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First stage completed!!.....well almost


Glenn1981

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Well nearly a week after having all my parts fitted by Ross at JAPEX Performance, they are well bedded in and I have given them a good shakedown and a few spirited runs to see how the car performs and I have to say the transformation is pretty amazing!

 

Some of you will have seen this last week: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=47619

 

 

So first on to the suspension, Tein Super Street Coilovers with Top Mounts and the Tein EDFC (Electronic Force Dampening Controller), this setup is great and such an improvement over the stock suspension. Even the ride quality has been vastly improved. Most coilovers can be boneshakers and Ross did point this out to me beforehand, but we were both quite surprised how good the ride quality is, it soaks up everything the road puts in its way on hard and even more on soft. Using the EDFC the soft setting is great for cruising along and very comfy and the missus actually commented that the car felt less of the bumps and potholes, I have driven down some roads that I know very well and in places where my body naturally braces for know bumps or jolts in the road, they just havent been there at all. Really impressed!! Handling wise though is when the 2 parts combined really come into action, put this into the hardest setings and the turn-in is so responsive and true, flinging the Zed round corners has never been so much fun. The Zed always hung on in corners, but I do feel it sticks to the road even more now and you can push it that bit more. The car also feels really planted and purposeful now. The EDFC is a great bit of kit and definitely worth adding to a TEIN suspension if you have one. I also like the cool stealth way that Ross installed it!

I have only had the car dropped 25mm and set up to the Tein specs online, but I feel these are great the way they are.

 

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Now on to the Brakes, Performance Friction front discs and DBA 4000 slotted rear discs, Endless SSS pads all round, Goodridge Lines and Motul RBF660. This combination is proven and I know alot of you have it already, so most will know how good it is, but if anyone is thinking about do this I cannot reccommend it highly enough. They have an extremely great first bite, very responsive, you dont have to even press the pedal on normal driving, just "tickle" it and you will stop! Before bends on hard braking the car responds and feels perfect and I feel you brake alot later, it is how the brakes should be on a car like this. It is, simply put, the best possible brake package without going to a BBK. Add to this that the PF discs look fantastic behind my LGT4's and I'am very happy. Obviously alot more expensive than EBC or the stock discs, but imo well worth the money.

 

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Engine wise, I wasn't having a whole lot done, just some Under Drive Pulleys, Samco Hoses, Engine Torque Damper and a Throttle Body Spacer, unfortunately the spacer wouldnt fit with my CAI, so I am going to hang on to it and maybe change the CAI for a different one or just keep it for when\if I go FI.

The pulleys look great and for anyone that is not clued up on these, it is basically down to the weight saving against the stock pulleys that makes the difference. You save about 12lbs and after feeling the stock pulley against the new one, I can tell you there is a huge difference and that is the one where it helps. According to peopl in the know (ZMANALEX) it has a similar effect as adding a lightweight flywheel. Not sure if they add much in the way of BHP (it is claimed 5-6bhp) but what I can say is that the car feels more rev happy now and definitely revs up quicker!

The hoses and damper were more for engine bay looks than anything.

 

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Stillen Short Shift, another great bit of kit, it has actually "fixed" my cars clunky gear chanes in 1st and 2nd from cold, so maybe it was just my shifting! :blush: but seriously it gives a new feel and although "stiffer" I like it, it feels more precise and purposeful, slightly shorter throw than stock, but not huge. I love the new Nismo knob though, that feels and looks great.

 

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Lastly the Kinetix Resonated De-Cats. I got these mainly for the small power gain they should hopefully provide and they do give a nice higher sporty sound and I have noticed a bit of a power gain since getting the car back, but I feel this is everything coupled together and the ECU will dial it out eventually, however these are great and will add to things when I visit Abbey soon. My only problem is coupled with my Buddy Club Pro Spec III, it is just too much for me in terms of LOUD!! :scare: but I knew this would always be the case and I have always planned to change the exhaust for something true dual anyway, so no big deal. Shame really as it is one of the best flowing brand exhausts you can buy and I was hoping it would be ok so I could keep the Buddy Club, as before the cats it sounded great and wasnt that loud, but now even with the baffles in it is a little bit too much for me, others may like it though, I will try and get a vid and a drive by up to see what you think a bit later.

 

So all in all very happy with the car and the mods and after the UpRev new exhaust and CAI I will be on to getting the wheels a refurb and looking at very subtle bodykits, watch this space.....................

 

Thanks again to:

 

Ross at JAPEX Performance www.japexperformance.co.uk

ZMANALEX (Alex)

Chilired (Sarah)

Tony420z (Tony)

Craigus (Craig)

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Very Nice looks B)

loving the EDFC neat install :thumbs:

 

Are/can you using spacers? love the stance but just wondered if the rears could be edged out slightly?

 

I know I'm gonna have to get the credit card out soon :scare:

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Craig, thanks bud, the Teins are great, cannot reccommend them highly enough, shame on the TB spacer, but I will just change the CAI to make it fit I feel!

 

mbs - insurance wise I was worried, but surprisingly it didnt put my insurance up at all and I told them everything right down to the last detail. I am 30 in May, live in a London postcode with 4 years NCB, history of the car for nearly 3 1/2 years, and underground secure parking in a flat and my insurance was £550 with like for like on all aftermarket parts. This is with Adrian Flux

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Very Nice looks B)

loving the EDFC neat install :thumbs:

 

Are/can you using spacers? love the stance but just wondered if the rears could be edged out slightly?

 

I know I'm gonna have to get the credit card out soon :scare:

 

No spacers, just 19" LMGT4's 8.5 f and 9.5 r, the standard offset, but I forget right now, is it +15?

 

I know it needs spacers though and it is bugging me, a set of 20mm ones for the rear and maybe 20 or 15 on the front, should get away with no rubbing at this height.

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also some pointers I forgot to mention:

 

On the pulleys, I have seen a few of you guys are doing this soon, the washer that the main crank pulley sits on doesnt sit flush and you will be unsure about this when fitting it, my mechanic Ross was too. But ZMANALEX has said that you will need to make sure it is very tight and it will be fine. I have had no problems thus far, no squeal, no wobble nothing, but I know this has been a problem in the US.

 

Also anyone thinking of these de-cats, you need to make sure you get the lambda spacers, or you will throw the check engine light, I cant beleive I forgot this, but I did, so I am going back on sat to have them stuck on.

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Great post and some quality mods there :thumbs:

 

Perhaps you can get down to one of the Surrey area meets so we can appreciate the work all the more - watch the forum for the next date ;)

 

In the meantime spaces are running out fast for the Wales weekend where you can really test out the suspension and brake mods :drive1 - see my sig for details.

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