Drewski's '03 Black GS

[Drewski0523]

Here is my car as of September 2012:



This is just after the completion of the Manual Trans swap. Car is dirty but I love this pic. Thanks Ryan.

Performance:

Manual Transmission Swap
Quaife LSD
Energy Suspension Shifter Base Bushings
Megan Racing Short Shifter and Shift Knob
SpeedSource.net Brass Shift Cable Bushings
OEM Flywheel with new OEM bolts, pilot bushing and adapter plates
ACT Street Disk Clutch with ATE Super Blue DOT 4 fluid
AEM short ram intake with dry flow filter
Invidia N1 cat back
OBX Header
3 guage pillar with AEM wideband, Innovate Motorsports oil pressure and vacuum/boost guages

Wheels, Brakes and Suspension:

17" Evo VIII Enkei wheels
Kumho Ecsta ASX 235/45-17 tires
Evo VIII Brembo Brake Swap: Drum to disk on the rears, fresh powder coat all 4, red with black decals
Goodrich SS brake Lines with ATE Super Blue DOT 4 brake fluid
KSport Kontrol Pro Coilovers with front camber plates
Ingalls rear camber adjustment kits, -1* to +3* camber
Suspension Techniques 22mm rear sway bar
Moog swaybar endlinks, front and rear
ProSteer Serviceable front tie rod ends/ball joints
Megan Racing front lower tie bar
Megan Racing front strut bar
DC Sports rear strut bar
Energy Suspensions Front sway bar bushings and Front and Rear Control arm Bushings
PrOthane rear knuckle bushings
PrOthane Motor Mounts, front sleeved with a 1/2' bolt
Dorman front and rear ball joints

Show and Interior:

ED Shine Street Flared lip kit, front, rear and side skirts
Stock 3G wing (replaced the SS wing)
Grillcraft 5 piece silver grill kit
OEM GT Aluminum Fuel Door
Siebon Vader Style Carbon Fiber hood with locking pins
Sonar CCFL Chrome Housed Halo's
1st Gen TYC Chrome Housed tails
Depo clear front and rear corners
GT leather seats swap
Custom painted red and black dash and interior pieces
Red dash LED swap
Red dash underglow

Audio and Electronics:

Optima Red Top battery relocated to trunk with Knukonceptz Kompression terminals
0/1 AWG Custom Big 3 Upgrade and Audio wiring with Knukonceptz wire
Jensen VM9314 7" TFT flip out HU w/ XM and HD radio, Bluetooth adapter, Backup Cam and iPod direct connection
JL Audio 300/4 4 chan amp 75w x 4ohm per chan
Kicker DS Series front 6.75" front component set with 1" tweeter 60w RMS/120 w max
Kicker DS Series rear 6x9 3 way speakers 100w RMS/300w max
Kenwood 9105D 2 output monoblock amp 500w x 4ohm per output
2 12" Kicker CompVR subs, dual 2ohm coils 400w RMS/800 w max each, wired to 4ohms each
0/1 AWG audio wiring with Knukonceptz wire, complete factory bypass, speakers on 16 AWG wire
Stage III lighting relay wire harness made by Ken, wired to make the non-OEM fogs work, plug and play

Future Mods:

Manual Trans Swap, rebuilt with Quaiffe LSD and upgraded racing clutch (finished collecting parts ) COMPLETED SEP 03, 2012
Custom sub and amp box based off of Future3G's design Started
Engine bay beautification: powder red and black and ceramic hyper silver (already have the spare parts)
Yellow capsule fog light retro and refinish the sonars
Evo VIII 16G turbo setup (finished collecting parts )
Grind and re-paint chassis (last done in 2009), slight rust on fuel tank and crossmemebers
Rebuild current I4 motor (possible 4g63 head swap) to handle 300-350 WHP

