EP82 Touge Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 So I'm back in a Starlet. I've been in Japan for a little over a year now and it was time to get a toy to have some fun at the local race tracks. Now being in Japan you think it would be easy to find a suitable car. Wrong.... sometimes being spoilt for choice makes it all that much harder. The criteria for the vehicle was it had to be cheap, fun and reliable. Initial thoughts had me looking at MX-5's, Toyota Altezza's and various Honda's, but when this Starlet popped up the decision was easy. The car is a well looked after 1991 Starlet GT, 76,000km and a few subtle modifications (cage, seat, LSD, suspension) that meant I could hit the ground running. The plans are to slowly build it up and improve it with sensible and cost effective modifications. The build is more about fun than a impressive spec sheet and hopefully spending more time racing than swinging spanners with the ultimate goal to get some track time at Tsukuba. I'm looking forward to updating the thread as things progress. Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whitenoize Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Looks mint dude how much did you pay for that in Japan if you don't mind me asking ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gainzy Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Looks sweet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 There are some cheap one over here but as this one already had a few nice modifications including the LSD and was clean with low km I was happy to pay a little bit of it. Glad I did now as the car has been great. A quick update of now. List of mods the car came with: Aftermarket exhaustAftermarket engine mountsBiltein suspension (coilover front)Aftermarket LSD14" Enkei wheelsRecaro drivers seat6 point cageMud flapsSump guardMomo steering wheel Nothing over the top, but still a nice base to start with. Since purchased I have: Changed the steering wheel for a suede item.Changed wheels to SSR Type 15 x 7 +35 with 2nd hand Advan A050 Semi'sService and check overChanged computer to Blitz AccessAdded carbon cannards Cannards added, I had these lying around, it's fair to say any gains would be minimal if at all. Computer changed to Blitz Access: Then it was race time at Tsukuba: Unfortunately it was very wet, so the times were much slower than anticipated, but still plenty of fun. The car performed fantastic and was the fastest in class (A bit of a surprise) The event consisted of a warm up session and 2 x 20 minute timed sessions which was enough for the first time out in the car and first time at the track (Playstation aside) More mods to come, brakes first and at least a change of the standard restrictive dump pipe. Looking forward to a dry track next time out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gainzy Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Good time even in the wet! Looks alot of fun ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
karl. Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 That looks like great fun to be honest. You should start buying a few parts of the auctions and post them home. Best of luck with the car it looks brilliant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bluebear Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Do you get much interest from the Japs about the Starlet? Any old-timers with wistful looks in their eyes? HahaJust wondering how popular (if at all) they still are over there now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ro55ifumi Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Welcome to UKSO John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calum122 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Brilliant. Tsukuba is great track, well jealous Out of interest how close is the playstation to real life, in terms of the track. Did you find it helped playing the playstation before hand ? Very sweet Mk1 you got there. Amazing that you beat those other cars, there are some heavy contenders there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malcolm GT Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Lovely motor! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) There is a bit of interest in the Starlet, mainly people saying they are quite rare these days though and then a few people that don't know so much about them that are interested in it. The track is quite similar to the playstation although you never quite get the elevation change and camber in the game. Also the track is quite wide. I think many of those other cars were taking it pretty easy. Few updates. Carbon mirrors fitted ARC top mount intercooler fitted: Air conditioning removedBlitz dump pipe installedKoyo radiator installedHeadlight removed for air intake. Also removed the ARP sump guard, although a nice item it's not required for the circuit. I will keep it aside for any dirt/gravel events. Project Mu brake pads fittedNew brake fluidCusco brake master cylinder brace fitted Harness fitted. Back to the track and a best of 1:12.398 Edited June 14, 2015 by EP82 Touge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daveEP Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Lovin the car mate. Did u do the skid pan on the underside? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 The sump guard was on the car when I bought. A nice piece of gear, but not required at the moment and probably saves a couple of KG's not having it on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Some further suspension set up and a upgrade to AE111 brakes is next on the to do list. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gainzy Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Mint update good parts choice's here keep it up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gainzy Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 5 days have gone what are you doing ha! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Haha haven't had a chance to do anything to the car, but a few more parts have been accumulated. I will be working on the suspension set-up first of all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
turbomad Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Is there any starlet tuners left as when i went we couldnt find any Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 Jam is gone, from what I understand Zep is still operating but I haven't been there in a long time. Obviously there are some generic workshops that would work on Starlets, but in terms of new parts being made I think there is more from you guys in the UK than Japan unfortunately. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nanglebadger Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 great read!!! like our own in-house version of Speedhunters at Tsukuba!!! And the workshop pic with various beasts lurking in the background, classic!!!!! great thread bud, looking forward to reading and seeing more! Also, that headlamp conversion looks super tidy for a DIY item!!! kudos!!! Phil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bean Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 A great read. Make sure you keep us updated with the car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gainzy Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Haha haven't had a chance to do anything to the car, but a few more parts have been accumulated. I will be working on the suspension set-up first of all.Spread our forum page about to other enthusiasts would be great to make more of a bond with fellow starleteers in Japan, more pics the better haha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EP82 Touge Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Picked up a few more items for the car.ARC blow off valeSard hot pipe Tom's intake The Sard pipe and Tom's intake will be painted before fitting. I notice quite a few people remove the factory bracket and metal section of the vacumn lines, which it looks like I might need to do as the ARC bov is obviously much bigger. Edited July 4, 2015 by EP82 Touge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jiggaman_16 Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Looks like your in a EP dreamland. Love to see that the car is being tracked. Love the headlight intake too. & at 76000kms Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nanglebadger Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Nice parts there bud, rare to see a SARD hot pipe and even rarer to see a TOM'S intake! Keep up the great work! Phil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.