PDA

View Full Version : My 2001/2 SP20 hatch

jakez88
14-09-2011, 05:41 PM
gonna post one of these threads up lol.

i bought the car in jan the year fully stock for a relatively cheap price and kms were around the 70k mark. needed a car that could take me everywhere as i drive alot even though i dont work full time. after having 5 nissan imports (4 skylines and 1 180sx type x) i wanted something normal and i seem to drive every where so i wanted something reliable, fuel efficient and something i could keep for a while. i am also fussy with cars so i wanted something stylish and something that wasnt too normal. my dad also has a 2003 protege sedan and it has really served him well since new so leaned me towards a 323 and the sp20 was my choice.

even though it had a minor accident up front and had been fixed up, i wasn't too fussed because of the price and mechanics were awesome.

stock
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5153/dsc01194p.jpg

after a few weeks of enjoying the stockness, i stumbled across many rims. being the wheel whore that i am, i collected and sold about 5 different sets and stumbled across perfect weighted and sized rims. i love old school so settled for old school enkei rs sport 2 piece wheels which weighed roughly 5kg without tyres. i also got the dish re done to full stainless style chucked those on so i could match them to my suspension which was next.

old and tired dish with scaling and scratches
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1566/imag0284h.jpg

Wheels re done
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/2342/dsc01257a.jpg

enkei rs sport 2 piece 16x8 +32 and 205 50 16 all round
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9266/dsc01258a.jpg

i then ordered some rsr ti2000 lowered springs which i found for cheap on yahoo japan and sent them over. the wheels scrubbed abit on the guards due to the pokage of the wheels so heated the guards up and rolled the lip up.

installed rsr ti2000 lowered springs
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5737/dsc01320q.jpg

i left the car like that for about 4 months and liked having it like that but decided it looked too generic. i like my cars to be different in some sort of way. so just recently i bought autoexe coilovers to fulfill my lowness/hard suspension craving.

this is how it sits with the coils
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/716/dsc0316h.jpg

before i bought the coilovers i bought a subaru impreza chargespeed lip of ebay (US) and also a rear vortex for the suzuki swift off ebay which surprisingly fits pretty well. it took me a while to get around to it but yesterday i put them on. the lip took ages to put on but the heat gun makes it so much easier, and the vortex i trimed the edges just to make it sit align to the roof and stuck it on with some 3m high bond tape. the lip isn't sitting perfectly yet but i will get it happening soon. just been busy with uni.

lip
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8764/dsc0324aj.jpg

vortex
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7669/dsc0325as.jpg

future:

the car needs a few things replaced but i will get around to those things in the future. i will be doing:

-full service
-full timing belt kit
-some sort of exhaust system (not sure if its worth it though being a daily and n/a)
-suspension work
-blacked out headlights possibly with HID's
-autoexe enclosed air filter
-darkest legal tint
-possible different rear spoiler
JDM323
14-09-2011, 06:41 PM
looks like they fitted the standard headlight instead of the sp20 light but otherwise a good starting base for mods to come we had ours 1/2 an hour before we fitted the clear side indicators
Rofltorque
14-09-2011, 07:02 PM
i thought those headlights looked different...
jakez88
14-09-2011, 07:15 PM
yes indeed headlights are the normal ones. been on the look out for the sp20 blacked out ones for a while but haven't come across any yet.

thinking of just buying some normal sp20 ones and pulling them apart to spray them.

i also forgot to mention that i installed front and rear rda slotted rotors :)
Chris_180
14-09-2011, 07:38 PM
Looking very nice mate!

I too come from a nissan background (2 180's and an Evo 8 thrown in there for good measure.. :) ) and I'm missing the coilover stiffness/ride height as well.

My yellow SP20 is currently lowered on king springs, but if the price is right I'd go for some coilovers if I could... So if you don't mind me asking... How much do the Autoexe coilovers go for??

I love the way it changes the stance of the car and improves the look of the fitment of the wheels with the coilovers - even when compared to being lowered on the springs!

I've got some 17 x 8 +37 meisters on the way and would love for them to sit similar to your wheels, but I think that can only be achieved with the coilovers..
JDM323
14-09-2011, 08:09 PM
yes indeed headlights are the normal ones. been on the look out for the sp20 blacked out ones for a while but haven't come across any yet.

thinking of just buying some normal sp20 ones and pulling them apart to spray them.

i also forgot to mention that i installed front and rear rda slotted rotors :)

at least now you have a practice set to bake first and paint before the sp20 ones but paint them titanium grey so that i can be lazy and just buy yours:D
jakez88
14-09-2011, 08:34 PM
Looking very nice mate!

I too come from a nissan background (2 180's and an Evo 8 thrown in there for good measure.. :) ) and I'm missing the coilover stiffness/ride height as well.
coilovers..

lol chris i like how we import drivers would rather stiff suspension with harsh ride compared to a more comfortable set up.

and the coilovers are actually used ones from japan and i got them off rupe for $460 for the set.

not the stiffest coilovers ever but so much stiffer then your usual spring and shock combo. i think they are 4kg up front and rears are 3kg and are damper adjustable.

you could also go with bc coilovers as i know they make them to suit the sp20.
A.E
14-09-2011, 09:59 PM
Looks nice man, makes me miss my SP20 :( would buy one as a second/daily drive but don't have that kind of cash lol. Good looking I love the yellow.

And with the headlights, do the projector retrofit, looks sex.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123764337-How-To-Retrofit-HID-projectors-into-P5-headlights
Chris_180
14-09-2011, 10:33 PM
lol chris i like how we import drivers would rather stiff suspension with harsh ride compared to a more comfortable set up.

and the coilovers are actually used ones from japan and i got them off rupe for $460 for the set.

not the stiffest coilovers ever but so much stiffer then your usual spring and shock combo. i think they are 4kg up front and rears are 3kg and are damper adjustable.

you could also go with bc coilovers as i know they make them to suit the sp20.

Hahah so true! I had a starlet that I put 8/6 ISC N1's in, was bumpy as hell but funny sh!t :D and they coilovers cost more than what I paid for the car...! lol

And yeah I was thinking BC's but didn't wanna spend that much, I was looking at these ones on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/COILOVERS-FC-FD-RX7-RX8-Mazda-2-3-5-323-mx6-MazdaSpeed-/110603611845?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c07d2ec5

Would add up once would add camber tops and damper adjustment, but you can choose your spring rate..

Anyway might have to hit Rupe up and see if he has another cheap set! :)

Looking really good though mate!