My Build

[alex500a]

Looking good, as someone who said the same thing, I won't be surprised if you eventually want to run ALL OF IT.

I'm at E+D phase 1, it is smooth and the power is not too crazy. Will likely do phase 2 at some point if I keep the car long enough.

[Ron]

I won't be surprised if you eventually want to run ALL OF IT.

I'm fairly long in the tooth, so I doubt it; but I do plan on having the option, in case I surprise myself. I've already surprised myself by: one, buying this car. And two, modifying it. I've never modded a car, and it's been decades since I turned a wrench on one.

I have no idea why I'm doing this, I'm even past the age where I could blame it on a mid-life crisis. I guess even even us old guys need some fun.

[alex500a]

This car has a way of bringing that out I guess. I'm not old, but not young either (it is all relative anyways) and this car is addictive. I get bored of my cars quickly and this has been the longest I've owned a car. Still surprised by all the looks it gets even though these are fairly common. Just went to the grocery store and this kid, probably 5 years old, was walking with his mom across the parking lot as I drove past and his head was glued to the fiat and I heard him say "woooooow" as I slowly drove past. Fun car and still gets some looks.

[Ron]

The weather has improved, so I'm back after it. Finally got that EC FMIC to sit right last night (about 3 evenings worth of fun), and now I'm having more fun trying to get the fascia back on.

The new wheels came in a while back (Evo Corsa San Remo), and the new tires today; so I'm on the verge of having a set of everyday wheels and a set of dress wheels.

[Ron]

Abandoned the EC intercooler as unworkable. I had to shim the crash bar out to get the intercooler core clear of the condenser, and it was so far out when I finally cleared that I was stretching the bejesus out of the fascia at the corner bolts (the ones in the fender). Despite all the adjusting, shimming, grinding, filing, etc I just couldn't make it work.

Went with the intercooler from NGEN. The basis for that was:
1. I don't drive hard enough for long enough to justify an ATM (not to mention they appear to have been out of stock for the last 6 months).
2. My primary goal was just to clean up the plumbing.
3. Weight.

The intercooler is installed, and while I was in there I put on the blue Mishimoto radiator hoses.

(bonus picture with the fascia back on and the new wheels)

[Ruckus]

Congrats w/ the NGEN FMIC install......we all need a new bumper design to expose all that massive air cooling area of the FMIC..

How'd you like those San Remo..... are they really much lighter than stock 17's?

[Ron]

...we all need a new bumper design to expose all that massive air cooling area of the FMIC..

I had a thought to spray paint a red scorpion on it; I used the scorpion on the OEM filter/engine cover as a pattern for a stencil (the size is about right), but didn't pull the trigger.

How'd you like those San Remo..... are they really much lighter than stock 17's?

I'm not hardcore enough to worry about weighing wheels, they seem to be a little easier to heft into position, though. I got them for looks; my stock wheels have suffered some curb rash from a previous owner, and the lug bolts are rusty, so I needed some help. I mounted them with black splined tuner bolts, used the center caps plain black, and I like the look. They're a +30 offset and that extra 1/4" looks good, too; it has me considering some 5mm spacers.

[Ron]

Had a boost problem a while back, turned out to be the OEM solenoid for the dump valve. Replaced the GFB DV+ with a Forge recirculating valve.

Since then, I've added an upper chassis brace, and I swapped the OEM WGA for one from Turbosmart (mostly because the stock WGA looked bad). And I've been doing neo-chrome fender washers under the hood for appearance, I've got some burnt Ti cap screws coming for places where the fender washers aren't appropriate.

I've been looking for a hood louver that I wanted, and I've got a custom coming from Race Louvers. After it gets here, the car goes to the body shop to get the side skirts on properly and the louver installed. My nerves aren't up to body work, so it goes to a professional.

[sportfan]

Ron, you are only as old as you feel like you are. I've got a 2013 Sport with about $9k in mods and I'm not done yet. When I go Twisted Sisters (third time this year ), I drive it like I stole it. I've done the Dragon once but, prefer the Sisters. I do all the work on the car myself ( except EC dynoed it ) and built many of my own parts. I'm 65 except when I tighten that 5 point harness and head out in the Texas foothills ,then I'm 18 again. The car is a time machine.