Halo white 17' Toyota 86 featherweight build

[SuperTom]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

Tom, FWIW my experience with NST wasn't good. The pulley's tore my belt to shreds and there was zero customer support. That was a long time ago and they were my first aftermarket purchase.

Well they advertise 2Days Fast AF shipping. Then they tell me they are waiting on bearings for the pulleys. Ive used them before with no problems but this wait is slowing down my testing.

[SuperTom]

We this is my next brace to install the rear suspension brace that ties up the rear control arm area up to the forward subframe. Im sticking with their parts so far because fitment as been good, decent weight, cheap price, and I like how they use 2 mounting points to the frame area most I saw only bolt up to one point.

Weight is in at 3.5 lbs



A few problems the bar on driver side nearly touching exhaust no pic of repair but I did go back and grind some metal off for more clearance


Also the second mounting point that I liked so much ends up interfering with the JDM gas tank covers. My solution for now without cutting anything was just using a long 10mm bolt. The Gas cover gets pushed down a 1/2" away from the body, which affects where my velox suspension covers hang

I could go back and either completely chop off that connection to the back bolt or just trim some bar so the plastic fits cover fits flush.





Also while in that area today installed the Whiteline Rear inserts KDT925.
No post install pics at they were black and hidden. But they did add .75 lbs


I am now at 2391.5lbs. I can only add 8.5 more before I have to find some weight loss elsewhere

[SuperTom]

Finally got to drive it with all new pulleys a combination of Raceseng and Nonstoptuning. So heres the $50 paint job with Behr Bonfire Blaze color and redid the engine area as well. Will give it a longer drive to work tomorrow and hopefully can test some of the recent mods.

[SuperTom]

Small update today got an aliexpress brake booster brace that added about 1/2lb. Also Installed my Raceneng Black crank pulley to replace red one.

SIde note Im trying to order all the parts to convert to the gen 2 aluminum steering knuckles. 2 sites so far have cancelled my order due to backorder no eta.

[SuperTom]

Not a mod since the braces come from the factory but I took them out before for weight reduction. Now that im leaning towards some structure lightened these and reinstalled with some titanium bolts.




Also added a cutoff to my rear battery setup.

[SuperTom]

Quick mod this morning added the Tom's/Revo Front control arm brace. Why do I like theirs vs the other's Cusco ect. I like that it is bracing an open area, the cusco and others brace laterally across but there already is the factory frame in that area seems redundant.

Added 3lbs vs my Perrin braces. I would pay more for this design if made in aluminum

[SuperTom]

Searching for some meat on the bone I realized I still had all the padding behind the dash. I also never removed the wiring and computer for the SRS system. While everything was apart Took out the HVAC I heard there was another AC condenser in there. While taking everything apart realized I still had the dash speakers.

Heres the SRS wiring from the rear of the car and dash area, only snipped off the sensors in the engine area didn't want to splice open those harnesses. The main challenge is these wires are integrated into the main harnesses instead of being separate. Also some of the speaker wiring from the dash and door

Got 4lbs from all that




Next was taking out the dash to get to the HVAC motors. Dont want to get into how I accomplished this but a major PIA to get to that Sound deading and scrape out the tar

Got 4.5lbs from that




While the HVAC was out took out the second AC condesor out

That was 2.75 lbs



also took out the front speakers good for 1.25 lbs and also did a few "speed holes" on the dash beam.




Grand total of 12.5 lbs most of it from the front dash area!! This should equal out the weight ive added recently with bracing and the Injen intake.

[SuperTom]

As you will see my NRG carbon bucket have faded and soaked in dirt over the years. Ive been wanting to either take them off and dye or spend the $ for an upholstery shop.

I found A much more cost effective solutions. First I ordered Alcantara replacement covers for NRG Prisma line of seats for $150. I took a gamble as they looked close enough to the design of my carbon buckets.

Then I ordered a giant roll of plaid fabric with backing from Etsy for $60. I wrapped that around the existing cushions and used twist pins from underneath to secure. Took a few times to get the yellow lines to line up perfectly.

The most time consuming part was DE-stitching out the "Prisma Logo" on the seat top. I kept the outer circle and found Toyota patch the same dimensions. I had to reorder them as Iron-ON patch I accidentally bought velcro thats why they are currently not secured.

