When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How do you like the HKS? Thinking of buying one to replace my Racing Beat dual tip.
It's okay, I think it sounds better than it looks and for the price there probably isn't much better. Plus, you should be able to stick your fist in your muffler, otherwise it's too small..
It's been awhile since I've updated this but with a bit cooler weather and the car running well I've just been racking up the miles Still have quite a bit to do though..
- Fix cooling system ( I think my water temp sender is leaking since the car doesn't seem to be pulling vacuum after shutdown)
- Install the HPP Diff Brace/Cradle
- Mount Sakebomb passenger seat fire extinguisher
- Install the FFE step up fuel kit with ID2000s
- Install Aquamist HFS2 water injection
- Install new power antenna mast (Power antenna is broken)
- Fix stereo system (I think the only speaker that works is the passenger door speaker, get no sound out of all the other ones including the bose wave)
- Fix clutch pedal switch (Just have it jumped ATM)
- Remove factory alarm?? (Not sure about this one but I have a dealer installed alarm and just currently have the wire to the speaker clipped because it's crazy loud)
- Car pulls slightly to the right even after alignment
- Flush heater core (Pretty sure there's a bunch of corrosion in there, not much heat and my cooling system was nasty)
- Fix oil leaks (Not too bad but annoying)
- Drivers side mirror shakes a bit when driving
- Finally, GET IT TUNED!
First thing was to get it passed emissions. In Arizona you can look through the car's smog history and for my car, it seems that every other time was successful and I figured I wasn't going to be the one to change that. The cat was litterally the only aftermarket item on the car, a 2.x" Magnaflow of some kind.
I can only imagine what I looked like as I watch this guy stall the car, then proceed to spike it up to 10psi and have to reset the test several times. Anyways I paid my $30 dollars and then they said I failed..
So I ordered the Bonez Hi Flow and the exhaust system is now a full 3", it's definitely making a bit more power and unfortunately is also a bit louder.
Although what matters is that it works well and I passed! This second time around I told the guy that he has to be gentle with the throttle and to try to not get the turbo to kick in. Another guy in a polo with the attitude of a movie theater manager interrupts and asks what I said to him, so I repeated and he's like, "I'll take this one". He gets in, doesn't stall this time and doesn't go into boost, probably less than a minute the test was over. My man!
So the PFC and it's fancy new mount went back in along with a SBG footrest. The girlfriend and I went to the local pizza place and on the way back I asked if she wanted to see the fun road. It's like a 1/4 mile long but it's a serious elevation change since it kind of goes in between two little rocky hills and under a bridge. Anyways I absolutely scared her to death but she said she really likes the footrest.
Picked up the Sakebomb car cover in red. The fabric is awesome and the fitment couldn't be better, this is something every FD should come with.
Sakebomb HIDs, yes I pretty much have every product they make but I cannot even describe how much better these lights are than stock. They're better than my stock BiXenon headlights in the RX8. Like the Supra TT fuel pump, there is no downside and when it comes to safety in a 22 year old car, any little bit helps. Anyways that's how I justified spending a buttload, also the build quality of these really shows, enjoy!
I also took out the foglights entirely for looks, I like it.
Turns out the headlight cover plastic was broken so I JB welded it back together and it's help up.
Very nice! Looks like you could stand to replace the stock oil pressure sender. They're not that expensive and it's an easy swap out.
I have one of the first runs of the Sakebomb head lights, one of the best things I've done for my car. It's SHOCKING how much the road lights up with them.
Been a looong time since I updated this so I'll try to catch up.
Biggest thing is the engine rebuild, made the 5 hour trip to Lucky 7 end of December 2016 and dropped it off for about 5 months, wasn't in a hurry to get it back since it's too hot to drive in the summer. As you can tell from the pictures, the coolant seals were toast with some minor flaking on the edges of the housings. Guess that's what happens when you don't change the coolant for 20 years. They had to flush and replace some of the hard lines to the heater core as well due to rust.
Rebuilt the engine with a smaller street port, new housings and seals, everything else was reusable. Had some other work done while in there:
Ported Turbo Wastegate
ACT Clutch
FFE Step up kit with ID2000s
Aquamist HSF2
Banzai Motor Mounts
And some shots of the last remaining parts to the nasty cooling system. Everything cooling system short of the heater core and the throttle body/hard lines have been replaced and I can now keep my toes warm!
And some shots of the last remaining parts to the nasty cooling system. Everything cooling system short of the heater core and the throttle body/hard lines have been replaced and I can now keep my toes warm!
Car looks great! I’m also in AZ with a MB FD. Hope to see ya around! My build looks to have taken a very similar path to yours. Luckily my coolant been changed pretty consistently every summer.
Moved into a new house after finally getting the car back home, managed to fit all 3 cars in the garage. Also did a compression test after the rebuild and am very happy with the numbers.
Still have quite a bit to do though..
