Tweedbean

Ha thanks for the Andy Warhol attempt, unfortunately none of those float my boat. But while on the theme of wheels, some of the keen eyed among you would have also noticed when I had the centres on they sat proud from the face of the wheel and were not to my standard of finish. So tonight I have been taking away the excess powder coat from the backs of them to ensure that when they go back on the car, they will sit flush. A lot of work but it will be worth it to see them fit properly. Here you can see the build up of excess powder coat on the back a bit like a paint drip: Centre cap clean up by James Baker, on Flickr Getting there: Centre cap clean up by James Baker, on Flickr

Had a quick go at photoshopping black and grey with the red shown for reference. Not a fan of the idea of white as it wont be pearl to match the paintwork. mix by James Baker, on Flickr mix2 by James Baker, on Flickr mix3 by James Baker, on Flickr

In the pics they look good without the centre caps, however in person in the centre where the bolts go it is really deep and looks odd. The red centre caps are easily changed as BBS do a number of colours. I might try a bit of photoshop see what it looks like with a couple of other colours.

Thanks James. Well at Japfest I may have mentioned to a couple of others that the car had a knocking coming from the front since I had fitted the teins, which I thought may be the front drop links being too long making the sway bar hit the front wish bone. Tonight I jacked the car up and removed the wheels and straight away I could see I was right, so I have whipped them off and will try to source some shorter ones asap. I am glad thats all it was and a quick test drive confirmed this. While the car was up in the air I dropped the front another 10mm to level it off with the rear as there was a little rake. I took a couple of snaps while on my test drive and those with a good eye will notice the centre caps are off the wheels, this is due to one saying bye bye on my drive home from Japfest. One hadn't gone back on properly and I meant to remove it before I left so I could sort it when I got home but I forgot, doh. So its time to source a replacement which is proving tricky as these wheels are not manufactured anymore but I will sort it. Lowered another 10mm on the front by James Baker, on Flickr Lowered another 10mm on the front by James Baker, on Flickr I am really pleased with the wheel/tyre and suspension combo, the car feels so much more planted and the coilovers are miles better than the BC's I have owned previously on other cars, no crashing at all over rough surfaces. Next job is to decide on a ducktail spoiler for the rear and to get the handling spot on with further suspension mods including rear control arms, adjustable drop links and a number of bushes/braces to stiffen things up. The positive shift bush is a definite. Any suggestions about what to look at handling wise, I am all ears

Thanks for the comments, I always planned to do something different here. Jap wheels on my German clubby, so why not German wheels on a jap car When you do something different not everyone's going to like it, but that's cool I and I can understand that. I'm really pleased with them and will keep the mods coming. Apologies if I didn't get around to introducing myself to everyone yesterday, it was such a big show I spent barely any time by the cars as there was so much to see.

So the wheels are on, I decided to go for a light minty green colour as something different that I think works well with the white pearl. I added contrast with red centres and a chrome lip and centre. It needs to go a little lower but I ran out of time to adjust it further, will pick that up another day: Wheels in progress by James Baker, on Flickr BBS RS2 by James Baker, on Flickr And the coilovers: Coilovers on by James Baker, on Flickr And the beatrush master cylinder brace: Beatrush Master Cylinder brace fitted by James Baker, on Flickr Finally the wheels on the car: New Wheels by James Baker, on Flickr New Wheels by James Baker, on Flickr I also attend my first show in the GT86, Japfest at Castle Coombe, it was great to put some names to faces: Japfest 2015 by James Baker, on Flickr

Thanks I ended up disconnecting the rear control arm. I wish it came out as easy as in some of these guides.

Any tips on removing the rear struts for one person? I have all the bolts out but can't push down on the hub and manoeuvre the strut at the same time, any thoughts on releasing the tension maybe to get the strut out. Car is on axel stands

I may make jap fest after all, right time to get the wheels back in and get the rears done.

Having a few issues with mine, the Allen key hole is rounded, is there a flat spot on the rear that I could get a spanner on to stop the thread spinning so I can then undo the nut? Thanks

I'm fitting tein coilovers, I have everything off the car now, I just can't put the drop links back in as I can't tighten them. I have some on order for tomorrow at my local dealership. Do we think I will be ok to just leave them off and just drive without them tomorrow to japfest and back then fit new ones Sunday? Do I just leave the anti roll bar in place as I really don't fancy trying to remove that as well.

Also have I imagined this or can you drive with the front anti roll bar disconnected? This may be totally incorrect but I have it in the back of my head.

Does anyone in the Midlands have a set I can purchase today? Tried all the local dealerships and they don't have any. Going to try some motor factors now just in case. Otherwise japfest is a no go as the car is up in the air with no drop links

Yeah no flat spot on the back, I got the other side off to have a look. Going to see if I can get hold of a set this afternoon from somewhere.

Look forward to the next set of picture for sure

Lee, if you are ever around the midlands in this, please pop in and take me for a drive. I miss the whine from my R53, how does this compare?

