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likaito

Budget Build - Kai's Primo daily

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Hello all,

I wanted to keep track of my mods over time for myself more than anyone really but if it gives people ideas then great!

I've had the car for 5 months now and was originally 100% stock. 

As the title suggests, being young and not having deep pockets just yet, my build is centered around mods that are affordable and I try to get 2nd hand stuff where I can and DIY everything.

Red and black is by far my favourite combination, and currently am looking to add more black bits to it.

I'll show the initial photo (can't find one with stock wheels on) and the most recent one below.

The list of modifications thus far (I'll include prices if anyone was curious):

  • 18 inch ET35 RS style wheels £400
  • Smoked sequential tail lights £200
  • white LED interior and license plate lights £10
  • Carbon effect lip spoiler £80
  • Blacked out badges (free - plastidip lying around)
  • Window louvres £15
  • Used Berk dual exit muffler delete £130
  • Used TD 2nd cat delete £80
  • HT Autos splitter, side skirts and rear spats £299
  • OEM rear diffuser (£120 new from other forum member - is £160 ish from fensport)
  • Whiteline 25mm lowering springs £130
  • EBC brake pads £50
  • Gloss black roof and wing mirror wrap (£50 for roll - wrapped myself, was quoted around £200 from various shops)

Over the next few weeks, I've ordered some smoked side markers and smoked front corner signal lights to get rid of a lot of the chromey lights. Next month, planning to get some black housing VLAND headlights if no 2nd hand ones are up for sale.

 

Stock (except wheels):

20200104_104619.jpg.9c649a86bfd450e76160b2dc6ebffc10.jpg

20200104_104633.jpg.e89b2451bfe5b7c47f21d62450d4d76d.jpg

 

Current state:

20200327_140420.jpg.51916139df0352d2b40066789c28a563.jpg1696915699_After1.jpg.f196b74a2dc1186b74adf59caf961a2b.jpg20200326_123802.thumb.jpg.7be39cf0512455bab082db7f04a35f4b.jpg

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How are you finding the springs?

I'd like to lower mine, but am about as interested in spending a grand on coilovers as I am in drinking bleach.
Paying off my mortgage is more important.

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

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20 minutes ago, 86iain said:

How are you finding the springs?

I'd like to lower mine, but am about as interested in spending a grand on coilovers as I am in drinking bleach.
Paying off my mortgage is more important.

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk
 

I am super happy with the Whiteline ones I got. Main reasoning was for looks and the 25mm drop in my eyes is perfect, reduces the arch gap whilst remaining functional for a daily.

Ride wise it is actually more comfortable at town speeds but when you're at a decent speed you can feel it is firmer (due to progressive springs). In my opinion, I would say the ride is overall a good improvement except for if you're going 70 and theres a decent bump on the motorway you will feel it a lot more. I guess thats the sacrifice for stiffer springs.

Handling wise there has also been an improvement since you do actually feel lower and more planted, despite only a 1 inch drop.

Overall, highly recommend Whiteline or any others like Tein or H&R, just make sure you choose one with the drop and spring rate you want. Like you said, a grand on coilovers is not kind on the wallet! Saving up for a house is more important

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4 hours ago, 86iain said:

Can you recall what spring rate you got?

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk
 

Front Spring Rate: 171 in/lbs 

Rear Spring Rate: 234 in/lbs

here's a link to where I got them, @Lucas@PartBox. Very quick delivery.

https://www.part-box.com/whiteline-lowering-springs-25mm-drop-toyota-gt86-subaru-brz-wsk-sub006

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So in order to keep myself busy during this period, I've gone a bit crazy and ordered a load of bits and bobs for the car. I was going to get these sooner or later so it appears that it will be sooner. After these mods, that will be it for the cosmetics. No more mods until November where the TD NA Package is coming.

Ordered parts:

  • MTEC Clutch Spring from TD
  • VLAND Sequential Headlights
  • VLAND 4th brake light
  • Smoked side markers
  • Smoked front corner signal light
  • D2H bulbs for headlights

Will update as they arrive. Mike from TD said the spring will arrive tomorrow!

