To a great deal of fuck all
Except my name is not Aladdin. And I paid for my bounty, not like that crook. Holy Frack did I pay..though not surprising, I am hardly known to be a purveyor of wise decisions.
Water is also known to be wet.
So it goes that I had been recently obsessed by the notion of purchasing far too many parts with no particular purpose for them for no particular reason. This notion was given extra impetus when I bought, and subsequently almost immediately sold my beloved BigEnd Roder wheels - despite having taken so long to find them, I was just feeling awash with an all-enveloping, p.i.t.a need to be particularly pedantic for the net benefit of null. Just headache, heartache and fruitcake.
Regardless, I persisted. scouring the Japanese auction pages frantically and desperately, almost in fear of the stark acknowledgement of having done something incredibly idiotic in selling the Roders. Nothing came up, but as always whenever I venture onto the Auction pages, other things started appealing, and blurring my focus. Not that that is particularly difficult to achieve - wave any manner of treats or brightly coloured objects in front of my face and I'm [brown] butter. Then, a series of precariously opportune events happened, that in isolation meant little, but together gave impetus to the impulse purchase of epic futility. Firstly, I found someone willing to bid on items for me, seeing as my usual go-to was (wisely) avoiding me. I had then received an email from someone that wanted my Roders, and I had exclaimed that I was actually hoping to buy in a set from Japan and could potentially help. Uh-huh..I then also realised that, I had actually a bit of spare monies in my account. Spare in that, it was not doing anything, and rather than invest/save/something vaguely more intellectual than throwing it at inane purchases, I decided it could be thrown. At inane purchases. Then the nail in the coffin. I found a person that worked with sending containers from Japan to anywhere. End of rational thought.
And it followed, a process of searching, missed bids, successful bids, and nothing really necessary or of any real purpose purchased. All the whilst ignoring "extraneous" costs to those issued thus far via the Paypal button for the bids. As the time passed, so the bounty accumulated. Realisation set in about the direction this situation was going; on a rather grander scale than any previous purchases from Japan, so I attempted to get some others to join in on the purchase. They did not catch - little did they know, much to their benefit. I continued undeterred. The months passed, the bids continued, and the costs piled on, though I denied their existence. I started going to eccentric paths, buying two sets of the same wheel, either to create the ideal set, or because I had found a "better" set after having already bought one. You know, as I am so ably endowed with a stable income. In the meantime, bidding duty transferred from the original Japanese fellow to the importer, as his apparent lack of grasp of English meant I was paying for items I did not request - only my lack of a sense of judgement is allowed to be responsible for such recklessness. Eventually I got bored, and decided it would be time to have everything shipped over. Which is when the real joy of this drawn out process came into play. Despite the export charge increasing by around 50% due to a "miscalculation" of item volume...of around 50%, that was not the issue.
I had grossly underestimated the effect of the actual importation.
Bah. And humbug.
Once I had collected my heart, from amongst the bricks that found myself in my underwear at receiving the importation invoice, I duly paid my dues. I was tempted not to replace my heart back to its tiny void in my chest. Obviously, one further joy was reserved for me, for the arrival of the items. Having only seen them in photographs in Japan, I had no real grasp of their actual scale.
Until I saw them piled at the bottom of my driveway returning late a Friday evening. All 439kg of it. Joy. At least the morning after would be suitably "animated", compared to my usual vigorous conscious coma. What it most certainly was not, was enjoyable. At all.
In the slightest.
In the slightest.
Ever.
439kg. Of fastidiously over-packaged. Heavy. Assorted rubbish. Which needed to be moved up a very considerate, slippery slope. A kind hearted fox had also decided to lay down its worth in the narrow gap between the parked cars. There was not any spilt milk, but I shall continue crying thank you very much.
