Project Greenstone.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » Sun May 22, 2011 9:39 pm

Wednesday sounds like a good idea, even if I have to go in the normal travel appliance. What time do you go ?

BigKriss · Post by **BigKriss** » Wed May 25, 2011 6:25 am

Going straight after work. Will come by on my way.

BigKriss · Post by **BigKriss** » Sun May 29, 2011 8:13 pm

My saga continues.

Having got all my Energy stuff from Rezlo and it all lying in my cupboard at work for some time, I decided to fit it all on Saturday.

I also got all the fancy schmancy suspension stuff from a client who`s drift car we are repairing after an excursion into a wall...backwards !

First up let me say that NOTHING should be taken for granted !! We stripped everything out from underneath my car, complete rear suspension, diff., sub frame, the friggin lot ! and then we got cleaning and taking all the old bushes out. Cleaning went ok..taking the really fubarred sub frame bushes put was a Mission !! After a couple of hours they were all out and ready fir the Energy stuff.
Fitted the Energy stuff and found something not quite right here..Put it up on the chassis and if we let go, the sub frame would have fallen right off the bushes onto the ground.

Some thing was missing beside the fact that the bushes were not made for my car !! Right..now I`m sitting with my finger up my a** and we had already taken the old ones out !! Also found the rear diff Energy stuff was also missing components !

Jissus, ek raak moelik hieroor !!

Luckily I could fall back on said customer as I knew he had the solid aluminium bushes at his home which is a Km from my house ! So I called and he said pop through. Meantime my mates who were helping shoot off home to make the missing rear diff. stuff on a lathe.

Got back to the shop and started installing everything. The previous weekend we changed the gearbox in three hours.. The rear suspension with all its drama took us 12 hours !!
Also found that the fancy stuff does not fit directly as stated. You need aditional spacers amd bushes ! This we rectified by using thick two mm washers I had brought with from home..

the ally sub frame bushes...HARSH !!
The old stuff on the ground..
.

Some of the rear stuff mounted and things taking shape..

The fronts will all go in next week..after I have made sure there are no hidden pit falls !!

and my back wheel...just because...

Do NOT assume the bloody kits you buy are all correct and complete !! Lesson learnt here ...

Draco · Post by **Draco** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:20 am

And thats why I am so scared to just import or buy imported stuff....

poizen · Post by **poizen** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:27 am

Draco wrote:And thats why I am so scared to just import or buy imported stuff....

dnt be if you do it yourself 99% of time your perfect

ive only imported all my stuff myself i dnt see the need for a middle man

and most company's overseas are so helpful you'll be surprised

and barry well done for making a plan least you didn't just give up

your work always amazes me you not just a panel beater uh

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Mon May 30, 2011 8:08 am

Nice work Barry, I hate struggling just to make stuff work. But well done for getting it all done.

BigKriss · Post by **BigKriss** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:52 pm

So, for about a week now I have been having this moerse backfire at high revs in the intake plenum. Now from experience I know that it is a lean running situation that causes this. Laptop out and connected and Im looking for the problem.
Fattening up the fuel curve and it still stays the same. Now my boost gauge is mounted rather low and when Im driving my eye`s are on the road and looking for stupid people.
Wednesday afternoon my nephew and I are driving home and I ask him to check the boost gauge and tell me what he sees.
22Psi !! Thats what !!

At the track before I leave I quickly open the bonnet and have a squizz as to whats up.. Silicon tube on the controller has split and the waste gate simply does not open !
A quick snip off the end of the hose and my Bella is running perfectly again.. Thanks to all the okes helping on Wednesday , appreciate the comments !!

poizen · Post by **poizen** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:58 pm

Wow somthing so small haha

Nice name

Bella other than that how's she treating u

RudeBoy · Post by **RudeBoy** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:01 pm

lol, nice aint it

22psi just about = my low boost

if its got cometic + arp head studs + enough fuel +wtr/mth it should be ok

BigKriss · Post by **BigKriss** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:48 pm

Today arrived and with it the fitment of the front suspension components.
I had sussed these out during the week and there were no surprises here. While we were at it we also did the Nismo steering rack rubbers.
No more skew steering !!

Guys, let me tell you. If there is ONE upgrade that will transform your car TOTALLY , it is the suspension upgrade .

I have to learn this car`s characteristics all over again. The front end was the most dramatic change in the composition of my car`s handling ! Turn in is immediate and go kart like.
I sussed the bump steer tie rod end adjusters and have made a mistake in my choice. At plenty speed I went through a dip in the road and the bump steer was extremely pronounced.
I actually left a spot in my rods , not a pleasant experience. I will be changing this in the morning before we head out to Zwartkops.

Obviously the alignment and geometry was not quite spot on so we quickly went to have that all done at Max T Solutions . They gave me a lot of caster which is not quite what I wanted but I`ll change that with my caster gauge on Monday.

I will figure out the best alignment setup that I will be happy with through trail and error in time. The reason I say this is that the OEM`s factor in the rubber components and their deflection properties when determining std. alignment setups. There is nothing of the sorts with my car now..

The best part of this upgrade ?? The BC coil overs are now actually working brilliantly ! I found this out within a few hundred meters of driving the same rough road from my shop and going over the speed bumps . I will definitely be spending time in setting the car up for my liking.

An added bonus which I noticed straight away was the fact that the whole suspension is now quiet. Previously it clunked and creaked something terrible , especially up front.

My overall impression ?? If you want an awesome upgrade for your car, this is it !!
Thus far this is the best money I have spent on my Bella yet.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:00 am

Looks excellent Barry and feels nice to drive already. Once it wears in a little it should be a total pleasure.

Now you have me tempted to look for Celica ones

POWDER · Post by **POWDER** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 9:04 pm

Hey Barry, Chuffed it was only the wastegate pipe, good thing u found it intime.

I need to come see you when I'm back, wanna come feel how she drives wit the suspention bits, thinking of doing suspention bits myself next....

BigKriss · Post by **BigKriss** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:38 am

M, the best mod I have done to date !

This morning I get to the office and open my e-mails. It is official. My Volk te 37`s from Ozz are officially missing.
They were placed on an aircraft bound for Amsterdam where they were to be put on a plane to S.A.
This is where they went missing. I am now being told to contact the seller and the shipping co for insurance purposes. I don`t want money, I want my wheels !
Will never get another new set for that price. Also not prepared to blow R30k on wheels alone !!

poizen · Post by **poizen** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:50 am

Aw no barry that sucks was there no tracking number with them

I hope they pop up will be so cool if u get them

Keep faith they find them

where did u find them

aep886 · Post by **aep886** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:52 pm

BigKriss wrote:M, the best mod I have done to date !

This morning I get to the office and open my e-mails. It is official. My Volk te 37`s from Ozz are officially missing.
They were placed on an aircraft bound for Amsterdam where they were to be put on a plane to S.A.
This is where they went missing. I am now being told to contact the seller and the shipping co for insurance purposes. I don`t want money, I want my wheels !
Will never get another new set for that price. Also not prepared to blow R30k on wheels alone !!

this other guy in CT does Volks wheels... TE37 = R25~26k