Showing posts with label flush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flush. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Two Gold Sedans
Met up with my partner-in-crime Jared of JaredLevinePhotography to grab some a few pics for i'mSTANCED. We're working hard on some things for the summer to help the Minnesota, and Midwest stance scene. Stay tuned for more updates regarding events and meets. Jared's Infiniti will be getting some work soon while the LS is sporting a subtle change that really helped the overall impact of the car. For now, enjoy a few pics from the evening:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
i'mSTANCED tc and LS400
I met up with fellow i'mSTANCED members Jared and Nam for a little late-night shoot. Nam's tc is sporting a new set of Varstoens of the 18" variety, and look great tucked up under his arches. Jared was bustling around with the video camera while I snapped away.
As for the LS, well, not much has changed over the winter...BUT...I did sort a few things. A little teaser for now. Look for more after Cars & Cafe this weekend
Check out i'mSTANCED on facebook: i'mSTANCED Facebook page
As for the LS, well, not much has changed over the winter...BUT...I did sort a few things. A little teaser for now. Look for more after Cars & Cafe this weekend
Check out i'mSTANCED on facebook: i'mSTANCED Facebook page
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Slide Dog Millionaire
Let's face it. In today's world, some people take things way too seriously, and the automotive scene is no different. Everyone should be in it for the love of the scene and enjoying the journey one takes with a car. Sadly, there are some who just make things unbearable. Whether they are voicing their disapproval over someone's car, or someone being too hard on him or herself for a poor performance, it's easy to take the fun out of the culture which is something that needs to be avoided to keep everything going. Drifting is one aspect of the automotive culture that has this problem. What started out as a fun, grassroots type sport has now exploded into the mainstream and international fame. The competition is fierce and the competitors no less. You have to be at the top of your game to stay up top, but does that mean the sport can't be fun anymore? Surely not.
Meet Chris Hooker, also known as C.J the Husky, and the owner of this 240sx here. Although young and somewhat new to the scene, his attitude is something that a lot of people can learn from. While he strives to get better, he doesn't let that stop him from enjoying every minute he is behind the wheel of his car, whether he's driving it to a convention, or sliding it at a local drift event. This car gets driven a lot and driven hard being that it is his drift machine/road-trip vehicle, and it's great to see Chris having such an awesome attitude towards everything.
Chris's story begins in the summer of 2008 when he picked up this 1991 240sx for the fair sum of $1,250. The car, however, barely ran, suffering from rod-knock. Chris said the car died after he got the car off of the trailer and into his driveway. Not one to be discouraged, he jumped right in, getting his paws dirty, and the following week the motor was out of the car and ready to be torn down for the rebuild. Ready for the challenge, and armed with only his willingness to learn, Chris set about reading all he could on building up his KA motor for boost. During this time, he worked as much as he could at his job at the local grocers, and his free time was spent gathering all the information he needed to do the job himself. After securing a small bank loan to fund the build, Chris started ordering the parts needed to build the motor. During the winter months, the motor was sent to the machine shop for the necessary machining for over-sized pistons and having everything checked and cleaned. Once back in his possession, Chris busted out his trusty service manual, and set about re-assembling his new KA motor. The block has been fitted with CP pistons mounted on a set of Eagle rods with Clevite 77 bearings. The head consists of a set of '91 DE cams and a Cometic head-gasket. He finished the rebuild by spring of '09 and broke the motor in in NA form.
