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David Little
Newbie
NSW
V8

Posts: 2
Reg: 01-2011

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Monday, April 11, 2011 - 09:11 pm, by:  David Little (Trojan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gents, I have a feeling this will run on for a while, but please bare with me. I have a lot of questions and am hoping for some good answers!

First, some background: For the last couple of years I have worked in IT, I still do (and will continue to) but at my last job I was surrounded by petrol heads. Our office held no more than 5 people, and I was the only one without an import. The work garage had an STI, 2 TypeR's, S2000, multiple skylines, 240's, etc throughout the 2+ years I was there. The work I do in IT just attracts that certain type of person. Meanwhile, I'm busting about in an '02 Mazda 323.

To say I caught the bug would be an understatement. I would study and read while they talked about their rides, ask questions about I didnt understand. And at the end of last year I finally bit the bullet and decided to upgrade. I didnt want anything super sporty, nor something that would get a lot of 'attention'. One of the guys in the office once suggested I get a Soarer/Chaser, and another one of the guys said I would like the Soarers. He was right, I fell in love with them almost at first sight. In January I picked up a somewhat busted up UZZ31 to learn the ropes of working on a car

Why all the background? To let you guys know that I do my research. I was reading these forums, toymods, and planet soarer well before I got the car. I signed up here and read as much of everything as I can. If you have an answer to one of my questions that is just a website or a book, that'll do. I learn and I learn fast

A few weeks after I got my Soarer I took it to Niall in Botany. He fixed up a power steering issue and the break system and a few other odds and ends. He also confirmed that the rear airbags are completely shot and need to be replaced. This leads me into my first question in a little bit. Over the past few months I've been changing all the fluids so I know what is in there, new tyres, replaced the pads, machined disks etc. Just bringing the car up to spec and learning about cars as I go. Right now I'm in the middle of building a BFI :-)

I want this to be a street car, with the option to take it out to the track and not be a complete scrub.

First Question: The airbags are expensive, but I love being able to raise/lower with the touch of a button. On the other hand, how is their performance vs. switching to coilovers? Price-wise I can import the two rear airbags from a supplier I've sourced for the same price as all 4 coilovers (BC Racing), but what about performance?

Will coilovers provide a huge increase in handling vs. the convenience of running high/low when I feel like it?
Are there stabilizers for Soarers? Would these help with the airbags, or is TEMS supposed to help here?

Second, I want to upgrade the exhaust. I love the V8, and eventually I'd like to get it blown, but I want to fix the exhaust first. Im thinking:
* Rush Headers
* Hiflow Cats (magnaflow?)
* X-Cross, still not sure where to go with this
* Muffler's I'm also a bit stuck on. I keep going back to Varex mufflers for the ability to run quiet, but I'm having trouble finding any real reviews on them. Both sound and performance, and I cant justify buying 2 expensive mufflers without strong reviews. Any help there would be awesome! Otherwise just ..?
On that topic, does anyone know any reputable installers in Sydney that could piece all these parts together once I have them?


After the exhaust I'd like to start planning on having this blown. The M90 seems like such a safe choice, but from what I can tell there isnt much of an 'upgrade' path once you have one and you get stuck. Bullet also seem to have the best solutions for blowing the V8, but I'm in Sydney. Are there any installers down here that have experience with their kits?

Are stock brakes going to be a problem on the car, or will they suffice for an M90? Any higher and should they be upgraded?
Will the auto tranny be alright, or should it really be converted to manual/overhauled somehow? This is one part where I'm not quite up to speed, I've seen ECUs and Shift Kits thrown around but I dont exactly understand whats going on there. I'm reading through
http://www.custom-car.us, its been helpful, but if anyone else has useful links that can explain this stuff would be greatly appreciated


I'll have more questions on this without a doubt.

