Lakitu's Toyota 86 Journal

[Lakitu]

2017 86 daily driver with focus mostly on an enjoyable daily drive experience.


----- Phase 1 - Intake/Exhaust/Suspension/Wheels/Tires/Brakes/Steering ($9564)

[x] Exhaust: $880 - FT86 SpeedFactory V1 Resonated Catback (DONE 09/22/17)

[x] Intake Filter: $52 - K&N Drop in Filter (DONE 10/02/17)

[x] Tuning: $500 - OpenFlash Tablet (DONE 11/03/17)

[x] Inlet Hose: $95 - Black Perrin Inlet Hose (DONE 11/07/17)

[x] Header: $766 - JDL Catless UEL w/ Grimmspeed Gaskets (DONE 12/7/17)

[x] Intake: $330 - GrimmSpeed Cold Air Intake + intake snorkel cut (DONE 12/19/17)

[x] Wheels: $930 - Black Enkei TS-10 18x8.5 +45 (DONE 05/03/18)

[x] Tires: $907 - Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 245/35R18 + Labor (DONE 05/03/18)

[x] Clutch Spring: $0 - Removed (DONE 05/04/18)

[x] Suspension: $995 - BC Racing BR Coilovers (DONE 06/09/18)

[x] Front/Over Pipes: $749 - JDL Catted Only (DONE 06/13/18)

[x] Bushings #1: $63 - Perrin Shifter Bushing w/ Whiteline Trans Mount Insert (DONE 07/21/18)

[x] Shift Springs: $33 - MTEC Shift Springs (DONE 07/21/18)

[x] Drive shaft: $945 - DSS Carbon Fiber (DONE 07/21/18)

[x] Studs & Lug Nuts: $204 - ARP 100-7716 + Muteki 32905B SR Black (DONE 07/22/18)

[x] Brakes: $635 - FT86 SpeedFactory Stage 1 Brake Kit + DBA T2 Rear Rotors (DONE 07/22/18)

[x] Strut Tower Brace: $135 - GrimmSpeed Bar (Black) (DONE 08/12/18)

[x] Bushings #2: $135 - Whiteline Subframe Inserts + Whiteline Rear Diff Inserts + Whiteline Steering Mounts (DONE 08/12/18)

[x] Rear Lower Control Arms: $579 - Velox Lower Control Arms (Red) (DONE 04/13/19)

[x] Rear Toe Arms: $295 - Velox Toe Arms (Black) (DONE 04/13/19)

[x] Brakes Brace: $76 - Radium Master Cylinder Brace (DONE 04/21/19)

[x] Engine Mounts: $260 - STi Engine Mounts (DONE 04/21/19)


----- Phase 2 - Exhaust/Suspension Revisions ($4215)

[x] Front Pipe #2: $399 - JDL Catted+Resonated (DONE 05/23/19)

[x] Over Pipe #2: $232 - Invidia (DONE 05/23/19)

[x] Suspension #2: $1800 - RS*R Sports-i Coilovers (DONE 08/18/19)

[x] Exhaust #2: $1071 - Perrin 2.5" Resonated Catback (DONE 09/25/19)

[x] Suspension #2: $1800 - RCE Superstreet-1 Coilovers (ORDERED 09/03/21)


----- Phase 3 - Forced Induction ($6230)

[ ] Turbo: $5135 - JDL UEL V2 Turbo (GTX2860R, welded pan, 3 bar, silver hot, black cold, VTA, 2.5in, bumper)

[ ] Tuning: $1095 - Delicious Tune


----- Phase 4 - FI Supporting Mods ($919)

[ ] Turbo Blanket: $178 - PTP Lava Turbo Blanket

[x] Clutch: $741 - Exedy Stage 1 Clutch + Exedy Flywheel + Verus Fork & Fork Pivot


------ Cosmetics/Support

[x] Tint: $100 Labor (DONE 08/12/17)

[x] Floor Mats: $110 - WeatherTech Floor Mats (DONE 01/10/18)

[x] Shift Knob: $140 - Raceseng Smoke Translucent (DONE 07/18/18)

[x] Reverse Lockout: $25 - GCS Reverse Lockout (DONE 07/20/18)

[x] Cup Holder Mats: $15 - Smabee Red Slot Pads (DONE 07/30/18)

[x] Side Markers: $63 - Helix Smoked (DONE 12/25/18)