By the summer of '09, everything was broken in and running smooth. It was at this time that Chris purchased a set of coilovers to get the car sitting right, along with a set of 16x8 +0 Sportmax wheels wrapped in 205/50/16 tires to get the stance on point. This was how the car sat for most of 2009, and as it came to a close with Chris putting the car in the garage for the winter, he started to plan his latest makeover which would start in early 2010. The winter months were spent reading and researching about boosting the KA motor, and collecting parts. In March, Chris stripped the chassis down to take care of some body work and give the chassis a new coat of paint. He decided on bright pink because...well, why the hell not! Remember that thing called "fun"? Well, this doggy was certainly having a blast building up his car. With the body work and paint completed, it was time to bolt on all those turbo goodies Chris had been collecting. Centered around a Turbonetics t3 50-trim turbo and a JGS top-mount, turbo manifold, everything was a straight-forward affair. A Godspeed intercooler and Koyo radiator with dual Altima fans keep things cool while an Apex-i 3" down-pipe and 3" exhaust expel the fumes. A Z32 MAF feeds the turbo with a JGS 400 waste-gate coupled with an AEM Tru-boost keep boost under control. An EFI Specialists ECU, combined with an Apex-i NEO, AEM wide-band, Turbo XS Knock-Lite, and ISIS FPR keep fuel and timing in check, and everything running smoothly. Lastly, an ACT 6-puck clutch and familiar welded diff get the power to both wheels and keep them spinning. By May of 2010, the car was all done and Chris was ready to have some fun.
With the summer filled with drift events and conventions, this husky certainly enjoyed his car, built with his own two paws, to its fullest. The two have become a regular site at the local drift events on the east coast as well as the surrounding area fur conventions. Chris certainly had a great time building his drift machine, and even a better time using it. Now isn't that what this hobby is all about? Sounds a lot more appealing than dealing with drama, internet critics, and inflating egos. Just build it, beat on it, and have a damn good time doing it. With the car put away for the winter, Chris has a few things up his sleeve for 2011 which I can't wait to see. What is for certain though, is that Chris is going to have fun doing it. So, from one husky to another, keep on it and have a blast! You and your car are what this culture is all about.
Meet Chris Hooker, also known as C.J the Husky, and the owner of this 240sx here. Although young and somewhat new to the scene, his attitude is something that a lot of people can learn from. While he strives to get better, he doesn't let that stop him from enjoying every minute he is behind the wheel of his car, whether he's driving it to a convention, or sliding it at a local drift event. This car gets driven a lot and driven hard being that it is his drift machine/road-trip vehicle, and it's great to see Chris having such an awesome attitude towards everything.
Chris's story begins in the summer of 2008 when he picked up this 1991 240sx for the fair sum of $1,250. The car, however, barely ran, suffering from rod-knock. Chris said the car died after he got the car off of the trailer and into his driveway. Not one to be discouraged, he jumped right in, getting his paws dirty, and the following week the motor was out of the car and ready to be torn down for the rebuild. Ready for the challenge, and armed with only his willingness to learn, Chris set about reading all he could on building up his KA motor for boost. During this time, he worked as much as he could at his job at the local grocers, and his free time was spent gathering all the information he needed to do the job himself. After securing a small bank loan to fund the build, Chris started ordering the parts needed to build the motor. During the winter months, the motor was sent to the machine shop for the necessary machining for over-sized pistons and having everything checked and cleaned. Once back in his possession, Chris busted out his trusty service manual, and set about re-assembling his new KA motor. The block has been fitted with CP pistons mounted on a set of Eagle rods with Clevite 77 bearings. The head consists of a set of '91 DE cams and a Cometic head-gasket. He finished the rebuild by spring of '09 and broke the motor in in NA form.
By the summer of '09, everything was broken in and running smooth. It was at this time that Chris purchased a set of coilovers to get the car sitting right, along with a set of 16x8 +0 Sportmax wheels wrapped in 205/50/16 tires to get the stance on point. This was how the car sat for most of 2009, and as it came to a close with Chris putting the car in the garage for the winter, he started to plan his latest makeover which would start in early 2010. The winter months were spent reading and researching about boosting the KA motor, and collecting parts. In March, Chris stripped the chassis down to take care of some body work and give the chassis a new coat of paint. He decided on bright pink because...well, why the hell not! Remember that thing called "fun"? Well, this doggy was certainly having a blast building up his car. With the body work and paint completed, it was time to bolt on all those turbo goodies Chris had been collecting. Centered around a Turbonetics t3 50-trim turbo and a JGS top-mount, turbo manifold, everything was a straight-forward affair. A Godspeed intercooler and Koyo radiator with dual Altima fans keep things cool while an Apex-i 3" down-pipe and 3" exhaust expel the fumes. A Z32 MAF feeds the turbo with a JGS 400 waste-gate coupled with an AEM Tru-boost keep boost under control. An EFI Specialists ECU, combined with an Apex-i NEO, AEM wide-band, Turbo XS Knock-Lite, and ISIS FPR keep fuel and timing in check, and everything running smoothly. Lastly, an ACT 6-puck clutch and familiar welded diff get the power to both wheels and keep them spinning. By May of 2010, the car was all done and Chris was ready to have some fun.
