hey,

just thought id share some pics of my car, aswell as ideas and plans i have.

the other day i got these SWEET Rims installed, 17"inch Rodney Jane Racing 'Flame" design in hyper silver with maaxis tyres. they set me back $1050 (rims, rubber, install, alignment, etc)




but the thing is now that i took off the stocky black things witht the hub caps u can see all the crap behind it and there seems to be some rust or something there, i was talking with one guy and he said i can just tape up the silver bit where the pads touch, and clean up as best i can (maybe steel wool or something) and the spray it black, on the part labled 'paint here', i need some advice from someone about the top part labled 'paint here(2)?' if i should spray over that part, also to paint that area - and also the claiper - do i need a special type of paint or just something from bunnings?



Also ive been having a go at photoshop after reading the tutorials about color changing and came up with some creations, like the color isnt exact as i could color it, but its as good as i could do so back off! :P lol
i did it red to try and match the backlights of the dash display.



also just some other crap i thought i should add is that when i told the insurance company (AAMI) about the wheel upgrade they asked if they were mags or alloys, and i didnt really know and i asked why they needed to know and they told me that if they were alloys that it would count as a modification and im only allowed 1(under 25 m) and if i did any more that they couldnt insure me, but they are mags so it is ok.
so i just wanna know if anyone has had n e thing similar happen
i also asked the guy at bob jane where i got my wheels done and he said there is no difference, so if anyone could tell me if this is right coz im pretty sure there is some difference maybe in the metals used or something (too lazy to do a search) :P


another thing (lol) coz it looks likes my car sits high i just went to enquire at a couple of places about lowering.
i was thinking coil over would be fine, but one guy wanted to do something like new shcoks, and make the struts shorter, i didnt really pay that much attention but yeah, if someone want to elaborate on why i would do this, but i think ill just go for coil overs ...

umm yeah thats i think about it for now,,,

 

the Bob Jane guy is correct there is no difference between the two mags alloys all the same...

be careful with red - red is a hard colour to pick and get right when painting the interior... not enough red looks dumb and too much red looks over done and over powering - but if you were to retrim the interior seats say just the patterend inserts then that would help it out a lot also do the doors as well to balance it up... but just doing the console may not be enough... if you go to do the seats as well pick the colour material first and then match the paint to that..

the paint for the brakes you can use a heat paint but it does tend to go dull I used a silver base coated paint and I am still yet to paint the top coat black this will give it a metalic black look (just can't remember the name at the moment but check out a Auto Pro store they have it )

The car looks great you will have to checkout the www.mogwa.org website seeing as you are a west aussie boy we have cruises or events every couple of weeks great bunch of people there too

hopefully we can catch up later seeing as I am in Australind

 

thanks, btw im in VIC ... not on the west side, east. well technically if u keep going west u'll come back aroun to me ... lol

 

Springs vs coil overs

you have to look at what the car's intended purpose is
If its the daily driver most people will recommend just springs and struts

Coilovers are more for racing as they are very stiff (at least tiens are) and more for handling rather than lowering, even though it does lower the car

anyways thats just my 2 cents worth

 

hey,
omg i have some good and bad news ...
ELMO died, but his remains have been put to good use to retrim the fabric on my doors

took me about 6hours (+1hour to buy all fabic and tools)
origianlly i was just gonna get plain fabric, but my mum found this fluffy red and it feels mad, the only thing is after i cut it, it shed all over my car, so i need a vaccum.

it not the best job if u look real close, but its good for cheap and my handy work.

 

OMG YOU KILLED ELMO YOU BASTARD

look nice though

 

Great rims, how are the Maxxis tyres?

 

yeah there good, they're a little louder than stocks and the ride is a little more bumpyer but that's expected with larger rims i spose. grip feels much better than stocks but i also have to admt im driving a little nicer so i dont f then up lol...

 

Hey Stevo, that is a mad interior - what did you do with Elmo's eyes?
I've had the benefit of both worlds. Sport springs and currently coil overs

Sport springs are great for a daily driver, nice sporty handling without deterimenting ride comfort - however, over time, the sport springs will prematurely wear out the stock struts as they are being compressed more. Also over time, you will suddenly have the urge to 'feel the road more' .... trust me.... so when you buy sport springs, u'll start to be more 'in tune' with ur ride's handling ability and what it lacks... it took me 6 months riding on sport springs till i opted for coil overs.
Here is an example....
1. you might want to buy a front strut bar to improve handling - especially the initial turn in....
2. then during corner and acceleration manipulation, u might want to invest in front and rear sway bars...

So why go sport springs if you want to experience all that, when you can buy coil overs and enjoy the whole experience? Depending on what type of style driving u normally do - daily driver (i.e. sedate vs aggressive) - will depend on whether you want the following combination of:
1. Pure Coil over - the smile of attacking the perfect corner vs the discomfort of a 'flat' bell st, doncaster, or black burn road? i.e. D2 suspension offer dampening adjustement and have spring rates of 7 - 6 Kg's i think
2. Spring and After market adjustable suspension - Koni suspension and king springs make life a little more comfortalbe with height adjustment.
3. Sport springs and stock suspension

If you have the dough (1k) , then do it!
if you wanna start from the ground up and see if sport springs will do for u (350 including install) then do ....best way to see what u need is hitch a ride with a mate that has coilovers and do a mountain pass and see if u can hack it
my 2 c

 

i think i might go with the coil overs, they sound better i think from your explaination (thanks)
i might be looking into something adjustable coz eventually i want to put my car into a car show and want it as low as possible but still a normal low height for everyday driving.
i like the look of (cant remeber the name sorry)'s spring things he bought i think they were like G4's or somehting on a electric blue lancer with a white decal up the side (cbf doing a search) but i also remeber they were expensive ...
u seem to be from my area,
what shop(s) would u recommend?

