Finally changed my 'FrankenBenz' headlight to a more modern looking projector type... The original headlight is broken and is beyond repair... And frankly speaking, I don't really see the point in repairing if it is even possible... With this new headlight on, the whole car looks so much more modern and not forgetting menacing!!! Not going to do 'HID' as I don't want unnecessary trouble from the authority... The illumination from this new projector headlight is so much better compare to the old one... The light from the old headlight is really dim and driving at night is not something I look forward to... It is a different story now...

To be continue...

Recently, I found that 'FrankenBenz' is handling weirdly and not forgetting dangerously!!! The whole car seems to move around quite a lot and the rear is really prone to skid especially during the rain... I didn't suspect the tyres as I've just change is less than 3 months ago... I'm suspecting some bushes or arm link that might be broken or maybe the alignment is out...

Have a peek at the rear tyre and I'm shock to see that both rear tyres are completely bald!!! It looks exactly like a slick tyre!!! I'm scratching my head as why this happen because it is less than 3 months old!!! Have a look at the front and I'm equally shock... Still got a lot of thread wear in the middle but one is bald on the outside while the other is bald on the inside... That means I'm running on negative camber on one side and positive camber on the other side... Although still got a lot of thread wear on the middle part, but these two tyres are consider useless if you ask me... 

Can't really afford to keep buying expensive tyres I decided to try 'Achilles' tyres which originated from 'Indonesia'... Those into motorsports might be aware of this brand made famous by 'Japanese' drifter 'Daigo Saito'... 

I tried one of their best selling tyre which is the 'ATR Sport'... I don't expect much from this tyre as it is really cheap compare to the likes from 'Japan' or 'European' counterpart... I can buy two of these with the price for one well known 'Japanese' brand tyre!!! But surprisingly I'm amaze at what it's on offer... I find it rather comfortable and quite quiet... Other than that, I can't comment much as I still don't have the time to give it a good thrashing!!! Under normal driving, the grip is good even during the rain... So initial impression is good!!! Noise level is not too bad also... 

As for the rear, I've decided to give semi slick a try... I didn't go for 'ATR Sport' as it doesn't have the size that I want... For the front, I'm still running with 225/40 and the rear I'm sticking to 255/35... 'ATR Sport' only have 245 or 265 section tyre... Since I got a good price on the '123S', I'm thinking to myself why not give semi slick a try as I've never driven on semi slick before... There are two models available which is the '123' and '123S'... The only difference is the thread... 'S' is suppose to be use for drifting as there's more thread compare to the normal '123'... So what it means is it will last longer compare to normal '123'... 

Once they fitted the tyres back to my car, the rear end transform instantly in terms of look... So much more aggressive compare to the 'ATR Sport'!!! I really regretted to opt for the 'ATR Sport' for the front as it looks so docile in comparison... Wanted to change the front to '123S' but it doesn't come with 225 section tyre... Only have 235!!! Damn as 235 will hit the fender when goes over undulation... Going to make my suspension a lot harder so that I can go for 235 section tyre in the future!!! No comment on the driving yet as well as I've just change it recently... 

Okay, tyre issue solve... So now back to the question on why my rear tyres ended up bald in less than 3 months time??? One of the rear arm link bush is gone as well as the alignment, camber, toe and castor!!! Everything's out!!! Spend a small fortune just to get it back to spec (more expensive than a piece of tyre god damn it!!!)... And now 'FrankenBenz' is handling well and no more twitchy rear end... What I'm hoping for now is that the rear tyre can last much longer after what I've done!!!

To be continue...

Is been a while since I last posted something about 'FrankenBenz'... Ermm what a minute... Not only 'FrankenBenz' as I've been neglecting my blog for quite some time!!! Taken these pics a while back when I'm seriously thinking of selling it... Luckily I change my mind!!! Phew...

 Sexy ass???

Almost time to change the rear tyre of 'FrankenBenz'... My record is 3 months for a set of rear tyres to go totally bald!!! It looks just like slick!!! Didn't do anything stupid like burnout... Just that the setting of the whole chassis is out... So it accelerated the thread wear triple fold??? No more fancy or expensive tyres for the time being!!!

