Member Profile - Marcus' GT Spec B 6MT Wagon

[marcus.bspec]

So I spent alot of money these last couple of days, as you'll soon find out from the next 2 posts

Turbo_img.JPG (49.6 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

This is my new GTX2867R Gen 1 Ball Bearing turbo

This unit was designed as a direct replacement for the VF46 and 52, making it a piss easy install. I cannot wait to get this thing on the car. Not long now, only a few more things to get a hold of before it goes in for a tune... which is mid october....

Shit I need to get a boogie on

[marcus.bspec]

So those of you who know me personally know that I've been searching high and low for these wheels in this spec. As far as I'm aware they're due to be discontinued so I was stoked to come across some

As much as I love the 57DR's I had originally, I couldn't go past a set of these...

These are my new Rays Gramlight 57 Transcend's, 18x9.5 +39 in Rays Satin Bronze.

IMG_20200801_145833_288.jpg (82.01 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

20200801_140034.jpg (53.04 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

Snapchat-106044279.jpg (45.68 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

They are currently wrapped in 265's which is MASSIVE for this car...

To remedy this I have already purchased new Hankook Ventus RS4's to go on, in the meantime a good friend of mine will be making a new home for my 57DR's on his GRB WRX

[Yowie]

I'm very interested to see how the GTX2867R goes. Eg. ease-of-fitment and responsiveness (incl. part throttle) as well as dyno curve obviously

[marcus.bspec]

I'm very interested to see how the GTX2867R goes. Eg. ease-of-fitment and responsiveness (incl. part throttle) as well as dyno curve obviously

Judging by others' experiences with them, I'd say good fitment would be a given. But yes, very eager to see how it affects drive-ability and response

[marcus.bspec]

So the 265's make it barely possible to leave my driveway without scrubbing, but new tyres will be getting fitted this Saturday coming. Then I can re-tweak my suspension and alignment

Nonetheless I still mounted the 57 Transcends out of curiosity and I cant say I was at all disappointed... They look wicked

20200802_123540.jpg (85.9 KiB) Viewed 3306 times

IMG_20200802_142458_501.jpg (76.32 KiB) Viewed 3306 times

I'm genuinely stoked that I came across a set of these, my favourite set of wheels on this car so far

[JAWolf]

Looking awesome, sits beautifully, look forward to seeing the tune, with the new turbo. Hope the new tyres solve the scrubbing issue.

[marcus.bspec]

Looking awesome, sits beautifully, look forward to seeing the tune, with the new turbo. Hope the new tyres solve the scrubbing issue.

Thanks heaps! The wheels came with the tyres when I bought them, but I couldn't resist a test fit.

It previously had 255's which didn't rub, and i'll now be going down to a meatier 235 tyre, so there shouldn't be any issues there

[marcus.bspec]

Took a quick photo yesterday before the new tyres went on. Love how it looks now

UPDATE_IMG.JPG (130.58 KiB) Viewed 3246 times

[marcus.bspec]

So I finally got some new tyres onto the Transcends which I had picked up fairly recently.

I decided to go with a Hankook Ventus RS4 in a 235/40R18.

The decrease in size fitted very nicely much like the 255's I'd had before, and being slightly slimmer and with the sidewall tipping inward a bit more, I'm able to go lower in future should I decide to fiddle with my setup. Even though they're a 235 they fit a fair bit wider and have a meatier sidewall than a typical tyre of this size, this way they don't look as stretched around the 9.5" Transcends.

Hankook RS4.JPG (28.99 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

These tyre's are a semi slick and are fairly noisy if you're not used to it, but I honestly don't mind, turn up the radio a little more or put your foot flat to the floor and it's no longer an issue.

Personally I was looking for more grip, but also didn't want to spend tonnes on tyres either, I picked this set up during a 'Buy 3 Get 1 Free' deal, and am stoked with the performance they offer, not just based on their price, but overall as they compare closely to some of their competitors higher up in the price range.

