DannyGT's Journal/Progress
 

Figured I would have my own little progress report so instead of searching thru different threads everything can eventually be found here.

I come from the wonderful world of AWD Turbo. Started with a 3000GT then one of the first to have a WRX when they first appeared. Here is one before shot of my WRX after basically a V7 STi transplant.

http://kryptonik.org/therex/rexlex/rexlex23.jpg

Then after ALOT of debate between the new STi and the Z I figured I might as well do something a little different...man, I made the right choice!

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8349/baller8aw7.jpg

Quickly reaching 2000 miles I performed the first oil change and shot straight for the dyno...Some pulls later, and I managed to hit 282whp three times in a row. I knew then I had a great baseline for my future mods.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9567/370zdyno.jpg

Thats it for now...I should have some interesting pictures within the next 2-3 weeks once the whole transformation is complete!

Additionally, I will be video taping critical moments during all of the installs to better help those who like visual aids (See Signature) :tup:

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/1.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/2.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/3.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/4.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/5.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/6.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/7.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/8.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/9.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/10.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/11.JPG

http://www.kryptonik.org/therex/The%20Z/13.JPG

End of May 2009

X pipe and tips installed on the Stillen exhaust...I eliminated any sort of rubbing/hitting isues once and for all! I havent felt an ounce of difference on my butt dyno! I'll be hitting the dyno this coming weekend so we'll see...

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3449/img0402d.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1685/img3446.jpg

Early June 2009

Thumbs up to Euro Tire in NJ - top notch and extremely professional.

I gave them the factory settings and told them to configure it to a 'inbetween street and track' - I must admit the car feels so refined now...Feedback is clean and crisp, and everything just feels very balanced!

I should get the adjustables for the front and rear, as the rear is max positive at that setting but I might not have too because the car feels great as is and I'm not in any hurry to change settings very often.

This was recorded with 3/4 full tank with nothing removed from the car...In fact I think my wife left a couple of board games and her laptop bag in the car, take it for what thats worth LOL.

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8449/gview.png
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1812/cornerweight.png

Early July - GTM Resonated Downpipes

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5096/img3460m.jpg

jersey representin!

What are the offsets on the ame tracer tm02? I think the wheels look pretty nice. Thanks

+22 all around

Post some pics of those rims. You can't hold that back from us :D

Chris

Haha, I know I know!

I want to make the first impression a good one so once the coilovers are on and fully dialed in I will take some great photos. That *should* happen this coming Saturday.

Pictures/Video incoming...

ok fine :D

Chris

I demand pics of the wheels.

Cause they look good on the 350.

Damn it...I was hoping no one would see that pic.

They are sexy!

As soon as I have the coils completly finished I will take some nice HD shots! I promise :) The rears will sit just a tad more aggressive than the nismo edition but with the 305s I hope to achieve a nice solid filled in look.

I took it out :)

BUMP - Updated pictures up top...

I'm pretty burnt out so I'll write a little blurb later. But I can also just answer questions as they come!

Thanks!

I think ame wheels are one of the best looking wheels that doesn't cost $4k. I thought the front 22mm offset would be too extreme, offset looks good in the pictures. Are you planning to add front and rear camber kits and do you think that will make the wheels stick out of the wheel wells or is there still some space for more offset? About how much do you think the bc suspension dropped the car? I'm thinking of getting the same suspension.

Well the pre-set was actually lower than whats pictured above, we actually had to raise it a half inch. In reality tho, it doesnt matter how much it dropped the car because, hey, their coilovers and thats the point right ? Full adjustability. So you can technically go lower than what you see or up to 2 inch's higher.

As far as the wheels go I think I hit the max in the front. I would not go more aggressive than this setup. With 275 rubber in the front and this offset it actually rubbed when the coilovers settled and were lower than what you see so I raised it and made sure I shaved all the little plastic tidbits in their and BAM no more rubbing and what you see is the end result!

Also, I thought I heard someone mention that the rear stock rims with tires weighed ~59lbs. Well my rears with 305s weighed 53.5lbs and the fronts were 1 pound lighter. Not bad I say, not bad at all!

