Sydney BA V6

[TechoSteve]

Hi,

I found this site through Google, looking for ideas for the car. Lots to see here.

I have had the Astina for 2 years. It is the first car I paid more than $2000 for, as I used to spend the money on bikes. Now that I am a bit more respectable (ie, getting too old for the rough weather), I am discovering what I have been missing out on.

I am keeping it fairly stock. I have replaced & lowered the suspension, & will fit a sportier exhaust system this weekend. I am quite impressed with the performance stock, but I am looking forward to making some minor improvements. This site should help to decide what will be best value.

It is a BA V6 manual (hatch), Noble Green with tinted windows, standard spoiler. Thinking about an all black paint job next.

The missus has a matching white BA V6 automatic, soon to become metalic red. We are both now fans of the model.

I am an engineer in IT, in Sydney.

Regards
Steve

[project.r.racing]

hello and welcome steve.

[marcs_sp20]

Welcome to the forums mate :D

[TechoSteve]

Thanks Guys. Will take some pics tomorrow with the new exhaust on.

[Putonyourshoes]

welcome mate
sounds like you have a similar car to mine! where you situated mate?

[TechoSteve]

Hi, Canterbury-Bankstown area.

[Kara]

Hi Guys, I am TechoSteve's missus!!

I own a 97 V6 BA Astina. I have just fixed up my engine, replacing the alternator, some wiring, had a full tune up, NGK iridium sparks and have a K&N Air Filter coming this week.

I have also just put on some custom windscreen wipers and like hubby will have new suspension, brakes and exhaust done in a few months.

Met with my smashy today and will have my baby in for a full overhaul and new coat of paint (Mazda "Velocity Red"). Have also picked my wheels (Romi - "Twister" 17" chromes).

Am also planning new stereo, 3 point immobiliser and maybe window tinting, my windows are standard at present.

Any other ideas???

Kara

[Cincinnatus]

pop up machine guns for those really anoying sunday drivers?

[DavoAust]

pop up machine guns for those really anoying sunday drivers?

also for the occasional drive by on bombodores. fully sik MG mate!

On the serious side, I highly recommend a CAI to make more use of a sports exhaust

[Rupewrecht]

Welcome to you both!

[RedLineResident]

Welcome Steve and Kara.

Good to see move v6 joining.

as rupe would say... picsorban. :)

[TechoSteve]

Been a bit busy with work.

Pics at last.

http://www.mackaos.com.au/Cars/CarS1.jpg

http://www.mackaos.com.au/Cars/CarS2.jpg

http://www.mackaos.com.au/Cars/CarS3.jpg

The white one in the garage is Kara's. It may be red next time you see it.

[RedLineResident]

great looking car you've got there

very nice.

[DavoAust]

body looks very straight, nice buy. how come 2 astinas?

[TechoSteve]

The white one belongs to the missus, see Kara's intro.

We were out one day, & she says "Nice car ahead, I wouldn't mind one of those". I thought they looked pretty hot too. So we did some research on the net, & discovered that they came in V6 for a very good price. She found an automatic in no time, & I found a manual soon after. We have had them for a couple of years, very happy, & now want to do them up.

[DavoAust]

yeah i knew the white one was hers but i was just wondering why 2 the same. always good to see more astinas though. i reckon you need a nice set of rims

[RedLineResident]

wheels, suspension, definately a swaybar, maybe extractors/exhaust.

you know the fun stuff that will really set it off.

[bourbon]

all you need now is the his and hers matching ASTINAGT.com shirts :p hahaha

but i say keep karas one white...white is sooooo nice in the BAs and just look sooo clean in it too...i dont really like the red ones...

welcome to you both!!!

[Kara]

Hey bourbon, but it is not just any red....it is a beautiful scarlet red with orange mica flake that lights up in the sun!!:D

TechoSteve has done the suspension already, rims are coming!! :p

[TechoSteve]

Hi, yes exhaust & suspension done. The exhaust guys said they couldn't get extractors for the V6. :(

I was looking at Simmons FR17 rims. $650 each, will wait until my tyres are ready for replacement, as the car came with good rubber, Goodyear Eagles (F1 front, Ventura rear). So I will have to put aside at least $3500 for wheels altogether, ouch.

Black paint job next.

[Cincinnatus]

actually, extractors are available, i'm sure theres somone on the forums with a set for sale. they r the same ones as the mx-6 v6 extractors, with a tinny mod is understand.

[Cincinnatus]

oh, maybe a mine release form the bottom of the boot? for those really annoying tailgaters. And i say the machine guns are a must, but it takes all sorts.

[project.r.racing]

I was looking at Simmons FR17 rims. $650 eachBoring looking Simmons rims! PM Dan (rupewrecht) and get some nice Mazdaspeed MS-01Rs in 16 or 17 inches, almost the same design, but will look and will save you $1300...

[TechoSteve]

Not really decided on rims. Will wait a while.

