JamesP1991

Box 2 with the snail arrived today


 
I am a crap photographer but here are a few other pictures from the kit so far, I haven't yet unpacked the BOV or the manifold yet! 
 

 

 

 
 

Box 2 with the snail arrived today


 
I am a crap photographer but here are a few other pictures from the kit so far, I haven't yet unpacked the BOV or the manifold yet! 
 

 

 

 
 

First drive home is always fun

Today is the day! I just got the call that the car is ready to collect at 5 today so can't wait!

Right, Monday should be the day! We know what went wrong last time and we're determined to get it done 3rd time lucky
  Just need to source some 3/5mm spacers for the front wheels or perhaps some different front wheels as the temporary ones don't go over the huge front calipers, my Rays are still at the bodyshop and my new wheels aren't going to arrive in time!

Yipee! Box number 1!





I'll have a route around in the box now and post some more photos later

Got confirmation this morning from Chris though that my kit was dispatched last Friday, so looking forward to it all arriving
 

Absolutely Lauren, and if I didn't have total faith in the kit I would not have wasted my money on it. This wasn't a simple spur of the moment purchase. I have been speaking to Chris from Speed by Design for around 4 weeks now. His responses were brilliant and he gave me as much material and images as I requested. Any questions or issues I had regarding the quality he answered and it has made me feel totally at ease surrounding the kits quality. 
He also allowed me to join the owners group on Facebook for the kit, which has over 327 members from the States, Europe and Australia. I was able to ask numerous questions and get a feel for the feedback that was given, and pretty much all have been running for 2 years with no issues whatsoever. 
 
The kit over the past 2 years has been improved a lot, with a tweaked manifold design, new MAF pipe, new wastegate spring and a Garrett GT3076R turbo upgrade available now.
 
I am happy to share my experience with everyone on this forum, and any problems I have with this solution I will be sharing on here, but Chris has confirmed that there is a 1 year warranty on ALL kits sold, so if I do have any issues whatsoever he is happy to cover them  

Blitz Intake pipe has been provisionally sold to Matt (Remal) so only the panel filter is left guys!

I'm looking for £25 or a sensible offer near so get in quick before someone beats you to it

Not wishing to throw a spanner in the works, but copies are rarely as good as the original. Obviously it's dependent upon materials used etc, but if it's significantly cheaper than the original, there may be a reason. 

Looking much better fella!

Decision made. My BMW R1200 GS is going as is my All New Mazda 3 (just over a year old) all for the sake of a totally impractical hard ride car with worse fuel consumption, higher insurance and road tax.  Why oh why oh why? 
 
Anyway what to tell you all?? 
 
I'm based in NE Essex.  I work in the building industry dealing with architects and consultant engineers , specifically on specialist  fire and smoke ventilation systems.
 
Been a petrol head all my life been riding bikes since I was 17 (well 16 if you include my Honda SS50), 53 years young now!  So I thought I'd quit whilst I'm ahead, and get something fun to drive instead.
 
I'm a regular contributor on Commuter Motorcycle Forum, so hoping to make some new friends here too! 

After the trip to Goodwood last weekend and general road activity my car looked like it had eaten a massive swarm of flies, so I thought it was about time to whack of out the wax and give her a clean given it was a beautiful day today!

Here were the results:

After the trip to Goodwood last weekend and general road activity my car looked like it had eaten a massive swarm of flies, so I thought it was about time to whack of out the wax and give her a clean given it was a beautiful day today!

Here were the results:

After the trip to Goodwood last weekend and general road activity my car looked like it had eaten a massive swarm of flies, so I thought it was about time to whack of out the wax and give her a clean given it was a beautiful day today!

Here were the results:

So I have been a bit quiet here recently, things have been mad at work and behind the scenes I have been desperate to try and get my car to how I want it! 
 
The pile of parts that are stacked in my room waiting to go on just keeps getting bigger, yet I just can't seem to find a time where I can take a day off and get it all sorted, these include: 
4.55 Final Drive  GFB Pulley Kit  Beatrush MCB.  Then a couple of weeks ago, after my girlfriend was fed up of me moaning about wanting more power, I ended up taking the plunge and bought a turbo kit for the car. I ended up going for the SBD turbo kit from the states, this is fully compatible with RHD (I have already checked) will be doing the install myself with a member of the family and then getting it custom mapped at Fensport, hopefully all in time for Japfest 2. 
 

