Husky's Yard - Subaru Transmitted Infection

[Aquarelle]

Nothing really interesting happening lately, I've got money burning a hole in my pocket and nothing to spend it on!!

I tried getting my gearbox fixed, nowhere does it.

I'm trying to get new rims and tyres, nothing interesting is showing up

I thought I'd get some lows, nothing ideal is turning up.

So! I thought "Screw it" and blew my cash on a full tank to go cruising. Phoned my mate Chase and invited him out.

Taking on a 300ZX Twin Turbo running 8PSI on low boost putting out about 340 BHP is no mean feat.. that thing is viciously quick! but when the road got really twisty I absolutely destroyed him lightness is key people!!

By the end of the run however my brakes were toast! even coming to a stop at the junction required way too much pedal movement, must have lost at least 60 percent braking force by the end.. suggestions? that was the hardest I've pushed on the downhill losing so much braking force at the bottom of the mountain was a bit too scary for my liking.

Anyhow, this is how my evening went (No photos because night time)

Definitely need to lower my car though, pushing my car as hard as I was really revealed some massive faults, such as how much lean there is in deep undulating hairpins.. all my cars weight went onto one side, overwhelmed the tyres and sent me into a nice drift not good on a blind hairpin!!

 

[Punknoodle]

Definitely need to change to a more performance orientated street/track pad with racing brake fluid as a minimum for any spirited driving.

Of course a big brake kit is the best option, but requires fat stacks.

For perspective, I would get about 1-2 laps in at QR with standard pads before they were fried. I bought Project Mu HC+ pads, but they didn't arrive from Japan in time for my next track outing so I went and picked up a set of QFM track day pads from a local place and bled through some uber expensive Castrol SRF racing brake fluid (but that's because I have small brakes, if I had normal size brakes I would just run something like Penrite racing brake fluid).

Made a huge difference. Oh I also changed rotors at the front, because they were due, and went with a dimpled design. Don't know how much difference it makes, but when they are hot and you are hard on the brakes you can hear like a flicking sound coming from the front brakes which I believe to be the gas created by the pads escaping from the dimples as they clear the pad, so it must help a little bit.

 

[Aquarelle]

Definitely need to change to a more performance orientated street/track pad with racing brake fluid as a minimum for any spirited driving.

Of course a big brake kit is the best option, but requires fat stacks.

For perspective, I would get about 1-2 laps in at QR with standard pads before they were fried. I bought Project Mu HC+ pads, but they didn't arrive from Japan in time for my next track outing so I went and picked up a set of QFM track day pads from a local place and bled through some uber expensive Castrol SRF racing brake fluid (but that's because I have small brakes, if I had normal size brakes I would just run something like Penrite racing brake fluid).

Made a huge difference. Oh I also changed rotors at the front, because they were due, and went with a dimpled design. Don't know how much difference it makes, but when they are hot and you are hard on the brakes you can hear like a flicking sound coming from the front brakes which I believe to be the gas created by the pads escaping from the dimples as they clear the pad, so it must help a little bit.

Where would the best place be to look for racing fluid? I think that might be the best first step as I'm already running performance pads.

I'm hoping to do a 5 stud conversion so I can run the bigger turbo callipers and rotors, plus after looking for new rims all day if I want anything in my stud size and pattern I need to get multi studs or do a 5 stud conversion, and I can't stand having those extra holes

I haven't heard any sort of flicking sound from the front brakes so I think I'm good, however there is a slight wobble of the wheel under intense braking so new rotors could be on the agenda - probably when I do my 5 stud conversion since there's no point replacing a part twice..

 

[Punknoodle]

Repco may have it, a Motorsport supply store definitely will. I bought my Castrol stuff from Autobarn, they sell the Penrite stuff too.

 

[Aquarelle]

I'll definitely have a look around 👍 cheers

 

[Skython]

Went for a quick cruise today with Steve and his MX5

My R looks like an absolute behemoth compared to that little midget

No, no. The MX-5 is just further away, and those seagulls are actually the size of full grown adults.

 

[Aquarelle]

Did somebody say Wedsports?

 

[SVX]

Did somebody say Wedsports?

Looks so much better.

Your tyre is flat.

 

[Aquarelle]

Looks so much better.

Your tyre is flat.

Yeah I know, I'm at a friends place but when I leave here I'm going to pump them up. They're absolutely filthy though - so I didn't want them in my car, so I just bolted them straight on.

