So after many years of Japanese car ownership I’ve finally saved up enough for an S15!
After many months searching I finally found one I really liked with a massive spec list! After viewing the car a deal was made and a couple weeks later I collected the car with my friend Jamie.
IMG_0252 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I was extremely happy with it however after driving it home something didn’t feel quite right with the suspension and it needed to be raised as the roads on the Isle of Wight are shocking. During adjusting the suspension all the pre loads on each corner were different and the camber adjustment on the front left was completely loose and the right side wasn’t done up that tight either! With the suspension sorted it was now looking like this!
IMG_0265 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I’m not a fan of stretched tyres so while the suspension was being adjusted my friend and I worked out the tyre size and spacing that would allow them to fit correctly. I noticed the rear wheel studs had been cut in order to fit 20mm spacers so I decided to order ARP extended wheel studs to allow correct fitment of the wheels.
IMG_0327 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
The 235 front tyres and 255 rear tyres were ordered as well.
IMG_0398 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
So what turned from wet sanding the headlights turned into this… haha! All the headlight wiring was shortened and re-routed.
IMG_0604 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
The intercooler piping was removed and checked over and given a quick polish. Also worked out what silicone hoses were needed, I’m not a fan of the red ones and some were pretty bodged together so a whole set of black samco ones have been ordered. When putting it back together I made sure to tighten the hose clamps down properly as they certainly weren’t done up much when I was pulling it apart!
IMG_0847 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
The wet sanded headlights look a lot better!
As sad as it sounds I had collected a few stickers to put on so they were put on… haha!
IMG_0673 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I then set about fitting the extended studs on all 4 corners. When fitting these I also got the Hardrace rear camber and toe arms fitted.
IMG_0859 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
IMG_0860 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
The tyres were then put onto the wheels. Safe to say I’m a lot happier with the spacing and look of the wheels now!
IMG_0865 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I then took the 15 to the Goodwood Super Car Breakfast meet. Found Seen Through Glass’s car so thought it would be rude not to get a photo together with it haha!
IMG_0897 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
When I was driving back to the Isle from the meet I noticed a slight exhaust leak. After driving for a couple of more short journeys to see the misses it soon turned into a major exhaust leak from the mani to the turbo!
I set about stripping it down. When undoing the bolts to the mani etc. I found that all of them weren’t done up nearly tight enough! My friend came round to help me pull the mani and turbo out while I was undoing the final bolts underneath, he pulled the mani expecting the turbo to come with it… just the manifold came away! The nuts had worked themselves loose and weren’t even present anymore!
With it all out I was left with this!
IMG_0980 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I decided to give the turbo a good looking over and clean up while it was off, would be rude not to haha!
IMG_1012 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
The previous owner had included a tubular manifold that had cracked. I went round to my good friend Joes and he welded up making sure to beef all the welds up significantly. We also added some bracing from each flange to try and help prevent cracking again. Hopefully this will sort the problem, if not I will just go back to the standard mani. I gave it a quick clean up, not perfect but so much better than it was!
IMG_1029 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I’ve got a stainless turbo elbow on order and the downpipe has been taken off the car ready for a clean-up and heat wrapping.
Today my Splitfire coil packs have turned up so they’ll be fitted this eve!
IMG_1044 by Josh Jennings, on Flickr
I’ve got all my servicing fluids on the way as well as booking it in for a 4 wheel alignment in a couple of weeks. Hoping by the time all this is done it should feel like a different car!
Still plenty more work to do, but who likes spare time anyway!
After many months searching I finally found one I really liked with a massive spec list! After viewing the car a deal was made and a couple weeks later I collected the car with my friend Jamie.
IMG_0252 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI was extremely happy with it however after driving it home something didn’t feel quite right with the suspension and it needed to be raised as the roads on the Isle of Wight are shocking. During adjusting the suspension all the pre loads on each corner were different and the camber adjustment on the front left was completely loose and the right side wasn’t done up that tight either! With the suspension sorted it was now looking like this!
IMG_0265 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI’m not a fan of stretched tyres so while the suspension was being adjusted my friend and I worked out the tyre size and spacing that would allow them to fit correctly. I noticed the rear wheel studs had been cut in order to fit 20mm spacers so I decided to order ARP extended wheel studs to allow correct fitment of the wheels.
IMG_0327 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrThe 235 front tyres and 255 rear tyres were ordered as well.
IMG_0398 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrSo what turned from wet sanding the headlights turned into this… haha! All the headlight wiring was shortened and re-routed.
IMG_0604 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrThe intercooler piping was removed and checked over and given a quick polish. Also worked out what silicone hoses were needed, I’m not a fan of the red ones and some were pretty bodged together so a whole set of black samco ones have been ordered. When putting it back together I made sure to tighten the hose clamps down properly as they certainly weren’t done up much when I was pulling it apart!
IMG_0847 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrThe wet sanded headlights look a lot better!
As sad as it sounds I had collected a few stickers to put on so they were put on… haha!
IMG_0673 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI then set about fitting the extended studs on all 4 corners. When fitting these I also got the Hardrace rear camber and toe arms fitted.
IMG_0859 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrIMG_0860 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrThe tyres were then put onto the wheels. Safe to say I’m a lot happier with the spacing and look of the wheels now!
IMG_0865 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI then took the 15 to the Goodwood Super Car Breakfast meet. Found Seen Through Glass’s car so thought it would be rude not to get a photo together with it haha!
IMG_0897 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrWhen I was driving back to the Isle from the meet I noticed a slight exhaust leak. After driving for a couple of more short journeys to see the misses it soon turned into a major exhaust leak from the mani to the turbo!
I set about stripping it down. When undoing the bolts to the mani etc. I found that all of them weren’t done up nearly tight enough! My friend came round to help me pull the mani and turbo out while I was undoing the final bolts underneath, he pulled the mani expecting the turbo to come with it… just the manifold came away! The nuts had worked themselves loose and weren’t even present anymore!
With it all out I was left with this!
IMG_0980 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI decided to give the turbo a good looking over and clean up while it was off, would be rude not to haha!
IMG_1012 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrThe previous owner had included a tubular manifold that had cracked. I went round to my good friend Joes and he welded up making sure to beef all the welds up significantly. We also added some bracing from each flange to try and help prevent cracking again. Hopefully this will sort the problem, if not I will just go back to the standard mani. I gave it a quick clean up, not perfect but so much better than it was!
IMG_1029 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI’ve got a stainless turbo elbow on order and the downpipe has been taken off the car ready for a clean-up and heat wrapping.
Today my Splitfire coil packs have turned up so they’ll be fitted this eve!
IMG_1044 by Josh Jennings, on FlickrI’ve got all my servicing fluids on the way as well as booking it in for a 4 wheel alignment in a couple of weeks. Hoping by the time all this is done it should feel like a different car!
Still plenty more work to do, but who likes spare time anyway!