 

 

 

 
With the kit you get: 
Mitsubishi 20G CHRA with 6+6 Billet Compressor Wheel Upgrade (same one found on the Evo X)  Journal Bearing, Oil Cooled Internally Wastegated with .5 Bar (7.25 PSI) Spring 52.5mm IND/68mm EXD Compressor Wheel 49.2mm/55.8mm TD05H Turbine Wheel with 8cm Housing 3-Bar Map Sensor  SBD 50mm Blow-Off Valve (I have gone for Blue) 4-Ply Silicone Hose in your Choice (I have gone for Blue here too) Tig Welded Stainless Steel Turbo Manifold and Exhaust Piping Mandrel Bent Aluminum Intercooler and Intake Piping Electronic Boost Controller  Pre Welded Oil Pan  I have also gone and bought a big K&N intake to replace the foam filter that comes with the kit and plan to start assembling it next weekend. Whilst the car will be in pieces I will also be putting on my master cylinder brace and my pulley kit before bolting the turbo kit in front of it. 
 
I have already spoke to the guys at Fensport and they are happy to custom map it. I am just going to go and drive it over there super carefully off boost so that I do no damage to the engine. 
 
Because I have got a new oil pan with the kit, I will be doing a full oil change, does anyone have any recommendations as to what oil to use with a turbo setup? Is it okay to still use 0w20 or is 5w20 a better option? I will be getting the oil at the start of next week. 
 
In terms of power, I will be going quite conservative (250-280hp at the wheels) to match my 4.55 FD that I will be putting in the car. I am happy to push it more further down the line knowing I have the heavy duty ACT clutch in there, but let's see how that feels first. Then later on in the year I will be getting some fat 235 section rubber to handle the power and also will purchase Stoptech's brake kit (October/November) time. 
 
I will try and post as many pictures as possible through the install. 
 
I know some guys see will probably see this kit from the states and question it, but Chris from SBD has been super in his feedback. He has recently released new gen 2 manifolds, new BOV, a Garrett upgrade which I am tempted to do next year and a new intake upgrade ( I chose not to seeings I went with a big K&N intake). The kit is being improved and refined constantly and it has been selling brilliantly for the 2 years it has been on sale. 
 
There are plenty of owners in Australia running them with RHD on the Facebook group I joined and so installation should be very easy with no compatibility issues. 
 
I am certainly looking forward to it! 

So I have been a bit quiet here recently, things have been mad at work and behind the scenes I have been desperate to try and get my car to how I want it! 
 
The pile of parts that are stacked in my room waiting to go on just keeps getting bigger, yet I just can't seem to find a time where I can take a day off and get it all sorted, these include: 
4.55 Final Drive  GFB Pulley Kit  Beatrush MCB.  Then a couple of weeks ago, after my girlfriend was fed up of me moaning about wanting more power, I ended up taking the plunge and bought a turbo kit for the car. I ended up going for the SBD turbo kit from the states, this is fully compatible with RHD (I have already checked) will be doing the install myself with a member of the family and then getting it custom mapped at Fensport, hopefully all in time for Japfest 2. 
 

 

 

 

 
With the kit you get: 
Mitsubishi 20G CHRA with 6+6 Billet Compressor Wheel Upgrade (same one found on the Evo X)  Journal Bearing, Oil Cooled Internally Wastegated with .5 Bar (7.25 PSI) Spring 52.5mm IND/68mm EXD Compressor Wheel 49.2mm/55.8mm TD05H Turbine Wheel with 8cm Housing 3-Bar Map Sensor  SBD 50mm Blow-Off Valve (I have gone for Blue) 4-Ply Silicone Hose in your Choice (I have gone for Blue here too) Tig Welded Stainless Steel Turbo Manifold and Exhaust Piping Mandrel Bent Aluminum Intercooler and Intake Piping Electronic Boost Controller  Pre Welded Oil Pan  I have also gone and bought a big K&N intake to replace the foam filter that comes with the kit and plan to start assembling it next weekend. Whilst the car will be in pieces I will also be putting on my master cylinder brace and my pulley kit before bolting the turbo kit in front of it. 
 
I have already spoke to the guys at Fensport and they are happy to custom map it. I am just going to go and drive it over there super carefully off boost so that I do no damage to the engine. 
 
Because I have got a new oil pan with the kit, I will be doing a full oil change, does anyone have any recommendations as to what oil to use with a turbo setup? Is it okay to still use 0w20 or is 5w20 a better option? I will be getting the oil at the start of next week. 
 
In terms of power, I will be going quite conservative (250-280hp at the wheels) to match my 4.55 FD that I will be putting in the car. I am happy to push it more further down the line knowing I have the heavy duty ACT clutch in there, but let's see how that feels first. Then later on in the year I will be getting some fat 235 section rubber to handle the power and also will purchase Stoptech's brake kit (October/November) time. 
 
