Perfect Balance's cars | Small update| 05/03/14

[G.T.Ace]

Yes, on a JDM 240SX Type-X. If I understood everything right, this isn't a Type-X, or is it?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Yes, on a JDM 240SX Type-X. If I understood everything right, this isn't a Type-X, or is it?

It's not a Type X.

Would you care to explain again why oem parts off the same car (minus the engine) are rice? It seems you've invented your own definition of rice.

@Keef: Not really "problems", just stuff like an LSD and steering wheel, exhaust, ect, before doing more visual modifications.

 

[Keef]

Have you fixed the engine's weird problem? What was wrong with it?

 

[G.T.Ace]

It's not a Type X.

Would you care to explain again why oem parts off the same car (minus the engine) are rice? It seems you've invented your own definition of rice.

That's why I wrote "rice".
Just the fact that the engine isn't the same is enough in my opinion, that's like putting M3 parts on a regular BMW 3 series. Not to mention that you already changed the outside slightly already, so a Type-X bodykit wouldn't be authentic anymore. But of course, it's your car, just wanted to share my opinion.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

That's why I wrote "rice".
Just the fact that the engine isn't the same is enough in my opinion, that's like putting M3 parts on a regular BMW 3 series.

Not exactly... Particularly given that the US never got a Type X (or, indeed, a turbo S-chassis car at all). It's a cosmetic upgrade that still looks stock to the car.

Kinda like putting M-Sport bits on a 3-series. Not M3, M-Sport.

Not to mention that you already changed the outside slightly already, so a Type-X bodykit wouldn't be authentic anymore. But of course, it's your car, just wanted to share my opinion.

It would never be authentic.

PB's car is LHD with a KA24... All Type Xs were RHD with SR20s. (Or did they use the Type X moniker earlier in the run?)

 

[G.T.Ace]

That's what I'm saying.
But anyway, of course also a matter of taste, never really liked the Type-X look that much anyway.

 

[Perfect Balance]

So, with my tax refund, I went ahead and purchased a Kaaz 2 way LSD, a DriveShaft Shop one piece shaft, and picked up 2 used differentials for $30. Only needed one, but the guy had 2 and needed to get rid of them so he gave me both. Over this past week I've disassembled the diff in preparation for the LSD, and ordered new seals all around for it.

My driveshaft also came in today, awesome looking piece, feels very solid.



Differential all cleaned up. Gonna paint it before assembling though.

 

[Keef]

Even though the LSD swap is pretty easy, that's still much more mechanical work than I've ever done to a car. Also that driveshaft really does look awesome. Why the heck was your stock one in two pieces? When you take it off you should weigh the difference between the two stock shafts and carrier, and the the new one-piece.

What do you parents think about all the stuff you get for the car? Mine always bitch and tell me I should be paying off debts and stuff, which I should, but come on I don't want to be a lame ass. Gotta have something to keep me occupied!

EDIT: What the hell are those four opened cans on the right side of the driveshaft?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Even though the LSD swap is pretty easy, that's still much more mechanical work than I've ever done to a car. Also that driveshaft really does look awesome. Why the heck was your stock one in two pieces? When you take it off you should weigh the difference between the two stock shafts and carrier, and the the new one-piece.

Supposedly the DSS one weighs 15. Feels heavier, but I dunno. I'm sure the stock one is 20+, if not 30+.

What do you parents think about all the stuff you get for the car? Mine always bitch and tell me I should be paying off debts and stuff, which I should, but come on I don't want to be a lame ass. Gotta have something to keep me occupied!

My dad doesn't like it, but I don't really have anything else I should be paying for, other than my share of the bills and car insurance. I live at home but I almost entirely live off my own money, so it's not like I'm wasting money that needs to go to other things.

I think he's realized that I'm gonna keep at it regardless of what he says, since it's my car, and my money. And I always make the point that I've got less money in both of my past cars than his one car.

Lately though he's seemed to mind less and actually shows some interest in what I buy, although I try my best to avoid bringing up the cost of certain items.

EDIT: What the hell are those four opened cans on the right side of the driveshaft?

BG Transmission flush cans. One's a cleaner you put in before the flush, and another is some "soft shift" crap we put in after.

EDIT: And actually, the stickers that cover the table are the stickers that you normally fill out and stick on the strut tower to keep track of when those services are performed, but we keep our own records so we don't use them. I've got probably another 30 that I need to stick on.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Got a box in the mail today!

Inside that box, was this box:

And inside that box, was this box, among other things:

And inside that box, was this:

And inside that, you can see the workings of a 2 way Kaaz differential:

Can't wait.

EDIT: Also, got a chrome Kaaz decal.

 

[Keef]

Don't dare take it apart because nobody actually knows how they work.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Don't dare take it apart because nobody actually knows how they work.

I know how they work, and I might actually be taking it apart.

 

[Jim Prower]

Don't dare take it apart because nobody actually knows how they work.

But that's how you FIGURE OUT how they work!

 

[Perfect Balance]

Well, while installing my LSD(more on that later), I noticed my front lower bal joint on the left side was shot. Soooo.... while doing some digging, came across this deal:

2 brand new, though not oem, control arms for $100 from PDM Racing. A ball joint itself goes for about $40, so 2 new arms for that price is a steal.

Not to mention after 230,000 miles, new bushings couldn't hurt.

 

[Keef]

Sounds like a good deal to me. How many arms have you replaced so far?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Sounds like a good deal to me. How many arms have you replaced so far?