With the summer filled with drift events and conventions, this husky certainly enjoyed his car, built with his own two paws, to its fullest. The two have become a regular site at the local drift events on the east coast as well as the surrounding area fur conventions. Chris certainly had a great time building his drift machine, and even a better time using it. Now isn't that what this hobby is all about? Sounds a lot more appealing than dealing with drama, internet critics, and inflating egos. Just build it, beat on it, and have a damn good time doing it. With the car put away for the winter, Chris has a few things up his sleeve for 2011 which I can't wait to see. What is for certain though, is that Chris is going to have fun doing it. So, from one husky to another, keep on it and have a blast! You and your car are what this culture is all about.
Photos provided by: Brenden Romus
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A Pair of GTIs
Was hanging out at one of the local spots the other night when a rather well-known MKIV GTI owned by the one-and-only Tattoo Mike showed up. He and I have known each other for a few years, but had an interesting way of meeting. All that is in the past now, and he's one of the coolest guys out there and can build quite the car to boot. We're working on scheduling a full shoot soon, so stay tuned!
One of his friends/customers showed up with his gorgeous, white MKIV 1.8t. The paint was immaculate.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Volvo and a Lexus
Rolled around with my friend Ivan this weekend and his super clean, Volvo C30R. Such a great car with very little done to it, but certainly enough to create a large impact.
Such a great stance, and this is just on springs. Coils are coming after the winter.
Such a great stance, and this is just on springs. Coils are coming after the winter.
Parked up with my LS400
And just a couple of the LS pretty much sitting where it will be for the rest of the year. 2011 will be a lot lower.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday Night at Porky's
Stopped by the MN Mazda meet this past Wednesday to hang out with some friends and other cool peeps. My friend Eric was there with his Cannonball, One Lap of America C5 FRC. Fully-built is an understatement. Full photoshoot soon.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
More GTI Photos
Little photoshoot again with Erik A's 98 MKIII GTI, this time on his track setup; 16" Rota Slip-Streams with Nitto NT-01s. Mmmm-mmmm good.
Friday, April 9, 2010
GPR Auto IS300
Change. Change seems to be the the theme of the last few years, everybody seems to be stressing change. Whether it's in politics, the economy, or something as simple as a new look, change is what's hot right now. Change is always good though. It pushes the boundaries, breaks the mold, gets people's attention, and sends a message.
Guillermo Escamilla, from Kosoku, based out of Southern California took a look at the current Lexus IS scene and decided to change it forever. What happened next changed the IS game, and in the grand scheme of things, the car scene for good. The reviews are mixed, but this is exactly what the scene needed.
Clearly, the look is a love it or hate affair, but wherever you fall, you cannot help but look and stare. The slammed stance, the crazy, aggressive wheel setup, the insane amount of poke, the ridiculous stretch, and of course, the graphics. What started simply as just adding a black vinyl wrap to the hood, which them became covered with stickers and graffiti, has now turned into a style all its own. The giraffe print on the hood, bumper, fenders, quarter panels, and even the interior, is something that cannot be ignored. One cannot help but stare. Why the giraffe print? Well, why not? Outside of the box, different, going against the grain, however you want to call it, it certainly gets the job done.
