If you have about 13 minutes...

...check out the first episode of this YouTube series featuring Yukimitsu Hara of Car Shop GLOW. It's worth the watch, especially if you are into FD's.

Car Shop GLOW TV

JDMphasis... Innovation over Imitation

Project FD: RE-Amemiya Facer N1 VS Facer N1 (2002)

I have done well in terms of adhering to my goal of holding off on the purchase of any parts for this car to this point. However, as I have mentioned a few times in my posts, I have an idea of the direction I would like this project to take. Who knows? Things will inevitably arise and plans will likely change, but it is always a good idea to plan. 

I have done my research in regards to aero options for the FD. In fact, I have actually attempted to find an alternative to RE-Amemiya. In my humble opinion, there is nothing that compares. In fact, I actually want to like something else, as some argue RE-Amemiya is "played out," as abstract a claim as that may be, given that I am quite confident the vast majority of people out there do not encounter an abundance of RE-Amemiya-kitted FD's during their daily conventions. FEED, TCP, and even the controversially insane Fortune kit from VeilSide have all, at one time or another, popped into my head as potential options, but they are shortly thereafter dismissed as inferior to the aero of the legendary rotary tuner. 

Undoubtedly the most popular front bumper in the RE-Amemiya line-up, the N1 is available in a few different variations. Personally, I prefer a version that can be complemented with the RE-Amemiya under sweep. (For those that do not know, the carbon "lip" that runs along the bottom edge of the bumper is a separate piece from the bumper itself. It extends under the front end of the vehicle and is referred to as the undersweep.) That leaves a couple options. There is the older version with the slightly rounder form, fitted with orange reflectors. Then there is the newer (2002) version of the N1 with the sharper lines, clear winkers, and added intercooler vent.


OLDER - Facer N1

NEWER - Facer N1 (2002)

I go back and forth between these two options what seems like every day. I have altered my 'Build List' at least six times to this point. If I decide to go this route with the car, I have a feeling it will be a coin-flip that decides which version I choose. On the one hand, I like the newer look with the vents and the winkers, but I also like the more "traditional" design and ever-so-slightly rounder look of the older version. In a way, the older version strikes me as a bit more period-correct for this car, as absurd or outlandish as that may seem. As stressed above, who knows? I have plenty of time to wrestle with this prospect.

Nonetheless, Stay tuned...

How about a few shots of the CSG FD?

Are there many/any rivals to the RE-Amemiya clad FD by Car Shop Glow?

(Capture Credit: Dino Dalle Carbonare, Speedhunters)

(Capture Credit: Aaron Mai Media)

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Timeless.

I love this FD sporting RE-Amemiya aero and Volk Racing shoes.

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

My Car Show Post. [Import Evolution - Boston]

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I have not really had a chance to blog much lately.

It is safe to say that I am not a huge car show guy. I enjoy them to an extent, but I am certainly not a diehard. I have been to a handful of car shows in the past 15 years. About 2 weeks ago, however, my friends at Pro-Spec Autosport reached out to me and asked if they could use the FJ in their booth at the Import Evolution show that weekend. Though I wish I had a little more notice as I would have liked to do a few things to the truck beforehand (and I tried), I was happy to lend it to them for the show. I left the truck with my good friend Brian on Wednesday evening so they could clean it up in time for roll-in on Friday morning and I picked it up the following Tuesday.

I took a ride in to the city on Saturday afternoon to check out the show. As I mentioned, it has been a while since I have attended a show of this nature, but, in some ways, it felt as though I had not missed a beat and stepped back into the 90's when I entered the World Trade Center in the Seaport of Boston. There were some very nice projects on display, but I venture to say that there were far more cars to which I could only internally face-palm.

Though not my ambition in a build, I can certainly respect the work that a true "show car build" demands. I can appreciate the time, work, money, and dedication devoted to a quality build. There were a few of those this weekend. What I cannot and will not ever fully understand is corner-cutting. There was quite a bit of that.

