Trädfisk

Big update! (Last post)

2009-03-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

2. The 240sx S13 - Step 5

Aftermath.

Ok, after the event, the car was still fine. On the surface. I was already aware of the oil leaks, although how bad, I was not sure. Also, the steering column had started clicking. I knew that was in bad condition too.

So, a trip to the stealership netted them some cash, but now my car drives perfect. Brand new steering system, new tension rods, and new seals.

On a personal note, I was finishing up school. I'm done. My last class ever was last wednesday and I graduate in a week. Portfolio books arrive tomorrow, all is well.

So... my car needed to share with my good fortune which came in the form of:

GTspec front & rear strut tower bars
Stance solid diff bushings
Pioneer 4-way speakers
Tein Tie Rods & Ends
Type X wing

I'll get better pics of these when I can but for now, iPhone photos will suffice.

Shawn's dad Howard offered to put in my Stage 4 Competition Clutch that I had bought from them awhile ago and never got it in. I lack the tools, the space, and the know how. So this weekend, I went up there to tinker with the new toys.

No-one would resurface the flywheel on Sunday so it's still on jackstands, but that's gonna change by the end of this day.

So while it was up, we got a few things done to it.

Front & Rear (not pictured) Strut tower bars went in.

Then got the Tie rods in. Got a bit more angle now AND a Shawn-spec (first ever) alignment. Also, some of the inside wheel well was hammered.

Transmission was cleaned and some tomfoolery occured when I was using the pressure washer to add something to Shawn's name (which was quickly erased).

Then we got the paint out. Went to Advanced Auto Parts and picked up some purple metallic paint. We painted my pastic headlight surrounds. Shawn also made some homemade fender braces (as mine were flimsy as hell) which we also painted. I made some decals when I got home.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first ever Team Rowdy/Shawn-spec Fender Braces. You saw it here first.

That's all for now!

Big update! (continued)

2009-03-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

2. The 240sx S13 - Step 4

Ok, now drifting!

My first ever proper attempt at drifting. South Easy Drift Challenge! "Top of the Food Chain".

It was a blast. My car held up well, dispite the over stiffening of my rear shocks (*cough mike, only supposed to be hand done, not forced further*). Now my rear shock doesn't stop at full stiffness, it keeps clicking and spinning and never stopping. Not sure what I'm gonna do about that.

Shawn took my car out for a couple of spins and showed me how it was supposed to be done haha

By the end of the day, I finally got the hang of it. My last run, run 25, I finally threw it just right and sailed around the first 3 corners before finally spinning out at the bottom of the hill. That made my day. Single-cammin-jammin.

Also, it was intense drifting all weekend. Gave the car a rest on sunday, but Shawn and the rest of Team Rowdy and Drift Mechaniks were on form!

Big update! (continued)

2009-03-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

2. The 240sx S13 - Step 3

Time to drift! (Almost)

My car was pretty much ready. Had to order an extra pair of drift wheels so I had more grippy Falkens in the front rather than crappy Kumhos all the way around.

A few days before the event though, I got the car emmission tested. Passed first time. But it was hell getting it there. On arrival, I found out that my car was too low to go up the dyno ramp. No big deal, just reverse it in.

No dice.

Turns out that my car was too low to even go on the dyno rollers, as the support bar, that recedes back into the ground to allow the wheels to touch the rollers, would make my car just sit on the dyno. It was too low, I had about half an inch exhaust clearance.

So, I went home and put the coils on max height. Still didn't look like enough. So I put on the crappy 18s that came with the car on the back.

It looked like this.

Anyways, the following day it was put back right.

The night before the event, I went with Kevin to wash his truck and my car. So fun.

Big update! (continued)

2009-03-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

2. The 240sx S13 - Step 2

The tail-lights were full of water and looked awful, so they were replaced by 180sx kouki tails.

It was quite a full day. The bumper was put on but I don't have pics from that day so it'll come up in pictures in a sec.

Interior was fine but it needed a sprucing up, so my girlfriend Natalia kindly sewed up some goofy material Mike and I found at the fabric store, so we have matching shift boots.

Not pictured is the progress we made with the diff. After the car being in the air for about a month, we finally got my s14 VLSD in and my car was ready to drift. Especially since Nick wired up my stereo too.

Big update! (continued)

2009-03-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

2. The 240sx S13 - Step 1

Since the last 240 update, it's come a long way. It doesn't look much like the car just a few posts ago. Gotta thank Shawn, Mike, Kevin, Nick, and Dat for the help and stuff that made it happen!

The first to go was the wheels and suspension. They were replaced by XXR 513s and Stance GR+ coilovers.

Big update!

2009-03-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in ages, so here's a big update.

1. The Z

The body kit isn't fully on yet, and some twit backed into my new bumper so it's a little cracked. But whatever, a new one is arriving soon. Took it up on the tail of the dragon.

Day 1: Awesome + Dry

Day 2: Snow! But we still drove up the NC Skyway

Facelift Preview

2009-02-17T16:29:00.001-08:00

Work in Progress

2009-01-31T23:19:00.000-08:00

Some Goodies

2009-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Few things. Z plate frame. Nissan emblem for the new bumper. And the GoPro Motorsports Hero 5 Wide. Can't wait to play with that.

Also, a picture of my robot vacuum cleaner for no reason.

Real Badminton

2009-01-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

To all you people that think badminton is a happy little garden game to play instead of croquet, this is what real badminton is like. And this is how I play. Not as good as these pros, but decent.

Time LapZe

2009-01-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

Triple Burnout

2009-01-15T09:15:00.001-08:00

Daily Dilemma

2009-01-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, I shall be graduating in about 11 weeks. My beloved 2003 Ford Police Interceptor is getting near its last legs. Transmission needs looking at. Might get it fixed, might not bother. But I'll need a new larger car. My Z is pretty much my daily as I hardly want to drive anything else. However, if I upgrade my daily, I'll at least be able to haul stuff that matters. Like boxes of wheels & tires hehe

So the two cars I'm thinking both would need minor modifications to make me satisfied with them. The first car I'm thinking of is the rare Lexus IS300 Sportcross. Even more rare as I wont settle for less than a black one. One was on Carmax about half a year ago for 15k, with 47k miles on the clock. Wish I could have got it. Haven't seen a good black one since. I'd want to get springs, wheels & tires for this. With the halo headlights.

And the other car I was thinking of is the 1997-2004 Lexus GS300. About as big as the cop car, a more VIP style car. I'd want to do exactly what the car below has. Work Meisters and lower it. But it's more expensive to mod, and I'm a bit sick of how unflexible cars with trunks/boots are. I'd much rather open up the IS300's hatch and fold down the rear seats. Can easily get sideskirts or a camera rig in there. I dig the 4door VIP style and think it would be a great car for cruising around in. But 90% of these things have tan leather interiors and once again, that trunk...

Food for thought anyway, but I think it's obvious which way I'm leaning.

Ruckus

2009-01-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

I know these things are kinda "trendy" right now, but hey I think they're cool. And (like everything) pour a little bit of money into them and they'll look badass. I'd love to have one of these to potter around town on. Now there's just a couple of issues. Getting $2.5k to buy+mod the scooter and actually getting it home. Lord knows it wont fit in the Z.

Anyway, it's something I would love to get in the not-so-distant future.

Inspiration

2009-01-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

This is what I aspire to have my car resemble. Without garish wings and what have you.