Yayer
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Modifications List
Powertrain:
- Autobahn Oil Catch Tank (Not plumbed in)
- AutoStaff Intake Manifold Insulator Gasket
- Autobahn Oil Catch Tank (Not plumbed in)
- AutoStaff Intake Manifold Insulator Gasket
- Blitz Downpipe
- Blitz K1-200V Turbocharger (Waiting to rebuild)
- EP91 Glanza-V 4E-FTE Engine
- Extralube ZX1 Engine Oil Friction Reducer
- Ford Focus ST FMIC w/ Hayward & Scott Piping
- Hayward & Scott 2.5" Downpipe-Back single Muffler Exhaust System
- JAM Racing 1Bar Actuator (Waiting to install)
- Magnecor KV85 Spark Plug Wires
- Ported & Polished Stock 4E-FTE Throttlebody
- Blitz K1-200V Turbocharger (Waiting to rebuild)
- EP91 Glanza-V 4E-FTE Engine
- Extralube ZX1 Engine Oil Friction Reducer
- Ford Focus ST FMIC w/ Hayward & Scott Piping
- Hayward & Scott 2.5" Downpipe-Back single Muffler Exhaust System
- JAM Racing 1Bar Actuator (Waiting to install)
- Magnecor KV85 Spark Plug Wires
- Ported & Polished Stock 4E-FTE Throttlebody
- Royal Purple 5w30 Fully Synthetic Oil
- Redline Water Wetter Radiator Fluid Additive
- SARD Mag II Oil Filter
- SARD Magnetic Sump Plug
- Redline Water Wetter Radiator Fluid Additive
- SARD Mag II Oil Filter
- SARD Magnetic Sump Plug
- SARD Thermostat
- TRD 1.3kg/m Sports Radiator Cap
- TRD Duracon Oil Filler Cap
- Versa Cruise Voltage Stabiliser (removed)
- Zisco SUS321 Tubular CT9 Manifold
- TRD 1.3kg/m Sports Radiator Cap
- TRD Duracon Oil Filler Cap
- Versa Cruise Voltage Stabiliser (removed)
- Zisco SUS321 Tubular CT9 Manifold
- HKS FCon Pro-V 3.2 ECU (Waiting to install)
- JZX90 Chaser Fuel Pump (Yet to Install)
- Cruise EP82 FCon Pro Loom (Waiting to Install)
- GReddy Behemoth Intercooler Kit with Turbosmart BOV (Waiting to Install)
Drivetrain:
- Zep Racing Braided Clutch Hose
- Racing Gear Clutch Cover
Drivetrain:
- Zep Racing Braided Clutch Hose
- Racing Gear Clutch Cover
- Cusco Paddle Clutch Disc
- TRD CV Joints
- "TC Tuning" Solid Brass Shifter Cable Bushes
- C56 Gearbox
- Royal Purple Gear Oil (Yet to install)
- TRD CV Joints
- "TC Tuning" Solid Brass Shifter Cable Bushes
- C56 Gearbox
- Royal Purple Gear Oil (Yet to install)
- Quaife LSD (Yet to install)
Suspension:
- SPATS Cynos Front Strut Tower Brace
- Ultra Racing EP82 Fender Braces
- Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit
- Tanabe 4 Point Lower Control Arm Brace
- Silkroad RM/A8 Coilovers
- TRD Lower Control Arm Front Bushes
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar Mount Bushes
- Cusco Hyper Metal Rear Axle Arm Bushes
- Zep Racing Engine Damper
- Zep Racing Pillowball Panhard Rod
- Zep Racing Rear Trailing Arm Brace
- Zep Racing 4 Point Floor Brace (Yet to install)
- Zep Racing 4 Point Rear Strut Tower Brace
- BYP/Energy Suspension Polyurethane Engine Mounts
- Okuyama Carbing EP91 3 Point front Strut Tower Brace (Need to Modify)
Suspension:
- SPATS Cynos Front Strut Tower Brace
- Ultra Racing EP82 Fender Braces
- Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit
- Tanabe 4 Point Lower Control Arm Brace
- Silkroad RM/A8 Coilovers
- TRD Lower Control Arm Front Bushes
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar Mount Bushes
- Cusco Hyper Metal Rear Axle Arm Bushes
- Zep Racing Engine Damper
- Zep Racing Pillowball Panhard Rod
- Zep Racing Rear Trailing Arm Brace
- Zep Racing 4 Point Floor Brace (Yet to install)
- Zep Racing 4 Point Rear Strut Tower Brace
- BYP/Energy Suspension Polyurethane Engine Mounts
- Okuyama Carbing EP91 3 Point front Strut Tower Brace (Need to Modify)
- Toda Fightex Type-S Coilovers (Waiting to Install)
- Downhill Active Lower Control Arm Braces (Waiting to Install)
- Cusco B-Pillar Braces (Waiting to Install)
- "Downhill Activ" Center Tunnel Brace (Waiting to Install)
- EL' Sport EP91 C-Pillar Brace (Waiting to Install)
Brakes & Rolling Stock:
- Prodrive by Alcon 4 Piston WRC Brake Calipers (Yet to install)
- SW20 Rev3 Rear brake Calipers (Yet to install)
- Hawk HPS Brake Pads
- Cusco EP82 Brake Master Cylinder Stopper
- Brembo Discs (Grooved by Hi-Spec)
Brakes & Rolling Stock:
- Prodrive by Alcon 4 Piston WRC Brake Calipers (Yet to install)
- SW20 Rev3 Rear brake Calipers (Yet to install)
- Hawk HPS Brake Pads
- Cusco EP82 Brake Master Cylinder Stopper
- Brembo Discs (Grooved by Hi-Spec)
- AE111 Levin Brake Master Cylinder
- APP Braided Brake Lines
- Starlet GT Rear Axle Conversion
- 16" x 7" Enkei RS 3Pc. Wheels (Need Spacers)
- Starlet GT Rear Axle Conversion
- 16" x 7" Enkei RS 3Pc. Wheels (Need Spacers)
- Trust Lightweight Lugnuts
- 205/45 R16 Yokohama S306 Tyres
- 205/45 R16 Yokohama S306 Tyres
- Enkei 15" BigEnd Roder Wheels [F; 8" ET20, R; 8" ET25] [Awaiting Install]
Interior:
- Eastbear Elite Bucket Driver seat
- Bride Ergo Passenger Seat
- Comrade's C Short Shifter Kit
- Cruise Gear knob
- Dension DH100ix HDD-Based Headunit
- Nardi Classico 330m Leather Steering Wheel
- SARD 60mm Boost Pressure Gauge
- TRS Clubman 4-point Purple Road Harnesses
- GT-1 Motorsport 30mm Steering Wheel Spacer
Exterior:
- Philips Premium Sidelight Bulbs
- Cracked out Indicators w/ Ring Clear Indicator Bulbs
- Ultra Clear Repeaters & MHW Clear Bulbs
- Factory Optional Aero Lip Package
- R33 Skyline GTR Replica Bumper Vents
- Stebel Nautilus Twin-tone Horn
- Toyota Cynos Optional Window Wind Deflectors
Weight Reduction:
- Airbags & Airbag ECU Removed
- Boot Trim Removed
- Shock Tower Trim Removed
- A/C System Removed
- Rear Seats & Belts Removed
- Interior Carpetting & Mats Removed
- All Interior trim panels removed
- Headlining Removed
- Front Crash Bar Removed (Rear one missing!)
