Denkigrve's FRS

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by denkigrve

2012/06/12 Update:
The fun of getting a new project car is how much research and time you spending on it. Thinking about your next steps, where you want to take the car, what else you can do to fine tune the car.

Over the past week I've been doing homework. Looking at upgrade paths, looking at what I've been wanting to do, and what's feasible to do. I've also made some hard choices on how much money I want to put into this project, and what my goals are. Originally I was going to get the car and just daily drive it, and turn my WRX into a project car, but after driving the FR-S I don't want to do that. I want the WRX to be my daily car and instead start learning to drive better and do Auto-X and HSDE type stuff with it.

As a result I've since been doing some homework, and have decided on some basic upgrade paths. I talked to a few companies about their coil-overs and explained what I'd like to do an what I'd like to get out of the car. RS*R is winning at the moment. The feedback they had was awesome, and the quality of their parts seem to fit what I'm looking for as a novice driver.

Next up are wheels. I had my sights set on some 18x8.5 wheels for a while. I was trying to find the best application that would work, but I realized how foolish that was, and the fact that I could save almost 3 pounds per wheel by getting 17s. So I've instead opted for some Enkei RP03s. I'm looking for a set of those now.

Finally, to complete my "first steps of tuning" I've got the Cusco strut bar with the brake cylinder stopper on the way. I figure by the time I finish hashing out locations, prices, installs, tuning of everything I'll be ready to start placing each component on the car and moving on up.

My goal was to start thinking ahead, but not too far ahead so my parts replacement doesn't outpace my skill growth.

The ONLY clincher right now are some back pains I've been having. I got into an accident in may. Someone rear ended the van we were in on our way back from the airport, and since then I've been having some back pains. Saw the doctor this morning, had some x-rays done, and have a follow up on Thursday. The goal is to get everything in proper alignment, healed up, and make sure I'm fit to drive. I'll be heartbroken if I can't do any heavy driving, but I'll still be there in my FR-S cheering on everyone else.

Don't get discouraged. I was rear-ended 12 years ago, and my back was wrecked. I was at a stopped at a light and geezer hit me going at least 30 mph without braking

I slowly rehabbed with a lot of pool work, ibuprofen, warm bath therapy, and I started lifting weights (very gradually) to strengthen my back and supporting muscles. Within a month and a half the pain had subsided substantially and I was able to do all the things I used to do before...just a heads up, you will probably always have some residual pain at times.

[denkigrve]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Don't get discouraged. I was rear-ended 12 years ago, and my back was wrecked. I was at a stopped at a light and geezer hit me going at least 30 mph without braking

I slowly rehabbed with a lot of pool work, ibuprofen, warm bath therapy, and I started lifting weights (very gradually) to strengthen my back and supporting muscles. Within a month and a half the pain had subsided substantially and I was able to do all the things I used to do before...just a heads up, you will probably always have some residual pain at times.

My backs okay. I just have sore spots that come and go. It's not TOO bad, just annoying. Watching my posture is the biggest thing that's helping. Also not sitting like some decrepit troll while using my computer is making a HUGE impact in the right direction.

I drove a bunch tonight and now that I've found a good seating position in the car all is well. I'm taking two big drives this weekend as well, so I'll know how the seats/suspension will impact it soon.

[denkigrve]

My Beatsonic fin arrived today, and my coworker and I spent 20 minutes in the garage obsessing over how to make sure it was centered perfectly. It looks okay to me on the car at this point, much better than the RC antenna. I don't even use the Radio though, so hopefully I'll find a way to just delete the entire thing at some point.

On the suspension front, RS*R now has my money, so those coils should be arriving soon to install on the car. I'm going to have D&M Auto Salon in Livermore, CA do the corner balancing. I'm also going to get some Enkei RP01s from them for auto-x/track usage. They should be there when the coilovers arrive. My Cusco strut bar is also in transit, and should be here on Friday-ish.