Thanks for your help all, hopefully this is in the right section. I have so many questions, and a lot of them are quite amateur no doubt, so I didn't want to flood up some of the more specific forums :-)
Ben Lipman
Goo Roo
SA
Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car

Posts: 2760
Reg: 04-2006

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Monday, April 11, 2011 - 10:07 pm, by:  Ben Lipman (Ben12a) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

David,

you should probably post up in the V8/supercharged threads. I have only ever had coils so I can't offer a suggestion on their worth over airbags.

If you are after opinion, coils for performance, airbags for cruising. Ride is worse on coilovers day to day than the stock coils, so I assume it is a fair bit worse than factory airbags. Having said that I have seen some shocking rides on aftermarket airbags. (oversprung and under dampened)

AS for stablisers (sway bars, roll bars, anti roll bars?) yes the pov pack has them as standard equipment, and you can buy them aftermarket. (group buy goin on at the moment)
Rowan McMahon
TryHard
WA
GTT-L

Posts: 480
Reg: 07-2010

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Monday, April 11, 2011 - 11:15 pm, by:  Rowan McMahon (Mr_eps) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

OH MY GOD NOOB USE THE SEARCH FEATURE!!!!!











(kidding)

seriously bro, this here is what you do :-)
keep the V8 for like... some stuff. and then buy a VVTi turbo soarer or a TT for all the cool stuff.

this should help make your decision:








...^^^can a V8 soarer do that??? CAN IT!?!

hmm???

haha

no seriously - if i had the money i'd have a second Jzz30... i'd keep my guten bien vvti T's proj soarer as like... ye old faithful. but i'd love to have a second soarer in the following guise:

white Jzz30 TT manual
WTF Auto BB turbo setup
SLAMMED coilovers running MEGA camber
15x10 +10 SSR mk3

NO BODYKIT. AT ALL.

ahhhh domo zenki soooora des. oooooni kyan hippari tyresu, oh?
Matt Sartori
DieHard
Western Australia
Rx7

Posts: 989
Reg: 08-2008

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Monday, April 11, 2011 - 11:46 pm, by:  Matt Sartori (Klutch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How does that help him at all Rowan?
Nathan Richardson
TryHard
N.T.
UZZ32 #445 (V8 Supercherged 5Speed. 291RWKW)

Posts: 474
Reg: 02-2006

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Monday, April 11, 2011 - 11:48 pm, by:  Nathan Richardson (Richtheblack) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Rowan McMahon wrote on Monday, April 11, 2011 - 11:15 pm:

...^^^can a V8 soarer do that??? CAN IT!?!




Mine can!!

But seriously, as you are doing, get your soarer breathing. I'd give the Varex mufflers a miss. A good exhaust shop should be able to make an exhaust that won't attract attention whilst cruising, but has a nice bark when flat.

As for the transmission and supercharger, if your keen on track work, Neil's T56 conversion and a whipple or HTV setup. At the end of the day it won't cost that much more and there will be heaps of room for more power in the future.

Additionally you will probably run into heat issues with the M90 with the workout of trackdays.

And likewise, track work, I'd replace all four corners with coil overs, unless it will only be a few times a year then the comfort of airbags might be the go.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Nath.
Dave Rose
Goo Roo
wa
uzz31 v8

Posts: 1533
Reg: 03-2007

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 03:29 pm, by:  Dave Rose (Sand_groper) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mine can...GOLD
James Buchan
Goo Roo
Vic
V8

Posts: 1111
Reg: 10-2008

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 04:17 pm, by:  James Buchan (Jrbuch) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I had airbags & though nothing was wrong with them, took the car around some twisty corners & was shocked at how bad it was. Now have coils for the win!
David Little
Newbie
NSW
V8

Posts: 3
Reg: 01-2011

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 05:26 pm, by:  David Little (Trojan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The choice between a TT and the V8 was difficult, but it all came down to one thing: "I can buy a TT and hey, I have a forced induction car. Now what?" or "I bought a V8, its.. a V8.. Now what!"