Drewski's 16g build, a long term process - my build thread

Thread Index


Page 1: Current pics, current mod list, introduction of the car and first impressions, clear front turns, finding the right wheels
Page 2: Evo 8 Enkeis, intro of the turbo, intro of the Bembos, plans for urethane bushings, more turbo parts, bad seller experience
Page 3: Replaced siezed passenger caliper, moog endlinks and urethane bushing talks, rear drum to disk swap talk, guages
Page 4: Wideband guage discussion, Injen IC pipes, turbo talk, wheel and caliper problems, Brembos ready for powder, car off to the body shop
Page 5: Ordered suspension bushings, car back from the body shop, black leather seats swap, enter the electrical issue
Page 6: Enter Raman the troll, trolling, trolling . . .
Page 7: Continue the rice, EvoM and C4G discussion, Brembo powder talk, turbo talk
Page 8: Turbo talk, Raman Rice, urethane bushings, disck swap backplate, new dash, enter the build thread, Raman rice
Page 9: Raman Rice , electrical problems
Page 10: Wheel problems, rear knuckle bushings ordered, I4 rear motor mount issue
Page 11: Raman . . . , more of the rear motor mount issue
Page 12: Sound deadener discussion, rear knuckle mounts, motor mount install, front motor mount sleeve, Dorman control arms and rear toe arms, UPS messed up the Brembos
Page 13: Front and rear ureathane bushing install, front center crossmember bushings, Brembos are ready for install
Page 14: Brembo install
Page 15: Answer to the rear motor mount issue, rear motor mount and moog endlink discussion
Page 16: Raman Rice, rear motor mount solved
Page 17: Christmas 2011 Rice with Raman, rebuilt e-brakes, Dorman rear toe arm install
Page 18: More of Raman, Alignment discussion, Ingalls rear camber kit
Page 19: Dog talk thanks to Raman, new AEM dryflow filter
Page 20: front center crossmember bushing install, rear motor mount finally installed, Moog endlinks installed, Ingalls rear camber kit: complete with review, dryflow filter replaced
Page 21: Strongarm rear hatch struts, new pics of the car, aluminium fuel door, my girls 96 Mustang
Page 22: All Raman Rice
Page 23: Front caliper bolt busted off , MD meet pics
Page 24: Rice of Raman, 5 speed swap discussion
Page 25: Trans talk, new windsheild, current suspension setup
Page 26: New AEM wideband, Spring Break 2012 plans, turbo talk, new interior install start, COTM
Page 27: Sound deadener install, guage pod install, wiper cowling and arms painted, LED guage swap, motor mount and sound deadener discussion
Page 28: Electrical problem fixed , powdercoat talk
Page 29: Ordered Kens lighting wire harness: This, JDM yellow fog capsule retro parts, bought a 5 speed
Page 30: New trans, clutch, flywheel, Quaiffe LSD, new pics as of spring 2012, old pics of the day I bought the car and the first work I did on it
Page 31: Trans swap talk, Raman Rice, Kens stage 3 wire harness install
Page 32: Shifter cable bushing discussion, Megan SS instal and ES shifter base bushings, completion of trans swap and 16g part collections
Page 33: Engine bay cleaning, Trans swap talk

Car Timeline via Pics





















Megan front lower tie rod and ES front control arm bushings



Engine bay as of July 2012, no more red



My electrical setup as of my light harness relay install, the 1/0 wire is the only red left, still goes to the T then to the fuses in-line for the alt and audio, the OEM starter wire is still there, the 2 8 wires go into the smaller distribution block with 2 8's going to the fuse box and 1 8 going to the lighting relay (the only way to make it work till I get my optima red top)



Lighting relay harness and wiring



Rear Prothane/ES bushings and Ingalls camber kit

More current pics of my car, Feb. 2012



pic thanks to grift3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



pic thanks to grfft3r



















My car, Oct 2011



Grillcraft Grill and Vents, SS Lip, Siebon Hood, Sonar Heads and Depo corners




Ride height for my DD on KSport Kontrol Pro Coils, it is hard to see but the lip is just below the top of the label (16 oz coke bottle for reference)


Evo VIII Enkei's, no more pinstripe, stock wing back on, need some 5% tint


Sonar tails and Depo corners, SS side skirt and rear lip


Invidia N1 tip, not crooked and doesn't hang out


GT leather seats




Amps and power distribution system, cap will go as soon as I build custom box and amp enclosure


