Project FJ: Slowly but Surely

The FJ project has been at a bit of a standstill. I am not in an unhinged rush to get this project underway. For whatever reason, I feel like taking my time with this one. Normally I am of the impatient and anxious mindset when it comes to modifying. Perhaps, as I alluded to in an earlier FJ post, this lack of restless anxiety is because this truck is not a "toy." It is my daily driver. I think there is something special about having a car that is simply a project car; something you devote time to enjoying on the weekend or in your spare time, not the practical vehicle that gets you from Point A to Point B on a daily basis. That said, parts have been arriving intermittently over the course of the past two months or so - nothing insane or exciting - I have yet to order tires or suspension components, as I am still researching what exactly I want to do with this truck in that regard. There is, however, one item about which I am excited. This is a phone-quality picture sent to me by my shop, but my rollers arrived last week!

Volk Racing TE37 Large P.C.D. 

There are not too many FJ Cruisers rolling on Volk Racing wheels, as many of these rigs are built for the purpose of mudding, trail riding, climbing, or embarking on camping expeditions and justifying the cost of this wheel when it could very likely sustain some abuse is a tough reality to stomach. Understandably. I do not foresee too many trails or rock-traversing in my future. I knew I wanted these wheels from the minute I decided I was going to buy a Cruiser. The downside? The 18" size. It limits the tire options a bit, but I think I can live with that…

Oh, and I did buy five of them, so my spare will match.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Amusing Photography...

My affinity for the parts of the Japanese Domestic Market is not based on a personal assessment of performance superiority. It is about design, quality, and attention to detail. Likely my biggest obsession of the industry, Power House Amuse is quite possibly the superlative of JDM parts. Hardly boring or run-of-the-mill, the products that come out of their facility in Chiba are not simply functional components to be admired momentarily pre-installation only to be forsaken shortly after brusque acknowledgment of any performance benefit or gain. Every Amuse part contains an all-too-real element of genuine automotive artistry.

Doing Work at Access Evolution - RS-Silent w/ Rolled, Gold Tips…

Panda FD killin' the game...

I apologize for the lack of posts and slow blog activity lately… I have been consumed with, well, life, I suppose. I will be writing an update on the FJ within the next few days, but, until then, enjoy the on-point FD of this Bulletproof Automotive customer, featuring RE-Amemiya aero and Volk rollers.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Be the Funk. Don't Fake It.

Fake TE37's with Nismo center caps. What? Ugh…

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

"Within Reason…"

A few months ago I was in the car with a couple friends when a GT-R passed us on the highway. One of my buddies turned to the other and remarked that the R35 is my dream car. When I said, "No. Not necessarily," he came back with a challenge. 

"Yeah it is. Within reason, what else would you rather have?"

I legitimately did not have an answer for him. Though I had never actually acknowledged the R35 as my "dream car," at that moment I realized that I did not have a "within reason" dream car. The "within reason" constraint is, of course, a relative limitation as it relates to finances and is open to discussion and squabble - a $100,000+ car is not exactly reasonable for me personally at this point in my life. However, the fact that I could not immediately retort with a make and model that I would choose over the GT-R genuinely surprised me. Of course, there are a hundred different cars I would love to have in my dream garage, but, being a JDM-o-phile, I still, even today, cannot think of a car (say, less than $125,000 USD - opting not to go for the Nismo Edition GT-R) that I would currently rather have in my possession than the R35 GT-R. I would love to own one of these… And, of course, modify it with some quality Japanese parts (to the tune of an additional $50,000 or so).

Maybe some day.

Anyway, still probably my favorite GT-R, the Varis/HKS Technical Factory R35 is a thing of beauty…