I want to learn engines, and I can learn more when I have something to build off rather than a prebuilt solution :-) Also, this thread is here because I'll be running through so many different questions I'd rather not flood the other forums

Track days would be exactly that, just a few days a year possibly turning into something more in the future. For now, primarily street with occasional track days.
I didnt know coilovers were that uncomfortable? I understand that I'll need to sacrifice comfort for performance though, and I would rather lean towards the performance side over comfort. Having said that, I dont really want to be driving something with the comfort level of a tank ;)

The BC Coils I'm looking at are BR 14/8KGs :
http://www.bc-racing.com.au/br-series-coilovers.html
Ben Lipman
Goo Roo
SA
Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car

Posts: 2762
Reg: 04-2006

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 06:27 pm, by:  Ben Lipman (Ben12a) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It isn't the coilover itself that makes the car uncomfortable, it is the spring rate that most come with.

I have Tein Super streets (can't remember the exact spring rate) and they are quite liveable.

I have HSD HR in the track car and I would not like to drive to work on them, have family in the car, give the boss a lift etc in something sprung so stiffly.

Any of the stuff from Asia tends to be very stiff- drift spec I like to call it.

If you have a good sensible spring rate you will be fine.
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo
NSW
TT 2.5L 6 cylinder

Posts: 6207
Reg: 03-2006

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 06:28 pm, by:  Daniel Clarke (Dieseltrain) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Expensive way to " learn engines " with the 1uz . Great cars , but i hope you have a lazy 10k + to spend on getting it somewhere .
Shane Haverkamp
TryHard
nsw
soarer TT

Posts: 496
Reg: 10-2007

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 06:32 pm, by:  Shane Haverkamp (Havabeer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

in my opinon if you where going to look at modding a car the TT was the better option. ALOT easier to get the power out of the TT then the V8.

dumps, exhaust, intercooler and upped boost is an easy place to start for reliable tt power upgrades.

also i had no idea about how engines worked when i first got into cars and its taken me a few years to understand the stuff i know now, but the only reason i learnt was stuff in my cars broke and i was to stingy to pay a mechanic to fix it, so armed with dads shed of tools and the power of the internet and helpful forums i did it my self. which i'd highly recomend you do as well, but thats because i had a couple of cheap and nasty cars (celica and a pulsar) that needed attention and where cheap and easy to work on.

where getting the same kinda power out of the v8 vs cost is a bit more difficult. honestly i think you should keep your car stock, get the air bags fixed and keep them. for the couple of times a year you MIGHT head to the track i'm sure you'll still have tons of fun and then turn around drive it home all smooth and classy.

but yeah get the exahust done to give it a bit of noise and knock up the BFI, but look at the big picture and where you wanna take this car and how much you actually want to spend. i'd say keep the soarer as a classy stock, head turning, pimp mobile and maybe consider buying some cheap and nasty for your first track car (skylines silvia's etc) something that if you crash or damage parts are ALOT cheaper to replace and your not damaging your pride and joy.
David Little
Newbie
NSW
V8

Posts: 4
Reg: 01-2011

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 06:46 pm, by:  David Little (Trojan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Ben, thats the sort of information I was after.

Shane, keeping it mostly stock is something I'm still debating and might end up doing. As for not taking it to the track because its my pride and joy, well, whats the fun in that? If I lose it out on a track at least I enjoyed it instead of getting nailed in traffic by some idiot on their phone :-) I understand where you're coming from though, doesnt hurt to have informative opinions
Ben Lipman
Goo Roo
SA
Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car

Posts: 2763
Reg: 04-2006

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 09:28 pm, by:  Ben Lipman (Ben12a) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you lose it out on the track, your car will get dusty, your pride will get hurt, and someone will probably put it on youtube.

If you lose it racing around on the street, your car will get smashed up, you'll probably hurt yourself or some innocent bystander, and you'll end up on the news.