- Powersteering Pump, Lines & Reservoir Removed
- Sound Deadening Removed
- Foglights Removed
- Spare tyre and Jack removed
- Center Console removed
- Parcel Shelf removed
- Rear speakers removed
- Seatbelt assemblies removed
- HID System removed
- Doorcards removed
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar (2.4kg lighter than stock)
(Grand Total of about 135kg removed so far...)
* Official vehicle weight: 880kg
* Unofficial vehicle weight (not-verified): 871.6kg
Pending Setup Items Gathered:
- HRF 5E Connecting Rods
- HRF 5E 74mm Bore Pistons
- Cruise 264 Degree Camshafts
- Cruise-style TD05H Manifold & Downpipe
- GReddy TD05H-18G Turbocharger
- Synapse Synchronic 40mm Wastegate
- ACIS Intake Manifold
- 5E-FHE Crankshaft & Block
- OS Giken Twin Plate Clutch Kit
- HRF Intake Manifold with SR20 Throttlebody
Interior:
- Eastbear Elite Bucket Driver seat
- Bride Ergo Passenger Seat
- Comrade's C Short Shifter Kit
- Cruise Gear knob
- Dension DH100ix HDD-Based Headunit
- Nardi Classico 330m Leather Steering Wheel
- SARD 60mm Boost Pressure Gauge
- TRS Clubman 4-point Purple Road Harnesses
- GT-1 Motorsport 30mm Steering Wheel Spacer
Exterior:
- Philips Premium Sidelight Bulbs
- Cracked out Indicators w/ Ring Clear Indicator Bulbs
- Ultra Clear Repeaters & MHW Clear Bulbs
- Factory Optional Aero Lip Package
- R33 Skyline GTR Replica Bumper Vents
- Stebel Nautilus Twin-tone Horn
- Toyota Cynos Optional Window Wind Deflectors
Weight Reduction:
- Airbags & Airbag ECU Removed
- Boot Trim Removed
- Shock Tower Trim Removed
- A/C System Removed
- Rear Seats & Belts Removed
- Interior Carpetting & Mats Removed
- All Interior trim panels removed
- Headlining Removed
- Front Crash Bar Removed (Rear one missing!)
- Powersteering Pump, Lines & Reservoir Removed
- Sound Deadening Removed
- Foglights Removed
- Spare tyre and Jack removed
- Center Console removed
- Parcel Shelf removed
- Rear speakers removed
- Seatbelt assemblies removed
- HID System removed
- Doorcards removed
- TRD Front Anti-Roll Bar (2.4kg lighter than stock)
(Grand Total of about 135kg removed so far...)
* Official vehicle weight: 880kg
* Unofficial vehicle weight (not-verified): 871.6kg
Pending Setup Items Gathered:
- HRF 5E Connecting Rods
- HRF 5E 74mm Bore Pistons
- Cruise 264 Degree Camshafts
- Cruise-style TD05H Manifold & Downpipe
- GReddy TD05H-18G Turbocharger
- Synapse Synchronic 40mm Wastegate
- ACIS Intake Manifold
- 5E-FHE Crankshaft & Block
- OS Giken Twin Plate Clutch Kit
- HRF Intake Manifold with SR20 Throttlebody
- Farina Racers Full K3T Turbine Kit (Plug 'n' Play ECU, Manifold, Disgusting Downpipe, SARD CII Wastegate - Waiting to De-ghetto)
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About Me
- Enrico - Beddu
- I am Enrico, Italian/Mauritian, not affiliated with the Mafia/not a Dodo Bird. I have of late taken to the world of blogging - its a simple way of writing down haphazard memoirs, which I attempt to give structure to my life. It largely fails but it helps to circumvent boredom.