BRZ STi x TRD "BSTiRDized"

[m.box.design]

i notice you've ordered quite a lot of stuff from japanparts. were there many taxes and fees beyond the listed price+shipping?

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by indesign

i notice you've ordered quite a lot of stuff from japanparts. were there many taxes and fees beyond the listed price+shipping?

I think I had to pay a $50 customs inspection fee once when I had multiple large boxes (4 wheels and springs) in one shipment.

[2point0]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

Oh yeah! Clearance. Forgot about that with dem wheelz.

I drive pretty hard all the time and I think my car will see a lot of racing this year, so I'm seriously considering coilovers, but basic ones. I'm considering HVT over ST: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1430369

I just saw that thread as well, VERY tempting. Normally I'd be wary, but when TiC gives a recommendation, I'm likely to listen.

Switch, you should come up to Palomar Mountain some day. Just went this past Sunday with my friend who drives an 04 WRX that's all JDM'd out. We had a blast.

The fun part is South Grade Rd, between 76 and here:
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#...4d-116.8655151

[BeRZ]

Originally Posted by 2point0

I just saw that thread as well, VERY tempting. Normally I'd be wary, but when TiC gives a recommendation, I'm likely to listen.

Switch, you should come up to Palomar Mountain some day. Just went this past Sunday with my friend who drives an 04 WRX that's all JDM'd out. We had a blast.

The fun part is South Grade Rd, between 76 and here:
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#...4d-116.8655151

Wow, that road looks like a blast! I'm just a little farther north, and drive through Angeles Forest every weekend, but Palomar Mountain looks like a pretty awesome drive.

[2point0]

Originally Posted by BeRZ

Wow, that road looks like a blast! I'm just a little farther north, and drive through Angeles Forest every weekend, but Palomar Mountain looks like a pretty awesome drive.

It sure is! Also, taking the East Grade Rd down is a nice alternative. More of a nice cruising road, and less white-knuckles.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by 2point0

It sure is! Also, taking the East Grade Rd down is a nice alternative. More of a nice cruising road, and less white-knuckles.

I have yet to cruise Palomar. SDCE (SD Car Enthusiast club) goes there every so often and I was thinking of joining them one of these days. But less white-knuckles is cool (I need to avoid any chances of speeding violations).

[switchlanez]

So I've had ST coilovers installed for a few weeks now and love them. At first they were as soft as stock but they've stiffened up now that they're settled. Still a quality ride, with better bump travel than my [now sold] Sportlines. Also sold my XXRs and switched back to stockers til something replaces them in a couple months.

[UltraMarine86]

So what's coming in a couple months? Any hints?

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by UltraMarine86

So what's coming in a couple months? Any hints?

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

Keeping it hush hush for now hoping nobody gets these wheels before I do. :p

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

WOW. That's from my crappy cell phone pic too lol

Found another haha

LINK

I just found my car/photos on an advertisement too lol

LINK

[2point0]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I have yet to cruise Palomar. SDCE (SD Car Enthusiast club) goes there every so often and I was thinking of joining them one of these days. But less white-knuckles is cool (I need to avoid any chances of speeding violations).

Do you know Andy aka Bluebatmobile (sells vinyl wrap)? He sends out texts for SDCE drives all the time. He just sent one today about meeting for Carlsbad Cars & Coffee this Sat morning, 7-9 at the Carlsbad Outlets. It's a weekly meet, but the SDCE guys don't always go. I keep telling myself I'll go along on one of their Julian runs or something.

Palomar isn't too much of an issue as far as violations. And it's only a tense ride if you want it to be. There are no side streets or driveways, just a bunch of corners and a big turnoff with a viewing spot. There are also motorcycles and bicyclists, but I've yet to hit one.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by 2point0

Do you know Andy aka Bluebatmobile (sells vinyl wrap)? He sends out texts for SDCE drives all the time. He just sent one today about meeting for Carlsbad Cars & Coffee this Sat morning, 7-9 at the Carlsbad Outlets. It's a weekly meet, but the SDCE guys don't always go. I keep telling myself I'll go along on one of their Julian runs or something.

Palomar isn't too much of an issue as far as violations. And it's only a tense ride if you want it to be. There are no side streets or driveways, just a bunch of corners and a big turnoff with a viewing spot. There are also motorcycles and bicyclists, but I've yet to hit one.

Ya, I get Andy's texts. Known him since we both had Celicas. I'm mostly lazy to drive up there since I live closer to South County but one of these days. Been to Cbad Cars once, though.

[cslntuee]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I did temporarily try the Home Depot lip mod and was almost going to suggest it. But the color was too off for me to recommend.



The challenge is finding rubber that's a better match for the stain black paint of the STI lip. Also finding rubber with an "L" shaped cross-section so one leg of the "L" aheres to your lip and the other leg extends down towards the ground for a few centimeters of protective "cushioning."

I scraped yesterday through an everyday intersection which dips (sometimes I don't scrape depending on my speed and entry angle) and today on a 123 mile cruise into an unfamiliar town in another state. And recently for an oil change and alignment, I've had all 4 wheels of my car rolled up onto jack ramps that suspended my car so techs could work on it. I watched the "L" rubber skirt get completely pressed/folded so it became a "V" with both legs closed into each other as it rolled up the incline, protecting my lip. Then they let it roll too far to the end of the jack ramp where there were wheel stops that protrude up. The rubber skirt ate it and nudged my lip upward (the lip mounts/bumper have some flex play). After painfully watching all that, I checked/felt all along my lip and found there was no damage thanks to the rubber. Then again, I'm lowered on Sportlines. But when I was lowered on 0.6" STI springs, I did scrape the rubber several times on unfamiliar roads and the lip saw no damage. So I have firsthand experience of seeing the rubber being effective at protecting the lip from damage. And in cases where I saw the ground fold the rubber into itself and flex the whole lip up, if the rubber weren't there, the lip would have touched ground instead.

But that's not the purpose for which STI markets the rubber skirt. It is intended to be an aerodynamic piece which blocks air from flowing to the underside (similar to how JDM underpanels and TRD rear diffuser keep air pushed downward) to reduce airflow/air pressure to the underside. Similar to why stock cars/race cars have near zero ground clearance; so air is diverted away from the underbody to prevent lift. So the STI lip is for downforce and the rubber skirt is to reduce air entering the underside. I don't remember seeing STI market it as a protective piece; that's just an extra benefit that nudged me to get it.

HI,

Which Home Depot rubber you referring to?
There are al lot of different kinds of rubber on their website.
http://www.homedepot.com/b/N-5yc1v/N...atchall&NCNI-5
Please let me know.
Thanks.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by cslntuee

HI,

Which Home Depot rubber you referring to?
There are al lot of different kinds of rubber on their website.
http://www.homedepot.com/b/N-5yc1v/N...atchall&NCNI-5
Please let me know.
Thanks.

It was this one: http://www.homedepot.com/p/MD-Buildi...3749/100353454