GoFightNguyen's Build Thread
 

I'm reaching the point where my modding has reached a plateau, I'd like to review a few of the mods I made and ask for a bit of feedback as well. I'm not a picture taker, so I don't have too many pictures of each mod in place, but I'll update this later with the pictures I did take.

Here's how it sits currently:

Attachment 147412

Attachment 147413

Attachment 147414

Mods:

I've put a lot of wrench time into my car, certainly not as much as some of you, but more than most, I think. Zipties, zipties everywhere!

Things that make it faster:
Stillen Gen 3 CAI
Motordyne M370 Intake Manifold
Invidia Test Pipes
Fast Intentions Catback
Jtran Tuned
Mishimoto Thermostatic Sandwich oil plate adapter
Setrab 19 row oil cooler
Aeroquip fittings
Summit racing -10AN braided steel oil lines

Things that make it ride:
BuddyClub Coilovers
SPC front and rear camber arms w/ toe bolts
Cusco Front Tower Strut Bar
Stoptech Street Performance brake pads
Stoptech Slotted Rotors
Technafit Stainless brake lines
Burned Blue Muteki lug nuts

Things that make it shinier:
Blue Grounding kit
Carbon Fiber Grille
Carbon Fiber Brake/Battery Covers
Carbon Fiber Mirror Covers
Carbon Fiber V2 Diffuser
Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
VMS Blue Radiator Cap
Blue Fender Washers
Blue Akebono Calipers
Carsmo Knobs
GTR Start button
Stillen license plate relocator
ELM 327 Wifi OBD2 Plug
Dashboard App for Ipad

Things that make it brighter:
Full Diode Dynamics Stage 2 blue interior LED
Blue LED license plate lights
Blue LED city lights
6K Headlight Bulbs
Diode Dynamics HID fog conversion w/6K bulbs
Custom Quad Angel Eyes
TSX-R lenses
DRL relay

Everything except for the SPC camber kit and Ksport coilovers (and tune obviously) were done in the parking garage at my apartment complex. There have been a few rough spots, but with the help of friends and local Infiniti fanatics, I've managed to get everything installed/modded successfully. The results don't make for the prettiest car, but it's mine, I sweated over it, and I love it.

Reviews:


Fast Intentions Exhaust:
There's really not much I can say that hasn't already been said. I love my exhaust, The welds are perfect, the bends are smooth, everything fits exactly as it should, and it sounds fantastic.

I decided to go with the least amount of resonance possible, that means non-resonated high flow cats, and a 12" resonator on the catback. I love the sound, I get compliments, and it still puts a smile on my face nearly a year later.

The install was as smooth as can be expected, given my DIY nature. The instructions are clear, and everything is marked nicely to delinate between driver and passenger side. I have deceleration hiss, but that's endemic to the platform. I happen to like it, which is good since most aftermarket exhaust will have SOME amount of that happen. I haven't noticed any rasp at all, which is a relief. The biggest compliment I can pay is that given another chance, I'd absolutely buy it all over again.

Coilovers + Camber Kit

I went with Ksport Coilovers and an SPC Camber kit w/ toe bolts. I purchased from THMotorsports, and they took care of me. I had a little bit of trouble getting the tracking info, but they shipped as soon as the payment cleared, so the issue is with communication, not with service.

I had the coilovers installed and set to the height I want. They're a liiiitle too low for my tastes, and I plan to remedy that with some taller swift springs as soon as I figure out the specs of the original springs. I got an SPC camber kit, and it all arrived in one neat package. The welds look good, everything functions as it should, and the install went as well as can be expected. I took my car to Jtran Studio; they do all my work and treat every car like it belongs to a family member. Ron Bergenholtz himself was heading up the install, he widened the spring bucket cutouts to adjust the toe bolts, and even stayed late to finish up the install for me. I initially had a little bit of clunking when going over bumps aggressively, but I haven't noticed it in the last day or so of driving. Maybe it cleaned up, or maybe I'm just not recreating the correct circumstances. Either way, I plan to fix that with taller springs in the rears. The front sits perfectly, just the way I want it to. I recommend Ksports as an alternative to BC Racing or Megan coilovers. They're all around the same price range.


JTran Studio, or JTran Motorsports


Literally the coolest guys I've ever met. There's something of a shop war going on in Houston, but the guys at Jtran have yet to be anything but professional and caring. I absolutely love the barbershop atmosphere they cultivate there. Customers are welcomed like family, it's okay to just pop into the back, poke around the cars they're working on, and hang out if it's not your turn to get worked on yet.

Johnny and Amber know their work, and their attention to detail has resulted in an expanded shop, and an absolutely packed schedule. They've got high-end project cars stacked to the rafters, but they're never too busy to welcome you personally, or to answer your questions. Their son is probably going to grow up into the coolest kid in the world.

JTran studio is something of a one-stop-shop. They do engine builds, they'll build turbo and supercharger kits, they'll install it, they can diagnose problems, tune cars, install exhausts, change fluids, and recently they opened a paint shop. I haven't had any paint done on my car yet, but when I do, I know where I'm going.

