Happy New Year from the ER34

Here's wishing you a wonderful, happy and cheerful 2010.

Now that the formality's done ........ what's most important of all is wishing you have lots of motoring adrenalin, tyre burning, petrol smelling, sideways action, and boosting fun in the year 2010!

Yeah man! :)

The year 2010 marks the 4th year of existence for the blog. Just a short note of appreciation to YOU, my fellow readers. Without you guys (and gals!) I would not have the will to continue on blogging on the ER34 and sharing some minute snippets of my life. Thank you very much and hope to see more comments for my posts in this new year. Afterall, that is one way for us to get to know each other better. :)

Have a great year ahead!

Blitz Super Sound Blow Off Valve Dual Drive

Just got hold of the Blitz Super Sound Blow Off Valve Dual Drive (Part No. 70015). This is a kit set from Blitz meant for the ECR33 but will also fit the ER34. It comes complete with the aluminium piping to replace the factory plasticky look-a-like unit. I must say it looked very nice when I lay it by in the engine bay of the ER34.

Should I or should I not? Kapiiisshhhhh! *Grins*

Pic 1: The Blitz Super Sound Blow Off Valve Dual Drive kit set


Pic 2: The BOV itself

Below are some info I pulled off the net:-

The Blow off valve is essential to all turbocharged vehicles. The purpose of the BLITZ Blowoff Valve Dual Drive is to relieve compressor surge without reducing compressor speed. It controls boost pressure that is built up by the turbo and vents it into the atmosphere when the car is not under load (in between shifts). This prevents pressure from backing up into the compressor housing, causing the turbo impeller blade to rapidly stop or even worse, to spin backwards (compressor surge or backspin). Doing so can be potentially destructive to the turbine wheel and shaft. Repeated stress over time can cause eminent damage to the turbo charger and eventually lead to turbo failure. A blowoff valve is actuated by pressure changes only, ensuring quick valve responses and complete closures at idle. The BLITZ blowoff valve not only improves performance and response, but also increases the life of the turbocharger.

Pic 3: Check out the gaskets. Like new eh?


Pic 4: This is how it will look like fitted


Pic 5: A closer view


Pic 6: From another angle

Cometic Metal Gasket - RB25DET

Pic 1: Cometic metal gasket

I just procured a metal gasket for the ER34. Going against my usual norm of JDM parts, I looked to the United States for a replacement of my stock head gasket. Of course the offerings from Tomei or HKS would be smashing but its prohibitive price is also a strong determinant for me to seek out alternative brands like Cometic.

Why metal gasket instead of conventional ones? Well for starters, it is less likely to leak under the high cylinder pressure and is superior in terms of heat resistance, resilience, heat conductivity and durability.

Pic 2: This is whats inside ...

The ER34 is slightly boosted higher than factory boost; and increased turbine boost means increased cylinder pressure. I've further plans to bring out more output from the RB25DET thus it's a precautionary (yet crucial!) item as part of my built in the near future.

The unit I got is the 1.3mm thick, 87mm bore type (Part No.C4318-051).

Here are some pictures incase you're in the market for one as well .... :)

Pic 3: Part No.C4318-051

Pic 4: Cometic Metal Gasket for RB25DET

For Sale: NISMO horn button

Pic 1: NISMO horn button - front

I have for sale a NISMO horn button. This is ideal for those that have changed their steering wheel to aftermarket ones. I doubt I would change the original ER34 steering for the sake of the airbag thus is letting this out for sale.

If you have noticed, this horn button bears the newer NISMO logo design instead of the older one. I've only ever seen the older NISMO logo horn button for sale, so I guess this makes it pretty rare?!?

Interested? Shoot me an e-mail via eujin[at]hotmail[dot]com and we shall discuss.

Cheers and Merry Christmas.

Pic 2: NISMO horn button - rear

How times have changed ...

These set of pictures were taken about 1 ~ 2 months ago by wifey when I was tinkering with some 'toys' on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Yes, instead of helping out with housework I was busy getting my hands all greasy. Chuckles.

Pic 1: Tinker tinker


Pic 2: ....tinkering

Hey, at least I'm at home and not going berserk on the touge roads. LOL :D

But of course priorities will definitely change with the arrival of baby Alicia last week. I'll be busy with day to day needs and pampering of the cute 'lil girl. Hehehe

I think my ER34 Project will also be on hold for at least for a couple of months until I settle down stuffs in the house and at the workplace. I hope I still have the will to get the project done up for the car as time and financial is of essence now. Most of my parts (some minor parts have yet to be procured tho) are ready to be installed and together they will make a little more serious whp in the ER34. The interior will spot some minor changes too. :P

Pic 3: Jack-in-the-box? These has got to be on hold now....

