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SR20DE Forum
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The Tire Rack
Discount Tire Direct
| Date | Part | Cost | Notes |
| 3-4-02 | Magnetic autox #'s | $70 | 0,1,3,7,E,G,S,S,T (RED) from Edecals.com |
| 3-6-02 | K & N Hi-flow filter | $49.67 | from Autozone |
| 3-8-02 | M2R Snell 2000 Helmet | $75.60 | Mid-South Motorcycle |
| 4-1-02 | Pacesetter Adjustable Shifter | $76.40 | CarParts.com |
| 4-1-02 | ES Shifter stabilizer bushing | $7.00 | CourtesyParts.com |
| 4-13-02 | Falken Azeni's 195/60/14 | $208 | Discounttiredirect.com |
| 4-24-02 | Brembo OEM Style Brake Rotors | $97 | expressautoparts.com |
| 4-26-02 | 2 Outer & 1 Inner Tie-rod ends | $65 | Autozone: Inner was bent, and Outer bushings were shot |
| 4-26-02 | Valvoline Synthetic Dot 3/4 fluid | $10 | Autozone: 2 quarts |
| 5-13-02 | Random Thoughts Racing rear STB | $70 | through Joel Ward randomthoughts.com |
| Total: | $728.67 | ||
5-13-02
Random Thoughts Racing rear STB install. Very easy to install. The bar is a pusher type, so it just tightens outward against the strut towers. I didn't cut or remove anything, I just mounted it on the outside of the carpet, and it looks pretty good, although it is really plain.
I put a Nismo sticker on it to try to dress it up. I could make one of these things really easily.
Can't tell any difference on the street, but I have an event this weekend, so I'll really know then.
Difficulty: 1 - easy
Time to perform: 15 Minutes - Requires only a 19mm wrench
4-26-02
Fluid flush and replace. Replaced my old fluid with Valvoline Synthetic Dot 3/4. Glad I did. The old fluid was nasty. Most people I talked to around here thought I was crazy for flushing my fluid, but I guess I know a little more than them.
The old fluid was completely brown, and there was some sick-looking white stuff that came out of one of the calipers.
Took a little while to do the job, as I didn't use one of those hand pump things, but it helped a a lot that I have access to a lift, so I could take off all 4 tires at the same time. Used 1 whole bottle for the flush, and started another for the fill.
With my new rotors and this fluid change, the brakes feel perfect. Very linear and progressive. When I hit the brakes, the car just flat stops without any drama. I'm still going to get Axxis MM pads for a little more initial bite, but I'm not in a hurry for them, now.
Difficulty: 1 - requires time and patience
Time to perform: 1.5 hours (less with proper equipment)
4-24-02
Installed Rotors. Easy to install, just takes a little time. Pull off the wheel, caliper, pads, and then the mounting bracket. Remove the old rotors, and replace.
Take a little time to proprly break in the rotors before heavy use.
Brake feel is much improved. Have a lot more pedal now than I've ever had. Brakes stop smoothly, and don't rattle or vibrate.
Difficulty: 2 - several items to remove
Time to install: 1 hour
4-12-02
Performed the OEM Airbox mod, detailed on SE-R.net. Didn't go through quite all the steps detailed in the walk-through, but acheived the same results.
Unbolted the airbox from the MAF and from the fenderwell, and removed the intake tubes from the car. Then, with a hacksaw, I cut the bottom portion of the airbox at the lip just below where the clips snap on, that hold the box together.
The box is now open, with the bottom ring still in place, so that the clips still function for removing the filter.
The sound from the engine, now, is great. It has a nice growl that wasn't there before. If the JWT Popcharger adds HP, I can't imagine this setup not working almost as well. The engine does seem to have a little more thrust at the midrange, and I don't think I am imagining it. And it still looks stock, unless you know what your looking for.
Difficulty: 2 - requires some cutting
Time to install: 1 hour
4-1-02
Installed Pacesetter Adjustable Short Shifter. Install was straight forward and not too complicated, although it was more involved than I had anticipated. Adjusted to just a hair shy of being all the way down, the heat sheild had to be hammered pretty severly to clear it.
I still get a little vibration at certain RPM's, but I believe this is the cat vibrating against the shield.
The shifter feel was a bit firmer until I installed the ES shifter stabilizer bushing, and now requires about the same effort as it did when stock. The throws are much quicker, shorter and more fun. It's not unbelievably short now, but feels like a proper sports car should.
Difficulty: 3 - involved
Time to install: 2 hours
3-26-02- I ordered a Pacesetter Adjustable Shifter from Carparts.com (A JCWhitney affiliate, evidently) and some Energy Supension motor mounts and shifter bushing through Courtesy Nissan, only to then realize I can't use them in stock class. So, I'm just going shelve them until after I get my tires, struts, and exhaust. I have some OEM NX2000 wheels on-the-way, also. I found them on the SR20DE forum, my new favorite place in the world.
3-8-02 -
While in Autozone, picking up a tire gauge, I noticed the K&N filters on the rack. I generally hate to buy parts at Autozone, but figured I that a K & N is still a K & N, regardless of where you get it. So I got it, and put it in a couple of days later.
Installation is simple; just change the filter like any other air filter. This is the only upgrade allowable to the stock airbox in Solo II.
Right out of the box, the engine seemed to rev out faster and smoother. In my experience, washing your car seems to have the same effect, which automatically leads me to believe that the difference is in my head.
Despite my initial skepticism, I believe the K & N is a nice upgrade. I can't say the car is faster, but I believe it breathes better, if only a little, and these two things are directly related.
Difficulty: 1 - easy
Time to install: 5 min
