My new car!

[chickenwafer]

I can get a PnP AEM for $1250 all day for the FD. A Haltech E11v2 or even E8 is gonna set me back mucho more than that. Plus building my own harness, switching to GM sensors, etc. I helped a friend wire an E6 into an FC so I know what's involved.

I do like Haltech's software more than AEM's, tho.

All that being said, I'm probably still going PFC.

[Chance]

E8 is WAY outdated now and e11 is almost in the same boat.

Sprint RE is cheaper, smaller, and way easier. AEM on modified cars is more like $1580

[chickenwafer]

Haven't updated in a few days:

Got the '99 Spec lip from Corksport after some adventures with UPS. Package didn't show up on the day it was supposed to (despite the info saying it was "out for delivery"). It randomly showed up the following day after I had already called UPS and filed for a missing package. What's funny is the tracking number is still active and shows the package as still "out for delivery" haha.

I should have done a little more research about the '99 Spec lip before I attempted the install. The 99 Spec JDM and USDM bumpers are slightly different, so new holes need to be drilled. Stupid me just tried to slap the lip on there.

Further aggravating was the factory trim piece (what the lip replaces, and must be removed) and undertray were held in by rusted bolts with speed nuts. The nuts had rusted and broken free of the bracket, so they would just spin. It took me roughly 45 minuets to get all the bolts out. What a PITA.

I got the lip on but it isn't sitting 100%. There is a clip riveted to one piece of the lip (it's a 2-piece design) that clips into a hole in the bumper. I am having a HELL of a time with this damn clip...it's almost like it's too stiff because it just flexes the bumper when I attempt to push the clip in.

Saturday I'm going to jack the car up, take the lip off, drill the new holes, and re-mount it hoping for success. Since the front end will be up in the air, and I have a compression tester, I'm going to pull the leading plugs, clean them (possibly replace them with some spare BUR9EQ's I have laying around) and see where my compression is at. Praying for 100psi! LOL.

[VRx8]

Good shit bro, i think that's the only thing i'm doing to my FD exterior wise.

[speedjunkie]

Yeah sorry about that, I forgot to tell you the bolt holes don't line up. Some of them do, but not all. I forgot about that haha. Other than that my lip fit on just fine though, I didn't have that clip riveted on though. Have you searched about that on 7club or RCC? I bought my lip used, so maybe the guy before me took off the tab, maybe everyone does haha.

[chickenwafer]

Good shit bro, i think that's the only thing i'm doing to my FD exterior wise.

Well I was planning on doing the 99 Spec JDM Lip only, but now that I have it I think need some other parts to "tidy up" the exterior. Nothing crazy tho, I'm a HUGE fan of the clean, factory body lines.

This is my other exterior plans:

-JDM 99 Spec tail lights (can't decide if I should cheap-out and have them converted or buy the genuine JDM piece)

-Shine low-profile rear lip spoiler

-Shine RE Amemyia "Street" rear diffuser (possibly, undecided)

-Shine FEED carbon fiber side skirts

-Shine FEED carbon fiber vented hood

-OEM USDM bumper repainted and clear bra'ed

That's it exterior wise. The FEED hood looks pretty stock, the vents are back towards the windshield so it's sleeper. I also plan on getting the hood painted so it will match. I might leave the sides bare CF or maybe I won't get them in CF...

Yeah sorry about that, I forgot to tell you the bolt holes don't line up. Some of them do, but not all. I forgot about that haha. Other than that my lip fit on just fine though, I didn't have that clip riveted on though. Have you searched about that on 7club or RCC? I bought my lip used, so maybe the guy before me took off the tab, maybe everyone does haha.

I tweaked the lip a little last night and it's sitting better, but that damn mother ****ing riveted on clip still isn't sitting in it's home!!!! It's making me real mad, almost to the point where I'm thinking of just drilling it out and using a bolt...

[speedjunkie]

I got my 99 spec tails on eBay from a company in Japan for about $300 or $250 or so IIRC, so you CAN find them for good deals. I'd check on there if you want genuine.

I've been thinking more about that Shine lip spoiler too. So sexy.

I ALMOST went with the street diffuser rather than the pro diffuser. Both of them look soooo good.

I LOVE the FEED hood too. Very sexy.

I'd just drill that clip out and bolt it man. It's not worth the hassle haha.

[chickenwafer]

I've been looking on EBay for the JDM round tail lights..not much cheaper than getting them from Rotary Performance because of the overseas shipping.

I'm probably going to send them out to a guy who converts them for $100 plus shipping. Much less expensive and they look just as good. Or I was looking at the Sakebomb LED round tail lights, but they are overpriced IMO (but do look good).

I think I'm also going to get the blacked out front parking light lenses and maybe black out my fog light lenses as well, just to help them blend in.

Also an exterior mod, but you can't see them in normal conditions; I'm planning on the RS Engineering dual 90mm HID headlight kit: http://www.rs-engineering.com/catalog/lighting-c-27_25.html

It keeps the original pop-up headlight design (which I LOVE) but replaces the 1980's tech OEM headlamps with much newer HID headlights.



They look good IMO, plus produce an incredibly brighter headlight path. They also have an optional harness so both 90mm lamps per housing (4 total) can be illuminated at once (hi and low beam lamps) giving you a crap ton of light output.

