Figured I'd talk about my journey since I've got some free time from school. It's been a wild ride, and I don't think things will calm down any time soon!
I purchased this 1987 TII in April 06 as a rolling shell from a guy who unfortunately cracked the front iron just a few weeks after buying it. The car had a half-bridge and all kinds of good stuff.
At the end of the day, all i got was a roller complete with interior and the driveline for $450.
The car was stored(if you could call it that lol) at my roommate's house for almost a year and a half, while I was gathering parts to complete it...
During this time, I picked up the following parts:
-J-spec S5 TII longblock w/ perfect compression
-Walbro 255lph fuel pump
-Racing Beat 2.5in turboback
-SSR Reverse Mesh wheels + tires
-Ohlins struts w/ RS*R springs
-Microtech LT8s
-ACT 12lb flywheel & Exedy clutch
-All new gaskets for the long block assembly
-CSF 2 row radiator
-Old school HKS SSQV
-Greddy Profec B spec-II
-Misc. stuff I don't remember off the top of my head.
Me and my buddy then pulled an all nighter during June 07 right when finals ended, and got it running and drivable at 4am. Almost 24 hours of work!
Some pics that afternoon:
Some more:
Purchased the S5 conversion for a steal, and Stance GR+ Pro's from AutoRnD:
Did a 15 hour round trip for these Corbeaus:
Some random shots w/ the RE-A shift knob:
Some pics of Mazfest summer 08:
At this point I started to crave for more grip, and wider tires. My sumitomos weren't cutting it, and I wanted to nail the throttle on exits earlier.
Enter my current setup:
17x9 +24 Stern Schmiede R16-s
Currently running 255/40/17 all around on Falken RT615's. If I do chance upon another set of wheels, I'll try to wrap slicks of similar size or bigger on these as the track setup.
I must say, the new setup is worlds apart from the old one, and I can't imagine what it can do with the slicks on!
Plans for the future (After college):
-Rebuild with medium SP, or Semi-Peripheral if I went nuts
-A-spec GT35R,
-I should be fairly decent at TIG welding by the time I graduate, so VMIC + misc aluminum fab
-Microtech LT12
-Parallel rail fuel system, 720cc primaries, and 1680cc secondaries
-RB RevTII turboback
-Exedy twin-disc
-FD oil cooler in parallel with the FC
-Brake ducting and possibly bigger brakes
-AWR spherical bearings, lower control arms, adjustable sway bar, and individual rear camber links.
-6 point roll bar if the car is still used on the Street, full cage for off road.
-Widebody and paint, wider wheels/tires
Goal this time is ~400rwhp reliably, with a relatively flat power curve, and fast boost response.
Well, that's all I can remember from the top of my head. It will always be a work in progress! Comments, suggestions welcome!
To be continued...