Hillclimber Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Hello all, I thought I'd introduce our EP91 to the UKStarlet club community so here she is...My wife and I have owned her for a few years now originally buying her for our daughter's first car but she decided she wanted an automatic so we kept it as a second car.Being an Australian domestic market Starlet she came with the 4EFE which provided less than impressive performance to say the least so last year I picked up an EP82 GT front cut and over the Christmas break I removed the old motor in readiness for a new heart transplant...The 4EFTE had done around 90k so renewed the belts etc whilst she was out plus, in view to increasing the perfomance later on, I fitted an "Extreme" full disc clutch rated at 40% firmer clamp rating...The main trouble I had with the conversion was the ECU wiring which took me two full days to work through before I could get her running...All went well from then on and stage 1 was complete following five days work.The car now felt much more responsive on the road but ran out of go over 5500rpm so a few more things were planned...Off came the standard top mount intercooler and in went a 450x300x75mm ebay special front mount complete with home built 2.5" stainless pipework...This provided a bit healthier breathing but was more a preventative measure for things to come. Next on the list was to knock up a custom exhaust and dump pipe...Dump and exhaust including a high flow cat convertor are all in 2.5" stainless.It looks a little excessive with the multiple cannon style mufflers but as the wife drives it more than me she wanted it quiet and drone free.The exhaust upgrade made a big difference to the power delivery with much more stronger hit from 2750rpm all the way to 7000rpm without dropping off but now she would hit the boost cut on cold mornings even set on the low boost setting. To fix this a HKS actuator was ordered. Next on the list to modify was the manifold and being a person who loves the satisfaction of doing things myself it was out with the welder again...I made it from 1.25" steampipe following much research which showed this to be the most consistently used size for CT9's and the longest lasting material. I tried to keep the runners as short as possible without compromising the flow characteristics and have kept the CT9 in its standard position.To finish it off I gave it a heat wrap due to not allowing the standard heat shield to fit back on...Fitted up with the HKS actuator things are starting to get interesting in the torque steer department now which doesn't impress the wife too much I must sayHandling has been adressed with an EP82 GT front sway bar and strut brace, a whiteline adjustable rear bar, an adjustable panhard bar, 1.5" lower King springs and Monroe gas shocks all round plus a few neoprene bushes.Front brakes are now EP82 GT with the rear drums to be replaced soon with EP82 GT discs as well.We scoured around and managed to pick up some Glanza panels from various places so once they were painted it was time to get naked and ready for a facelift...Then all back together again...Rear spoiler and number plate garnish fitted...Will do some small detail work like reomve the "sports" sticker that came with the car, paint the window frame black-outs and add Glanza decals next plus we're planning a turbo upgrade looking for around 200hpatw.David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RME1 Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Welcome to UKStarlet. AWESOME! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RME1 Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 *oops double post. Fantastic transformation. David, I used your build as a bench mark of mods. Thanks for the advice Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dean @RW-Developments Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 welcome mate cars looking good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BenV Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 welcome to the club fellathe car is looking really good keep up the good work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Markoos Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 welcome to the club mate! makig your own manifold, what a ledgend! where did you get the sideskirts from? FIT!Markoos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoostJunkie Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Welcome to the club mate seen this on austarletclub before.lot of work you've put into this wish i was able to knock up my own piping and manifold excellent work.colin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Galliano Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 very very clean, im liking the sideskirts too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shorty Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 nice car mate, she looks very clean!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hillclimber Posted June 16, 2008 Author Share Posted June 16, 2008 Cheers guys I've always liked to do my own fabrication and paint so if you are not happy with the results you only have yourself to blame plus it also makes the modification process alot more affordable.The skirts are made in Oz by a company call "GT Autostyle" but I'm not sure if they'll post to UK. Here's the link anyway.Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Very good work mate I must say im very impressed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SiCaln Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 me too man very good work, impressive skills too - not sure on the sideskirts tho - id keep it all original Glanza Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hillclimber Posted June 21, 2008 Author Share Posted June 21, 2008 Cheers guys I'd definitely swap the skirts for a pair of Glanza ones if they came up at the right price - i picked the current ones up cheap on evilbay before any of the Glanza bits went on.T25/28 hybrid coming soon Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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