 

[SVX]

Yeah I know, I'm at a friends place but when I leave here I'm going to pump them up. They're absolutely filthy though - so I didn't want them in my car, so I just bolted them straight on.

I'm pretty good at cleaning things.

 

[Korza]

I'm pretty good at cleaning things.

Come to Nelson and clean my Maxima, you can keep any coins you find in it.

 

[Aquarelle]

I've got a mighty big driveway, however I can't imagine road tripping to the top of the country is terribly economic haha

 

[Katiegan]

Did somebody say Wedsports?

No, someone said Wangan Masters...

 

[SVX]

Come to Nelson and clean my Maxima, you can keep any coins you find in it.

Seems good payment.

I've got a mighty big driveway, however I can't imagine road tripping to the top of the country is terribly economic haha

I'm actually planning to head up to Auckland in the near future. 👍

 

[Aquarelle]

I'm actually planning to head up to Auckland in the near future. 👍

I'm about 200k north of Auckland haha. Just finished cleaning the rims - I'm letting them dry so I can apply tyre shine then I'll go take some photos.

I honestly don't have the words for how I feel about them, the entire presence of the car has changed - I was showing them to my friend and I just had to.. stop.. talking.. and just look.

So the next step is going to be getting a GT-R wing, after I saw a series 1 GTS at Automania that was almost identical to mine except it had the GT-R wing I became absolutely sold on the look, however the GT-R badge does make it look stupid, as I suspected - so I'll still be debadging the blade.

I've also scored some time in a paint booth!! I ran into an old neighbour of mine at my mothers work and I got to chatting about spraying my quarter panel and this new wing (And potentially respray the worst of the paint damage)

It's worth noting that I haven't changed my mind about painting it blue, especially after seeing so many gorgeous colours at Automania I'm even more sold on the decision. However I'd like to stick with Gunmetal Grey Metallic for a while longer and simply restore the paint for the time being, I want to do the respray when everything is all finalised and I've decided on the bodykit I want.

In other news my rear strut brace arrived today - installing it this evening.

I think if I just drop her 20-30mm it's going to look perfect, the offset is brilliant! (Maybe +35's would work better? I'll judge after I put some 245s on the rear)

 

[Hayden]

Lookin' mighty fine mate 👍

 

[Aquarelle]

Lookin' mighty fine mate 👍

I'm disappointed that I didn't get those LM4's, but I think these are a nice compromise Not to mention 4x114.3/5x114.3 and I can run 245s!

---

So I attempted to fit my strut bar, unfortunately, it's not quite lining up.

I can get 3 out of 4 bolts to fit on but the fourth is way out of line, almost like it's twisted.

It must fit though.. it was removed off a GT-R that was cut up in Japan and shipped over, it wasn't crashed or anything so it shouldn't be damaged and my car hasn't been crashed either...

It's an adjustable strut bar so that could have something to do with it, maybe I'll see if I can manage to loosen it up with 3/4 bolts in.

After some encouragement, which involved a rubber mallet - I managed to fit the bar.

I honestly don't know if it made much of a difference.. My initial feeling when driving it is it does feel stiffer, but whether that's placebo effect or not I can't be sure
---

Here's the series 1 with a GT-R wing I mentioned

---

Just put a bid on this, Nismo Front strut bar with master brake cylinder stopper - mad!
My R is well on her way to earning a name and her Nismo badges

 

[Aquarelle]

Apparently rear view mirrors are something you need to pass inspection, so I figured I'd go ahead and fit one of those things.

And this is the GT-R Brace

Now I just need to fix my boot struts so I don't have to have that fence post in there to hold it up haha

 

[Aquarelle]

So, naturally now that I have 2 thousand dollars available sitting in my bank account - literally nothing is showing up on TradeMe that's worth buying.

So I've instead been putting bids in on little things like replacing my manual gear surround and my boot lock cover.

I'm constantly refreshing the R33 tag on TradeMe in the hopes something ideal will turn up.. we'll see how it goes.

 

[Aquarelle]

Caution: ::Wall of rambly text ahead::

Yeah I'm double posting, I'm sorry but this is actually REALLY big news for me

First of all, I bought new boot hinges - I was going to get mine re-gassed but the guy wanted me to do 90% of the work and then pay him 80 bucks per strut to do like 10 minutes work compared to my like hour of pissing about.

