Sativaman04 = 00 GT Wagon

[SativaMan04]

Hey wassup guys.

This Forum has helped me out soo much! Thank you! It led me to create this wonderful work of automotive art....

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9295/146ux.jpg



MOD LIST:

-Exterior
JDM L7 grille blue badge
JDM Wing
17x7 52 offset Prodrive P7 Wheels Toyo Proxes4 Tires
Tint 15% Rear 35% Front

-SUSPENSION
JDM GT-B Bilstein Struts
JDM Gialla Springs Dropped: Front 1" 201lbs Rear 1.5" 302lbs (Bought from Yamazaki Thank YOu)
Whiteline rear swaybar and bushings

-EXHAUST
Custom 2.25 midpipe mated to 06STI muffler

-ENGINE
Injen CARB approved intake


^______^

[MRLancaster]

I love your BH! :) Anymore plans for it?

[Guig'z]

Really nice BH!!

[blackstar]

I like the wheels, the silver looks good on white. You need some JDM tails / garnish next...... Where at in NorCal are you ?
What are your next mods / plans for the car ?
It's funny how just a few mods will make you fall in love with your car all over again, again, again & again

[Huffer]

Yeah!!!!!

[SativaMan04]

Thanks MR Your black BH is lookin pretty Sexy as well.

Guigz: Thanks Man! I'm really diggin your modds as well.

Blackstar: I'm glad you like the wheels. Yes, I really do want JDM Tails. Just waiting patiently for the right deal. My next mod is a rear sway bar and front strut bar. MY plans for the car is to JDM it out. JDM front bumper, rear bumper, front lip, and spats. Future complete mod is to swap a wrx or sti motor with the 05 Legacy dashboard with wiring harness. Thats when I have a career and real money coming in. haha

Huffer: Im wanna be like you man!! -_^

I do have a bunch of pics on my build. I'll post up as soon as I have time. Thanks Guys!!

[Huffer]

Need a better camera mate! :D

[SativaMan04]

LOL!! yah those pics are hideous. I will use my girls digital camera.

[SativaMan04]

Highway 1. Hour north of Bodega Bay!


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[amgarrety]

Mmmmm... those rims are tasty.

Scratch that. This car is tasty.

Thats a compliment.

[Huffer]

Needs moar decals. :D

[harrymaneuvers]

Nice Murs quote... I am a living legends and Felt diehard fan!!!

You need to come out to the Sac suby meets on thrusdays...

http://www.i-club.com/forums/meetings-e ... ost3149697 (http://www.i-club.com/forums/meetings-events-group-streaking-118/new-sac-area-thursday-night-meets-7pm-222282/page47/#post3149697)

[SativaMan04]

Mmmmm... those rims are tasty.

Scratch that. This car is tasty.

Thats a compliment.

haha!! Thanks amgarrety!! Your car is sweet as welll!! Nom Nom NOM.....

Huffer: Although I would love to advertise sl-i.net, i'm not really a decal person. I would rock a licnese plate trim though!

Harry: Murs and living legends are dope man!! Murs has the same bday as me!! hehe I'm actually in the sf bay area section of cali. Thanks for the invite though!

[SativaMan04]

Convertible Wagon!!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[Huffer]

I'll actually be in San Mateo for training next week, and will be staying downtown...

[SativaMan04]

Sounds like fun! Hit me up if you wanna drive my car! I just washed, clayed, ultimate compound, and waxed her. Night and day difference I tell yah.. ^_^

[SativaMan04]

STI muffler made a huge difference. I have a lot less restriction and more throttle response. She flows a lot smoother now and I am a lot quicker on the freeway when merging or downshifting. I could feel a lot of drag with the stock exhaust. The sound is amazing. It doesn't sound cheap at all. Nice deep low rumble! I'm in Love again! Upgrading the exhaust is a must have mod. My side shot pic was too big to upload into imageshack. I'll take another one soon.

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/1259/192jy.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9277/193yb.jpg
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2297/210kd.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7933/334kf.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2254/191ny.jpg

[STIdarkside]

When you installing all the jdm exterior parts?

Looks great!

[SativaMan04]

When you installing all the jdm exterior parts?

Looks great!

Thank you. I really like the look of my car! I'm going to name her. Sexy Lexxy GunTa(thats for the GT)

I already have the JDM Wing installed and the L front grille. The other parts will have to wait until next spring or summer. I have to save up money to get them painted. Also how did you know I had other JDM parts? Are you secretly spying on my storage room?