[x] Button Decal: $3 - 86 Vinyl Decal (DONE 12/25/18)

[x] Auto Headlight Bracket: $27 - Verus Auto Headlight LCA Bracket

[ ] Trunk Cover: $200 - TRD Aero Trunk Cover



----- Updates

05/11/22: Installed RCE Super Street-1 coilovers, and Verus Auto Headlight Bracket, removed Perrin sway bars, removed Perrin end links

05/09/22: Received RCE Super Street-1 coilovers

05/04/22: Ordered RCE Super Street-1 coilovers

01/13/20: Ordered Verus clutch fork, Verus fork pivot, Exedy flywheel, Exedy stage 1 clutch

09/25/19: Received and installed Perrin catback

09/20/19: Ordered Perrin 2.5" resonated exhaust

08/18/19: Installed RS*R coilovers, added Perrin front/rear sway bar, Perrin front/rear end links

08/15/19: Received RS*R coilovers

08/09/19: Ordered RS*R coilovers

07/16/19: Changed RCE coilovers to RS*R coilovers

05/29/19: Added Perrin 2.5" resonated catback

05/23/19: Installed JDL catted+resonated front pipe and Invidia overpipe

05/22/19: Received Invidia over pipe

05/17/19: Ordered Invidia over pipe

05/14/19: Received JDL catted+resonated front pipe (can't install, shaped differently, need OEM-style over pipe replacement)

04/21/19: Installed STI engine mounts, Radium master cylinder brace

04/20/19: Received Radium master cylinder brace

04/16/19: Removed IP Ignition Coils, added TRD aero trunk cover, ordered Radium master cylinder bracer, JDL catted front pipe (catted+resonated)

04/13/19: Installed Velox lower control arms and toe arms, uninstalled BCC rear coilovers

12/25/18: Installed Side Markers and Button Decal

10/15/18: Received Velox lower control arms and toe arm links

10/09/18: Received STi engine mounts

10/06/18: Received smoked Helix side markers (5-month wait..)

10/05/18: Ordered STi engine mounts

10/01/18: Ordered Velox lower control arms and toe arm links

09/25/18: Changed Perrin engine mounts to STi engine mounts, ordered 86 Vinyl Decal

09/24/18: Changed STi engine mounts to Perrin engine mounts, added Velox lower control arm and toe arms

09/21/18: Removed Mishimoto catch can, Door sills, Enforced Aero, front lip, GR side skirts, Toyota underpanels, Toyota armrest, FT86 rear diffuser, Seibon TS hood

08/27/18: Added RCE SS1 coilovers

08/18/18: Removed Jackson Racing radiator and oil cooler

08/12/18: Installed GrimmSpeed strut tower brace, Whiteline sub member assembly & differential bushings

08/01/18: Received GrimmSpeed strut tower brace, subframe/steering/diff bushings

07/30/18: Received and installed Cup holder mats

07/22/18: Installed DB rotors and ARP studs, added PTP Lava Turbo Blanket, Whiteline subframe/diff/steering inserts, STi engine mounts, changed Exedy lightweight flywheel back to Exedy OEM replacement

07/21/18: Installed GCS reverse lockout, MTEC shifter springs, Whiteline trans bushing, Perrin shifter bushing, DSS carbon fiber driveshaft

07/20/18: Changed strut tower brace from Hotchkis to GrimmSpeed, changed JSRC supercharger to JDL turbo, removed Hotchkis sway bars, added JDL bumper bar

07/18/18: Received and installed Raceseng shift knob. Received GCS reverse lockout, MTEC shift springs, DSS carbon fiber driveshaft

07/15/18: Ordered Smabee slot pads

07/14/18: Added IP ignition coils

07/13/18: Ordered Perrin shifter and Whiteline trans bushings, MTEC shift springs, DSS carbon fiber driveshaft, GCS red reverse lockout, Raceseng smoked shift knob

07/06/18: Added Hotchkis strut tower brace and sway bars

06/27/18: Added DSS carbon fiber driveshaft, Whiteline and Perrin transmission mount bushing, Toyota OEM underpanels. Change flywheel from Exedy Stock Replacement (21.43 lbs)

06/13/18: Received and installed JDL Front and Over pipes

06/09/18: Installed BC Racing Coilovers, EBC Red Stuff brake pads with Motul DOT 5.1 brake fluid installed, removed Subaru OEM Brembo calipers