I also plan on fixing the power sunroof soon. I'm not positive where to start without just throwing parts at it. I know I need a new switch, so that's first on the list. Second is a new relay, which will be fun to install since it requires dropping the headliner. If those parts don't fix it, it might just stay broken until I can get a professional to diagnose it.

[speedjunkie]

How much are the LED tails? I've seen more and more people have them (including Simon, so I'll see them up close when I get home) but I never knew the price. They look kinda strange IMO. Decent, but strange. I think I know the guy you're talking about that does the taillight mod too, Sevenlust, right?

I'm loving those headlights. They look a lot like the Knightsport headlights but they are probably MUCH cheaper. I'd still love to have the RE-A sleek light kit though. If only you didn't have to cut the frame to make them fit.

I have an idea for the sunroof...fill it in? LOL I wouldn't, because I love my sunroof, but if it's going to be a track car it almost makes sense. I'd just hate to think that there used to be a sunroof there that didn't leak and all that, and now it's gone haha. But weight savings is tempting. Good luck fixing that, I'd hate to have to drop the headliner.

[chickenwafer]

The LED tails are $525 IIRC plus they need your tail lights to mod them. I agree, they look a little...funky.

The headlight kit, including the DOT approved bulbs and the switching harness that allows you to run both bulbs on at the same time, is only $650. The headlights more than triple the light output strength and more than quadruple the coverage.

What's nice is the kit is completely bolt-in with only minor modification and is completely reversible back to OEM. It also has a carbon fiber shroud which looks hottt.

I honestly love the look and function of the OEM pop up headlights. They are just so cool! Cars are made with them anymore so I like it. Originally I liked the "sleek" light kits, but now I don't. They are a fad that has passed IMO.

Maybe if I was doing a lot of night time driving, I would consider a sleek headlight kit just for the aerodynamic advantage. But, I don't drive at night that often (or hardly ever), which also means it makes little sense for me to drop $650 on a headlight kit LOL.

Right now I'm debating as to my next move. The car is starting to feel a little slow so I know I need a power adder haha. I'm thinking PowerFC with a catless straight pipe. I won't pick up the FC Datalogit for a little bit- I will be able to clean up the map mostly with the Commander.

Either that or the Efini Y-pipe, GReddy intercooler pipes with TB elbow, and TiAL Q BOV. Wouldn't add as much power as the PFC but it would add some needed under hood bling LOL.

Or gauges and a headunit. Alpine deck, remove factory Bose CD DIN and replace it with a triple 52mm DIN gauge pod and fill it with AEM Analog coolant temp, fuel pressure, and voltage gauges. The voltage gauge would be hooked directly to the fuel pump so I can accurately monitor it's voltage. Oh, and then tint, LOL.

[speedjunkie]

That's quite a bit for the tail lights. I mean, yeah they're probably doing a lot of work to them, but still...

And not too bad on the headlights, for what you're getting. I still like sleeks better, not all of them of course. I can't stand the C-west sleeks, but I LOVE the RE-A sleeks. I just think they look so classy. They remind me of the old 240/280Zs and even the Cosmo.

[chickenwafer]

I agree- the RE-A sleek lights are just a timeless, classic design. Too bad they are so freaking expensive, hard to find, and requires a lot of modifications to fit them. I would get them if was rich and had excessive money to throw at the car, haha.

Anyways, I think I just lucked out on the deal of a lifetime- got an Apex'i PFC with Commander for $615 shipped! I'm still nervous about buying it used off some bloke on 7Club, as it could easily not work, but the PFC units are pretty robust, right? I plan on loading up a new base map anyways, so if some POS tune is loaded on it that makes no difference to me.

The great news is, with the money I saved on the used PFC (about $400) I can now pick up the FC Datalogit software and a catless straight pipe.

[speedjunkie]

Yeah, if I could find some RE-A headlights for cheap, and if they didn't require hacking into the car, I would sooo have a set. That's why I'm still trying to make a set of my own headlights based on the R Magic design. Just waiting on the OLED headlights to hit the market.

That is a damn good deal on the PFC. I've never really seen anyone complain about them, and I didn't have a problem with my used one. Actually, reverse that, I did have a problem with it when I went single for some reason, but I never had a problem with it before that. When I was getting the car tuned back in 08 after swapping in the single, we had some trouble with the car hunting for idle. I swapped with Zico and his worked in mine and mine worked in his so we just left it that way. Other than that, I don't hear really anyone complaining about them.

Do you have emissions testing in FC?

[chickenwafer]

Nope, no emissions testing in Larimer county

That's my project for this winter. Starting in late October/early November, the motor will be stripped to the keg, turbos will be balanced, port the LIM and polish, polish UIM and port it, all block off plates in and delete the OMP with the Banzai kit, Efini JDM y-pipe (polished as well), polish alternator shells, delete the air pump with Pineapple or Tweak-it idler pulley, remove A/C, possibly remove PS, and install my dual Earls 19row oil coolers with Earls ProLite 360 braided nylon hose and all AN fittings.

Hopefully I can do the Koyo N-FLO radiator with Samco hoses at that time as well, and a FMIC. Looking at either the GReddy M-Spec replica FMIC or the ETS FMIC. The ETS is better, for sure, but the GReddy replica is CHEAP! LOL

[speedjunkie]

Best time to do it. I'll probably be doing some projects of my own this winter.

Never heard of ETS I don't think, they make intercoolers?

I know cheap always looks good, but it's not always the way to go, especially on ICs haha.