[STIdarkside]

I have seen some threads here and on nasioc where you talked about jdm bumpers and buying.some.parts haha

[SativaMan04]

LOL. I can't wait untill I can get them painted and installed. I'm actually going to try and install it myself. I'm picking up more JDM parts this weekend. Front and Rear lip. My next mod will be a whiteline rear swaybar.coming soon! How do you like the look of the STI exhaust?

[SativaMan04]

I just got my whiteline rsb. I'll post pics later. Here's one in the meantime.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2213/148rr.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/1567/433s.jpg

[SativaMan04]

Just installed a Whiteline rear swaybar. Bhatman came over and showed me how to do the install. It was pretty straight foward and totally helped to take off the rear wheels. We had way more space to work with! Thanks Bhatman!

Gunta Baby! Handles sooo much better now. Such an amazing difference! I am a lot more planted in turns and have way more control! Before the install Gunta would lean/roll during aggressive turning. It's so much easier to control now, a lot more fun to drive and feels a lot safer for my driving style. I didn't notice any change in comfort. My girl even said she likes the ride a lot better with the bar because when I use to take turns her body would lean with the car. Which gave her headaches. Now she said she doesn't have to brace herself anymore on the same turns I usually take going to my house. She doesn't feel the car motion sickness. YESS!! Definitely a Must have upgrade! The stock bars are soo puny!!

Now I need (want haha) a front strut bar to balance it out!!

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6743/bhwhitelineswaybar.jpg

[Bhatman]

Yeah!! Such a easy and straightforward upgrade. Glad the girl likes it too, added bonus!

[r3v_v3ng3]

Yay!! You guys got it done. What endlink your using?

[SativaMan04]

Yay!! You guys got it done. What endlink your using?

Thanks R3v! I stayed with the stock endlinks. I read that changing them isn't really neccessary because they are metal vs the 2nd gen which are plastic. Did you use aftermarket ones on yours?

[SativaMan04]

Yeah!! Such a easy and straightforward upgrade. Glad the girl likes it too, added bonus!

Score!!

[BH5Ritch]

it's a good mod...I'll miss it.

[SativaMan04]

it's a good mod...I'll miss it.

You passed it down to the perfect owner Ritch. :rr: Thanks for all the parts! I look foward to seeing you in March!

[prodriver1]

Just installed a Whiteline rear swaybar. Bhatman came over and showed me how to do the install. It was pretty straight foward and totally helped to take off the rear wheels. We had way more space to work with! Thanks Bhatman!

Gunta Baby! Handles sooo much better now. Such an amazing difference! I am a lot more planted in turns and have way more control! Before the install Gunta would lean/roll during aggressive turning. It's so much easier to control now, a lot more fun to drive and feels a lot safer for my driving style. I didn't notice any change in comfort. My girl even said she likes the ride a lot better with the bar because when I use to take turns her body would lean with the car. Which gave her headaches. Now she said she doesn't have to brace herself anymore on the same turns I usually take going to my house. She doesn't feel the car motion sickness. YESS!! Definitely a Must have upgrade! The stock bars are soo puny!!

Now I need (want haha) a front strut bar to balance it out!!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
look at the brackets that hold the bushings around the bar! THEY WILL BREAK! I had the stock ones on mine break 3 times, you dont need to upgrade to different ones just get yours welded to the frame and then welded at the bends to reinforce them. and unless you have serious roll in the front dont get the front bar, it increases understeer which is already a problem in awd cars (but not the evo or skyline :smt012 )

[SativaMan04]

look at the brackets that hold the bushings around the bar! THEY WILL BREAK! I had the stock ones on mine break 3 times, you dont need to upgrade to different ones just get yours welded to the frame and then welded at the bends to reinforce them. and unless you have serious roll in the front dont get the front bar, it increases understeer which is already a problem in awd cars (but not the evo or skyline :smt012 )


Thanks for the heads up on the brackets! I have a friend who has a welding machine. Although I don't live in an area with harsh weather conditions and I don't off road so I think I'll be safe without welding it. I have been warned though! Thank You!

Regarding the front strut bar. Will it really cause me understeer? The roll in the front isn't serious at all and im perfectly content with the way it handles now. I have So much more control and less roll. I actually don't feel any understeer at all and I can re adjust while turning very easliy. What ever I want to car to do it does it accurately. I was thinking that putting on a front strut bar will give me even more control and precision.

Can anyone else chime in on this? I would hate to spend 150 on a strut bar only to find out it makes my car handle worse! :smt021 I don't have the cash for one anyways, so I guess it saves me the grief of wanting really badly!! Oh the itchyness of the modding bug!! haha

So would you reccommend a front swaybar instead?

Thanks for the advice prodriver1!!!