06/07/18: Received and installed Replacement OEM driver side mirror

06/01/18: Ordered replacement OEM driver side mirror

05/31/18: Added "Intermission" section to resolve issues from car wreck before anything else can be done, added trunk liner

05/23/18: Ordered Helix Smoke Side Markers and rear DBA rotors

05/22/18: BC coilovers received, added Mishimoto Catch Can, Deatschwerks fuel pump and fuel injectors, Helix side markers

05/21/18: Changed calipers to Subaru OEM Brembo

05/15/18: Changed calipers to ATS Brembo kit, added Jackson Racing Radiator and Oil Cooler, Raceseng shift knob and more cosmetic items

05/12/18: Added Subaru OEM Brembo

05/10/18: Brake kit received

05/09/18: BC coilovers received (wrong coilovers)

05/04/18: Ordered BC coilovers, FT86 SF brake upgrade kit, JDL front pipe (catted), removed clutch spring, merged tuning and supercharger

05/03/18: Installed Enkei wheels and Firehawk Indy 500 tires

05/02/18: Enkei TS10 wheels received

04/26/18: Ordered Enkei TS10 wheels

03/22/18: Changed suspension to BC Racing BR, changed tire size from 225/40R18 to 245/35R18, added Exedy flywheel and clutch

03/15/18: Changed front/over pipe to JDL catted, changed wheels to Enkei TS-10, changed tires to Firehawk Indy 500 or Pilot Super Sport, changed suspension to Bilstein B14, changed supercharger to Jackson Racing C38, added Delicious tune

12/19/17: Installed GrimmSpeed cold air intake received

12/15/17: Ordered GrimmSpeed cold air intake

12/14/17: Changed Perrin intake to GrimmSpeed intake, added Weathertech Floor Mats, removed spoiler

12/09/17: Added Perrin cold air intake

12/07/17: Received and installed JDL UEL Header , OFT stage 2+ tune flashed, added Eibach lowering springs

11/30/17: Ordered header

11/20/17: Added Innovate supercharger

11/19/17: Wheels plasti-dipped to black

11/06/17: Received and installed Perrin inlet hose

11/03/17: OFT received and stage 1 tune flashed

10/31/17: Ordered OFT and inlet hose, removed Grams 72mm throttle body, moved header above wheels and short shifter above brakes, added shifter springs, changed wheels from 18x8.5 to 18x8 for tire size availability

10/22/17: Added JDL Ultra Quiet front pipe (catted only)

10/21/17: Changed header from FT86 SF catted UEL to JDL catless UEL

10/03/17: Changed from individual pieces costing $800 to SpeedFactory stage 1 brake kit, added inlet hose

10/02/17: Received and installed K&N filter

09/29/17: Changed header from FT86 SF catless UEL to FT86 SF catted UEL

09/28/17: Added motiv catted front and over pipe, added Grams throttle bottle as undecided

09/25/17: Added K&N drop in filter

09/24/17: Changed tires from 18x8.0/18x8.5 staggered to 18x8.5 squared, and going for cheaper summer tires as opposed to Michelin Pilot Super Sport (will upgrade later, this is just so I can have the wheels $500 sooner), moved brakes further down after header

09/22/17: Received and installed FT86 SF resonated exhaust

09/16/17: Ordered exhaust, removed supercharger, removed license plate frame, removed mud flaps, removed valenti tail lights, changed exhaust from Invidia N1, changed and merged wheels & tires

12/16/16: Car purchased new from Toyota, 23 miles

[Lakitu]

Tint was done a month ago, 15% sides, 5% back.

[Lonewolf]

Sounds promising...we need pics once the wheels are on

[Clipdat]

Nice exhaust choice, very mature and mellow sound. I think you will like it.

[Lakitu]

Exhaust installed on Friday night, the day before yesterday. Hardest part was getting off the damn oem muffler... SHEESH. Getting the hangers off the rubber pieces was a pain in the ass because the hangers themselves had capped endings. But a little DW40 brought me to victory!

[Lakitu]

I've just discovered the 72mm Grams throttle body. I'm contemplating getting one for a small gain and throttle response after I'm finish with headers and tune. If anyone knows of any red flags I'm unaware of, please let me know. Going to be doing a little more research about this interesting thing in the meanwhile.

Edit: Not doing this.