Everything is coming together quite nicely... This weekend is drive it all over the bay weekend, so I should be at or close to 1000 miles by Monday. This car is seriously something I can't stop obsessing over. I've even considered getting a second job so that way I can afford to buy more toys for the car. I'm waiting on doing any engine/exhaust modifications until after the ECU situation is figured out, and people do some more work that allows me to do some more homework before I start pouring money into it.

Man... I just can't stop... the FR-S really is a platform. I can't wait until mine is setup just how I want it to be.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by denkigrve

My Beatsonic fin arrived today, and my coworker and I spent 20 minutes in the garage obsessing over how to make sure it was centered perfectly. It looks okay to me on the car at this point, much better than the RC antenna. I don't even use the Radio though, so hopefully I'll find a way to just delete the entire thing at some point.

On the suspension front, RS*R now has my money, so those coils should be arriving soon to install on the car. I'm going to have D&M Auto Salon in Livermore, CA do the corner balancing. I'm also going to get some Enkei RP01s from them for auto-x/track usage. They should be there when the coilovers arrive. My Cusco strut bar is also in transit, and should be here on Friday-ish.

Everything is coming together quite nicely... This weekend is drive it all over the bay weekend, so I should be at or close to 1000 miles by Monday. This car is seriously something I can't stop obsessing over. I've even considered getting a second job so that way I can afford to buy more toys for the car. I'm waiting on doing any engine/exhaust modifications until after the ECU situation is figured out, and people do some more work that allows me to do some more homework before I start pouring money into it.

Man... I just can't stop... the FR-S really is a platform. I can't wait until mine is setup just how I want it to be.

You know we're going to need pics of all this after its installed right?

[denkigrve]

Just got a rather large box at my desk, opened it up and saw this:




Can't wait to put it on the car tonight.

[denkigrve]

Oh man another large box showed up on my desk...

RS*R Coilovers have landed! (This was a picture but I don't have it any longer and the link is busted)

[russv]

You're weekend is cutout for you.

[denkigrve]

So last night I met up with some folks that were at the car meet the night I picked up the car. They are a couple of friends that wanted to start a car blog. They do it in their spare time, and just love cars. The site is cargabs.com we spent the next 3 hours taking pictures of my car, and asking me questions about it, as well as just shooting the shit about cars.

They're gonna do a feature on the car when they get through all of the photos they took, and their writer puts his ideas down on paper. Overall it was fun. It was nice to just meet some new friends, and hang out for a bit. I've informed them of the upgrade path of the car, and they're gonna want to do a follow-up as well to see it and cover the changes.

[MarkRacerX]

Right on , Enjoy !!!!

Can't wait to hear coilover review / pics

[rcm47]

Cool stuff! cant wait to read your review of the RS-R coilovers. What wheels are you planing on getting in the future?

[*KID*]

INSTALL THOSE ALREADY! lol

PM ME the place you got them from and price plzzzz

[denkigrve]

I owe this thread some pictures that I've been posting everywhere else...

Front Coilover:



Close-up of available height:



Rear Coilover:



Close-up of available height:



Road Trip pictures:

[denkigrve]

Coilovers installed. So far I've at least noticed that I don't feel any more of that bump steer I was feeling on the stock shocks/springs. Overall the ride feels really nice. I have a bit of squeaking in the rear, gonna check for areas that might need some grease tonight/tomorrow.

I'm getting some coil bind, but I've never had "new" coils. I've always purchased used ones for my AE86, so I was freaking out at first. Now I feel dumb. I just got my coils after that break-in was done.

Pictures are coming soon. I'm going to go back to the fountain from my first photo and take a shot there and hope that shows the comparison. The drop is really mild on the stock 17s, but should look really nice on a set of 18s once I get my "looking nice" wheels. I'm not looking to dump the car either though, so the max I'm going down is like 30mm. I'd like to simply set the car in that lowered window Tada-san talked about.

It's really exciting doing this all as "new." I feel like an adult, but no, I won't throw it on the ground.

[ChrisOkc8]

Pics?