[prodriver1]

well the sway bar stops or reduces the "roll" in corners, if you stiffen the front too much the outside tyre (as you corner) wont get a good progressive amount of weight put on it and you'll get understeer, wow I'm sitting here trying to think of the quickest way to explain how chassis balance works and their is so much that goes into even the basics... try this, put your hand out fingers flat and together, now this is your car, have fun and pretend its your wallowy old suby and lean it into the corners, now use your finger on the other hand to act as your new stiff rear bar and hold the rear stiff as you do the same pretend corner. thats what you have now, try to see the weight transfer to the front as you brake into the corner and push down on the front tyre, its getting more traction due to that obviously up to a point or 2 which are how much can your tyres handle and how much stroke your suspension has, slammed stuff looks good but sucks for real race applications ( unless its a honda they have mega travel) anyway I'm getting lost as usual. do the finger hand thing only in reverse, see the wallowy rear and stiff front and imagine the same weight transfer into the corner, the rear will be able to get sit properly and bit into the corner but the front will loose grip and "wash wide" or understeer out of the corner. if you get both bars you need to get more rear dampening (stiffer shocks) to gain an advantage with the front bar. :smt017 does this compute?

[SativaMan04]

So basically the front strut bar will stiffen up the front suspension to the point where I will have less rebound and my tires won't grip as well when I try and correct the steering. I got it now. It makes sense. So it will do well turning in, but can wash wide turning out.

Now I can stop looking on ebay and fantasizing on them strut bars! hehe

[r3v_v3ng3]

Thanks R3v! I stayed with the stock endlinks. I read that changing them isn't really neccessary because they are metal vs the 2nd gen which are plastic. Did you use aftermarket ones on yours?


yeah i used an aftermarket one cause mine was plastic

[Bhatman]

Prodriver is right about the sway bars...remember its all about having the right balance on the front and rear. Now you have strengthened up the rear, hence why you can grab the corners alot better. Ive been running stock endlinks since last year on my BH and Whiteline combo and its been solid so far.

[prodriver1]

I got both rallitek swaybars (front and rear) the front is 22mm and the rear is adjustable from 22mm-25mm and in summer I run it full hard 25mm and in the winter snow I bring it down to 22mm due to the slipperiness conditions ( dont want to spin out every corner in the sow) I also have rallitek solid rear endlinks but I have new stock moog front endlinks as I dont want it too stiff as we talked about, I have both due to my lifted suspension its taller which creates more roll. you would do well with stock front outback bar at 19mm with rallitek solid endlinks, it will be just a little jump in the fronts response to turn in without holding the front up like a bigger bar would do. but go get those shocks! I have been thinking about KYB GR-2's in the front and KYB AGX's in the back as I have a wagon and they tend to get saggy butts and AGX's are adjustable in dampning and that would be mega not just for stance and performance but if you have some heavy crap in the back you could adjust them accordingly. I already have GR-2's on mine but when I get my forester springs put on I want to get fresh ones and AGX's in the back.

[SativaMan04]

I got both rallitek swaybars (front and rear) the front is 22mm and the rear is adjustable from 22mm-25mm and in summer I run it full hard 25mm and in the winter snow I bring it down to 22mm due to the slipperiness conditions ( dont want to spin out every corner in the sow) I also have rallitek solid rear endlinks but I have new stock moog front endlinks as I dont want it too stiff as we talked about, I have both due to my lifted suspension its taller which creates more roll. you would do well with stock front outback bar at 19mm with rallitek solid endlinks, it will be just a little jump in the fronts response to turn in without holding the front up like a bigger bar would do. but go get those shocks! I have been thinking about KYB GR-2's in the front and KYB AGX's in the back as I have a wagon and they tend to get saggy butts and AGX's are adjustable in dampning and that would be mega not just for stance and performance but if you have some heavy crap in the back you could adjust them accordingly. I already have GR-2's on mine but when I get my forester springs put on I want to get fresh ones and AGX's in the back.

I see I see, but I already have the GT-B Shocks and Gialla springs that I got from Yamazaki. Were you basing this on stock suspension? I assumed you knew I had Bilstiens. So would a front strut bar go well with the suspension I have?(GT-B shocks Gialla Springs, Whiteline RSB) Or would it still wash wide?