Big 3 upgrade with 0/1 wire, fuses, terminals, and distribution block for alt and audio




Before: August 2011








18" KMC Luna wheels wrapped in 225/45 18 Yoko Avid ENVigor's

[ccarrillo717]

I wonder where this would go... I do like the interior, I think some black wheels with a red lip would look 1000x better... but still looks good

[thahnic1080]

too much going on this car. Not feeling it

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by ccarrillo717

I wonder where this would go... I do like the interior, I think some black wheels with a red lip would look 1000x better... but still looks good

thanks, I plan on adding some red paint to it to be 2 tone red and black, I was thinking the red front lip with a thick stripe from the center of the bumber, over the headlights/corner of the hood, down the side imediately below the window.

[yahh]

Car is nasty... not in a good way. Car looks cluttered and thrown together. It doesn't flow at ALL. Wheels, tails, headlights, hood, and two tone interior all look cheap and ricey.

[rsingh12]

Not feeling this car either and btw since this is a 4 cylinder it only has one header not headers like you stated. But wheels arent working and neither is the wing imo. And instead of going chrome with the headlights you should've went black doesn't glare as much

[02gt]

The pinstripes really stands out. I would remove the pinstripes, tint the chrome tails and front turn signals, and adjust the suspension. Good luck with whatever you do.

[Got Rice Boy]

Minus the wheels, seat covers, wing, and pin stripe, it isn't that bad. But if you like it, rock it!

[finesse49ers]

Originally Posted by thahnic1080

too much going on this car. Not feeling it

, and that's putting it lightly. For some reason I was expecting much better.

[rsingh12]

Originally Posted by finesse49ers

, and that's putting it lightly. For some reason I was expecting much better.

Same here

[Drewski0523]

wheels are getting replaced whem I have the cash to do so, so Im down for some suggestions. Same with the pin stripes. Need new seats cause the original owner destroyed them, hence the seat covers. Replacing the wing this fall. Went with chrome lights because IMO the blacked out ones didnt flow with the black paint. The tails used to be blacked out.

Thanks for the input so far. Im working on it with whatever cash I have while I'm in college.

[RicoSmooth]

Just give me your wing, shhhh, you dont need to sell it. What I would do right now if i had the money of course I would, Put a Oem Black spoiler back. Get Clear Turn Signals. Change the wheels. D2 Coilover drop it. Then get get the WW Lip to top it off. Oh yeah and taking out the pin-stripe.

and your "shock" wing is just a knock off WW Vline spoiler

[thahnic1080]

Originally Posted by finesse49ers

, and that's putting it lightly. For some reason I was expecting much better.

well i was feeling nice today and this car has potential.

To the OP. If you want to keep the black and chrome theme going on. Switch the wheel to a nice hyper silver, Clear turn signals. I wouldnt do WW lip instead get the shine street lip since you have the rear sides and wing. I even think switching the tail lights to all red tail lights would look good. Oh yea paint more interior pieces black. Theres just way too much red

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by thahnic1080

well i was feeling nice today and this car has potential.

To the OP. If you want to keep the black and chrome theme going on. Switch the wheel to a nice hyper silver, Clear turn signals. I wouldnt do WW lip instead get the shine street lip since you have the rear sides and wing. I even think switching the tail lights to all red tail lights would look good. Oh yea paint more interior pieces black. Theres just way too much red

Thanks, I am trying to keep the chrome and black going. I hate the wing so that is definitely going. So to all, what's the opinion between the shock wing and OEM (I can get one).

Im getting the lip and clear corners as well as removing the striping in the fall. Looking into a silver wheel, never doing chrome again (pitting after 2 years and they're cleaned and polished weekly to include the winter).

[Chad]

Honestly, it isn't too bad. From what I understand he picked it up in even worse condition, so I give you props on making it look better than it was. As far as suggestions... Scratch the chrome. All of it. Take off the stripe, fix the seats, and for damn sure get rid of those fugly wheels. Oh and I don't like the hood.

[patriotred01]

I don't mind the chrome. I think only black cars can pull it off though. If you're going to keep with the chrome theme, I would get clear front corners. I'm glad you turned this car around from its previous shape!

