photo.

I'd been planning on buying a new car early 2015, while keeping my B15 Sentra as a beater/winter vehicle. Unfortunately, I blew a head gasket (only 60k miles too, ugh) and rather than fix the Sentra, I decided to suck it up and get something new. After much thought and deliberation, two weeks later I drove away in my new BRZ Limited:

October 5th, 2014
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b...2014-10-05.jpg

Seeing how this is my only car now, and will be for probably the next three years, my immediate priorities will be centered around daily driving. These priorities will slowly shift over the next few months/years, but until the drivetrain warranty is up, I'm keeping her naturally aspirated. Therefore, initial performance upgrades will all be suspension/handling related.

Current Mods:

Interior
-----------
JPM Coachworks Alcantara Gauge Hood
JPM Coachworks Alcantara Knee Pads
JPM Coachworks Alcantara Shift Boot
JPM Coachworks Alcantara E-brake Boot
RaceSeng Red Anodized Reverse Lockout
WC Latheworks Titanium Shift Knob
Diode Dynamics LEDs - Dome (stage 3 red x2), Vanity (stage 2 white), Plate (stage 2 white), Courtesy (stage 3 red), Trunk (flex light red)
Sound Deadening (CLD and MLV)
Black Toyota plastic trim (to replace the silver trim)
Rear Seat Delete
OEM Toyota Sliding Armrest
AirDock 2.0 (Cable routed behind dash)
Carbon 3rd Brake Relocation by @wheelhaus

Exterior
-----------
50% Llumar CTX Tint (Sides+Rear)
Debadged Subaru and BRZ Lettering
Toyota Mud Guards
Beatsonic Sharkfin
GrimmSpeed Front License Plate Relocation
Custom JDM LED Sidemarkers
Diode Dynamics Always On module (Boomerangs as DRL)
Diode Dynamics XP80 front turn signals
Tom's JDM Red Tail Lights

Performance
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OFT Stage 2 E85

Wheels
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TWS T66-F 17x9 37 ET Gunmetal Gloss
Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/40r17
Muteki SR48 Burning Blue

To Install:
GrimmSpeed Lightweight Crank Pulley (red)

Shortlist:
Mild sound insulation (for daily driver comfort) - Door cards next project
More Alcantara
Head unit: Likely an Android Auto enabled Pioneer

Long list:
Header - Leaning towards JDL EL
Cat-back - likely single exit for weight savings, assuming I can find one that's not obnoxiously loud. Or I might stay stock on this and go for silent ninja approach ;)
Camber plates: If whatever coil-overs I decide on don't come with plates, I'll get RaceSeng
LCA - likely SPL Titanium. The new FT86SF/Velox LCAs look interesting though...
Coil-overs
Diffuser

Undecided list:
Front Splitter
2 or 3 way component speakers
Some type of engine power mod (FI or high-revving NA build)
Lightweight flywheel - Depends on track time/budget/other mods
Bushings - Depends on how much time I have for track days.

Latest Photo
March 19th - First detailing:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...sumi-00402.jpg

Quick out of focus photo of the shifter knob/lockout combo:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...2014-11-07.jpg

Installed winter tires on November 13th. Few days later, this happened. Just in time!

Michelin X-Ice3 215/17/45
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...2014-11-17.jpg

UPS delivered something nice...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...1_122843~2.jpg

Dual function sidemarkers from @Acree from his old build. More info on the markers here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=22

Quite a bit more work done on the car, but not many pics to post at the moment. The combination of being pretty busy, and being cold out means when I duck out to work on the car, its just to get it done ASAP.

I've half removed the rear seats and seat belts. Passenger side is done, still need to do the driver's side. Put CLD and MLV in the trunk. Haven't finished that job as the tempurature dropped about 20 degrees as I was trying to finish up. Heat gun made sure the adhesive will stick, but it was way below freezing when I called it quits.

Ordered and received the black trim pieces from Amayama. Steering wheel trim missing from the box, so sent them an email. I've installed all the other pieces minus the knee pad garnishes and door handles. Holding off until my JPM Coachworks knee pads arrive so I can install the pads, garnish, and OEM armrest all at the same time. Unsure if I'm going to install the door handles at this point.

Installed the sidemarkers I received from @Acree. Right turn signal is working, but I screwed something up on the left side. Guessing I need to resolder it, as the parking light works just fine. Had to epoxy in some new retaining clips to get them installed, pretty easy.

@GrimmSpeed LWCP arrived as well. Will probably wait until I order something like the Mishimoto Induction Hose to install it, since I'll want to leave the sound tube hardware out permanently if I'm going to remove it to install the LWCP.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...221_135517.jpg

Picking up my rear seat delete from UPS today. Have a small project in mind for that. No details just yet, lets just say some Alcantara is involved :)

When you plug them in, the running lights should come on as normal (white). Extend the wire lead from each sidemarker and splice it into the positive turn signal wire. Done. PM me your cell number if you need. I can walk you through it on the phone.

I have the running lights working on both. Turn signal works on passenger side, but not driver side, so I'm pretty sure its just a bad solder job on my part. Thanks though!

Did some work over the holiday weekend.

Packages arrived from @JPM Coachworks with both boots and knee pads. The gauge hood has been installed for a few months already. Since I was removing the old knee pads, I installed the black knee pad garnish bits to the JPM ones. Only piece left on that front is the lower steering wheel cover.

Finished sound deadening everything behind the front seats, minus a few details. Also installed the rear seat delete kit from Shrader Performance. Since I installed the sliding Toyota OEM armrest just after, there's a slight fitment issue that needs to be taken care of. Its on my shortlist, but this weekend looks pretty busy.

I was pressed for time (garage I was using doesn't have any lights) so didn't take any photos. Still ended up doing the final installs after dark (mainly, the center console after adding the armrest). So, here's a teaser until I manage to take some real photos:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...122_075644.jpg

Just ordered the Always-On module from @Diode Dynamics. Moving next weekend so not sure when I'll have time to install it, but figure I'll fix the driver side sidemarker while I'm at it.

Removed the chrome trim from the fender garnish. Looks a lot better in my opinion. Seemed weird to me that Subaru put that on when there's no other chrome on the car.

How did you black out the ring around your shifter boot? I have been waiting for the always on boomerang mod to come out, is that what you got in your last post?

Yes, the always on boomerang mod.

Its not blacked out, its been replaced: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71798

There's a small issue that's been bugging me since I installed my rear seat deletes and the Toyota type 2 armrest:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n...2015-01-25.jpg

The cover for the armrest rails go almost all the way to the back of the armrest, which causes the storage panels to lie on the armrest, and therefore not close all the way.

I'll be peeling the carpet back on the panels and cutting out notches to accommodate the rails. I'll measure how much I end up cutting in case anybody else wants to install this combo. Hopefully that'll allow the panels to close all the way.

Post pics of the sidemarkers installed!

Ask and ye shall receive!

Although you'll have to find them under all the salt...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r...1754%257E2.jpg

I'll take some real photos when the weather isn't terribad.