Next project will be the headlight as the current one is really old and broken... Don't know whether to go for the original or aftermarket one...

 I'm loving the DIY carbon fiber center panel!!! Look so much meaner with the 'Nardi' steering wheel...

Old engine bay pic with the puny 'HKS' air filter!!!

To be continue...

After changing to a much BIGGER intake, I believe the time is right for 'FrankenBenz' to have a new piggyback ECU after the disastrous 'Unichip'!!! I'm going for 'GReddy E-Manage' and I'm opting for the basic version which is the 'Blue' version as I think the 'Ultimate' is a bit overkill for my application... I just want an ECU to adjust the air fuel ratio and also the ignition timing which the 'Blue' can handle without much problem...

Hooking up the ECU is very straight forward unlike the 'Unichip' (not as easy as most tuner are not so familiar with it)... After hooking it up, it is time for dyno tune up... I was really ecstatic as the power is much  higher comparing to the time when I'm running 'Unichip'... But too be frank, I don't really know whether is because of 'E-Manage' or the BIG ass air filter that is making the power... But I assume that both contributed to the increase... 

Last time 'FrankenBenz' is making 246.52whp running 'Unichip' with 1 bar of boost... Now, 'FrankenBenz' is making 260.19whp!!! with 1 bar of boost as well!!! Besides that, torque figure went up as well from 301.34Nm to 331.22Nm... I'm really happy with the result!!!

I've been running the 'E-Manage' for a few months now and no major issue so far... But the engine did died on me on a few occasion and it can be restarted right after that (it happens when someone step on the wiring loom)... So no major problem if you ask me and I highly recommend this to those running '1JZ GTE' engine... 

To be continue...

Recently I got bored of the 'HKS' air filter and wanted something BIG as I find the 'HKS' filter is way too small for the 'Toyota 1JZ' engine... So I went out sourcing for the biggest air filter that I can fit into the engine bay of 'FrankenBenz'... And I'm in luck as I managed to find one and it comes with a pretty good price!!! Introducing the 'AEM Dryflow' air filter... 

Made in 'USA' yo!!!

Just look at the size!!! 

Size comparison between the 'AEM' and 'HKS'... Huge difference!!!

 'HKS' air filter with original plastic intake pipe... 

 'AEM' with custom aluminium intake pipe...

Ta-dah... Now the engine bay look so much nicer and not forgetting better intake due to the size of the filter... There's definitely some different as I find 'FrankenBenz' pulls a tad harder when using the 'AEM'... Now who wants my original 'HKS' air filter??? 

To be continue...

My newly installed 'Dastek Unichip Version Q' is officially taken out from 'FrankenBenz'!!! Just after two freaking days!!!  No doubt the whole car felt a lot lighter and it boost much stronger but it is a pain in the ass as my 'FrankenBenz' keep stalling!!! The best part is you need to wait for some time (if you're lucky, 10 minutes and if you're not, almost an hour!!!) before you're able to start it again!!! 

On the first day, everything was fine until I encountered this problem... It started right after the engine died... So I thought this might be an isolated case and nothing to worry about... The very next day proved my theory was wrong... It was a hellish day for me as 'FrankenBenz' kept stalling and stalling!!!  At first I thought the fuel level is low and it needed some fuel... So I parked it at the roadside and walked to a nearby petrol station... Pour the petrol in and tried starting it but to no avail... Plugging and unplugging the the original ECU a few times but still it won't start... Waited for another 30 minutes or so and decided to give it a try and viola it started...

Call the workshop that installed the 'Unichip' and told them about the problem and they asked me to drive it to their workshop and let them have a look... Drove my car for less than 300m and the engine's dead again!!! Tried starting it a few times and it just won't start... I have enough of this shit and took out my trusty 'Victorinox Swiss Army Knife' and cut off the  wires tapping to the original ECU... Luckily my boot got a roll of electrical tape... Put in the car key and twist it... No more problem and it started like a charm... The downside is the car felt so much heavier after dismantling the 'Unichip'... But at least the car's moving!!!

Call the seller and told him about his faulty 'Unichip' and he's gentleman enough to refund me my money as he's giving me a week warranty... So 'FrankenBenz' is back to basic for the time being... But not for long!!!


To be continue...