[Lakitu]

Got the OFT in today, hooked it up, made a backup of stock tune and it told me to email their sales team an ID for my specific car. They sent me the tune files in less than 5 min. I uploaded them to the device and flashed Stage 1 tune to the car. I'm currently running 93 oct with stock header and intake (with K&N drop-in filter).

First impressions: Car feels weird... It doesn't feel faster, but it does feel like gear 1 is an actual usable driving gear that you can steadily take to 3K RPMs, not just a temporary gear that you need to quickly get out of. It definitely makes it harder to drive like an ass in the first few gears, and more like a sensible being. It's more consistent.

But the drawback is I have to be more aggressive on the throttle than I did before on 1st gear to get going. It feels like the car is under-revved and underpowered, whereas before the car felt over-revved and underpowered, which is what I got used to. I've noticed my downshifting habits also need to change. Seems I now need to downshift at a bit higher than my normal 2K-2.5K or I end up too low in RPMs and start lugging.


Honestly, I don't think I like it. Maybe it will grow on me with time? It's almost like driving a different car, not the one I have been driving for 9 months that I've become well-acquainted with how it performs. I am just thinking of cases where I really need to get the car moving quick. I am accustomed to being able to burn past 1st and 2nd gear, getting high up in RPMs (while possibly sounding like an asshole) for making quick maneuvers, such as going from a dead stop to merging into high-paced traffic. Kind of worried that 1st gear has gotten a lot of its aggressiveness toned down.

It's late (1:30am) and I need to get a second or third look at this before I make a final call to reset the tune to stock. I'll drive it around some more this weekend. I'm hoping it grows on me. Maybe the evenly-spaced power bands is how most manual cars are meant to be driven, and is how most people expect to drive a manual.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

Got the OFT in today, hooked it up, made a backup of stock tune and it told me to email their sales team an ID for my specific car. They sent me the tune files in less than 5 min. I uploaded them to the device and flashed Stage 1 tune to the car. I'm currently running 93 oct with stock header and intake (with K&N drop-in filter).

First impressions: Car feels weird... It doesn't feel faster, but it does feel like gear 1 is an actual usable driving gear that you can steadily take to 3K RPMs, not just a temporary gear that you need to quickly get out of. It definitely makes it harder to drive like an ass in the first few gears, and more like a sensible being. It's more consistent.

But the drawback is I have to be more aggressive on the throttle than I did before on 1st gear to get going. It feels like the car is under-revved and underpowered, whereas before the car felt over-revved and underpowered, which is what I got used to. I've noticed my downshifting habits also need to change. Seems I now need to downshift at a bit higher than my normal 2K-2.5K or I end up too low in RPMs and start lugging.


Honestly, I don't think I like it. Maybe it will grow on me with time? It's almost like driving a different car, not the one I have been driving for 9 months that I've become well-acquainted with how it performs. I am just thinking of cases where I really need to get the car moving quick. I am accustomed to being able to burn past 1st and 2nd gear, getting high up in RPMs (while possibly sounding like an asshole) for making quick maneuvers, such as going from a dead stop to merging into high-paced traffic. Kind of worried that 1st gear has gotten a lot of its aggressiveness toned down.

It's late (1:30am) and I need to get a second or third look at this before I make a final call to reset the tune to stock. I'll drive it around some more this weekend. I'm hoping it grows on me. Maybe the evenly-spaced power bands is how most manual cars are meant to be driven, and is how most people expect to drive a manual.

The tune does not change when you have to shift. First gear can go to red line the same as any other gear so not sure why you would be shifting out of it at 3,000. The whole idea of first gear is to get the revs up fast at take off.

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

Got the OFT in today, hooked it up, made a backup of stock tune and it told me to email their sales team an ID for my specific car. They sent me the tune files in less than 5 min. I uploaded them to the device and flashed Stage 1 tune to the car. I'm currently running 93 oct with stock header and intake (with K&N drop-in filter).

First impressions: Car feels weird... It doesn't feel faster, but it does feel like gear 1 is an actual usable driving gear that you can steadily take to 3K RPMs, not just a temporary gear that you need to quickly get out of. It definitely makes it harder to drive like an ass in the first few gears, and more like a sensible being. It's more consistent.

