White Gts-T's, White Gts-T

[White GTS-T]

Today I loaded up the old work van and anxiously delivered the wheels and tyres to be fitted. I Dropped off some beers at the same time, just as some extra incentive for the workers to look after the rims. And i'm happy to report that they did a good job and that the wheels look great. The 215/45 federal 595's look quite squarish on the 9.5" rims, but hopefully they provide some extra clearance.

I also finished sandblasting the last of the Brembo calipers. Fortunately, we are lucky enough to have a machine shop just across the road, and they gave me full access to their workshop, in exchange for beers, including the use of their hot-wash and sandblaster. Their sandblaster uses a super fine glass media that gives an excellent finish. It's almost going to a shame to paint them. I think they look great in their raw alloy state. Thoughts?

Edited August 16, 2013 by White GTS-T

[Bushy]

Very nice mate! RE: the callipers, I like the bare alloy look but its hard to say how it will tie in with the wheels/rest of the car, sometimes I think red callipers stand out too much anyway.

[White GTS-T]

^Agreed. How is your 25 conversion progressing along since the first start up? I had a go at painting the calipers with some VHT pressure pack and it turned out okay, but I have since stripped them again and sent them to the powder coaters. Here's my rattle can attempt.

So the boss told me I had too many holidays saved up, so I've taken a few days off to get the car sorted, somewhat. Using the Takata LDS I can now make it on and off the four post hoist trouble free. So I put them and the Ikeya Formula Maple A-one gauges to use...

...adjusting the camber...

...and toe...

...after installing the Ikeya Formula arms, front and rear.

Now I just need to get some swivel plates and a bubble gauge to measure castor. The new arms were accompanied by new sway bar links.

Lastly, I test fitted the new wheels, and much to my surprise they don't stick out as far as I thought they would.

[White GTS-T]

So I finally picked up my calipers from the powder coaters and upon first glance I was initially disappointed that that the colour was a lot lighter than what I had selected on the sample chart, I thought it was going to be deeper. But upon fitting them, the colour has really grown on me. I think they compliment the wheels nicely without being too overstated, which I think red would have been. It's quite difficult to do the calipers justice with a camera phone, the metallic silver really has to be seen in person, the finish is outstanding, much better than my efforts.

I promptly rebuilt all the calipers with the new seals, boots etc and got on to the fitting. I started on the rear and prepped the handbrake shoes and the hubs for the new discs.

Prepped the new rear pads.

.

Rear sorted, with new Rays hub rings and a coat of paint for the space that can be seen due to not having center caps.

Front pads prepped.

Again, same treatment for the front.

I cleaned up all of the retaining pin kit and fitted the new braided lines.

Routing them neatly.

Looking good all mounted up.

After bleeding the system with some fresh Motul fluid, everything's ready for the bedding in process.

Edited September 24, 2013 by White GTS-T

[ordinary]

Man, a few alignment 'tweaks' and you've got a killer curcuit car!

[White GTS-T]

^Cheers. I am definitely interested in trying my hand at some circuit work. What 'tweaks' would you recommend? Since the installation of the Ikeya Formula gear I decided to try a very aggressive alignment. It's currently running;

Front:

Camber: -4.5 degrees

Castor: 8 degrees

Toe: 10mm total toe out.

Rear:

Camber: -1.5 degrees

Toe: 0

The car feels very solid and planted now. Kind of how i'd imagine a circuit car to be set up. The front feels less nimble now, due to the wider front wheels perhaps, and the steering is a lot heavier but much more direct.

[sweefu]

10mm toe out sounds a bit much, is that right?

All depends on your driving + how you like the car to feel though.
Any testing with the current alignment?

[GH05T]

awesome, posting to follow

[White GTS-T]

^Thanks. Only some spirited street driving as of yet, but so far so good. The car is very twitchy, but the turn in is super responsive. I loved the way the car handled prior to all the recent work, so I can only hope that car setup hasn't gone 'backwards', so to speak.

[White GTS-T]

So I tied to take a better photo of the brakes in some more natural light, both before and after the bedding in process.

Before:

After:

Rear:

Coming from run of the mill Bendix Ultimates, this new setup is incredible. The pedal feel is so connected, I was easily able to find the limit of the Federals...and beyond. Almost flat spotting the brand new tyres at one stage. I'm very impressed to say the least and quite eager to put everything to the test, at a circuit day or similar.

I also fitted up a braided clutch line with a hose that was left over from the brake hose kit. It's a tad long, but it does the job.