[Drewski0523]

Chad and patriot thanks I can put some pics of it's previous shape up but it was bad. I like the chrome I know it's not popular on this forum but I'm going to see where it goes. I am definitely getting clear front and rear corners and keeping the car black. If it turns out bad in the end I will replace them they are cheaper than other things but I don't have the money to go back as of this moment.

Once again the stripe and wheels are on the get done ASAP list, the wheels unfortunately a little farther down the list.

[Drewski0523]

Just did my big 3 upgrade, I put it on this thread Drewski's Audio Install so I won't double post it.

Let me know your thoughts.

[Drewski0523]

Just ordered clear turn signals, these:



And got a free OEM wing, has some scratches on it so I'm going to wait till I get my front lip, definitely getting the shine lip, to get them both painted and put on at the same time

[Chad]

I think the only way to pull off the Chrome look is to buy OEM 03+ headlights. They look way better than ANY chrome aftermarket headlamps. Just don't put HID's in them.

[Drewski0523]

Yea that is true, these headlights are a result of a deer taking out my passenger side and my insurance only paying for the one light. It was cheaper to buy this set with the insurance money than pay out of pocket for a second light. The difference would have been too much between one brand new and the other with a few years of wear and tear.

[brewcitygts]

Potentially nice looking car. I like from the outside minus wheels, and i think the interior looks pretty nice minus the seat covers. Like to see where this goes!

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by brewcitygts

Potentially nice looking car. I like from the outside minus wheels, and i think the interior looks pretty nice minus the seat covers. Like to see where this goes!

Thanks wheels and seats are on the to do list. I'm going to go with a silver solid 5 or 6 spoke wheel, seats I need to find a junk yard around me that actually has 3G's in it. The original seats have tears and cigaret burns in them.

[Drewski0523]

Just ordered the SS front lip and 5 pc grillcraft grill in silver from CarID, and clear corner lenses for the front. I'll post pics as I get this stuff installed

[Mattt]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

Just ordered the SS front lip and 5 pc grillcraft grill in silver from CarID, and clear corner lenses for the front. I'll post pics as I get this stuff installed

so you'll have all that on for the 3rd?

[Drewski0523]

If miracles happen. The corners I'll have on Thursday, but the lip and grill will be in on Monday at the earliest to the body shop. If they can take my car in on tuesday they may just have it done. But I doubt it:

They need to replace my hood and hood pins
Pop out, fill in and paint my driver side fender
Fit and polyurethane seal my front lip and paint
Fit and install the grill kit
Paint and fit an OEM wing
Touch up and repaint my trunk, rear bumper and rear lip

After all that is done I'm going to have factory ultra red pearl added to my car whenever they can get to that. My girlfriends uncle and cousin own the shop, they're really good and take care of me but they're not miracle workers .

So for the 3rd I'm probably just going to have the corners in, and deal with the body damage (no pics of my driver side).

I'm also in the process of trying to get Evo 8 Brembo's for a front and rear swap, just ordered an Evo 8 16g stock turbo, header manifold, Megan racing o2 housing and oil lines. Trying to talk to someone else about the Evo 8 factory FMIC, Evo 8 ECU already flashed, Evo8 factory hot side, and an AEM Wideband gauge. Trying to piece together an Evo 8 turbo kit and talking to PharmEcis about an entire 4g63 head he has laying around.

[Drewski0523]

These just came in the mail



Had to put them, I think it looks a lot better



My grill kit will be at my body shop on Monday and my SS front lip will be there Tuesday. So hopefully my car will get its long awaited body work starting on the week of the 5th.

[yahh]

Doesn't look too bad man. Start cleaning up the outside a little bit. Get some evo stockers so you can fit those new big red things behind them and they will look much better than those chrome ones.

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by yahh

Doesn't look too bad man. Start cleaning up the outside a little bit. Get some evo stockers so you can fit those new big red things behind them and they will look much better than those chrome ones.

I saw some polished 6 spoke enkies I really liked, they're going to happen soon but the Brembo's will fit behind these for now.

Added: the outside is what will be getting a makeover in a few weeks, new lip, new stock wing, fresh paint, silver grill and fake vent kit. Needs washed so bad but with the hurricane in the forecast of rain in the future it's not worth it.