Attending and participating in car shows is an effort. It is a hobby that requires dedication and a substantial amount of time and I am not even talking about the car itself. I am talking about the traveling - many people attend shows from different states, taking time off from work and planning to travel for a day or more just to reach the destination of the event. Many people stay in hotels and plan their weeks or weekends around car shows. Then there is the show itself. Roll-in is usually the day or night before. Then the day or two or three days of the show. Hours upon hours of walking around or sitting around during the show. Needless to say, it takes a devoted person. I suppose it just does not seem logical to me, if one's aspiration is to participate in car shows or display their project, their pride and joy, and undertake and endure these efforts and these sacrifices to expose their projects to the general public, to willingly open it up to discerning eyes (and criticism), that one would then cut corners.

I was actually talking to my buddy about it the day of the show. We stepped outside of the blaring music and flashing lights for a few minutes and walked up to the top of the building where he smoked a cigarette and I admired the Boston skyline. He knows how I feel about authentic parts and cutting corners. I think, though he does not necessarily agree with me 100% of the time, that he respects my viewpoint. I expressed for the 100th time my mentality of "saving for a little longer" that the readers of this blog are all too familiar with, to which he responded with his form of acquiescence. (Or maybe he just did not want to hear me gripe any further.) Either way, it is funny. As we stood there, away from the loud music and bright lights, I told him about a message I had received a few days before from a follower of the blog. The gentleman wanted some stickers for his car. A portion of the message read something along the lines of, "I love this blog. Not many like it." I remember laughing when I read it. There are many people who hate this blog because they believe I am an elitist or a "mod snob." Or their feelings are hurt. Or whatever… Believe me, I get that. I certainly do not aim to please everyone. At the same time, I do not strive to make enemies. If encouraging people to support the pioneers of the industry and save a bit longer to buy authentic over replicas and knock-offs makes me elitist, then I guess, yes, I am elitist. (A little while later, while walking around the show, my buddy introduced me to someone as "the guy who runs the JDMphasis blog." I turned to him after and told him that he was likely not doing me any favors.)

If you are reading this post, you are probably looking for some pictures from the show. My approach to the show was to walk around once and not take any pictures and then a second time and snap a couple shots with my phone. Fake wheels and fake aero galore. So much funk faked. I do not like to feature cars on this blog that I know are rocking fake parts. I believe that is the reason I am not just posting my mediocre coverage of this event and instead am sharing my thoughts on car shows in general - because, sadly, I would have roughly four pictures to share if I stuck with authentic-only builds. This show got me thinking and, thus, I suppose, inspired this post.

I know people use the budget logic as an excuse for corner-cutting. "Not everyone can afford real wheels or real aero," as well as the "I build my car for me. I don't care what you think" rationale. Frankly, I do not buy it. The amount of money devoted to showing cars and enjoying this hobby and building something you call your pride and joy, why not hold off on those Rotas, Varrstoens, or Shine or Outcast Garage or No-Name body kit for a few more weeks and support the originator? Despite what you would like people to believe, it is possible. As for not caring what anyone thinks because you build your car for you… Keep telling us that while you plaster pictures of it all over the internet and display it at shows.

Call me a hater. Unlike the page because you do not like my tone or your feelings are hurt. Bluntly, I was just a bit underwhelmed with what I saw. I expected more. Do not get me wrong, there were some great builds there, but there were far more cringe-worthy cars on display. As I mentioned, fake wheels and aero all over the place. Fake Bride seats. There were a couple cars with decals displaying brands of parts that were nowhere to be found on the car! No joke. At one point I walked by a widebody FRS with a swan neck Voltex wing (real thing seen here on Jason Hoang's of LifewithJson FRS) and I remarked to my buddy who has some knowledge about this particular car as he has done some work on it, "I like the Voltex wing," to which he turned and whispered to me, "It's not real."

It is what it is. I know my disapproval and ranting is not going to change many minds or convince many people to forego their corner-cutting tendencies and build a legitimate car with authentic, original parts, but why not give it a shot?

Be the Funk. Don't Fake It.

A few shots from the show...

Beantown.

Clean NSX on Meisters…

Again, not necessarily my cup of tea, but the work of this interior was legit! 

Andddd… The "Voltex" wing.

Liberty Walk G37 sedan...

Love the matte white of this Liberty Walk R35...

Black Fleet by Rays Engineering...

Wish I could say the aero is authentic...

Runduce… AUTHENTIC!

LOVE these Works...

