DaRKNT's Blaze Orange Type S

[DaRKNT]

Hey all, been around a while, been a silent observer most of that time. Thought I might say hi!

Some of you may know Manu - ever since he got he got his Type S, I fell in love with it.


5592288828_8d50953081_z by j.singh9408, on Flickr

I was a mere 14 year old at the time, and I remember the first time he brought it over, kept hitting first gear VTEC at every red light - only making me want to steal it off him more.

Funnily enough, we're the only two in our entire family that are into cars - with everyone insisting that I get an A-B every day car for my first one. Thank god that didn't happen.

With a little insisting, dad agreed that he'd lend me the momey to buy a reasonable car of my choice if I got above 95 for my ATAR... so two long years of VCE later, my search for a first car began.

I considered so many things... S15s, Supras, Skylines, Prelude's... but then a Blaze Orange base model caught my eye... showed it to dad... and he says "No" and walks away... turns out he didn't want me to get my car 8 months before my P's

So the search continued for an agonizing 6 months... and on the 27th of June, the beautiful machine below was mine. (Though in SA at the time)


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


. by j.singh9408, on Flickr


117655731 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

Saw it, immediately called up and put a deposit on it mere hours after it was put up, compression test showed a solid 180psi on all cylinders, paid for it and that was that.

On the fifth of July, my baby was home.


IMG_20120705_143820 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


IMG_20120706_114756 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

[DaRKNT]

Sadly, I had no clue how to drive a manual when I bought it, so she just sorta sat there till I figured I might as well give it a go.

In the mean time, I learned about detailing... gave that a go, came up nice after a clay bar and wax.

Then once I learnt manual, I got the darn seat rip that was pissing me off fixed.


20120811_161050 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

The old guy that owned the car before me was a bit rough on the shift boot - it was in disgusting shape for a 69937 Km car.

Didn't have the cash to replace it so off to spotlight I went and figured I'd diy it.


20120713_192347 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

How did it come out?

Also bought a Mugen Wing for it... but took it off shortly after... she isn't low enough to pull it off yet. It'll be back on once I fix that.


20120815_221031 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120815_220955 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

Plus, I had my P's coming up.

[DaRKNT]

August 28th, got her re-registered as a Victorian.


20120828_173410 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

So 30th of August. My 18th... and my P's.

Get there in the morning, everything is fine, doing so well, then some fucktard of a pedestrian walks on to the road, I slam the brakes and come to a stop - and the light turns red as he gets off the road, so I figure I may as well roll up to the light, assessor doesn't think I'm going to stop and fails me. Doesn't even let me contest it.

In my rage, I decide I may as well teach myself how to service my car. An oil change and trans fluid change later, I know much, much more about my car. Longest service ever though... a good four hours. Couldn't get the darn filter off.
There was also some form of cleaing involved...


20120714_164846 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120716_211051 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120716_211051 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

My friend even helped me install my pod filter!


20120920_203407 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120920_231716 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

So I rebook for the 25th of September... and go in the Teg. Lady sends me home as "she can't see the speedo"... while both my instructors could.

Regardless, rebook for the 28th of September... and pass finally.


20120801_154521 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120801_154514 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120715_195521 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

[DaRKNT]

So I figure it's time the worn P Zero Nero's go... got the stockies wrapped in 215/45 KU36s...


20120917_142911 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

...absolutely blown away by the newfound grip... so much so that I cover 1200Kms in the space of four days (what can I say? I love driving my car)


20120930_175150_HDR by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120930_174943_HDR by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20120930_175035 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

Then this happened.


DSC_0234 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

Came in a little to hard on the brakes while attempting to avoid a pothole on a dirt road, ended up going into a rock fence.

$2500 dollar excess and a few weeks later, she was home and in better condition than I got her.

And that's where we are now.

Waiting to get my hands on a Chargespeed kit and an 07 Still Chargespeed lip.

Future plans are:

My GruppeM style air box when I get time to get the damn thing finished
Coilovers + handling mods- thinking of Buddy Club N+
Exhaust and other bolt ons
Wheels - thinking bronze Advan RG's, CE28's or TE37s... then white Regamasters when I'm baller enough
LSD
K-Pro

Ideally, I'd like to throw in a K24 at some point... we'll see how that goes.

Just the usual

Wish me luck.

Some other pictures:


20120712_110820 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


IMG-20120801-WA0000 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

[Shakeel]

Nice man! Upload pics soon

[DaRKNT]

I'll be home in 40... will do

[felixR]

Good read.

Definitely need some photos now.

[plAythiNG]

nice man. tell manu i said hi! and he should write up his byild thread - s2k!

[mugsee]

Nice read! Any track ambitions, like Manu?

Stock car speedo position fail for license testing. Haha.

[M@lew]

Nice little story. Should come to the Melbourne meet!

[DaRKNT]

Yeah, planning on tracking it eventually... just gotta wait till the rents are a little more comfy with the idea :P

Can't come to the meet this year due to a holiday... but next year for sure.

[eLtrix]

^ Asif when are you leaving?

[DaRKNT]

Leaving 10th or something like that - but the preparations are pretty full on. It'll happen soon, promise.

[DaRKNT]

So I'm back! And it's update time!

So as many of you know, I spent the last monthe and a half in Thailand an India - and since I've been back (and while I was there), I've been picking up a few goodies for myself.

In Thailand, I bought myself a FD2R gear knob and a blue Benen tow hook! Funnily enough, I carted it around thre countries before it actually went on my car.


20130205_223031 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130205_223139 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

(as you can see... my shift boot is help up by a bottle cap. Yeah, I'm cool that way)

When I got back, on went the Mugen wing, the tow hook and the shift knob... finally got the super cheap auto junk off.


20130202_193131 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

Soon after, I started bugging Justin (eLtrix) for his Chargespeed kit - and he thankfully came through! (thanks a heap mate!) Mind you, one of the rear pods was a little cracked from his accident, but it was nothing a few zipties, epoxy and bog couldn't fix. Took me a week to get it mounted but I think it looks pretty decent... may get it CF wrapped though!


20130127_203214 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130127_203203 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130127_203159 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130202_193148 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130203_104212 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130203_104217 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130203_104225 by j.singh9408, on Flickr


20130203_104238 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

This Sunday (3rd Feb 2013), I picked up a set of wheels too... not yet installed though! I need:

-New Valve stems
-Lug nuts (on order from JDMaccessories - thanks for getting them out to me so quick guys!)
-Tyres transferred from my stockies to the new wheels
-Potentially need hub centric rims
-Need to find out what to torque the new wheel nuts to

So they're 17x7 +38 - I reckon they look pretty smexy!


20130203_210236 by j.singh9408, on Flickr

So some questions for you all...

What do I torque my lug nuts to? They're steel, if it helps!
Do I need hub centric rims - the centre bore of these wheels is a little bit bigger than the hub bore. What are the dangers of running without them? What size do I need?
These wheels feel a little heavier than the stockies - but I haven't measured them... is it safe to run on replicas around a track if I choose to go?

[Flippit]

What do I torque my lug nuts to? They're steel, if it helps!
Do I need hub centric rims - the centre bore of these wheels is a little bit bigger than the hub bore. What are the dangers of running without them? What size do I need?
These wheels feel a little heavier than the stockies - but I haven't measured them... is it safe to run on replicas around a track if I choose to go?

Good update mate! Whens these gruppe m copies coming ?

Wheel nuts to - 110nm i believe
Hub centric rings is recomended, it will make the rim sit centre on the hub bore, possible dangers is steering wobble/shake at hi-speeds and extra load on your studs!
Replicas are fine on track