[yahh]

Are those 17's or 18's? I have a spare set of evo 8 enkeis and we can work something out since you're only about 2 hours away. If they're 17's you can just transfer the tires.

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by yahh

Are those 17's or 18's? I have a spare set of evo 8 enkeis and we can work something out since you're only about 2 hours away. If they're 17's you can just transfer the tires.

That's what sucks they're 18's with brand new tires. The enkies I saw came in 18

[ccarrillo717]

The chrome on the black does sit well with me

Not sure what to think. I like it but then I dont

[Drewski0523]

I think it will look good when done. I'm gonna drop another 1/2", have Brembo's, have the full shine kit in black with all 4 lights chrome (going to order the reverse lights found them for 45 online), going with polished 6 spoke 18" enkies, factory wing, and grillcraft silver 5 piece grill. Going to add ultra red pearl from the middle of the lip, up the front bumper to the bottom of the hood, around the heads and bold stripes down the side from just below the windows to about 8 to 10 inches down to the tails and the wing.

[errol12061]

BIG ass improvement based on your description

[oakrdrs187]

Interior looks good. It's unique.

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by errol12061

BIG ass improvement based on your description

Originally Posted by oakrdrs187

Interior looks good. It's unique.

Thanks guys

[Drewski0523]

Looking for new wheels, I want your guys' input. Im looking for wheels that will fit my current brand new tires (225/45 18 which is 18"x7.5") and my Brembo's with no more than a 5mm spacer:



Enkie Performance Sesto 18"x7.5" w/ 38mm offset and 5.7" backspacing. These are my first choice



Enkei Performance Aletta 18"x7.5" w/ 45mm offset and 5.74" backspacing



Enkei Performance Falcon 18"x7.5" w/ 45mm offset and 6.02" backspacing

how do you think they will look on the car?

[finesse49ers]

Don't waste your time and money with a 7.5" wide wheel as stock EVO VIII and IX wheels are 8" wide. Never use spacers if you don't have to and you don't have to. Get a minimum 8" width wheel along with a minimum +38 offset.

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by finesse49ers

Don't waste your time and money with a 7.5" wide wheel as stock EVO VIII and IX wheels are 8" wide. Never use spacers if you don't have to and you don't have to. Get a minimum 8" width wheel along with a minimum +38 offset.

I want to I just spent a lot on new tire, they only have 6k miles on them. I would like to go to a 17" x 8.5" wheel, Its just the cost of a new set of tires makes me cringe. However I know that Im going to go with these wheels, they have them in 17 x 8 & 8.5, so while Im shopping whats your thoughts on the wheels?

[El Guapo]

Not digging Pinstripe, Chrome Healights, Clear Turns, or the silver hood vents.
I'd say get sonars
get these turns: http://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.net...-ecl03f-sm.jpg
Spraypaint/plasti-dip the hood vents.
I don't like the wheels either, but then again, I don't like chrome for the most part

other than those few small things

[finesse49ers]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

I want to I just spent a lot on new tire, they only have 6k miles on them. I would like to go to a 17" x 8.5" wheel, Its just the cost of a new set of tires makes me cringe. However I know that Im going to go with these wheels, they have them in 17 x 8 & 8.5, so while Im shopping whats your thoughts on the wheels?

What do you need a new set of tires for? The tires you have will fit an 8" width wheel. Stock EVO VIII and IX tires come with a 45 sidewall. Honestly I don't like none of the wheels but from a Brembo clearance standpoint the 1st wheel looks to be your safest choice.

[Drewski0523]

ok if thats the case then great, I just though 7.5" = tire measurement of 225 and 8" = 235, my tires are 225/45

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by El Guapo

I don't like the wheels either, but then again, I don't like chrome for the most part

other than those few small things

Yea not many people are fans of chrome, I like it better than black on black though. I really don't like the black/smoked look on a black car. I had black TYC tails before, I just didnt like the way it looked. I do know that if I could go back I would have bought this car in silver or red and went with the black/smoked thing. I feel that looks better than black and chrome.

