GT86 Drift Build in Japan

[AutoCulture]

I really dislike the stock clear taillights, so next up was an upgrade for those.





Always loved these Valentis. I also made a short video on the taillights and the swapping process on my Youtube channel if anyone is interested:

[AutoCulture]

Some might find vanity plates cringy, but I can't imagine driving my car without a good 86 plate...





For about $40 USD, in Japan you can customize your own plate. You only get to play with the big 4 numbers though. I changed the plate from the random 57-98 I got when I bought the car to 86 last year in July.

In the fall, the government announced new special plates for Tokyo - each prefecture here has special colorful plates with a design specific from that place, something cultural or meaningful. Tokyo didn't have one for years but finally they gave us one, and I immediately applied for it and got it:





It is a design that features Tokyo Tower as a symbol of Tokyo, as well as the flower of Tokyo, the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms.

This was a bit more expensive at around $90 USD.

[AutoCulture]

Now it's time for some bigger exterior upgrades.

I love the design of the D-MAX D1-spec hood. Decided to get it in carbon fiber as well despite the fact that I aimed to have it painted silver like the body.



Must say the quality of the hood was more disappointing than I thought it would be, with the biggest issues being no rain cover included - now I have to duct tape the hood every time it rains. Second disappointment was the hood latch striker being 1cm shorter than the stock, meaning closing it requires extra pushing and the hood doesn't align perfectly with the front bumper now.

[AutoCulture]

Next up to be upgraded was some proper noise...




Out with my previous set up, Trust Greddy Circuit spec Straight Pipe + HKS HiPower Spec L...








and in with the new - Tomei EXPREME Ti Type-80 + Tomei EXPREME Titanium straight pipe (not pictured).






Looks amazing, sounds amazing, scarily loud at times.

I also got EL headers from TOMEI but waiting to put them on at a later time.

Here's a video of a cold start:

https://youtube.com/shorts/MfLQN1jJ8r4?feature=share

[AutoCulture]

Wow, it's been more than a year since I posted here.

I'll pick it up from where I left off in my last post and work towards the current state of the car as it is today.

After the exhaust, I figured it was time to put on a bit of a "body kit". I sourced used parts for a full Modellista lip kit, and they were all in great shape:







This is what the parts cost me roughly in USD:

Front Lip $50
Side Skirts $250
Rear Spats $150

I couldn't believe the front lip was so cheap, considering they go for so much usually. I thought it was a mistake on the listing but nope.

Final test fitting before painting:








I also picked up a TRD rear aero stabilizer as a small detail:





As well as a D-MAX carbon fiber hood:

[AutoCulture]

With everything painted and fitted:










You may or may not have also noticed that I decided to run pre-facelift BRZ headlights as well.

[AutoCulture]

Next decided to replace my old dirty and ripped up BRIDE ZETA III with this TRD ZETA III.

[AutoCulture]

Another massive and important part installed - baffle plate:





As my last GT86 died from oil starvation, I decided that's not going to happen on this one if possible. This baffle is from Tomei and as it is a sandwich type, it was an nightmare to install and took me a whole three times before i did it correctly without any leaks.

Not pictured but also installed a new Greddy oil cooler.

[AutoCulture]

Next up, I really wanted to get better and bigger wheels than the poorly sized RPF1's that I had on at the time. I love the idea of white wheels on a silver car:



Work Emotion CR Kiwami
18 x 9.5 +20 all around

I also decided to not wait for Work to fabricate the wheels in PCD 100 so went with the 114.3 they had in stock and decided to throw in PCD converter spacers.

Due to this, the wheels stuck out way past the fenders so I had to do something about this.

Enter Origin Labo +25mm fenders.

[AutoCulture]

Before sending the car off to mount the fenders it was time to do a few mechanical upgrades as well, including putting on the Tomei baffle plate.

- Defi Gauges (Water temp, Oil temp, Oil pressure)
- Blitz gauge holder panel
- Greddy oil cooler
- Blitz radiator hoses

[villainous_frx]

Originally Posted by AutoCulture

Before sending the car off to mount the fenders it was time to do a few mechanical upgrades as well, including putting on the Tomei baffle plate.

- Defi Gauges (Water temp, Oil temp, Oil pressure)
- Blitz gauge holder panel
- Greddy oil cooler
- Blitz radiator hoses

Ditch the worm clamps for the OEM spring style ones. I used the included Blitz clamps and they all leaked after a few heat cycles, I have since replaced with OEM and have no leaks.

[autoracer86]

Good call on the gauges! Make sure you overfill the oil a bit and set some oil pressure alarms to see if you're getting oil pressure drops on track.

[AutoCulture]

Originally Posted by villainous_frx

Ditch the worm clamps for the OEM spring style ones. I used the included Blitz clamps and they all leaked after a few heat cycles, I have since replaced with OEM and have no leaks.

Good call, I have had a leak that I fixed but was never sure where it leaked from. Maybe it was the clamps indeed.

[AutoCulture]

Originally Posted by autoracer86

Good call on the gauges! Make sure you overfill the oil a bit and set some oil pressure alarms to see if you're getting oil pressure drops on track.

Yep, doing both already.