I agree, but they will be worth it. Chrome Bulbs So I had 5 mins literally spare so decided to swap my indicator bulbs to chrome ones. Front and rears are T20: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130747930993?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Before: Stock bulb by James Baker, on Flickr After: Chrome bulbs after by James Baker, on Flickr Before: Stock bulb by James Baker, on Flickr After: Chrome bulbs after by James Baker, on Flickr I didnt have chance to do the side markers yet but these are t10's: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301590027406?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Wheels The wheels are all ready to go for tyres now, then fitting. On one I had 4 bolts with round threads, a hammer and torx bit later and they were out and replaced with new bolts Friday is booked off from work so I can get these and coilovers on, very excited. Debadge I finished the debadge on the rear to clear it up a little. I will get that toyota badge off when I have other bits going in for paints as there are holes behind it. Much tidier: Debadge completed by James Baker, on Flickr

Wheels So who would have thought rebuilding 2 piece wheels would be so time consuming. We lost a whole day on Saturday running around getting the right tools after I discovered the bolt holes had become contaminated with powder coat which meant it was too tight for the bolts. A break down in communication with the powder coaters meant I thought they would cover the holes and they assumed that if I hadnt blocked them, they didnt need to, lesson learnt. So we had to get a tap and die set for m7/1.0mm t0 clear all threads in the 60 bolt holes, not a fun job. Then after rebuilding all four wheels, I managed to round 5 bolts which meant I could not then torque up them up to the right setting. Therefore I needed a bolt extractor kit, which I will try tomorrow and I have also had the privilege of paying £27 for just 10 m7 BBS bolts, ouch. I thought it was better to buy 10 and have a few spare just in case. So by the end of Saturday the wheels looked like this, colour removed so I dont spoiler surprise and coilovers still in the box: Wheels are a work in progress by James Baker, on Flickr BBS bolts by James Baker, on Flickr Bulbs While online I decided to order replacement chrome indicator bulbs all round which I will fit later: Chrome bulbs by James Baker, on Flickr I am tempted to take the day off on Friday to fit the wheels and coilovers ready for Japfest on Saturday. Lets see how I get on with removing those bolts tomorrow which will determine if I can get the wheels sorted before the weekend or not.

I was a big fan of my Ferodo DS2500's on my clubby, they worked well on both road and track but they did create quite a bit of brake dust which is an issue for some people.

Thanks, yes 6/6kg springs. Tyres yes I used them on a couple of sprint days and rockingham last year on they clubby and my other mini. They were recommended to me by a friend who used to work with the mini challenge cars.

And these turned up today in the post aswell to finish off the new wheels, theres no point getting the wheels refinished and fitting old centre caps: Red 80mm BBS Centre Caps by tweedbean, on Flickr

For me its what facebook used to be in terms of the photos. Nowadays on facebook most of the videos and pictures that make up your news stream aren't actually of your friends or taken by them, its now mostly ones they have shared or liked, a lot of viral video, adverts etc. Instagram allows people to share photos with their friends and other people with common interests using hashtags. Its also useful for keeping up with celebrities, car tuners, business etc as they all use it too.

So lots of bits have been ordered over the last couple of weeks to try and get the car ready for Japfest on 16th May, bit thanks to Rich@Orranje Performance for his help on this. Coilovers I was very close to ordering a set of BC coilovers, however due to the recent issues they have been having with the GT86 rears, I wasnt a fan of the way they decided to remove bits and get customers to rectify themselves rather than fixing the problem. Therefore I decided that the Tein's seem to be highly rated for Japanese cars so why not give them a go. After reviewing the options, the Tein Street Flex Z seemed to fit my requirements and they also have the ability for me to fit EDFC (Electronic Damping Force Controller) at a later date, making it possible for me to control the damping force at the touch of a button while in the driver's seat. Amber Performance were really competitive on price so they got my business. Overnight parts from Japan by tweedbean, on Flickr Tein Flex Z Coilovers for the GT86 by tweedbean, on Flickr Tein Flex Z Coilovers for the GT86 by tweedbean, on Flickr Tein Flex Z Coilovers for the GT86 by tweedbean, on Flickr Tyres For the tyres I decided to go for 225 40 18 Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's as I was really impressed with them on the Clubby so I though I would give them a go on this. 225 40 18 VREDESTEIN ULTRAC SESSANTA's by tweedbean, on Flickr Wheels So the BBS RSii's are back from the powder coaters and I am really pleased with them. I have gone for two different colours, one of which is chrome powder coat for the lip, barrels and centre caps. I did contemplate getting the lips and centre caps polished however that would require more upkeep than I can be bothered with for a set of wheels, especially as this is a DD, so I think the powder coat looks the part and will be harder wearing. The second I will let you know in due course once the wheels are on the car. I have always tried to go a little different and hopefully I have achieved this. The only photo I have to share with you right now is a really poor one of the centre caps Centre Caps by tweedbean, on Flickr Performance This hasn't been forgotten as I am not build a show and shine car here I have been weighing up my options with the Avo turbo and the numerous supercharger conversions, pulling together a list of parts and prices. I am still not 100% sure, so my plan is to get to a number of shows/track days this year and hopefully get a ride in a car with each of these kits to see the difference in the real world rather than on paper. I dont want to start buying performances parts such as unequal length manifolds, exhausts etc now if they wont work with the FI route I decide upon, so until then the suspension, interior and exterior will get me attention. It seems like I will have a busy weekend as I need to rebuild the wheels then get the over to the tyre place to get the tyres fitted, then get back to Rich's to fit the coilovers and wheels to the car. I also have a couple of small jobs like switching over number plates and finishing the debadging on the rear. Bulbs I also have some chrome indicator bulbs on the way, 4xT20 and 2xT10, so I can loose the fried egg look.

Hi all looking for some advice as I am working on the GT86 for the first time next weekend where I will need to get the car up on axel stands. Seen some points made around the seam weld jacking points and wondered if these would work: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polyurethane-Jack-Pad-Seam-Pinch-Weld-Protector-Suitable-For-Trolley-Jacks-/261857901009?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cf7f279d1 or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-pad-rubber-block-hydraulic-ramp-jacking-pads-trolley-jack-adapter-/271858318625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f4c04bd21

I like the idea of a custom badge on the front for sure as it doesnt seem to flow right without one