 

Hehehe...if u want a bucket seat to help u in the corners...
yeah yeah, shame ful advertising...

Anyway, if ur in the east side, where i am located - i suggest you go to Donnellans on White HOrse road - and ask for Daniel or Sam - I can't remeber their names, but there is this one dude who knows everything there is to know about Coilover and other suspension setups. for starters, i suggest u research the following:
1. Hot Bits - (i got quoted 3k for my rolla...$_$) - made in good old Australia, so if you have the dough, support the local economy
2. D2 Coilovers - (i got quoted for 1200 installed) and i know a distributor who installed my coilovers
3. Maybe Japanese Performance Wreckers (i.e. Thomastown/preston way) - they can get some good stuff if ur in the right place right time
4. Just Jap - i'm pretty sure EVO parts are interchangable with non Evo parts and a mate of mine got CUSCO Coilovers (the best *in my opinion* money can buy - 36 way adjustable, damper adjustable and two way height adjustable*) for --$850!!!! (2nd hand, but that's a BARGAIN in any ones books as brand new is $3000!!! )
5. On the Run Motorsport in Boxhill along Station St will be able to help you out as well i think - they specialise in Subaru's, but it wouldn't hurt to enquire?

and just for convincing's sake.... here is a pick of my car with sport springs and 15" stockies....



and then coilovers and 16" sportivo rims ...dumped.... use the gutter as a height reference, she stood 10cm off the ground but i couldn't hack it as Bell St and Blackburn rds were not friendly to attack at those heights, all i got was scrubs against the guard and the taste of my previous meal.



But she looks *if that was a joystick, then cream would be coming out of the top*

 

ok so i took the plunge (no pun intendid, or is it?) and got - well getting my car lowered tomorrow(fri 6th) from centreline suspension in thomastown: http://www.centrelinesuspension.com.au

after talking with the guy and reading alot of stuff here (thanks all) i decided to go with king springs.
im getting just the springs done for the moment coz since the stock shocks and stuff havent had much wear (about 5K kms) he said they should be ok for a while longer and not worth replacing until they need it.
this is what it says on the receipt:
2x King KCFL-49
2x King KCRL-48
4x fitting
4x modify bump stops for smoother ride
4x paint black (i had him paint them black instead of the origianl bright yellow)
4x wheel alignment
comes with 2yr/40000km warrenty
cost $600

just wanna know if this price is about right

thanks

also when i get on holidays i have to spray around the wheel area and calipers and stuff, after i do that do i need a re-alignment or will it be ok?

 

Are they king spring super lows? - i'm assuming if they are modifying *i..e cutting the bump stops, that it is?
$600 is a bit steep for spring installation and 4wheel alignment, i think - but from the web site, they look heaps professional and i guess forking out the extra bucks just gives u taht extra assurance - the 2yr warranty is also good as well

Is thomo ur area? LOL, my gf lives there VL turbo territory

Did you do much shopping arounds? like Mr mufflers? Pedders? - North Melbourne Suspension is quite good also

Good luck with the suspension install anyway - remember to take pictures!!
hehe custom catback muffler next?

 

nah they are just low, i was gonna get super low, but around lalor/thoimo area there is alot of speed humps when i goto uni and it would also make a much bumpier ride.
the lows which im getting take about 1-1.5 inches off while super lows would have taken 2inches. but im just getting this to make it look better but when i get money i may change to something better.
yeah its a really good workshop, very clean i must say for a garage and very helpful people. also nice cars in there, today there is a mustang and there are some other cars that look only for track(not for road)

i did a little shopping around (i spose i could have got a better price) but this place seemed reputable and they could get it done quickly.

yeah, lol, after i put the LED's on and do the caliper paint ill be looking at an exhuast, probably just the muffler or something to give it a good sound and then it should be right for a while till i get like $4.5k for a bolt on turbo kit (: )

thankz for all the help, much appreciated from everyone, and will get pics asap (but my car is dirty)

 

ok good and bad news...
i got my car back and its sweet lowered, not as low as i would like but still looks good and handling has drastically improved.

but chris at centreline brought some things to my attention while he was under there:
1) leaking power steering fluid, this is from when i hit my car, it had that problem but the people 'fixed' it so i have to take it back now to the insurance repairer...

2) suposedly bob jane has sold me some dodgy rims - the rims are not sprigited to the hub (i dont know what that means but doesnt sound good), there is also alot of run out/or there buckled or something. and there is alot of lead weight in them ->chris said 20-30g it ok, these have about 150g ...

so back off to bob jane on monday :S, what do u guys think ...?