And the one and only shot I took of the FJ...

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation

Loaded.

CSG FD safe and secure.

The fecal-flavored FD is fresh as ever with some radically enhanced RE-Amemiya aero and a set of Volk Racing ZE40s...

Project FJ: Sluggish Progression

The blog posts on Project FJ are slow because the progress on Project FJ is slow. Wheels were ordered within the first week of ownership, but there had not been any further purchases until this past week. 

The odometer currently sits at 3,300+ miles. I drive this truck every day, so I have a good feel for it. I am confident and feel as though I know of what it is capable, as well as what it is not. No, this is not a sports car, but that is irrelevant. That awareness and intimacy was something a bit foreign to me with my other projects. Do not get me wrong, I knew them quite well (especially the Z33), but there is a certain familiarity that comes with driving the same vehicle day in and day out that quite simply is not there when the vehicle scarcely logs double-digit mileage each month. It is a simple certainty: knowing a vehicle is driving that vehicle.

When I look at the FJ in its current state I am not blown away. One of the universal sentiments of car enthusiasts states that when you park the car, get out, and walk away, there is something wrong if you do not, at the very least, turn around to take a quick glance at it. This snap by SlowNSerious Photography sums up that notion quite accurately. (It also makes me hate myself for selling the FD!)

I do not turn and glance at the FJ. Perhaps that is because it presently looks like every other FJ on the road. Perhaps it is because the FJ, by nature, is not an exceptionally "sexy" vehicle. Perhaps it is because there are certain aesthetic elements about the truck that I do not particularly like. The good thing about this? It can be remedied. It will be remedied. One of the initial draws to this vehicle for me is the aftermarket support. These trucks can look great with the proper modifications. Not great in the same way a GT-R, NSX, or Supra look great, but great in its own realm. I have had the truck for a couple months and I have been researching suspension components from the day I took delivery of it... 

Two inches or three inches? Three inch suspension lift with a one inch body lift? Six inch lift? Shocks? Coils? Spacers? 

The possibilities are endless. I have researched on forums and different websites and I have had quite a few lengthy e-mail exchanges with representatives from different companies. That said, I have finally made my decision and will be placing an order for a 3" lift kit within the next few days. I opted to go for the ToyTec Boss Suspension System.

It is a bit out of the price range in which I was hoping to stay, but I do not believe I will have any regrets. After spending this much time reading and researching, I believe this kit will be ideal for me. I am okay with spending a few extra dollars for quality. From the ToyTec website:

Designed for the best overall ride comfort and performance in mind, this complete lift kit is the best lift on the market. 

ToyTec’s new BOSS front coilover is designed with a larger 5/8” Nitro steel shock shaft which is much more corrosion resistant than chrome plating and is valved specific to your Toyota. This improves overall handling and performance. The threaded Clear-Blue Chromate zinc plated steel shock body is adjustable from 0-3” of front lift height and can be fine tuned to level your truck side to side and front to back. The shocks have a 200 psi gas charge and each shock is dyno’d before it is shipped.

Upper mounts and adjustment rings are machined from 6061-T6 Billet aluminum and are then anodized black to prevent corrosion. Long handled TIG welded spanner wrenches are included for easy adjustment.

We only use Eibach springs for our coilovers which means you have the best name and quality in the business supporting your vehicle.

I opted for the Heavy Duty rear springs as I ordered a rear bumper with spare tire carrier that will add some weight to the rear of the truck. I also opted to upgrade the upper control arms at this time. ToyTec offers a package deal with Light Racing UCA's to save a few dollars. In doing some research, I learned that Light Racing is actually SPC. I have never really been a fan of SPC products, so I am going with the uniball upper control arms from ICON Vehicle Dynamics.

Wheels and suspension components sorted out, tires are next! I have spent hours on the tire size conversion calculators and tire websites trying to see who offers what in what sizes. Tedious. However, I have figured out what I am going to be running for tires. I am going with the new all-terrain rubber from BF Goodrich - All-Terrain T/A KO2.