[prodriver1]

I got both rallitek swaybars (front and rear) the front is 22mm and the rear is adjustable from 22mm-25mm and in summer I run it full hard 25mm and in the winter snow I bring it down to 22mm due to the slipperiness conditions ( dont want to spin out every corner in the sow) I also have rallitek solid rear endlinks but I have new stock moog front endlinks as I dont want it too stiff as we talked about, I have both due to my lifted suspension its taller which creates more roll. you would do well with stock front outback bar at 19mm with rallitek solid endlinks, it will be just a little jump in the fronts response to turn in without holding the front up like a bigger bar would do. but go get those shocks! I have been thinking about KYB GR-2's in the front and KYB AGX's in the back as I have a wagon and they tend to get saggy butts and AGX's are adjustable in dampning and that would be mega not just for stance and performance but if you have some heavy crap in the back you could adjust them accordingly. I already have GR-2's on mine but when I get my forester springs put on I want to get fresh ones and AGX's in the back.

I see I see, but I already have the GT-B Shocks and Gialla springs that I got from Yamazaki. Were you basing this on stock suspension? I assumed you knew I had Bilstiens. So would a front strut bar go well with the suspension I have?(GT-B shocks Gialla Springs, Whiteline RSB) Or would it still wash wide?
I didnt know you had stuff I thought it was stock, are the springs made for a sedan? if so the rates arent enough to deal with the heavier rear, and a gt-b is twin turbo and therefor the shocks will be meant for a much heavier front end, together they are making your front way stiffer than the back, you can either fix this or counter act it, fix by getting wagon springs, maybe from a stock gt? counter act.. I dont know get a smaller front bar, put a 100lb's of lead in the front, nothing you actually want to do. also gt-b's are wagons so your rear shocks are getting more of a workout picking up the slack on those weak ars springs and will go bad a lot sooner than the fronts.

[SativaMan04]

The springs are made for wagons I think. I need to ask Yamazaki if he pulled them off of a GTB, RSK or Blitzen. The spring rate in the Front=201lbs & Rear=302lbs.

[SativaMan04]

Also im asking about a front strut bar not swaybar. Will a front strut bar cause me to understeer with the suspension I have right now? I guess I'll just have to find out the old school way and try it out. hehe

[prodriver1]

Also im asking about a front strut bar not swaybar. Will a front strut bar cause me to understeer with the suspension I have right now? I guess I'll just have to find out the old school way and try it out. hehe
front tower bar keeps the strut towers from flexing or "cambering" in and out, just look at how their connected, the top of the shock os above the connection point with the frame and the tyre is at the other end so their is a lot of jittering and juttering, the tower bar stops this. stiffening everything up top will focus the stress down, tierod ends swaybar endlinks stuff like that will be the end focus of all the stress, so watch out for maintenance sake :wink: so talking handling tell me about your tyres, what kind do you have? what size? I LOVE your rims :smt023 tyres are the most important part of good handling, you can have the crappiest blown shocks and still have a good time as long as you have AA traction and 360 or less tread wear and you should be able to get a 225 on you car, if you can go wider thats sweet, it will do a ton of extra wear to your bushings to have super wide tyres but its fun and cool. :smt004

[SativaMan04]

I can't believe I missed your reply. Im sorry! Thank you for the info and wheel comments. It wold be nice if they were 18's, but damn the tires would be $$$$. I have Toyo Proxes4 right now. 225/45/17. I'm saving up for continental DWS. They seem like a great all season tire. Although it doesnt snow much here in the bay area, but I would like to drive up to the snow in the winter to board. I hear people talking about getting 225/50/17 vs 225/45/17 so my rpms will stay low. I dont understand the advantages or disadvantages in this. I thought the way we control rpms is by what gear we're in? Can you enlighten me? Thanks.

You're not a player you're a PROdrivveeerrr!!! (its an usher song. Pro Lover) Everytime I see your name it reminds me of that song! hahaha I had to sing it!

[prodriver1]

I can't believe I missed your reply. Im sorry! Thank you for the info and wheel comments. It wold be nice if they were 18's, but damn the tires would be $$$$. I have Toyo Proxes4 right now. 225/45/17. I'm saving up for continental DWS. They seem like a great all season tire. Although it doesnt snow much here in the bay area, but I would like to drive up to the snow in the winter to board. I hear people talking about getting 225/50/17 vs 225/45/17 so my rpms will stay low. I dont understand the advantages or disadvantages in this. I thought the way we control rpms is by what gear we're in? Can you enlighten me? Thanks.

You're not a player you're a PROdrivveeerrr!!! (its an usher song. Pro Lover) Everytime I see your name it reminds me of that song! hahaha I had to sing it!
did u ever play with gears in jr.high school? if that makes any sense. if not think about 3 geared wheels, one large one medium one small, the medium gear is your car and the small and large gears represent the large or small tyres, if the medium wheel is spinning at 30 the whole time you will notice the larger wheel moving slower than the smaller wheel. :smt017

[SativaMan04]

Yah it makes sense now. Good explanation! haha So which is better? 50 series? It seems like ill save more gas and tire this way.

