Modifications

[ALY77]

To save spiralling a long and old thread off in this direction (though its well on its way already), I thought I'd start a new one!

Modifying, even in a subtle fashion, good or bad???

Personally I think its a bit of a fashion thing, where extremes of trends will come and go, some will jump on board to then look back in dismay later where as others wont buy in to it much at all and never really have a skeleton in their closet as a result. Well, not one they were solely responsible for creating in the first instance.

Certain trends always appear to stand the test of time though;
Show me a car that doesn't look good & handle better sitting a little lower than standard with marginally bigger wheels.
Likewise, what car doesn't drive better with a little bit more power eeeked from it, beit by air filter/exhaust or by engine management.

[skene]

On the whole I like it, but I am young, although, I tend to like subtlety. Lowered a bit, nice wheels, smoked/tinted lights, debadged all those kinds of things. As far as engine modifications go, I like induction sounds and not massive fart cans on 1.2 Corsas. But each to their own!

[AmiableChimp]

I am about to hit 40 next month.

I have never left any of my cars completely standard, although have modified in differing quantities on each (my Prelude being the most modified).

Personally, I like to put my own stamp on the car - I like to think my Rota (minilite style) alloys suit my MX5 in a retro-style kinda way.

Some folk might agree, others think i'm daft for spending £600+ on wheels/tyres but it's my money, my choice.

I have never 'got'the whole big bodykit/huge stereo thing but can appreciate the amount of work that can go into these kind of motors.

At the end of the day, if you are not hurting anyone, what's the harm!

[Monaro5.7]

Modding well iam 35 and have started on my bigges project yet, but leaving the wheels and stereo alone.

Where do i start

Mods so far on Monaro V8

Already installed
Custom made headers and 200 cell cats, middle boxes removed.
85mm throttle body
Special air intake (straigh into throttle body)

Waitting to go on
Bigger brakes
Bigger antiroll bars
Polybushes

Engine work
Much bigger cam
2 x Gas flowed heads
Bigger vavles
Various other internals that are needed.

ECU work
Remap

Due date end of june

[Malcster]

I really think it depends on the car.
If I had a stunning hand built TVR I would keep it all OEM I think.

But other cars I think really benefit from mild styling and tuning.
Subtle lip kits all around, lowered mildly and some nice wheels do wonderes for all manner of cars:

My CRX Del Sol SiR (though this pic is from another site, but you get the idea)...

Before


After


And my current MR2...

Before


After

[6C4GTS]

Malcster said:

I really think it depends on the car.
If I had a stunning hand built TVR I would keep it all OEM I think.

But other cars I think really benefit from mild styling and tuning.
Subtle lip kits all around, lowered mildly and some nice wheels do wonderes for all manner of cars:

My CRX Del Sol SiR (though this pic is from another site, but you get the idea)...

Before


After


And my current MR2...

Before


After

Skirts and lips without a lift in wheel size makes the cars look like they have pram wheels!
Modding with style is about balance and attention to detail IMO.

[klimakool]

different people have different views to what modifying is, i have a few customers who see modifying as body kits, some who think that its the stick a bigger engine in, and we have myself, i class modifying simply as putting in uprated versions of the standard parts, beteer/bigger brakes to simple changing to irridium plugs. what ever way its thought, if done correctly i'm for is as alot of mods can improve handling to which in the grand scheme the manufacturers couldn't justify the overall cost of doing it to every unit sold!

[FamilyDub]

For every OEM-inspired car that is all about obsessive details, there will be some mental-spoiler'd rocketship... in pink, or something.

To each to their own.

[KB_S1]

I have just bought a classic Impreza wagon.

When bought it had a set of 18" alloys fitted.
I swapped immediately for the original 6 spoke 16" wheels.

IMO it looks better.

What is a definite though is how much it improved the handling, ride and braking.

Some modifications I am fully approving of though.