The graphics weren't the main goal though, although it certainly is a highlight. What steals the spotlight though is the wheel setup. I remember when I started in the IS game back in 06 and remember seeing +20s on a IS300 and thinking, "wow, that's aggressive!" Well, Guillermo certainly showed what can be done with fitment on the IS300. His IS wears a set of Leon Hardiritt Ordens, sized 18x9 +7 and 18x10 -5. Let me retype that; 18x9 +7 in the front and 18x10 -5 in the rear. Just about on any car that is considered aggressive, but absolutely unheard of on an IS300. With the car slammed to the floor, the setup is more than flush. Forget hellaflush, this is hellaPOKE! With 215s stretched on every corner, the presence this car gives is quite astonishing. It makes some drool while others want to smash their keyboard in anger. Like I said, it really is a love it or hate it look, and controversy definitely surrounds this car.
Whether you love the look, or absolutely detest it, there is no ignoring the fact that this car came and changed the game up. The off-the-wall styling, insane wheel fitment, and the low n' slow style certainly make this car noticed wherever it goes, and it certainly goes far. With over 160,000 miles on the odometer, this is no show queen. Driven daily-dumped on the streets of SoCal, this car makes a statement wherever it goes. Despite its fair share of haters, Guillermo silenced his critics and the Wek Fest event back in Feb where he took home 1st Place in the IS Series category, as well as a spread in S3 magazine. This car came along and changed the scene with one of the most unique looks in a long time.
For more info check out GPR Auto's page on Facebook.
Photos courtesy of Daniel Kroothanooch and used with permission by the owner of the car.
Guillermo Escamilla, from Kosoku, based out of Southern California took a look at the current Lexus IS scene and decided to change it forever. What happened next changed the IS game, and in the grand scheme of things, the car scene for good. The reviews are mixed, but this is exactly what the scene needed.
Clearly, the look is a love it or hate affair, but wherever you fall, you cannot help but look and stare. The slammed stance, the crazy, aggressive wheel setup, the insane amount of poke, the ridiculous stretch, and of course, the graphics. What started simply as just adding a black vinyl wrap to the hood, which them became covered with stickers and graffiti, has now turned into a style all its own. The giraffe print on the hood, bumper, fenders, quarter panels, and even the interior, is something that cannot be ignored. One cannot help but stare. Why the giraffe print? Well, why not? Outside of the box, different, going against the grain, however you want to call it, it certainly gets the job done.
The graphics weren't the main goal though, although it certainly is a highlight. What steals the spotlight though is the wheel setup. I remember when I started in the IS game back in 06 and remember seeing +20s on a IS300 and thinking, "wow, that's aggressive!" Well, Guillermo certainly showed what can be done with fitment on the IS300. His IS wears a set of Leon Hardiritt Ordens, sized 18x9 +7 and 18x10 -5. Let me retype that; 18x9 +7 in the front and 18x10 -5 in the rear. Just about on any car that is considered aggressive, but absolutely unheard of on an IS300. With the car slammed to the floor, the setup is more than flush. Forget hellaflush, this is hellaPOKE! With 215s stretched on every corner, the presence this car gives is quite astonishing. It makes some drool while others want to smash their keyboard in anger. Like I said, it really is a love it or hate it look, and controversy definitely surrounds this car.
Whether you love the look, or absolutely detest it, there is no ignoring the fact that this car came and changed the game up. The off-the-wall styling, insane wheel fitment, and the low n' slow style certainly make this car noticed wherever it goes, and it certainly goes far. With over 160,000 miles on the odometer, this is no show queen. Driven daily-dumped on the streets of SoCal, this car makes a statement wherever it goes. Despite its fair share of haters, Guillermo silenced his critics and the Wek Fest event back in Feb where he took home 1st Place in the IS Series category, as well as a spread in S3 magazine. This car came along and changed the scene with one of the most unique looks in a long time.
For more info check out GPR Auto's page on Facebook.
Photos courtesy of Daniel Kroothanooch and used with permission by the owner of the car.
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