So I told him to shove it and dropped by the guys I got my rear view mirror from - this place is Nissan enthusiast paradise, they have a large workshop and a MASSIVE yard full of drift damage, de-registered and otherwise super mad Skylines, 180s Fairlady's and more and the general atmosphere there is seriously positive and uplifting (I may even have some work there by the sounds of it)

Anyway, so I dropped by to see if they might have some sitting around - and a bloody good thing I did too

20 dollars for one full hinge system, Brilliant! I thought, that solves that problem. So I popped out to get some cash out and when I got back he had both hinges off - he was giving the other one to me for free "Just incase the other one craps out too"

So.. I decided "Right, these guys are seriously cool - I like being around them and I admire what they're doing - unlike most people who are after money these guys just want to keep Nissans running for as cheap as possible and I'm in need of parts. I'll give them my business"

So.. after giving him the money for the struts, I said very simply: "Okay, this is the deal. I have 2 grand and a Skyline in need of finishing. If I give you my details and a list of everything I need - I will buy every item through you rather than getting it through trade me"

The list was nice and simple since they're limited to the cars they get

Lowering springs (Tiens)
Exhaust (Will consider any performance name brand item)
5 stud conversion
Big brake kit (4/2 pot)
GT-R Boot & Wing

Then he said "Well actually, I'll have some 5 stud hubs with 4/2 pots on them that will be available next week if you're interested..?"

He then proceeded to explain to me that he removes hub kits differently to most people, in that he removes the entire system from the camber/control arms etc rather than dismantle the whole system

For the whole system, 550 bucks (May be able to talk him down since the rotors are fairly chewed up, he said 550 before we went to look at them and noticed the rotors)

Now, for perspective - your average fully disassembled unit will be 700 dollars or so - PLUS SHIPPING

There's even some rear hubs/brakes for sale as the disassembled unit for 400 bucks plus shipping

400 bucks.. JUST FOR THE REARS

So naturally, I jumped on it.

I then started asking him about my quarter panels, since they don't fit up right I thought they were from a different skyline (Sedan/Series 2) and he explained that they're just not fitted correctly and I'd be better off painting mine professionally rather than trying to find some gunmetal series 2 panels

So I then asked "Well.. do you have any nicer body kits than what I have?"

And he brought out these beautiful pieces of plastic magnificence

$120 as is where is, I snatched these up without so much as a thought (Was glad I got out 200 dollars cash, not just 20 for the hinge)

I'm just so freaking excited, I may even leave these this colour - it looks kinda nice.

He then showed me a picture of his friends R33 Skyline which has the matching front bumper to suit these side skirts, he's apparently moving to an aftermarket bumper so that bumper will be going spare - if it's still available he's going to get it for me! (The bumper looked absolutely gorgeous, I'd love to have it on my car)

So that's three things done today, I'm trying to track down this guy Rick to repair my gearbox. I was told by these guys that Rick comes down to Whangarei weekly to pick up gearboxes which means I don't have to drive up which makes me super happy! They also took a stab at 300-400 bucks for the cost of the repair - however it's worthwhile because he replaces the synchro's with much stronger items instead of the same original items - anyone who takes their gearboxes there are never disappointed.

So we'll see how that goes.

Oh and I've been polishing up my new rims

So yeah, that's the state of affairs as of now!

 

[Aquarelle]

What is this sorcery?! No baton supporting it or anything??

 

[Aquarelle]

Before

After

Mad! Just like a bought one! Going to the paint shop later in the week~ May continue with the Gunmetal grey on Silver - I kinda like it - but for it to work I'd really need to spray the bumpers to match.

Cleaned the boot lining up to accommodate the strut brace

Looking really tidy now, seriously impressed with my progress.

Calipers are either going to be painted Black or Silver, wait and see on that one.

 

[TrdScionxB2]

Very nice! 👍 Reading all that makes the car guy in me want to jump out & do something. Keep up the good work on that beautiful car

 

[Aquarelle]

Very nice! 👍 Reading all that makes the car guy in me want to jump out & do something. Keep up the good work on that beautiful car

Thank you ever so much! Buying a cheap car that you're not too precious about breaking is the best decision you can make if you're into cars.

Because this Skyline started out so broken the only way is up haha, which means I can experiment with different mods to see what works.

Pick up a spanner and get to work man! just be warned - once you start modding there's no stopping, it's like a drug haha

 

[TrdScionxB2]

Thank you ever so much! Buying a cheap car that you're not too precious about breaking is the best decision you can make if you're into cars.

Because this Skyline started out so broken the only way is up haha, which means I can experiment with different mods to see what works.