[Kays vRS]

Personally I think subtle is best when it comes to mods. I've made quite a few changes to my car: mainly cosmetic: powdercoated wheels, colour-coded callipers, custom badges, window tints etc, it's also been lowered/remapped, but mostly it's subtle stuff (at least I don't think I've overdone it). I've had people suggest a list of other things that could be changed (better turbo, intercooler, exhaust etc) but tbh I'd sooner save the money and put it towards a better car.

Each to their own though; I don't see anything wrong with wanting to make your pride & joy unique (unless it involves spraying it pink). I'm not a fan of body kits and comedy exhausts though. I like going to modified car shows though, the time and effort that goes into some cars has to be appreciated.

[VetteG]

A few of you mentioned age as if it was relevent to your cars I have been modifying cars all my life and I'm just past my 65th birthday and I'm still doing my Corvette Stingray.

small block puts out about 450bhp through a 6 speed Tremec T56 close ratio box, rack & pinion steering, coil over double adjustable suspension, sports brakes, 18" wheels etc etc.
So what's age got to do with it?

G

[MidnightXR6]

Ive mainly went down the road of more power and suspension mods. First thing i always do is poly bushing.

So far the the truck is poly bushed everwhere, bigger brakes. And more power. Only thin i plan on doing is bigger wheels and wide rears.

[a11y_m]

Depends on the car, but for me it's subtle all the way: minor cosmetic changes along with small improvements for performance. Agree that poly bushes can make a good difference especially if you're looking at other suspension mods. The original bushes in my Z4 are massive soft rubbery things, first thing I did was replace them with poly ones for a "better" base for geometry settings. Not sure you can call ditching runflat tyres a modification, but it's certainly subtle and by far the biggest improvement in my car.

Anything I've done with cars in the past has always involved OEM parts from other models in the range or related cars, e.g. Cup splitter on the front of a regular Clio 172, Leon Cupra splitter on the front of an Ibiza (common one for Fabia's too I believe). Guess you could call it OEM+.

[Sunnysidebb]

VetteG said:

A few of you mentioned age as if it was relevent to your cars I have been modifying cars all my life and I'm just past my 65th birthday and I'm still doing my Corvette Stingray.

small block puts out about 450bhp through a 6 speed Tremec T56 close ratio box, rack & pinion steering, coil over double adjustable suspension, sports brakes, 18" wheels etc etc.
So what's age got to do with it?

G

Booooo Teeeee fullllll car
I'm 45 and your a man of my own heart. Keep it going Pop's I hope I will still be into Cars and modding in another 20 years, been doint it since I was 17 on my first car (Holbay Hillman Hunter) and still doing it now. (911 Turbo).

I love it.
Frank

[GetCarter]

ALY77 said:

Show me a car that doesn't look good & handle better sitting a little lower than standard with marginally bigger wheels.

Can sometimes ruin a car's performance. Mine for instance.

[VetteG]

Agreed, bump steer,castor and camber all come into play when you do that.

G

[FamilyDub]

ALY77 said:

Show me a car that doesn't look good & handle better sitting a little lower than standard with marginally bigger wheels.

^^ Ride comfort isn't as good going from 17" --> 18" on my car and the smaller wheels are better for handling and they carry less unsprung weight...







I'll concede the 18" look better though..

[johnnyr6]

Like most have said i like the subtle look. I'm more for performance than looks.

At the young age of 38 i'm just starting to seriously play with my impreza, its getting a rebuilt engine, box, fuel system, brakes suspension and chassis. Although it will be lowered more than it is already i will be keeping it looking as standard as possible.

Johnny

[robinh20mrv]

I am putting 18 inch wheels on my E92 M3, And i already have a fabspeed x- over, that and a re-map will be all i do.

[SSC!]

GetCarter said:

ALY77 said:

Show me a car that doesn't look good & handle better sitting a little lower than standard with marginally bigger wheels.

Can sometimes ruin a car's performance. Mine for instance.

I SSSSsssoooooo wanna get my hands on your car Steve. Yum yum!!