...what I'm getting this week will be the hubcentric rings, black lightweight lugnuts and the center caps for the wheels.

Danny, nice work ! The wheels look great on your car ! I'll be running the ER series, so we'll have to compare notes once I get those installed...

Holy sh1t man!! :tup: You car looks bad a$$. Very nice.

Indeed! Let me know because I had a tuff time choosing between the two...I figured I would take the track hard with these and learn RWD a bit more, and if I need to step it up I can always sell these and get the ERs if its really needed. I'm probably only going to do 5 or so track event this year.

Two thumbs waaay up :tup::tup:

Damn those rims look awesome. Deff. worth the wait :D Can you get a straight on as$ shot? showing the 305's Those rims fit the car perfect.

Great work man.

Chris

Weather has been crap so I haven't been able to take some decent shots but I do have some on the memory card that emphasized how phat that a$$ is, LOL.

I'll upload them in a few hours...

Sounds good :D

Chris

Looks incredible, great job!

Here is a quick a$$ shot...the best I can do with the crappy weather + limited time.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3571/img3386e.jpg

omg, those rims are super sexy.

wow....those 305s look nice!

are you scraping everywhere?

I have scrapped the front sport lip (black urethane looking piece under the fangs) on your typical driveways etc etc. I try to enter everything at an extreme angle. It hasnt been that bad tho...I'm pretty careful!

Looks really good, man! :tup:

That looks awesome man.

Chris

Your car's looking real good! :tup:

Those wheels look super sexy on your car, the finish sets off nicely against the gray.

How's the camber with the lowered stance?

Rear seems pretty cambered out the the front probably went in an extra degre but I'll know soon enough - I'm scheduling the alignment and corner balance next week. I just want to give it enough time to settle.

Did you get adjustable upper control arms? I didn't think anyone was making them yet. There's no camber adjustment in the front without them. The rear has about 2 degrees of adjustment.

No, but from the drop alone the front definitly cambered in some.

TH Motorsports is reselling both front and rear... check my gallery to see pics

even with the slightly higher ride height, does it rub at all? i mean under very agressive turns. where was it rubbing before you raised it? my last car, it looked great lowered, but the wheel hit the inside/top of the wheel well, and there wasnt **** i could do about it and it really took the fun out of the car. any chance of a 5mm spacer in the rear to even them out?

No, under flat normal roads it wont rub even under hard cornering. It was/SOMETIMES will if the road is very uneven AND you hit a bump all at the same time. Its a bit hard to explain but basically since I raised it to the height you see i've only rubbed once on a very akward deep dip in the road where the right side sank in alot more than the left and rebounded with a slight rub.

I actually like where the rear sits at the moment but yes, it could go 5-10mm out more just for the extra flush look like the front has but to be honest its hardly even noticeable since the car has been lowered. Before hand, you could clearly see how much more aggressive the front was, but now you cant really tell.

I might go with a 265 instead of the 275 in the front and that will surely resolve any rubbing what-so-ever. First I will allign and corner balance THEN I will make that decision. Also, it only rubs in this one tiny place if I can cut and roll that up then I wont need to change tires.

keep you guys posted.

Would you do anything differently if you could do it all over again?

I absolutely love the way your car looks so far Danny, big thumb up for that rear shot! Thanks for keeping it tasteful, breath of fresh air from what I've seen lately.

Do give us some more impressions on how much of an improvement you've noticed over stock with your entire setup.

Mmmmm the changes I would make IF I had to do it all over again would probably be more towards the exhaust than anything else...Been having trouble with aligning, leaks, god knows what else but I'm in the process of trying to fix that.

The sway bars were a GREAT mod - clean, and effective. A great improvement over stock.

Truth on the wheels are I LOVE them - if they did offer a slightly higher offset for the front I would do it because it is aggressive, not in a bad way but I was hoping I wouldnt rub at all. But its OK the grip and the suspension do feel amazing, just need to dial it in after I get the corner balancing done.

I do like keeping it clean tho! Just a bit frusterated when the 'little' things dont go as smooth as possible.

I should have more updates within the next week. The weather has been super nasty out and I havent been driving it as much as I'd like. Waiting to get on some open roads that I have takin hard and test the REAL differences.