But the drawback is I have to be more aggressive on the throttle than I did before on 1st gear to get going. It feels like the car is under-revved and underpowered, whereas before the car felt over-revved and underpowered, which is what I got used to. I've noticed my downshifting habits also need to change. Seems I now need to downshift at a bit higher than my normal 2K-2.5K or I end up too low in RPMs and start lugging.


Honestly, I don't think I like it. Maybe it will grow on me with time? It's almost like driving a different car, not the one I have been driving for 9 months that I've become well-acquainted with how it performs. I am just thinking of cases where I really need to get the car moving quick. I am accustomed to being able to burn past 1st and 2nd gear, getting high up in RPMs (while possibly sounding like an asshole) for making quick maneuvers, such as going from a dead stop to merging into high-paced traffic. Kind of worried that 1st gear has gotten a lot of its aggressiveness toned down.

It's late (1:30am) and I need to get a second or third look at this before I make a final call to reset the tune to stock. I'll drive it around some more this weekend. I'm hoping it grows on me. Maybe the evenly-spaced power bands is how most manual cars are meant to be driven, and is how most people expect to drive a manual.

You will redo the tune anyway for that UEL header in your list, right? The sound of that catback exhaust will change with UEL header too. I would have started with the header.

[Lakitu]

Originally Posted by mrg666

You will redo the tune anyway for that UEL header in your list, right? The sound of that catback exhaust will change with UEL header too. I would have started with the header.

Yeah, will be overwriting that when I get the header.

I know the sound will change, but I figure since I went with a resonated catback going catless shouldn't make it too loud and raspy and droney, shouldn't it? I've had to have watched over 30 youtube exhaust videos and came to find a few that were dead-on for the sound I was looking for, loud but a deep loud, somewhat more neighborhood-friendly of a daily driver. Ultra quiet JDL frontpipe (dual catted) will still be an option afterwards if I decide its just too loud. Going for getting as much power and torque out of the header as I can, so I switched from FT86SF catted to JDL catless. That and it being $200 bucks less makes it fairly appealing. But I'm not 100% hard-set and I've got time to change my mind. Thoughts?

[Lakitu]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The tune does not change when you have to shift. First gear can go to red line the same as any other gear so not sure why you would be shifting out of it at 3,000. The whole idea of first gear is to get the revs up fast at take off.

Hm... It's possible that they gave me too aggressive of a Stage 1 tune? The car feels reeeaaally different. It's opposite of what it was before in gear 1 and 2. There's a lot more play in the throttle before it starts revving up, almost causing the car to stall before taking off unless I pick up the pace and pressure on the gas pedal. It's like its been desensitized.

I've also read that you need to drive it around a bit before it starts to feel better. Maybe that's it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

Hm... It's possible that they gave me too aggressive of a Stage 1 tune? The car feels reeeaaally different. It's opposite of what it was before in gear 1 and 2. There's a lot more play in the throttle before it starts revving up, almost causing the car to stall before taking off unless I pick up the pace and pressure on the gas pedal. It's like its been desensitized.

I've also read that you need to drive it around a bit before it starts to feel better. Maybe that's it.

Do you have the header installed? Are you running the header tune without the header? Stage 1 is Stage 1 there are not different levels of it.

OH I just noticed your other post where you say you are getting the header. I think that is what is going on.

[mrg666]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

Yeah, will be overwriting that when I get the header.

I know the sound will change, but I figure since I went with a resonated catback going catless shouldn't make it too loud and raspy and droney, shouldn't it? I've had to have watched over 30 youtube exhaust videos and came to find a few that were dead-on for the sound I was looking for, loud but a deep loud, somewhat more neighborhood-friendly of a daily driver. Ultra quiet JDL frontpipe (dual catted) will still be an option afterwards if I decide its just too loud. Going for getting as much power and torque out of the header as I can, so I switched from FT86SF catted to JDL catless. That and it being $200 bucks less makes it fairly appealing. But I'm not 100% hard-set and I've got time to change my mind. Thoughts?

If I were you, I would choose ACE header and Delicious tune. Did you see this post?

[Lakitu]

Originally Posted by mrg666

If I were you, I would choose ACE header and Delicious tune. Did you see this post?

Just saw that post, those numbers don't make any sense to me! 207whp with just a header and a tune! That's nuts. Unfortunately, it's outside of my budget! Plus, if I go EL I worry about losing the rumble that UELs have, according to videos and reviews.

Definitely something to look into in the future, though, if I decide I want more power on NA.