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Mtec clutch spring!

Thanks a lot @Mike@TD.co.uk, delivered in a day like he said! 

20200403_090802.thumb.jpg.e2e348b345aaa6a13b7233906bf23d28.jpg

 

Install was fairly straightforward, although very very uncomfortable and tight due to the lack of space in the footwell and engine bay. 

Once the clutch pedal assembly is off, rest is easy. Getting it off was the pain for me.

received_717736458761850.thumb.jpeg.8dab9f4375fee805cd906a0a21ca28d2.jpeg

 

First impressions on a short drive to Tesco, clutch is slightly firmer and removes the initial play/sponginess in the stock spring. Engagement and feel is improved drastically and can actually feel the bite point. Also, makes changing gears more enjoyable and faster as the clutch springs back up more.

Would recommend, simple and cheap mod.

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Nice, I'm tempted by one of those too. I'd also recommend the shift spring and gearbox mount insert, really cheap and you'll enjoy changing gear even more with those fitted. Mike did mine when I had the NA kit & exhaust fitted and I was blown away by the difference in gearbox feel.

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9 hours ago, spikyone said:

Nice, I'm tempted by one of those too. I'd also recommend the shift spring and gearbox mount insert, really cheap and you'll enjoy changing gear even more with those fitted. Mike did mine when I had the NA kit & exhaust fitted and I was blown away by the difference in gearbox feel.

Yes I was also planning to do that when I get the NA Kit as well haha 👍😂 only issue is I haven't got a jack atm so can't lift up the car. 

Also, for anyone who wants a guide this video I followed is perfect. Really easy and clear.

 

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Another little update, I've ordered a matte black sunstrip with some gloss black writing from SaitoWorks. I know these are a bit marmite but I've always wanted one on a car and I love JDM culture so 🤷

I also got some cheap puddle lights off eBay that project the 86 logo. Cheesy but hey ho cars meant to be fun 😂🙂

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2 hours ago, likaito said:

Another little update, I've ordered a matte black sunstrip with some gloss black writing from SaitoWorks. I know these are a bit marmite but I've always wanted one on a car and I love JDM culture so 🤷 

In case you didn't know - you'll need shorter wipers to match or it's an MOT fail afaik, provided the sunstrip is actually big enough for the wipers to reach that area of the windscreen. 

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1 hour ago, James18 said:

In case you didn't know - you'll need shorter wipers to match or it's an MOT fail afaik, provided the sunstrip is actually big enough for the wipers to reach that area of the windscreen. 

Yeah I know but thanks for telling me mate 😊 I've got a friendly MOT guy so all is good, helped his business a bit so he's a bit more lenient shall we say. Got a spare shorter wiper in case it needs it for the day 👍

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So, VLAND headlight installed today. Took way longer than I thought, around 4 hours but was fun.

Initially took off the bumper which was the easiest by far, was expecting it to be a pain.20200407_102810.jpg.eb3b8d49be7ccbd512d59285e4b4431d.jpg

Taking off the brackets holding the headlight was pretty easy as well.  Side by side comparison shows how chromey the stock primo lights are.20200407_120501.jpg.c953a67a2e50aae16d4397ec238c4819.jpg

The wiring was the most challenging for me, just because I have zero experience with splicing and electrical stuff. I'm a mechanical engineer not electrical 😂20200407_123754.thumb.jpg.9a94f0d5563127af49f180d66ad5254e.jpg20200407_123802.thumb.jpg.e71e53bb4a8cb67f52b96096658d7252.jpg

i promise I will tidy the wiring up one day

after that, straightforward to reinstall the bumper. In my opinion, they transform the front end of the car and makes it look so much better. Would be happy to hear some opinions on them!

20200407_141916.jpg.47d38bb73f3addec75d44ea1ac486025.jpg

P.s. thanks dad for helping me tidy up the cables 😂

20200407_122937.jpg

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8 hours ago, Quantum said:

Where did you get the vland's from?