Quite similar in appearance to the T/A KO, this new tire boasts of tougher sidewalls and longer tread life. We shall see. I had a set of the originals on an older Chevy Tahoe a few years back and I had no complaints. The aggressive tread pattern and street drivability are the aspects of this tire that appeal most to me. I also like the fact that the newer model seems a bit less "squared" than the original. Here are a few comparison shots of the KO and the KO2. (Credit: Discount Tire)

I have purchased a few other parts for the FJ over the last week, but nothing too crazy. I think suspension and tires is where I will leave off for now. I will be sure to post another update once some further progress is made. 

I will close this post by saying that I have not seen one particular FJ that has made me say, "Yes! That is exactly how I want mine to look!" There are certain aspects of different FJ's out there that appeal to me, but no single truck has stuck out as sole aspiration. I believe that to be a good thing. Originality is a big part of modifying. I am hoping this project turns out to be a completely original work of [rugged] art. It will be different. Sadly, I am not modifying a sports car at this time, but nonetheless, I do look forward to sharing this project with the readers of JDMphasis. Thank you and stay tuned…

Shots like these...

…are what will make me regret selling the FD. Not a glamorous photo by any means, but there is just so much awesome in this shot by Car Shop Glow.

Introducing Project FJ...

If you had asked me a couple years ago what I thought about the Toyota FJ Cruiser, I likely would have told you that I thought it was ugly and just… not my bag. The retro styling reminiscent of the old Toyota Land Cruiser (which I did really like) was not something that appealed to me initially. However, over the past couple years or so, it is a vehicle that has really grabbed my attention and, with a recent desire to be a bit more responsible and practical, I began researching them further. My research only intrigued me more. I sold the FD not because I did not want a fun "toy" project vehicle, but because my daily driver was about to bite the dust and I knew I would have to take on another car payment. It was a sad day - one that I will look back upon and regret, no doubt, but it was the responsible decision for me at this point in my life. 

Anyway, living in the Northeast, winter is something that I had to consider in choosing my next vehicle. Knowing I wanted something that can handle the snow as well as something with some space, I began looking at a few different sport utility vehicles. I looked at some Jeep Grand Cherokees as well as Ford Explorers and a few other models. I was not exactly blown away by anything I looked at (within my price range). Acknowledging that I was not going to be able to afford an uber-luxurious Porsche Cayenne, Infiniti QX70, Audi SQ5/Q7, a Benz G-Wagon, or any other lavish and stately sport utilities, I began looking at the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Not only is it a functional and practical vehicle for this part of the country, but I really like how they look when they are jacked up a few inches with oversized tires. From there, I started looking at the FJ's and, frankly, it really was not much of a decision at that point. This is the Japanese version of the Jeep! To borrow the line of Matthew McConaughey from the weird new Buick commercials, "I didn't do it to be cool. I didn't do it to make a statement. I just liked it…"

So, a few weeks ago I took delivery of a black 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4x4 with automatic transmission and the Convenience and Upgrade packages. I also got the following options:

1. Roof Rack
2. All-Weather Floormats
3. Passenger Armrest (Yes, this is an option.)
4. Spare Tire Cover (Not shown in pictures below.)

I have to say, so far, I really like this truck. I like being up high. I like the wide and short windshield with three wipers. The interior is hardly plush and stately, but it is still quite nice. This truck means business and even though I will likely not be doing too much off-roading, it is nice to know I am driving something that can handle pretty much anything that is thrown at it. My one complaint would probably be that I wish it had a little more get-up-and-go, but I do realize this truck was not designed to rip up a drag strip.

That said, I do have some plans for this truck that have me pretty excited. In fact, I have already ordered my wheels. I have been researching parts and modification routes since the day I decided to pull the trigger on one of these. I have a pretty good idea as to what I will be doing. It will not be the same as modifying a Z, a G, or an RX-7, vehicles with an abundance of Japanese aftermarket support, but, nonetheless, corner-cutting will NOT be an option. One thing I have noticed about these trucks and the people who drive them is that they are a tight-knit community with a cult-like passion for and devotion to this platform, its history, and heritage. I look forward to meeting some fellow FJ Cruiser enthusiasts...

All that out of the way, here are a few shots of the new project.

100% Stock

I don't know how many FJ Cruisers are rocking JDMego plate frames, but that is not going to stop me. The other frame is a not-so-subtle hint as to the wheels I have on order...

JDMphasis… Innovation over Imitation