But I have a black car, so chrome accents it is.

[Mattt]

Rock that chrome you Baltimorian!

[thahnic1080]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

ok if thats the case then great, I just though 7.5" = tire measurement of 225 and 8" = 235, my tires are 225/45

im running a 225 tire and im running a 17x9 +30. It has somewhat of a stretch but not overkill

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by newdie

Rock that chrome you Baltimorian!

yessir

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by thahnic1080

im running a 225 tire and im running a 17x9 +30. It has somewhat of a stretch but not overkill

thanks for that clarification, so Ill probably get the Enkie Sesto's in 18" x 8" and keep my tires. That a relief for my wallet

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by jaloosk

Thanks to jaloosk this is potentially what my car will look like in the next few months. What's your thoughts on the wheels and everything compared to it's current state?

Thanks for the feedback.

[jaloosk]

You can see the detail in this one better:

[Drewski0523]

Yes, thanks for that.

[thahnic1080]

personally those wheels look like the stock evo 8s. I would just get a set of those instead. It looks clean and subtle though

[yahh]

Get some quality wheels man and don't use spacers. I'd go with RPF1's, thats my next set of wheels as soon as I finish my turbo setup.

[jaloosk]

Originally Posted by thahnic1080

personally those wheels look like the stock evo 8s. I would just get a set of those instead. It looks clean and subtle though

He needs 18's though cuz he can't afford new tires. I don't blame him.

[thahnic1080]

Originally Posted by jaloosk

He needs 18's though cuz he can't afford new tires. I don't blame him.

whoops missed that part. I thought his current wheels were 17s haha.

[Drewski0523]

Yea have 18's and want new wheels just got new tires. It sucks but I just spent a lot on the tires and I feel as though I would wasting a lot of money to just buy another set. The wheels here in Baltimore I know I can sell for a lot more than they're worth just because they're chrome and clean. But I won't get enough of a turn around on the tires to justify it to myself.

As far as the RPF1's go, I like them but I don't. I personally like a more solid spoke design. If you get what I mean.

Edit: knowing what I know now from this forum I would like to go to a wide 17" wheel, and actually like the evo stockers but can't get past the fact that I feel like I'm throwing money away.

[Drewski0523]

What are your guys thoughts? I have a good deal on them from Evolutionm.net.

SSR D5R Silver w/ Polished lip, they are 18x9 +34 with Bridgestone Potenza 255-35-18 tires

[finesse49ers]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

What are your guys thoughts? I have a good deal on them from Evolutionm.net.

SSR D5R Silver w/ Polished lip, they are 18x9 +34 with Bridgestone Potenza 255-35-18 tires

Remember those wheels came off of an EVO and while 9" wide wheels with a +34 offset look good on an EVO they will surely look different on a 3G. If you want your wheels to be sticking out way past the fenders then go ahead. This is what you're in store for:

Originally Posted by timster2833

18x9 Rota G-Force +35 offset
Wrapped in Nitto Invo 255/35R18

Personally I don't like that look. By the way what kind of 18"s do you have now?

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by finesse49ers

By the way what kind of 18"s do you have now?

I currently have chrome KMC Luna's they are 18x7.5 +42.
They look like they'll fit the brembo's, but I just want to get rid of the chrome, plus they're 2 years old and starting to show their age.

edit: the whole sticking out past the fender thing is why I want to go with an 18x8 wheel, my 7.5's are right there, but its just not happening. I'm having no luck finding anything used, and new ones are either chrome or crazy expensive. Im currently looking for used stock Evo wheels at a good price and Im just going to get new tires, and sell off what I have for a decent price. I am in Baltimore and know they will sell just because they're chrome.

[finesse49ers]

Originally Posted by Drewski0523

I currently have chrome KMC Luna's they are 18x7.5 +42.
They look like they'll fit the brembo's, but I just want to get rid of the chrome, plus they're 2 years old and starting to show their age.

Whoops, I meant what brand of tire are the 18"s you have now?

[Drewski0523]

Originally Posted by finesse49ers

Whoops, I meant what brand of tire are the 18"s you have now?

Yoko Avid ENvigors, 225/45ZR 18