Not sure what they normally sell for but wherever I look they're >£400

I got them from Amazon as VLAND EU sell on both Amazon and eBay , as well as their own website.

The price is the same no matter where you buy it from as far as I've seen, it's just over £400.

To be honest, it's as cheap as you'll find for headlights that look this good. Others you're looking at >£600 probably

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2 hours ago, Tweedbean said:

Which bulbs did you use for them?

I bought some D2H 5000K xenon bulbs, with some ballasts as well. Super easy plug and play bulbs, no problem with fit. I believe you can use D2S bulbs but they are a bit harder to fit and require some adjustment.

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So fitted the VLAND bumper light to complete the VLANDs all around.

20200408_112520.jpg.8804886e201d0c92f3e9795ede4e91f2.jpg

Straightforward install, took around an hour and a half. The hardest bit was getting off the 2 rusted 10mm bolts holding it on.

20200408_122445.thumb.jpg.7377858bf706db36c07ed36564215cee.jpg

Apart from that, just unplugged and removed stock one then replaced with the new one.

20200408_123757.jpg.c84ea65d01327ae8f214939916325ed7.jpg20200408_123803.jpg.e1aa9c26dae0716fd752c8ccf77243a0.jpg

The wiring is super super easy, plug and play. There's an additional harness that plugs into the tail lights and connects the extra wire to the bumper light for the brake light to work.

20200408_125705.thumb.jpg.52a3fadd53f6f48a02fe29037428321f.jpg20200408_125950.thumb.jpg.266be89870977ecf1a27ec56fa2de378.jpg

Job done. Super easy install. Very happy to complete the look and remove that chromey bumper light.

The reason I went for the VLANDs and not the Valenti ones with a V bar is just because these are way less common from what I've seen (they seem to be the only choice) and way cheaper. Plus I think they compliment the tail lights well and are just different.

Pictures are a bit crap because the sun was directly on the car, will try and get some decent pics in the next day or so after I install the sunstrip 😊😊

20200408_130300.jpg.35d19c8e1bdaeed3f99d3a9bf770e023.jpg20200408_133201.jpg.0a4858fcbd0b590737e360ff218ca99b.jpg

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1 hour ago, likaito said:

I bought some D2H 5000K xenon bulbs, with some ballasts as well. Super easy plug and play bulbs, no problem with fit. I believe you can use D2S bulbs but they are a bit harder to fit and require some adjustment.

Any chance you can share a link to both bits?    Thanks

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3 hours ago, Tweedbean said:

Any chance you can share a link to both bits?    Thanks

Of course.

This is the ballast. Need to buy 2 obviously, one for each light: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-35w-Conversion-kit-Slimline-Xenon-Hid-Slim-BALLAST/170823543539?pageci=311b7095-9934-4b03-89c5-96e05272f5c6

These are the bulbs. Just cheap ones because I wanted to test. Surprisingly good output, no worse than my old ones: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2-x-D2H-Cnlight-XLX-Xenon-Bulb-Car-HID-Projector-Lens-Lamp-Bulbs-12V-35W/283484807138?pageci=518a566c-4ffd-47a1-8587-e4aeaa3972e6 

Hope that helps 😊

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1 hour ago, likaito said:

Of course.

This is the ballast. Need to buy 2 obviously, one for each light: https://www.ebay.co.uk/vod/FetchOrderDetails?itemId=170823543539&transactionId=2135621891007

These are the bulbs. Just cheap ones because I wanted to test. Surprisingly good output, no worse than my old ones: https://www.ebay.co.uk/vod/FetchOrderDetails?itemId=283484807138&transactionId=2110966035018

Hope that helps 😊

Thanks but the links are to your order so it wont let me view them, any chance you can link to the two items?

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4 minutes ago, Tweedbean said:

Thanks but the links are to your order so it wont let me view them, any chance you can link to the two items?

Apologies haha didn't realise, I've updated the links.

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