Some fresh Motul fluid for the clutch and its good to go. While I was at it, I fitted the reservoir covers. I'm not so sure how I feel about these, as it's the first real 'dress up' mod that the car has received, but I guess they look better than the dirty old socks I had on there...

[ordinary]

That is a very agrressive alignment! Unless you're using slicks?

For road tyres & semi slicks:

Front -

Camber -3.25 to -3.5 degrees

Toe 1.75mm out each side (help the front turn in)

Rear -

Camber -1.75 degrees

Toe 1mm in each side (reduce oversteer)

Come to the SAU rounds!

John Richo is the fastest gtst & a wealth of knowledge. Not sure when the next round is... Are you coming to WTAC next month?

[ordinary]

10mm out is extreme!!! Unheard of for me...

[White GTS-T]

I wasn't planning on going to WTAC, but i'm sure it would be incredible, i'll look in to some flights.

If I was going to do a circuit day I would dial the alignment back a bit. Half the reason it's so aggressive at the moment is just to fit the wheels. Once I get the GT-R front guards I've got, painted and fitted, I will be able to stand the wheels up some more.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for the SAU rounds, that sounds right up my alley.

On a lighter note, I decided to give the exterior some love. I've been toying with the idea of respraying the car, but before committing to that I decided to give the car a polish for the second time since owning it. I didn't really know what I was doing, to be honest, but it turned out okay.

I took this mediocre snap before the sun went down.

Edited September 29, 2013 by White GTS-T

[Bushy]

Sorry I missed this post vvv Its coming along alright, wish I had more time to work on it though. Yours is looking good, the callipers turned out nice! Pretty impressive setup, as said would be a solid base for some fast laps.

^Agreed. How is your 25 conversion progressing along since the first start up?

[White GTS-T]

^Cheers. Glad to see your shake down was 'relatively' trouble free. Yeah, now that I look at it, the car is starting to get pretty serious. I guess I'm just fortunate enough to be in a position where I've got a bit of money put away and I can finally get it to the stage that I always imagined it to be, when I was struggling through my apprenticeship.

[ordinary]

Damn that came up shinny!

And come to WTAC! $200 in flights check out the mental cars.

SAU rounds are run with the WRX club normally. Are you an SAU paid member? Got a CAMS license? Ready to rumble

Post pics of the beast with the GTR guards on when it's all done.

[ordinary]

Damn that came up shinny!

And come to WTAC! $200 in flights check out the mental cars.

SAU rounds are run with the WRX club normally. Are you an SAU paid member? Got a CAMS license? Ready to rumble

Post pics of the beast with the GTR guards on when it's all done.

[ordinary]

Oops double postage... Damn u iPhone. Might of been the user. Just might.

[White GTS-T]

Yeah I was surprised how well the paint came up. When I first started rubbing the bonnet with the clay bar it sounded like sandpaper, it was so rough. But after a little rubbing it was silent and is now so smooth to touch. I can stop touching it.

Mmm World Time Attack *drools. I've been following the builds of as many cars as I can and some of them are just mental. It makes me moist. Urge to go, rising.

I sent in an application to become an SAU member just the other day and today printed off the CAMS paper work to renew my expired L2NS licence.

I'm not sure which direction I'm going to go aesthetically, in regards to the exterior, but I have the following parts here to go that just need to be painted.

Moonface racing rear wiper delete.

Boot with no spoiler holes.

N1 boot lip (new)

Dmax roof spoiler (new)

Genuine Ganador mirrors. (new)

GT-R front guards.

N1 bonnet lip

N1 lower lip (New)

N1 front bumper vents (New)

GT-R indicators (New)

GT-R N1 front bumper (is on back order)

Edited October 1, 2013 by White GTS-T

[White GTS-T]

Yeah I was surprised how well the paint came up. When I first started rubbing the bonnet with the clay bar it sounded like sandpaper, it was so rough. But after a little rubbing it was silent and is now so smooth to touch. I can stop touching it.

Mmm World Time Attack *drools. I've been following the builds of as many cars as I can and some of them are just mental. It makes me moist. Urge to go, rising.

I sent in an application to become an SAU member just the other day and today printed off the CAMS paper work to renew my expired L2NS licence.

I'm not sure which direction I'm going to go aesthetically, in regards to the exterior, but I have the following parts here to go that just need to be painted.

Moonface racing rear wiper delete.

Boot with no spoiler holes.

N1 boot lip (new)

Dmax roof spoiler (new)

Genuine Ganador mirrors. (new)

GT-R front guards.

N1 bonnet lip

N1 lower lip (New)

N1 front bumper vents (New)

GT-R indicators (New)

GT-R N1 front bumper (is on back order)