[marcus.bspec]

So I had some goodies come in, some of which I have been waiting months on end for (nearly 4 months but who's counting?) as they were coming from overseas.

I received the VG Tuning "DAMD-Style" Front Fenders which had been modelled right off of the real thing, and after a quick test fit, it definitely showed.

I would honestly have to give these a 8/10 for right-out-the-box fitment, and the quality is very good, the only thing that required any trimming was the insides of the vents, a task made easy by a dremell.

DAMD fenders.JPG (35.87 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

No other sanding or adjustment required, these things fit like OEM, which is high praise for a set of hand made replica's. Also I have no problem with the fact that they're not the real thing, they achieve 8mm worth of extra width either side which is a great help when running wider wheels. This is the reason I bought them in the first place.... that and they were 1/4 the price of the DAMD Fenders from Japan, FRP vs Fibreglass. They also lack the carbon accent around the vent... oh well. I plan on skinning these in carbon later down the track as a side project when the car gets painted, I would not have wanted to do so with the real deal.

plus they just look f*#cking cool to be honest...

I also snuck in a quick install of my Turbosmart Boost Gauge. Looking nice and tidy with the Andro Motorsports Vent mount.

TS 1 GAUGE.JPG (29.55 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

TS2 GAUGE.JPG (33.74 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

[marcus.bspec]

I quickly wrapped the fenders after work early last week. They turned out fantastic!

Fenders 2.JPG (47.45 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

After wrapping I quickly removed approximately 1°of positive caster using the inner rear LCA bushings up front (KCA334 from Whiteline), they'd been set to +.5° during the cars most recent alignment, however the tyres were getting eaten by the fender due to the lesser distance between them.

10mm extra distance between the tyre and fender is all that was needed to eradicate any rub or scrub. Now back into the shop for another alignment....

[marcus.bspec]

Quick bit of height adjustment in the rear and the car sits perfectly now. Gave the front a dummy alignment by adjusting toe slightly, rides smoothly, enough to get it to a shop.

Here are some photos of how the car looks today

LIB_20200824_1.JPG (44.93 KiB) Viewed 3058 times

LIB_20200824_2.JPG (49.05 KiB) Viewed 3058 times

Still waiting on a few exciting bits from Japan. Less than 2 months until the car goes in for a tune, hopefully everything has arrived by then so that the car can be finished for the time being and I can enjoy it completely without looking at it as if something were missing...

[bigBADbenny]

Fantastic stuff!!!
I did see the fenders on VG Tuning FB and it’s great to see they’re here in Melbs.

The rims just look crazy concave: soooo goood

[marcus.bspec]

Fantastic stuff!!!
I did see the fenders on VG Tuning FB and it’s great to see they’re here in Melbs.

The rims just look crazy concave: soooo goood

Thanks heaps benny, same to you, your profile has been a great read over the years

And yess, the same width and offset as the 57DR's yet the concavity makes them appear so much wider, i love it!

[bigBADbenny]

Just wrapping the fenders: that really demonstrates the utility of wrap. Bam, and done.

Is the car on a more or less stock alignment?
I ask because even with the wide guards the rims still appear to poke a tiny bit.
Interested to see the new alignment specs once it’s done.

Additionally, how do you set your ride height?
Are the tyre tops just below guard level?
I’ll be resetting mine asap as the rear springs have settled lower again, and I like some rake...

What’s the advantage of fibreglass vs FRP?
Is it strength? I’ve seen video of VG smashing splash moulds with a mash hammer and they don’t even dent!

I’ve been tracking progress of the Russian widebody kits.
At first it was all Pandem style, which imho really doesn’t fit the slab side BP/BL body.

Then the S209 came out and it was like a lightbulb went off: Fenderist revealed their kit that looked like it belonged on the car, at last, with the various tricky areas like rear quarters dealt with by the use of cutouts.

Then next minute, VG brings out a very similar looling kit: choices are great!