Most recent changeup was swapping my Fast Intentions high flow cats out for a set of Invidia test pipes. Coupled with a Jtran Uprev tune, I don't have a check engine light, and the power gain is evident.

Never seen anyone do that before.

All those mods, and no sway bars yet? :dunno: How come?

Digging the engine bay bling, but not the oil cap.

I'm future-proofing my thread. This way people don't have to sort out the important posts from the comments giving me sh!t about sway bars!


I keep forgetting about sway bars! I was going to order some last night, but a local guy is selling his set of hotchkis sways. One way or another, I'll have aftermarket sways on the car in a month or so. You actually remove the rear sways when installing the rear camber kit, so I should have just had them thrown on then. Oh well, I have to space out mods somewhat, or I'll go stir crazy.

The oil cap was only ever meant to be a placeholder, it was $10 on amazon. I've been looking for something unusual to replace it with. I like the mishimoto carbon fiber looking radiator caps. Something like that in an oil cap would be nice.

http://static.summitracing.com/globa...C-CF13S_AT.jpg

Nice thread Anthony, bet you're known as the car-guy in your Apartment complex. Do you end up doing all your neighbors oil changes and assorted car stuff? I can picture you hauling floor jacks and car ramps down three flights of stairs along w/ hitching rides from neighbors to Autozone since your car is up on ramps :)
Must say you've been quite the busy bee since you picked up your coupe.
Looking great BTW, look forward to your new coilover review too.

Funny you should mention that. I had Monytx over here painting his calipers with the wheels off the car and a neighbor drove up with a dented in bumper. I've seen her around but hadn't spoken to her, she walks up to me and the first thing she says is "I've been thinking about you."

I had a brief period of considering the array of responses and just responded with "I...see....." (damn, damn, double damn. You get an opening like that once in a million years and I wasted it). She asked if I could fix her bumper, all it took was to push the dented area out and use a heat gun to shape it.

Over the last month or so, I suppose people have felt comfortable enough to start approaching me to talk about my work. I park next to the door to the garage, so people walk by. The most common question is "what's wrong with it?"

"Not fast enough :coolio:"

On another note, I know I want aftermarket sways, and I'm set on a brand, but I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to wheels, offsets, and such. If you guys could help me pick out a set of wheels that satisfies my criteria, I'd surely appreciate it.

Absolute Musts:
18"
19"
No 20" wheels

Preferred:
<$1200 for the set
10.5 rears
9.5 front, idk.

Styles:
I like the style of vossen CV5's, but they are obviously out of my price range, which is okay. If I do track stuff, I'll probably just use my stock wheels outfitted with Michelin PSS tires. I've lately been looking at wheels like this:

http://image.modified.com/f/tech/mod...pe_f_wheel.jpg

Those are SSR's and way out of my price bracket, but I love that look. I also like Rays GT30's.

http://m9.i.pbase.com/g1/70/394770/2...9.xdfTiP7E.jpg


I'm currently learning towards:

TSW Interlagos
http://www.tsw.com/img/alloy-wheels-...er-std-700.jpg

STR 610
http://www.aspecwheels.net/STR/610/S...SSBLACK_WM.jpg

Here's a few that might work, although must check BBK compatibility :icon43:
B2 Auto Designs
B2 Auto Designs
Call about easier offsets
B2 Auto Designs
B2 Auto Designs
These VMRs are very nice wheels, probably get my vote
B2 Auto Designs

If you want to save up some money and wait for ~June/July when my new setup is finally finished and stateside... I will be sadly letting go of my beautiful Volk GT30's in Formula Silver... :( I just cannot justify keeping them but you would need to expand your budget a bit... just throwin it out there.

Happy modding either way!

Are those the 18's? I'm interested provided they clear the BBK. I would increase the budget for Gt30's. It's not saving up the money that concerns me, rather, I just have trouble justifying dropping that much on wheels.

Sorry, they are 20" wheels... 18" are not big enough to fill out the lines and body of our Gs... 19"s even struggle unless you find the right wheel (in my opinion of course). They clear BBK without issue. And I know what you mean about justifying the purchase... I bought TSW Snettertons when I first bought my G even though I wanted GT30's but I did not have enough for them at the time... I eventually had to get them anyways and honestly am going to be really sad to get rid of them. Its all about how bad you want things in the end I guess...

If you would have told me that I would be as financially deep into my G when I first bought it as I am now; I would have laughed at you and said you were out of your mind... turns out it was me who was out of my mind in the end...:dunno:

Maybe, in consideratIon of your CF engine cover, although it might be too much CF. Another consideration is the "Do not open when hot". Well, no sh1t. I hate that idiot warning. It really ruins the look. Kind of like the screen printing on that VMS radiator cap (which I also have, BTW.)

IDK... Something else in a dark, clean gunmetal or gloss black, maybe.