S15 Spec R

[RP1421]

Posting over from another forum so some things may be broken and out of date. 

April 2015

 Since purchasing it a few months back, I've done a few minor things to it such as fitting a bracket to secure the pod filter. Bought a HKS EVC (yet to be installed) and just recently bought some new rims. 

Plans from here:

• Fix bootlid holes
• Get a nistune and have the car tuned. Running a bit rich currently
• Bigger injectors
• better fuel pump
• Rocker Arm Stoppers
• Cams

As I bought it 

My garage now (evo is for sale if anybody wants it) 

After fitting the new wheels. Advan RZ. 17x9 and 17x9.5. Hankook RS3 in the front, Dunlop Direzza in the back. Tiny bit of poke in front and back so will need to get guards rolled a bit. Rear can go a bit lower, need to adjust camber on front and back and get an alignment done. 

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

April 2015

Got a hold of some center caps (not cheap at $55/cap) but they do set it off really nicely and match the wheel nuts. 

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

May 2015

Not much progress on the car as studies have been priority. 

Changed the caster arms from the ones in the photo below  to something more adjustable. 

Got these Carbon Fibre origin under canards on the cheap locally so will be going on some time soon hopefully when I can be bothered to pull the bumper off to do it. 

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

August 2015

 

Not much progress on the car since uni/work has been consuming most of my time. 

Finally got around to installing the canards. I've ordered some c-west canards to round out the front. Also in the same order are a pair of clear indicators so hopefully they arrive soon! Nabbed a set of advan wheel nuts too, which makes the wheel setup a nice trifecta (wheels, centre caps and wheel nuts). 

Also got my hands on a rare bit of kit, an ARC cooling panel (yes they provide very little, if any cooling benefit) but a cool bit of kit nonetheless. 

Also purchased some Yashio Smoked tail lights but I didn't really like them so I am selling them for $550 (reply here and I'll PM you etc). 

Still gotta get the EVC, Z32, Nismo 740's etc installed and tuned

[RP1421]

September 2015

 

Got fitted up with some new RE003 since my rears were becoming average and losing traction easily. Wanted to get 255 or 265 in the rear but 245 is the widest available in 17" :( . So still 225/45/17 in the front and now 245/45/17 in the rear. 

[RP1421]

September 2015

 

Not much upgrades as such lately. Went on a long run out to the dam with a local group and the car with the brace and new tyres handles like a dream. 

Picked up a pair of lights for an absolute steal for $60! Have the plugs ( I think), just need to get a relay, stalk and fog-light grills.

Also picked up a Defi Advance with everything needed to go on an S15.

[RP1421]

October 2015

Ordered a set of DBA 4000 series rotors with the new Forza FP3 pads (which Brakes Direct have been backing ) as a solid street and track pad combo, should be here soon hopefully. Went for a quick shoot after a clean with a cousin of mine. 

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

November 2015

Uni finished for the year so getting my list of parts in starting with the brake setup (see above for details) and used Castrol Super Dot 4 fluid (car already had braided lines in the front ). Haven't had time to test properly yet but initial testing is excellent and there is a lot of stopping power than I expected which shall take some getting used to. 

[RP1421]

January 2016

Have been planning this for a long time so I finally bit the bullet and purchased a DAS6 from CCP + a few other products and took to removing swirls. It took about two days and it was stinking hot even in the garage. Thankfully the work lights were LED and not halogen so my suffering wasn't all too bad. Used Menzerna cutting polish and sealed it with Duragloss. Fairly happy with the results especially with the car being 18 years old. 

All masked up 

Aforementioned work lights (very cheap from bunnings and plenty bright)

Before

After

[RP1421]

January 2016

Scored these in near new condition. Have to sort out lines and fittings and yes there is a thermostat. Planning on trackdays in the near future so should be excellent. Has slightly delayed in the installation of the Defi Advance Zd while I organise lines for these. 

[RP1421]

February 2016

So the car finally had all the parts I've accumulated over the past year installed and tuned. Capable of up to 235kw,dialled back for safety and reliability. Car was tuned at 101 Motorsport

The modifications thus far are as follows 

Intake 
3" dump and front pipe 
Apexi 3" catback 
Splitfire coilpacks 
Z32 afm
Tomei rocker arm stoppers 
Sard FPR
Walbro 255
Nismo 740cc injectors 
HKS EVC 
Apexi power fc 

Fairly standard SR mods list (I think that's everything) but now all I really need is better turbo and cams. Outside of going E85 and fully built, I'll be happy and should net ~240-250kw. Yet to organise the Defi Advance Zd and oil cooler + relo kit.

[RP1421]

April 2016

Haven't had much of a chance to give the car a proper drive outside of driving to uni and back. Took care of some little jobs like the number plate bracket and finally changed over my tie rods. One side was absolutely stuffed, the boot disintegrated quite badly. Upgraded to some new Tein inner and outer rods, much beefier than their stock counterparts. Also got myself some Advan RZ wheel stickers, which look nice imo (not cheap though!)

