Andy's Bagged EP82 GT Advance

[andy91145]

After toying the idea for a long time I've decided to dig through my old pictures and do a progress blog.

Roll back to 5th July 2013
After a string of terrible french cars I bought a car I always wanted but never thought I would get the chance to own, let me introduce you to Scarlett the Starlet. Practically all stock with working AC all mods were lowering springs and rota slipstreams.


I drove and enjoyed this car for a whole month before tickering first problem to fix which I soon learnt was a common one with OEM manifolds.

So it was reattached temporarily and the collection of parts began.
I bought a fully working cylinder head (no pictures unfortunately)
gather all other parts to change while I was at it (gasket, head bolts etc etc)


While I was at it I picked up a new manifold to replace the restrictive oem one along with decat and decided to give it a good service and change all belts plugs oil and coolant.

I also picked up a front mount intercooler so when I got time I removed the AC fitted it and cut the bumper


I had bought a Bltiz backbox and had that fitted the oem centre section but it wasn't cutting it so I got hold of a full Japspeed


At this point I moved to the engine bay to try and tidy it up a little


After struggling to find a decent uncut parcel shelf I decided to take things into my own hands and fix it for £2.99 not to everyones taste but it looked better than 6x9 holes.


By this point winter was looming so this is how she finished summer looking


Come around January time it was MOT time so had to brave the cold and get a couple of jobs done one of which included this ugly rear fog light (has been removed now :') )


After she passed her MOT it was time to start collecting parts again, I picked up eBay's finest external wastegate to replace my very old actuator.

At a friends garage getting my manifold adjusted to accommodated the external wastegate


After getting this fitted it turns out my old actuator really was pants boost was coming in strong and pulled harder now with the FMIC and decat I was also now hitting boost cut so time to purchase a P&P ECU and some CJ performance 10mm HT leads


Although the front bumper had seen better days someone scuffed it even more so it was time to get that seen to




So after damaging my rocker cover and having to replace it this is how the bay is looking with the various changes


I picked up a HDI boost gauge

Now we are up to 2014 and the day before Japfest new clutch, gearbox and driveshafts


We made it to the UKSO stand at Japfest


Back to tidying up the bay, thought a fresh new colour was needed

Managed to pick an AEM AFR gauge


Finally got some decent weather so I took the opportunity to give Scarlett a good scrub


A couple more things I picked up D2 coilovers and and second HDI water temp gauge


Got a good price on a Tong's CT9 hybrd


Managed to get hold of these genuine TE37's from a UKSO member turns out to be such a cool guy (y)


The pink rocker cover was no longer doing it for me so I sent my away to theJDMguys to be polished and AN fittings to be welded


So by this point I was telling myself that I had spent way too much on this car two days later all this arrived....

So I went ahead fitting the Speedvisions cam and new brakes

Couple more things I picked up Grip Royal Trickle on chrome and Tom rep front grill


Had another day of beautiful weather so told the old girl out in the sun


Time to freshen up them bumpers


So went to a local car meet tonight, also forgot to mention added a Laguna front splitter


**And now this is the part that will divide many of you but please remember this is my car and although you may not agree with it I want to do something different, I don't really like following a crowd**

After talking with a company in Leeds for a week or so I paid my deposit and the long wait began to drop her off.
Finally the day came to drop her off, it was somewhat emotional driving off and leaving her in another city but the guy treated her right . (Also notice the exhaust changed it to a proracer a couple of months back)

So here we are at the most recent pictures, let me introduce Scarlett with D2 air ride


A little update, I've ordered brand new wheels should be here in a month or so. With winter fast approaching my winter wheels (rota slips) will be going back on soon and will be keeping the TE37's as track wheels.

Edited August 31, 2015 by andy91145

[mas12555]

Second ever starlet I have seen on air ride. How much was the D2 kit and how do you rate the quality?

[TrisK]

Oooh this is interesting. What's the management like? And what's the actually handling like in comparison to the coilovers you had before?

[jimmymac101]

I really like this good work!

James

[dan106]

Well I'm jealous aha! As above, how's it drive? I've always thought bags would ruin handling

[andy91145]

Second ever starlet I have seen on air ride. How much was the D2 kit and how do you rate the quality?

Oooh this is interesting. What's the management like? And what's the actually handling like in comparison to the coilovers you had before?

I really like this good work!

James

Well I'm jealous aha! As above, how's it drive? I've always thought bags would ruin handling

Kinda why I went for it as its pretty rare to see and can have a nice low stance without scraping on everything and theoretically not compromising track performance.

As for the ride quality I was sceptical what to expect. Thankfully I am happy to report I rate them more than the coilovers (not just saying that because I've just thrown a wad of cash at it). The ride home was god awful was solid at all corners but after getting home the damping was at its hardest setting there was no give in it what so ever, I'm now on a quarter of a turn from the softest setting it's like having lowering springs you can tell it's not oem but not uncomfortable. The thing that impressed the most is the amount it stops body roll, it corners pretty flat only tested this on a spirited drive will have to wait till next year to try them out on the track.

As for management there isn't any it's 4 way manual, I have the option to use management but I wanted a simple system to work on if anything goes wrong so I can do it myself as I'm not overly familiar with the in's and out's of this type of system as of yet.

[mas12555]

If I am correct in thinking 4 way airbags means that when you go around a corner the air doesnt move around to the other airbag which hinders handling? I remember someone saying something about body roll and air bags.

I am only going by what I have been told but I may be sounded like a complete idiot.

Either that or is 4 way controls all four wheels and 2 way only does front and back?

[andy91145]

If I am correct in thinking 4 way airbags means that when you go around a corner the air doesnt move around to the other airbag which hinders handling? I remember someone saying something about body roll and air bags.

I am only going by what I have been told but I may be sounded like a complete idiot.

Either that or is 4 way controls all four wheels and 2 way only does front and back?

don't quote me on this but I asked all this before I got it done, the 2 way is the one with the sketchy handling because the front 2 and rear 2 are connected as say the left side compresses that sends all the air to the other side lifting it up. the 4 way works independently so none of the airbags are actually connected so when onside compresses the other 3 corners aren't affected Edited September 2, 2015 by andy91145

[mas12555]

don't quote me on this but I asked all this before I got it done, the 2 way is the one with the sketchy handling because the front 2 and rear 2 are connected as say the left side compresses that sends all the air to the other side lifting it up. the 4 way works independently so none of the airbags are actually connected so when onside compresses the other 3 corners aren't affected

yes that was it! Had a friend with air ride who tried to explain to me why I should stay clear of 2 way.