Pick up a spanner and get to work man! just be warned - once you start modding there's no stopping, it's like a drug haha

I would love a car like that, something I can work on without worrying too much about breaking it & the experience with working on them. & if you looked at my car, you would see it has already happened. Covered in paint & stickers. Never ending modding

 

[Aquarelle]

So I've just won this

This is an HKS Super Dragger 3 inch catback exhaust system



As you can hear, it has a nice deep aggressive tone without being overly loud and obnoxious - just what I want!

It may have a very large cannon tip but it rather suits the R33

Pick up is on Saturday!

In other news, I went back to see Jake at Nissan Parts to ask about my brakes and because I needed a new washer bottle for the bonnet nozzles in order to pass a WOF (Warrant of Fitness) test

I still have no idea why the previous owner removed it.. I had to fish around in under the heat shielding to retrieve the Y piece they'd shoved up in there to plug the hose all back together - system works just fine so I'm baffled.. I can only guess the old one broke?

I also picked up a radiator fan and I'm going to try get a radiator shroud when I go back in for my brakes on Thursday (Maybe, he isn't sure when they'll be off exactly)

He's also taken my job application seriously and will get in contact when his current worker leaves - I'm hoping to just work there for parts (pay off an RB25DET motor maybe! would be nice to have one sitting there for when I blow mine)

He's also tracking down some lowering shocks and springs that a friend of his bought but never used - if they're still available (Along with the turbo bumper) I'll be buying those along with my brakes

It's a subtle upgrade like the side skirts but it really changes the stance of the car - absolutely love it!

Back to that exhaust though - I'm paying 360 dollars for the whole system on the condition that I "Buy now" his R34 front strut brace. Works for me because I was gonna buy it regardless!

This is a straight bolt on upgrade for R33's - not bad for 65 bucks!!

That about brings this thread up to speed! I'll try and get a decent camera to record my new exhaust when I get it.

 

[SVX]

That white R33 looks fantastic. Congratulations on the parts as well, should look sick. 👍

 

[Aquarelle]

So today was both a fail and a success.

Successes.. well - Chase and I got to spend the day together wrenching which will never get old for me

We discovered the reason my exhaust is so unbearably freaking loud is because there's no cat.. the previous owner was a delightful human being who welded a straight through pipe in its place.. which means my nice new shiney exhaust won't fit unless I get a whole new front pipe and cat.. awesome..

We then spent the rest of our time fixing little niggly stuff like the fact my seatbelt was twisted, the fact my indicators wouldn't turn off when the wheel turned as well as do a full service.

The fails? Yeah.. that was fun..
We attempted for about 6 or 7 hours to fit an alarm (I say we.. I just sorta stared blankly into space because electrical stuff is way out of my skill set) but failed due to the alarm being defective.. such is life.

Other than that just been milling about as I await my suspension and brakes.. I was told "this week" last week and now I've again been told "Next week" - which doesn't bother me too much since it gives me time to get this exhaust sorted so the whole job can just be one big day.

So excited to rip out that exhaust and sacrifice it to the Ricers.. I'm sure someone will be keen on a "Mad straight thru exhaust system - make your R33 sound obnoxious and arrogant just like you!!"

And a sneaky photo Chase took of me when he went next door for something

Dat ass

As a little bonus, you know how I was harping on about how hopeless the previous owner was as an automotive electrician?

That's my ignition. Those are cables hooked directly to the battery. Those are speaker wires twisted onto said cables.

Those were hanging about around my steering column.

The struggle is real.

 

[Aquarelle]

Good news everyone!

I got a mint condition Series 1 interior for 100 bucks, the series 1 turbo interior is very dark navy blue with a dark midnight purple center piece - this includes the front and rear seats, door cards and rear interior panels.

Like this only much, MUCH darker - it's in absolutely mint condition as it was removed from a near new R33 turbo (67 thousand K's) they've even been professionally deep cleaned recently.

I also got an RB25DE gearbox from the same vehicle, 400 dollars and an aftermarket clutch, heavy duty pressure plate and lightweight flywheel for 150 bucks and of course my exhaust system for 360 and the front strut brace for 65

The exhaust is MASSIVE, the photos don't do it justice. You can fit your fist inside the piping and your head inside the muffler, it's GIANT.

With all this and my brakes coming in the next week or two, my car is so close to being completed that it physically hurts!

 

[SVX]

Sounds like it's nearly time for a ride then.