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

July 2016

Been a while since I updated this, not much happened in the way of modifications, fairly happy with how the car is, still haven't done the oil cooler + Defi install. Been looking into a new turbo and cams set up to get to around ~240kw.  Aside from that, just minor things being done. Fuel pump died on me (new Walbro 255 purchased in Feb) and the car died in the middle of a major main road, which was fun to say the least. 

Replacing it was easy enough, just an annoying job. 

Scored a Nismo kill-switch which looks nice with the Nismo leather shift knob 

Then just been going on cruises with friends (lets to be honest, to play Pokemon Go mainly), here's a picture of my friends 34 GTT with a RB26 in it (I took the picture ) 

[RP1421]

September 2016

Being a bit annoyed at the ride height situation (and general suspension geometry) after having to change the front pair of wheels, I've been scoping out some new wheels with sufficient wheel to coilover clearance. I picked up a set of TE37. Fitment will be aggressive but this should allow me to dial in the suspension a bit better (perhaps some MCA coilovers soon) 

[RP1421]

October 2016

So the wheels are still not on yet, got a fair bit to do such as ensuring it's within guards so guard work, rear camber arms, swap tyres over and mess around with the height till I find something suitable. All of which I don't have time for at the moment. I did however apply Gyeon rim to the wheels. Very happy with how they performed on the Advans and any brake dust struggles to stick the coating. So much so you can just wipe it off with your finger even on the backside in the barrels,  certainly makes cleaning easy as I don't need to use a brush to agitate the dirt. I do apply Bowden's Wheely Clean but this is to just prevent buildup of tougher grime but it's a spray and rinse affair. 

[RP1421]

December 2016 

 

Wheels are on finally (now featuring carbon gt centre caps)

[RP1421]

July 2017

 

So super long time since the last update, mainly since there haven't been any modifications made to the car. I'm still enjoying the heck out of it, it's been reliable and always a joy to drive (it is my daily after all). Additionally, most finances have been directed to setting up a toolbox and financing new tools not only to work on the car but also a space to work on other household jobs. 

That's not to say I haven't been working on the car. Just routine maintenance, the transmission and diff oil seemed to be in fairly good condition which is a good sign. 

PS: Would highly recommend the Hafco service tray, makes doing things like the spark plugs so much faster and eliminates the risk of dropping things in the engine bay etc. Also has some holes to stash pry bars and screwdrivers etc. 

Have also been dedicating more time towards taking photos, the local cars and coffee meets are going great here (can post some pictures here if there's interest otherwise, can see them on my insta https://www.instagram.com/raunak_/ 

Will finish up this post with a "glamour" shot of my car I took some months ago 

[RP1421]

Quote

Garage looks better than the TE37s. Really like the tones of the post processing.

Thanks mate haha 

Finally hit the track today and having never been on this track other than as a passenger on happy laps, the goal was to familiarise myself with the track and car. It was an extremely packed day with 5 groups in total and it was difficult to put together a good lap whether it be due to traffic, flagged session and/or my own mistakes causing me to abort the lap. All that aside,  I was aiming to lap at least 1:10 and anything faster would be a bonus. As luck would have it, the GoPro didn't my best session but my fastest time was a 1:10.74, which I was stoked with. Overall, the car felt extremely good out there with strong points being the brakes and power. Still got plenty of time in it with better driving. Will try to find some half-decent footage from one of the sessions but otherwise a photo will suffice for now

The aforementioned footage, wasn't my fastest lap since I was easing off for S2000 (much faster through the corners)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxdNRPKOTtk

Edited July 24, 2019 by RP1421

[RP1421]

August 2017

Delivery time! 

Ever since I purchased the car, I've been wanting to buy a Nismo cluster. I prefer the clean, black aesthetic over the stock cluster (even though it's quite good in its own right).  Got it brand new for a good price, so I can't complain. 

On the bench, packaged very nicely in a massive box (not pictured) and the cluster itself surrounded with very soft, plush cushion type material (the white stuff under the cluster)

Installed! Very easy to install, just a matter of undoing a couple of screws, pulling off fascia and unplugging some plugs for the cluster. Probably would have been faster if the fiddly alarm light which sits on the steering column panel wanted to play nice but when is anything ever straightforward? 

Glamour shot. That's what we're here for right ? 

[RP1421]

March 2018

Been some time since I've posted here but in any case, things have more or less remained the same until about now. My floor mats were in a pretty sorry state. Unfortunately Nismo ones are now discontinued and I'm not particularly interested in getting Aus-spec mats which have 200SX on them and I didn't really like the pattern effect on the JDM version. After some researching, I came across these. While they were a little more costly compared to OEM, upon arrival it definitely seems worth the extra cost. They're made to order, high quality finish and a lot thicker and overall I'd say OEM++. 

Prior to just swapping these in, I spent a good few hours going through the interior, scrubbing down panels with the pictured cleaner + pad and then buffing with a MF Towel. While it didn't look drastically different, I knew it was worth the effort because the amount of dirt I pulled out was crazy. Definitely good piece of mind knowing everything is nice and clean. Was hoping to do a wet vac clean of the interior mats and seats but I haven't been able to secure the appliance. 

And here's the final look, I much prefer the simplicity of black and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb like the OEM ones do. 

Coming soon is a much much improved front end which I've really been looking forward to !