These will be the first, other than the tie rods. Waiting on someone to confirm that whatever brand of rear upper control arms clears Fortune Auto coilovers so I can buy some and fix my -3 degrees of rear camber.

 

[Perfect Balance]

So I installed my LSD and driveshaft 2 weeks ago, did figure 8's for 45 min, changed the fluid, ect ect all the good stuff. No more unbalanced driveshaft vibration, wooo!

As for the LSD, as of yesterday's rainy night, I'm loving it. Only downside is the noise it makes when taking turns at intersections and stuff. Other than that it works well. Really satisfied with my purchase.

Here it is all installed. (excuse the cell phone pics, I don't carry around my camera when working on my car):

Also, exhaust is somewhere in the near future unless something comes up. Yes, it will be fart cannon-ish. 2 of them. I used to absolutely hate the dual Apexi N1 exhaust, but I saw one on a 240 at a drift event, and it sounded VERY good, much better than the single can (since it's also got another resonator halfway down the exhaust like the stock one) and it wasn't very loud. I loved it, but I still hate it on any other cars. Anyway, they say car guys are allowed one ricer modification. That will be mine.

Then today, I got my control arms in from PDM racing. Really nice pieces.

Old vs New:

And I continue to be amazed at how little rust my car has for 230,000 miles on the chassis. None of the bolts even had surface rust, much less seized or anything. Still ended up putting anti seize on just about everything anyway.

Anyway, after all was said and done, since my car doesn't have fender liners and you can see the red insides of the wheel wells, I sprayed everything down with rubberized undercoat. Excuse the dent on the fender, it was there when I bought the car and every time you pop it out it just pops back in after driving anywhere in the car.

Note my suspension arms pointing upwards....so much for suspension geometry...

 

[Keef]

Dang man, you've done all sorts of stuff to that car lately. I'm jealous.

 

[Perfect Balance]

So last week I ordered an exhaust for the car, it came in today.

ISIS Dual N1. It was really cheap, so I can't complain much, but it's really not perfect. It looks great, build quality is great, and it sounds great, but the hangers are really nowhere near where they need to be. I was able to get it on by bending one of the hangers, but with the exhaust fully on, each hanger is stretched or twisted in some way.

For the price though, I still think it's worth it, because half an hour and a torch will get it exactly where it needs to be, but I'm holding off on that because I ordered a test pipe for it, so I'm waiting for that before I make my final adjustments.

I would have a sound clip if it wasn't pouring rain outside, so some cell phone pics will have to do for now.

Really do love how it sounds though.

EDIT: I'm sure some of you are thinking it, so I'm gonna go ahead and say, Yes, the dual n1 is one of the most "ricer" types of exhausts out there, but I think it really goes with the car well, and considering how small my car is, they don't really look big. A typical fart can exhaust has a 4.5-5 inch tip. These have 3.5 inch tips. Considering the tips on the stock exhaust are 2.75 inch each, its not really a big increase in size.

 

[Keef]

I don't think blast-pipe-style exhausts are ricer at all. More like serious as hell. The only exhausts that I think are ricer are the "custom" jobbies that are totally not legit. Fart can with some cheaply bent, thick-walled mild tubing with chunky welds. You know the kind. Like the exhaust on my car.

So yeah, totally rad. It's amazing what some pipes can do for a car's look. Waiting for more pics and sound clip!

 

[Perfect Balance]

So after putting on my exhaust, I had a bit of a exhaust leak from my test pipe, since it was made for the stock size exhaust. $30, and a week later, problem solved, and some moar pics.

Also, my new toolbox and super mad JDM angle stickers on my work desk are visible.

Got a little deeper sounding too, which I like, but the authorities might not. We'll see.

 

[Eric.]

That's a purdy exhaust.

 

[Keef]

Are your cops noise Nazis or something? That I've gotten away with my car's noise is fantastic, but of course it's generally busy everywhere you go around here.

I know you guys have inspections so you're probably keeping your converter?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Are your cops noise Nazis or something? That I've gotten away with my car's noise is fantastic, but of course it's generally busy everywhere you go around here.

I know you guys have inspections so you're probably keeping your converter?

Yeah they are noise Nazis.

Also, we do have inspections, but.....I do my own...


I still have my converter though, laying in my garage.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Soo, came home today to this:

Didn't feel it necessary to take pictures during the install, soo:

It moved the steering wheel towards me about 2 inches as well.

 

[Keef]

SPLAAAASSSHH BOOOSSSSSSS.

Looks good. I bet you can't wait to start shuffling it back and forth!

 

[Perfect Balance]

SPLAAAASSSHH BOOOSSSSSSS.

Looks good. I bet you can't wait to start shuffling it back and forth!

Indeed I am, but the steering wheel is off center, so it's not quite right just yet.

 

[Eric.]

I wish I could try a half a dozen Sparco wheels to know what I want.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I wish I could try a half a dozen Sparco wheels to know what I want.

I sat in a bunch of cars at a few drift events to decide on this one.

 

[Perfect Balance]

So I was really getting tired of the gunmetal on the wheels. Two days or so after painting, the brake dust combined with the grey color of them just made them blend in with the tires and everything dark and looked just meh IMO. Sooo, I was going to polish them, but I'm too lazy to spend hours and hours on a set of cheap wheels, and so....

No pictures of the other side because I haven't done that side yet. Ran out of time in the A/C at work.