Im very happy with the results!

[SuperTom]

Another round of MODS today!

Ordered this no name brace off ebay it claimed to be aluminum so I took the risk .
https://www.ebay.com/itm/176870408128

Was pleasantly surprised to see it was a TTCR-II Brace. It immediately felt very light in my hands and looked great. The new BRZ/GR86 uses bracing in this area our car doesnt have
Came out to be 3lbs.





All the bottom plates bolted back on. I had to remove and reinstall 2 of the bottom bolts as the brace and front skid plate shared same location.



Also added in today Carbon Fiber front end links from Racer X. These are a pretty price and was hoping for more weight loss but I suppose you can only go so light for a suspension part and have strength
These were 1.7lbs vs my generic adjustable endlinks at 2.8lbs




So gained 3lbs from the brace and lost 1lb from the endlinks on the front today. I should be around 2382.5 LBS

[SuperTom]

Interior put back together. Trim parts color matched then 2k cleared and of course the newly alcantara covered seats. Also new Alcantara boots and speedo hood (have to redo part of the wrinkle).

-Follow up note: the braces Did what I hope for an eliminated 90% of the bad reverberation I was getting in the car mostly around the passenger door area so a big win.
-Eliminating the dash sound deadening did introduce quite a bit of volume into the cabin, mostly clean but louder. I may look for some super lightweight sound deadening options if there is any out there.

[SuperTom]

Today completed the Aluminum Knuckle conversion these are stock on the 22'+BRZ. I mostly used the instructions here just convert to English https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid...4954/note.aspx
-Few changes on mine the newer Tie rod ends OEM are on backorder right now so I ordered RacerX ones for 22+ BRZ
- I didnt use dust shields, didn't on my old setup.
-Many have problems with BBK kits. My lightweight Wilwood kit fit perfect
- I believe the Knuckles are also on backorder. I found a used set with Wheel bearings already installed.



Weight savings I weighted with the Bearings on no shields
IRON - 18.5 lbs
ALuminum - 15.1lbs so good for aprox 3.5lbs per side!




RacerX Tie rod ends gave a total of .25 lighter total wasn't looking for weight savings here just proper fitment



Installed with no problems. Didnt take pic with wheel speed sensor like instructions say it is a tight fit. Used knuckles came with a longer sensor wire which I may try if I have problems later.




Took me about 2 hours per side would've been much less both Tie rod jam nuts were seized up. Had to use PB, Torch, Crow foot on breaker bar contraption to get free. Otherwise straight forward

Cost was about $500 for both knuckles used but had most parts included. The RacerX Tie Rods were about $300. This conversion will be much cheaper if you can find 22+ OEM ones somewhere

Weight Loss about 7lbs total off the front suspension!

My new weight back down to approx 2374lbs

[SuperTom]

More mods today for weight reduction Racer-x Rear upper control arms

Took off 8.5 lbs from the rear suspension!




Install again is pretty straight forward. Had to pry off the stock control arms from the knuckle hence all the grease.



Was disappointed when I read the directions there was a mounting point for the Speed sensor wire brace. Mine came with zip ties instead. This is a time when I would have preferred those mounts at the expense of a some ounces


Also thought I matched up the dimensions to my stock arms, when I lowered the car down had alot of negative came so Ill be playing with the adjustment on my next day off

[SuperTom]

I know they arent a popular brand but decided to go with the Megan Racing Front control arms. These have the front ball joints for the 22+ Brz to mate with my aluminum knuckles and some roll correction. They also look to have stiffer bushings in the other areas.

I wasnt looking for weight loss as I thought they were just using stock arms and painting them. But these ended up being a .75lbs lighter per side and they look to have an extra layer of bracing on the bottom. I was impressed with so called crappy megan racing.








All buttoned up you can see that extra bit of bracing underneath




New weight 2370

[SuperTom]

STR B-Pillar Bracing from 86worx from Japan took about a month to get built then shipped. Looked for something similiar in the US and the closest thing would be some kind of harness brace.

Felt heavier and sturdier than the scale but everthing came out too 2.75lbs


Painted the blue brackets yellow to match rest of interior. Had to trim some of the seatbelt cover to fit. Tried to be clean with the cut






NEW WEIGHT 2372.75 LBS