But for now, my parts bin is chucked into a corner just chilling around. The contents must be wondering whether they are gonna make it into the ER34 or be posted for sale to fellow Skyline owners around the globe. Maybe I'll post up the items one at a time and gauge some response. :)

Furthermore, the ER34 has sort of been relegated as a 'furniture' in the parking lot. I haven't driven her for more than 2 weeks already and I foresee that situation to linger on for quite a fair bit. I think I might need to shop around for a car cover to keep her warm. Any recommendations? :)

Errrrrr yes, the ER34 is sort of officially not a daily driver nor a weekend car. If I live in a huge mansion, I'll park her in the living room next to my sofa. LOL :D

But fret not my driving friends, after a "Drive It Like You Stole It" (DILYSI) hiatus of 5 months (God! Has it been that long?!?!), I promise I will find time to go for my drives again. The DILYSI session shall be back on track soon! :)

And to the bro that's selling off his blue monster, wwwwhhhhyyyy?!?! I need a crazy dude to pressure me when we go touge again. Grrrr.....

I promise I'll go slower and drive more sanely, afterall Baby Alicia is waiting for me at home. So don't sell can ar? :-)

Pic 5: Baby Alicia. Ain't she super duper cute?

Copy Version of Takata Harness (MPH341)

Pic 1: Original version do make a difference :P

Some say imitation is the highest form of flatery. This transcends beyond the fashion world with its now world famous 'copy versions' of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, etc..So renowned that there are certain cities in the world that churns out these world class copies (so called A-grades) by the truckloads.

Pic 2: Louis Vuitton bags of every kind

Unfortunately, there are also copy versions of the automotive kind. No I don't mean the likes of chinese automakers making a getaway with look-a-likes Chevrolet Spark, BMW X5, Smart Fortwo, etc.. It boils to a more micro level. We are looking at copy version of automotive parts.

Should they fail, some of these parts could be deadly and dangerous to the life of the driver and/or the vehicle itself. Eg. are brake pads, engine oil, fuel pump, oil filter, sensors, etc....

Pic 3: Having an interior like this is a dream

Now fake parts have gone aftermarket too. It's quite disturbing to see many renowned parts have been copied. You have copy version of GReddy & Cusco oil catch tank, copy version of HKS blow off valves & circle earth, copy version of Recaro and Bride bucket seats, copy version of Apexi turbo timers, copy version of GReddy Emanage ECU, copy version of many JDM intercoolers and also copy version of Takata harness. And yes, the list does goes on.

Well of course there are market demands for these items. Lets face it, there will always be buyers on either end of the spectrum. So why am I making a blog entry about this? Well, because of the availability of copy version of aftermarket parts, this has invariable affected my path in the way I equip the ER34. Like how I opted the use of a Blitz turbo timer instead of an Apexi item or how I opted for a Mocal oil catch tank (yet to be installed tho) instead of GReddy/Cusco items.

Pic 4: The real deal MPH341 Takata Harness

I'm sure you would have heard of the rage now over Takata harness. Copy versions have spread everywhere the world over. Part of my wish list is a Takata harness. Been wanting one even before I got the ER34 (serious!). But looks like my direction will have to change due to the many copy units out there. Who know I might be conned into paying real deal price for a copy version. Price differential could be in the ratio of 1:4. Shocked!

JDM concept came out with a guide on how to tell the differences thus am sharing it here with you. The fake Takata Harnesses are almost the same in everyway. You'll be hard pressed to tell it apart without comparing with a genuine unit. Amongst the differences are the eyebolt, cross stitching (fakes have 7, genuine have 4), brackets, CAMS quick release mechanism and FIA label.

Pic 5: Eye bolt differences

Pic 6: 4 versus 7 cross stitching

Pic 7: Note difference in material and design of the bracket

Pic 8: Note difference in material and design of the bracket

Pic 9: Colour is a bit off too

Pic 10: FIA tag

Pic 11: Note difference in material and design of the bracket

Pic 12: No TAKATA engraving at the rear of the CAM lock

Pic 13: Note different coloured CAM lock and the faux carbon fibre on the fake unit

Pic 14: Unique serial number on the genuine unit

Fake version will always have (at this point of time) a FIA label to 2010 and carries the serial number 1E25 (should be a unique running number in the genuine items).

I dunno about you but although it might serve the same function at a fraction of the price, it's effectiveness in the event of a crash is highly questionable. I've seen many people selling off their used Takata harness without the knowledge that they have paid for a fake when it was first bought. Hope this guide helps if you're aftering a unit.

On another note, actually a Bride bucket seat is also part of my wish list but it's got to be abandoned now. There are just too many copy versions out there in the market. That is kinda sucky.
Sigh :(

Pic 15: Perhaps fake harness are better used this way :P

ER34 For Sale Display Stand

A couple of months ago, we were working on an outdoor display area for vehicle sales. Our designers came out with this idea to showcase how premium vehicles should be displayed on the exterior of a vehicle sales showroom.