I am interested in extractors. I need to see some examples of twin exhausts on BAs. I paid way too much for my exhaust, & ended up with a very strange solution. That will be the last time I get work done without a detailed design.

[project.r.racing]

got a pic of you current exhaust?

[DavoAust]

i saw it was a double system, has it got 1 muffler with the piping splitting from that?

[MIZ323]

welcomes..

[phly]

hey steve, i think i spotted your car this morning at the work carpark. your dual tips are what caught my eye unless someone else has done something similar. we might be working at the same place LOL

[TechoSteve]

Hi, another crazy week at work. CF carpark?

[TechoSteve]

The pipe splits before the muffler. 1 muffled, 1 not!

The first version was welded in 1 piece from the cat converter to the tips. they drilled a hole in the pipe before the muffler and tacked the second pipe on with a really dodgey weld. I hit the roof and got them to put a proper Y splitter & flange joints in the appropriate places. Still feel a bit ripped off though. What they quoted on sounded much more like a proffessional custom exhaust.

[TechoSteve]

One more step. Wheels. I decided to do without the Goodyear F1s & Simmons FR rims. I saved a couple of grand with these 17x7 rims with 215/40 tyre package.

Glad I painted the brake calipers last weekend.

http://www.mackaos.com.au/Cars/CarS4.jpg

[project.r.racing]

guessing you wont be going back to that muffler shop again?

those wheels got a cooling off period?

[DavoAust]

are those really 17s? they look more like 16". must be the tyre profile. try 205/40 next time :)

EDIT: if that second tip isn't muffled it must be loud, and dont they have to go through the muffler to be legal?

[TechoSteve]

I have been looking for the wheels for quite a while. the FRs were close to the look I was after, but these were spot on. They actually look bigger in person. Must be the angle. The wider tyres were also what I was aiming for. With the black paint job to follow, it should have fairly industrial look. My taste leans toward the dark sci-fi industrial genre, like Bladerunner etc.

I suspect the exhaust is a write off. Probably illegal too. OK, one for experience. Don't trust a "specialist" custom exhaust shop without seeing their work first, & working out a detailed design for them.

[phly]

Hi, another crazy week at work. CF carpark?

i guess we are working at the same place then LOL. Cuz no one else here would know where CF is. I usually park in the undercover parking and saw your car on the way in.

Your dual tips are a lot nicer when seen in person than what the pics show. Though personally I wouldve went with bigger tips. I was gonna get a similar thing done too but have been holding it off cuz I got quoted 800 bucks. How much did your set up cost and whered u get it done?

[outbakoz]

I got a similar exhaust setup done back in 98 not long after i got the stina. Cost me 1300, ford falcon cat cut and shut to suit, hot dog after the gear lever and the rear muffler (full custom job) splits from 2.5" to 2x 2.5" Whole thing in stainless including genie extractors. Other than replacing the hot dog 5 yrs ago, system is as it was installed.

I'll try and get a pic of under the rear and put it up, though i have to go to gympie tomorrow for work, so may take me a bit as i wont get back till thursday.

http://www.outbakoz.com/astinagt/asti3.jpg

[project.r.racing]

http://www.outbakoz.com/astinagt/asti3.jpgBig dent in the rear quarter, sad. :( Right in an annoying spot just to make it semi expensive.

With the black paint job to follow, it should have fairly industrial look. My taste leans toward the dark sci-fi industrial genre, like Bladerunner etc.Oh? Forget what I said about the rims then. Black rims on blue cars = fashionable death. But black on black = godess hotness!!!

[TechoSteve]

Black rims on blue cars = fashionable death. Definitely!

Jealous of the exhaust. I was prepared to pay about that for something similar, but looks like they couldn't be bothered.

[TechoSteve]

i guess we are working at the same place then LOL. Cuz no one else here would know where CF is. I usually park in the undercover parking and saw your car on the way in.

Lucky! It is a very big car park, & I only go in to the office about once a week. (get more done from home)

Your dual tips are a lot nicer when seen in person than what the pics show. Though personally I wouldve went with bigger tips. I was gonna get a similar thing done too but have been holding it off cuz I got quoted 800 bucks. How much did your set up cost and whered u get it done?

Bankstown Muffler Fit. $900. Guessing you won't be going there. Will probably go for larger tips when I get the muffler redone.

[outbakoz]

Big dent in the rear quarter, sad. :( Right in an annoying spot just to make it semi expensive.

Yeah thats why it hasn't been fixed for the time being

[TechoSteve]

After waiting a couple of weeks for it to arrive, I have just fitted a Whiteline swaybar. Now I keep looking for corners. Takes longer to get places, but feels great.

Next step, I have drawn up a detailed design for a new exhaust system. I am going with a reputable company this time. After the last rip-off, I am taking no chances. I will have to take before & after pics.

[pr1mo]

welcome aboard!!

[TechoSteve]

I got the new muffler & twin pipes last weekend. Very happy with the look, sound, & performance. I will do a write-up with pics in the appropriate section.