Take it to the track. You do not need to modify it to go to the track. We had a Soarer/Commodore meet at Oran park a couple of years ago and I reckon everyone had a ball, regardless of how modified their car was. (and if memory serves me correctly we had more fun than the commodores and their smokey burnt out brakes!)
Aaron Casey
Goo Roo
nsw
'94 jzz30 gttl, 2 mini's one supercharged :-)

Posts: 2871
Reg: 08-2005

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 11:18 pm, by:  Aaron Casey (Blownminiturbo) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

if you are only going to track it a few times a year you may want to get coilovers but with a slightly lower spring rate than for track. and when you do go to the track stiffen up your shocks and swaybars. then soften them up to go home again lol
may not handle like stiffer springs but would be a bit of a compromise between track and daily driving. one thing i would definitaey be doing is taking an auto to the track you will need a great big transmission cooler. are you planning on wakefield or eastern creek?
Scott Casey
DieHard
nsw
soarer v8

Posts: 614
Reg: 02-2008

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 06:36 am, by:  Scott Casey (V8soarer_1991) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ben - i ride on hsd hr's everyday. work, home, rest and play

have a look at

http://www.v-eight.com/multimedia/pdf/600hp%20Naturally%20Aspirated%20V8%20Toyota%20Supra%20JZA80%20 Hi%20Res.pdf

if this doesnt push you to modify the 1uz. sell now and buy a tt and go from there
Mike Bradberry
Goo Roo
Queensland
GS300

Posts: 2161
Reg: 07-2005

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 07:48 am, by:  Mike Bradberry (Halflife) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Firstly, welcome to the forum David.
If you get around to doing the things you say you want ( track work ), you most definitely want bigger brakes. TT as a minimum but even bigger if you can find them. I think it's maybe Celsior or LS400 that fit.
When I owned my V8 I was pretty happy with a decent exhaust, headers, cold air and a Unichip with decent tune. Fantastic road car, but probably not a race car.
Christian Somerville
Goo Roo
South Australia
UZZ31 V8 LTD

Posts: 1244
Reg: 03-2009

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 11:00 am, by:  Christian Somerville (Csomers) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome Dave, I have been tossing up about ripping my airbags out and replacing them with coilovers, but the ability to change height in car and stiffness makes me think twice, with a height controller and it on sport I am actually really impressed how it handles, along with replacing bushes I am able to take it through the hills at decent speeds with no body roll or understeer unless I dive in way to late, but I have kept up with a modified wrx and skylines, I also have a full exhaust pretty much the same as the setup you want, sounds and goes great!
Shane Haverkamp
TryHard
nsw
soarer TT

Posts: 497
Reg: 10-2007

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 11:31 am, by:  Shane Haverkamp (Havabeer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hey dave what work in IT do you do that attacts certain types of people??
David Little
Newbie
NSW
V8

Posts: 5
Reg: 01-2011

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 04:36 pm, by:  David Little (Trojan) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Shane: Unix Systems Administrator, was in the Field Services department. A LOT of hands on work. Recently got let go since the company lost a stupidly huge contract, and I was overpaid :-) Hence all the work on the car this week, good time to learn as much as I can since I've got nothing to do.
On that note, finished up the first stage of a BFI today since I got my new filter, figured I'd do as much as possible :-)

Ben: I'm never going to street race this. By street I mean just that, driving around on the street. The car wont be my daily, but it will be driving on weekends or to the shops etc. I dont think I'm physically able to 'race' on the streets, or even speed. Lost a couple of people close to me due to stupid drivers, and was almost killed myself by a drunk (jaws of life etc) :/

Mike: I wouldnt be racing it, just trying to get the most fun out of a track day possible. Again, I'd rather this go on the performance side of things, but it's still going to be on the road quite a bit. The medium is hard to find, I think I'll put off blowing the engine for quite some time. Exhaust etc is still in my plans though

Christian: Thanks, good to know. I still think I might go for coilovers since I can get fantastic ones, and they're still cheaper than buying 2x airbags :-( I think I might have to flip a coin on this one...
What mufflers did you end up installing?
Ben Lipman
Goo Roo
SA
Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car

Posts: 2764
Reg: 04-2006

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 09:27 pm, by:  Ben Lipman (Ben12a) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Scott Casey wrote on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 06:36 am:

Ben - i ride on hsd hr's everyday. work, home, rest and play




yes, but you are nearly ten years younger than me too!

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