[SativaMan04]

Ok. I finally installed my JDM hood thats beens sitting around for a long time. I also got JDM headlights as a Valentines present. WooHOOO!!

The Install:

There is a black wire (ground) and red wire (power) coming from the ballast. A green(high beam) and yellow(lo beam) wire coming from the hid. We had a lot of trial and error and blew a couple fuses, but we finally made it happen. On the JDM headlight connect the Red wire to the Yellow wire. Power from the ballast to Lo beam. Ground the black wire and the Green wire will connect to the harness.

We spliced the GT headlights. The wires have Red, Black and Green. Combine the red and yellow wire to the black wire on the USDM plug. That will light up your Lo beams. Then combine the Green wire on the JDM lights to the Green wire on the USDM plug. This will light up your Hi beams. Make it water tight and bolt the new headlights in. I still need to aim the lights all the way down because it does point to the right.

THE L HARNESS/WIRING IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GT. SO THIS ONLY WORKS FOR GT'S. WE HAVE TWO BULBS ONE FOR LO AND ONE FOR HI. L USES ONE BULB FOR BOTH LO AND HI.



http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/7581/img01044201202111751.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2906/img01042201202111750.jpg

After Install:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4559/img01041201202111744.jpg

Went on a picnic and took some more photo's.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5680/gtbjdmlight.jpg
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/6977/gtbjdmlght.jpg
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4097/gtbhid.jpg

Saw the Chronicle after. I liked it, but since I watch a lot of Japanese anime and read a lot of Manga. The flying around with super powers wasn't anything new to me. Also they couldve made the story line a lot better. IMHO
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/9141/bhjdmhoodhllids.jpg

Let me know what you guys think. ^_^

[Bhatman]

Ok. I finally installed my JDM hood thats beens sitting around for a long time. I also got JDM headlights as a Valentines present. WooHOOO!!

The Install:

There is a black wire (ground) and red wire (power) coming from the ballast. A green(high beam) and yellow(lo beam) wire coming from the hid. We had a lot of trial and error and blew a couple fuses, but we finally made it happen. On the JDM headlight connect the Red wire to the Yellow wire. Power from the ballast to Lo beam. Ground the black wire and the Green wire will connect to the harness.

We spliced the GT headlights. The wires have Red, Black and Green. Combine the red and yellow wire to the black wire on the USDM plug. That will light up your Lo beams. Then combine the Green wire on the JDM lights to the Green wire on the USDM plug. This will light up your Hi beams. Make it water tight and bolt the new headlights in. I still need to aim the lights all the way down because it does point to the right.

THE L HARNESS/WIRING IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GT. SO THIS ONLY WORKS FOR GT'S. WE HAVE TWO BULBS ONE FOR LO AND ONE FOR HI. L USES ONE BULB FOR BOTH LO AND HI.



Hooray blown fuses! By far an enjoyable install lol. Expect a detailed write up + this info in a DIY that I am finishing up(School blows :grin: )

[SativaMan04]

Thanks again Bhatman!! You were a big part of the success! Then when we finally finished we were jumping around like we just trekked it through the Himalayan mountains!!! haha Bhatman will do the detailed write up guys this is just in lamest terms.

[Yamazaki]

Did you wire up the headlight leveler too? I'd like to see the write-up for that since I will have to do it soon....
And is that good the lightweight aluminum Japanese hood or a steel hood (identical to a turbo baja)? I know there's an incredible weight difference just carrying them around, but if it's the lightweight one, can you feel the weight difference when driving?

[SativaMan04]

Did you wire up the headlight leveler too? I'd like to see the write-up for that since I will have to do it soon....
And is that good the lightweight aluminum Japanese hood or a steel hood (identical to a turbo baja)? I know there's an incredible weight difference just carrying them around, but if it's the lightweight one, can you feel the weight difference when driving?

I wish I could help you out Yamazaki, you've helped me countless times. Unfortunately the leveler switch didn't come with the headlights. So I have to turn it with a nose plier. I tried turning it with my fingers and failed haha!

As for the hood. Darn, I can't help you out again. I have the JDM steel one. It's about as heavy as the stock. The aluminum would've been a great find though.

[r3v_v3ng3]

JDM headlights for valentines? Lucky you :grin:
looking good

[SativaMan04]

Thanks R3v! I'm really thankful and blessed to have her in my life!

[SativaMan04]

Met up with Blackstar to barter. Really good guy!! Thanks Blackstar you're the man!!