I will try and post as many pictures as possible through the install. 
 
I know some guys see will probably see this kit from the states and question it, but Chris from SBD has been super in his feedback. He has recently released new gen 2 manifolds, new BOV, a Garrett upgrade which I am tempted to do next year and a new intake upgrade ( I chose not to seeings I went with a big K&N intake). The kit is being improved and refined constantly and it has been selling brilliantly for the 2 years it has been on sale. 
 
There are plenty of owners in Australia running them with RHD on the Facebook group I joined and so installation should be very easy with no compatibility issues. 
 
I am certainly looking forward to it! 

Yes I know! To be honest I just got bored waiting for developments N/A that just weren't happening and I don't have a massive budget to go and give someone to make the parts custom tailored to the car, so this was the best solution
 
I'll be getting a set of red rally armour mud flaps next month and then I am going to try and build a custom lightbar with my uncle to sit on the bonnet. Similar to the style of the 037 Lancia:
 
 

 
Want the car to be different and think the road rally car look will look good if done properly, plus it is a nice project to mess around with  

It will be  
 
When do you think the front wings will be finished buddy?

Yes! Love the idea of a road rally GT86. Hmm Compomotive TH's with rally mudflaps...

We are off on holiday early the next morning, but may come and see you all and slide off to the airport after midnight.

Wow big change of plan then! Will be interested to see what the kit is like as it appears to be incredible value. Good luck with the fitting.

Can't wait to get it fitted my last two cars have been fully decatted both, r53 with a supercharger and r56 with a turbo. I like it loud

260 hub hp with a retune being done by Mark at Abbey motorsports today. Sweltering hot as most of the country know, so the struggle was to keep the car cool, maybe a couple more hp in on a colder day but I'm happy with the outcome nonetheless.

Cadwell park tomorrow

Well its been ages since the last update.  Currently saving for forced induction so pace will slow down a little bit as that won't be cheap although I'm sure I will still find the time and money to tweak other bits.
 
Wheels
For those on my Facebook/Instagram you would have seen my BBS RS2's have been stripped down and sent back to the powder coaters.  There was an issue with burnt lacquer due to the metal holding too much heat from baking while the clear coat was put on.  They are fully rectifying the issue FOC and have agreed to a colour change as I was never 100% sure with the colour once it was on the car.  It would work better with a darker car I feel,  two light colours together is too dull for me.  As usual I am keeping hush on the colour until I see them in the flesh, which should be this Saturday.  While fitting them to the car I will be adding some front camber and lowering the a little more to get it even.
 
Wheels split down by James Baker, on Flickr
 
Bring on the noise
Although the GT86 made a nice sound as standard, I want to turn that up to 11 and take advantage of the Subaru engine.  I hopefully have a Borla UEL manifold coming in the next couple of weeks for that Subaru burble and yesterday I took delivery of a scorpion 2.5" decatted front pipe with resonator and a scorpion 2.5" overpipe which will make it a fully decade exhaust system   At some point I will also pick up a catback exhaust to go with these, but this won't delay me fitting them.   As soon as the Borla arrives I will be fitting all of these myself.  Hopefully a job that can be done on axle stands, if not I may need to rent a ramp as I want to do it all myself again, I could pay someone to do it, but wheres the fun it that.  I want to learn as I go along and get that sense of achievement knowing I have done it myself, which is what I did with my first MINI. 
 
Scorpion 2.5" over pipe and decatted resonated front pipe by James Baker, on Flickr
 
Front Lip
Finally I decided to give the front bumper a more aggressive look for little cost, by spraying the centre section with plastidip to see if I liked it.  I changed the lines a couple of times, confering with Rich until I found this line which makes it look like it has fangs.  The great benefit of plastidip is you can peel it off and do it again.  I will get this section painted properly when I have the front number plate holes filled later in the year.    Also if I go for the TRD side skirts then this satin black bumper section will match that on the side skirts.
 
Front Lip by James Baker, on Flickr
 
I am in two minds when it comes to body kits currently.  From what I have seen so far, not many fit to my standard and many just look like they are just stuck on and don't flow with the lines of the car.  I want the cars looks to flow and potentially OEM+ which may mean that I mix elements from different kits, such as the TRD side skirts, Leg Motorsport ducktail spoiler, Fensport OEM rear splitter etc  Or I can go the other extreme of blending in a rocket bunny kit.   But all this can wait as I want to get FI sorted.