It's just an ALTA short shift kit. I wouldnt really recommend it..
I'm keeping an eye out for a CAE shifter to pop up on one of these forums before bitting the bullet on a brand new one.

 

I have a greene performance shifter and like it.
The boot though is easy to take care of, You will need circlip pliers and a plastic hammer.
Pull the axle out of the hub, leave the inner axle in the car, pull the outer part straight out, it just slips out, clean it pull the tri pod joint out after removing the circlip, clean all of it, clean the cup then pile the grease into the boot and cup, slide it back together with the new boot on, and then clamp the inner (large) end of the boot on and you are done.

 

I'm likening 15" wheels more and more. I found a set of these wheels at a local wrecking yard for $350. Thinking I should pick them up. These wheels and sticky tires would work great for autocross.

 

Pulling the air bag controller out of the floor will disable all of the bags not just the wheels tho right? Seems like a liability if you have an accident

 

Yes it will disable all bags and seatbelt tensioners. But if you put in race seats, race wheel, and race 4 or 5 pt harness and possibly a cage, there is no point for airbags. If you leave a airbag controller in make sure to use resistors on wheel airbag and seat airbags otherwise the safety system will disable itself due to to many codes being tripped. Every state is different. But in CA we can modify our cars as much as we want. Only laws are you can't modify the engine to mess with stock emissions and every vehicle must have all lights, seatbelts and windshield. No rules about airbags except to sell as new. Make sure to double check what is aloud in your state.

 

So I haven't driven the car around since I swapped all of the parts in, was having some trouble making it to the RMV to register it during the week. But this morning I finally drove her on the road, took a 3 mile trip to the subway station where I typically hop on the train to go to work..

Everything seems fine, just getting a loud knock from the rear shock tower.. Can't really think of what it is at the moment, I know everything is tight and torqued to spec in the back... I'm thinking worn bushings.. Will need to take the time to check it out as I'm shooting for an AutoX sesh this upcoming Sunday.

 

keep an eye on the sway bar endlinks as well

 

Looks so nice. I bet it handles well.

 

Thanks, it handles a lot better than stock haha. The new tires are incredible, I need a few other suspension bits to wrap it all up. The bucket seat and 350mm steering wheel keeps you wired with the car.

I bet it's going to understear pretty hard in AutoX with this current setup. I need to get rid of some of the rear camber that I've gained from lowering the car, snag a pair of camber plates for the front. Also need end links, sway bars, etc.....

 

she looks good !

 

Looking over the photo with all the swag, I was wondering if the cat was just photo bombing you, or if that is the fabled "scolded cat out of a bag" that so many talk about when they say the car runs like a...

Looks like you are doing it right and having fun doing it... You didn't by chance use a quick disconnect for your momo wheel did you?

Motor on!

 

Haha, that was my cat that decided to get in the picture. Shes always around when I'm working on the car.

And no, I went with a fixed hub. I told myself that I'd only pick up the quick release if I had trouble getting out of the car from the seat being too close to the wheel. But I can get in and out with no issues, so no quick release for now.

 

Little update...

I haven't had the time to build the seat bracket for the passenger side (girlfriend is pissed), so I've been driving it around like this..



Over the weekend I began to notice a loud whistle coming from the bonnet... Knowing that the current belt tensioner has never been replaced, I assumed that it had destroyed itself. First thing that I did was remove the serpentine belt and tried spinning the tensioner's pulley. I was quite surprised to find out that the tensioner was perfectly fine... I even pulled the entire tensioner assembly out of the car for a closer inspection.. The bearings seemed to be ok, no slack at all.

So now I'm thinking.. Supercharger.....
I do need a new clutch, but this isnt coming from the throw out or pilot bearing.. Happens with the clutch engaged/disengaged..

She's currently in "service mode". Will be pulling the water pump off and inspecting the supercharger's pto shaft. I haven't looked into my options yet, but if its a bad blower I'll likely replace it and go with a stage2 power pack from Alta while I'm at it..

Please excuse my crowded, messy garage..

 

I got a brand new 2nd gen supercharger shipped to me from the Netherlands for less than what people around here charge to do rebuilds.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-5th-gen.html

 

Hi everyone

It's been a bit busy at work and I haven't had the chance to update this..
Long story short, the whistle was coming from the AC compressor's pulley. Instead of replacing the condenser, I just deleted my AC and replaced the hydraulic tensioner as a preventative measure.

I also pulled the supercharger out and split it from the water pump to check the PTO gears. Everything seems fine, felt no play on the shaft (132k miles on car).

Since everything was out, I dumped the OE waterpump and went with a Davis Craig EWP, same unit that is provided when you purchase a Sprintex SC kit for the R53. I couldn't make this fit in the OE location due to the intake pipe that runs from the throttle body to the SC being in the way, so I fabricated a new coolant flange that bolts to the engine block to accept the coolant hose and relocated the waterpump in the somewhat vacant area that is underneath the throttle body.. Took me quite sometime to make it all fit, but it's all back on and running as of now.

I also went with a 15% reduction pulley on my SC, the install was pretty ugly. Spent about 4 hours cutting the old pulley out..

This was all well worth it, with the smaller pulley and no WP restriction on the SC the car is pulling a lot harder now.

I will try to update everyone with a few images on the EWP conversion, I dint take many during the install. I could snap a few pics of it sitting now and answer questions if guys have any.

That is all for now,
Cheers

 

This is an interesting point. I wonder how much drag the coolant pumps puts on the S/C, and the actual boost difference you're experiencing without it. That delete, plus the smaller S/C pulley must make a significant improvement.

 

really diggin this build. would love to see some more pics of the carbon wrapped dash. did you do the wrap yourself.

i have a roll of the 4d gloss finish carbon coming i plan on doing my dash and mirror caps in and was wondering how hard it was to do the dash itself.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Haven't updated this thread in awhile.

Car is currently at the bodyshop undergoing a GP fascia upgrade. Will post pics soon!

Will also post some additional info on how I pulled the electric water pump conversion.

 

Sweet! Nice build so far

 

Small update,

As I mentioned, I've been working on a GP conversion. This is a rendering that I put together of the car with the GP front bumper in.

 

I dropped by the body shop earlier today to help the guys put the front end back together.

They were having some issues around the snake pit of radiator hoses and fitting the electric water pump back in lol.. So they called me over to assemble the cooling system and drop the new Mishimoto in..

Big thanks to Aaron at Outmotoring for getting the GP bumper and its bits from Germany to Boston is just 10 days! as well as for sourcing the Mishimoto as a replacement to the backordered CSF that I had originally ordered through the site.
I've bought stuff from just about every major sponsor on this forum, I'd say that Outmotoring has had by far the best customer source that I've experienced.

Some progress pics..



GP front bumper test fit..

 

Looks good. If you need any other GP parts we can get them.

 

I would like to see some pictures and more info on the EWP conversion when you have a minute. I am digging the build thus far.