Anyway, I decided to post this up because interestingly, a R34 Skyline was used in their proposal. I find it pretty cool. Now if only I can built one of this to put up my ER34 for sale (Horrors!). You think it'll fetch a better premium? Hehehehe

You can click on the image to see a larger version of the design.

Pic 1: ER34 sale display area

Well I guess the below also works just as well. Plus point is that even the blind will be able to see the "For Sale" sign. Can't get any more obvious that that. LOL :D

Pic 2: For Sale signs where even the blind can see :P

ER34 is all MINE!

Pic 1: A home to call your own?

A person doesn't really own a house until it is fully paid up with the financing institution. It's a sad reality but yes, that is what we have to contend with here in Malaysia especially when housing loans can stretch way up to 30 years. You spent almost all of your working life sweating your butt off just to pay for a place to call home.

Similarly a vehicle is the same thing. It isn't really yours until the loan is settled. As the few readers (!) that read my blog would know, I am counting my days to fully pay up for the ER34's loan.

Last week, I took a dramatic move (financially to me at least) to pay up my car loan 3 months earlier. I can foresee that I will be pretty busy with work and also the new arrival to the family comes January 2010. As such I thought perhaps clearing up the loan, getting all the paperwork done and all the running around this month would be a good idea.

Pic 2: My piggy bank have seen better days

Of course my bank account couldn't agree with me. Its protest fell onto deaf ears so to speak. Well sometime, you just got to screw the logic and do what you think should be done, eh?

So anyway, I have to check my settlement amount with the financing institution and remit the cash over. Loads of phone calls were made to cancel standing instruction, confirm payment, getting the release letter done and also have it couriered to the nearest bank branch before I could finally catch my breath. A couple of trips to a couple of banks later and I finally have my ER34 release letter in hand. :)

So now I've got to head to the Jabatan Pengakutan Jalan (JPJ) (the Malaysian equivalent Department of Transport) to change the ER34 ownership name. My trip to JPJ last Thursday proved unfruitful and a total waste of time. Somehow, the computer system was offline the whole bloody day. Yeap, this is not the first time this has happened. In fact it's a common occurrence. So common in fact, they already have nice proper signage to state that all their computers are offline. WTF!

Do you know that system also have the tendency to go offline especially a day or two before festive seasons? I wonder if it's done purposely to make life difficult for the masses. ?!?!

I wish Namewee could do a video about this like how he made a mockery out of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) (Malaysian equivalent of the Department of Energy) and post it up in youtube. Should farked them upside down publicly and post it up in youtube for their poor service level. LOL :D

Pic 3: Number 1206. Only 257 more to go.

Back to the topic, I had to make another trip to JPJ the very next day. I reached at 10:50am and guess what? I got number 1463! The current number in queue is 1206! There's like 257 people ahead of me. WTF!

This influx of people is certainly not good for me. Compounded by the fact that it's a Friday where everyone is rushing to get cars registered for the weekend; plus Friday prayers means a 2 hours lunch break. Damn!

Pic 4: Check out the bored look of some of the guys in queue

I think more than 5 friends actually asked me why am I doing it myself instead of using a runner to get it done. Well, it's a lot of hassle yes but I guess it's worth it for the experience of getting the car under your own name whereby every nut, bolt, screw, shim, rubber hose, etc.... belongs to you!

The actual process is extremely fast. When my turn comes, it only took like 3 minutes to get it processed at the counter. And you've got to be in line for 4 bloody hours just to get the financing institution name canceled on the registration card.

Pic 5: Doesn't belong to the bank anymore. :)

Now that the ER34 is ALL mine (insert evil laugh here), what shall be done with it? Project the car to my wish list or just leave it as it is? Leaving it alone would mean a huge parts sale for you guys. Hahaha

E23 BMWline Skyline

Pic 1: E23 BMWline Skyline - front

Bro fooyc took these set of pictures and it's a mighty interesting conversion. If my eyes are correct this is an E23 BMW 7 series with a R34 rear end and a Mustang-look front end. At the rear, it has the R34 rear lights, boot lid, rear bumper and reverse lights! Up front it is made to mimic the Ford Mustang and even has the hood scoop on. Wowzers!

Yes, indeed there are some spicy threesome automotive porn going here. Hahaha

It even has the 730Li badge at the rear which I believe comes from the E65 7 series. Does that means it have a 3,000cc heart? I see a bits of an intercooler peeking up front. I wonder if it bears a 2JZ-GTE heart. Now that would be something awesome.

Fooyc, you didn't' take a closer peek? :P

Oh, yea it's probably related to the E36 BMWline BNR34 GT-R. Hehehe :D

Pic 2: E23 BMWline Skyline - rear