Bodykit options for the ER34

 

Pic 1: This is how the ER34 looks like now

For quite a while, I've been itching to try to do some changes to the ER34's exterior. I love the clean look most definitely but am toying with a few ideas for the past couple of months. The problem with thinking too long is that one ends up with too many options and gets oneself confused. In my case, I am totally lost as to what should I do, so much so that I've gotten hold of too many parts due to my indecisiveness.

So in the past few months, I have collected and purchased the below:-

1) BNR34 Front Bumper

2) BNR34 Tommy Kaira Rear Bumper

3) BNR34 Aluminum Fenders

4) BNR34 Aluminum Hood

5) ER34 IMPUL 534S Front Bumper (modified to include nose)

6) ER34 Duke Racing Carbon Fibre Z-Tune Style Hood

7) ER34 Veilside VS D1-GT Carbon Fibre Hood

8) ER34 East Bear Front Bumper

9) ER34 East Bear FRP Hood

10) ER34 Origin Wide Fenders (+20mm) with Vents

So what are those options that rummaged through my head?

Pic 2: BNR34 Front Bumper

 Pic 3: BNR34 Tommy Kaira Rear Bumper

Pic 4: BNR34 Aluminum Fenders

Option1

As you can see, I have all the necessary parts for a BNR34 look conversion. I can just bolt on the BNR34 Front Bumper, BNR34 Tommy Kaira Rear Bumper, BNR34 Aluminum Fenders and BNR34 Aluminum Hood.

Although it would look awesome but is not really my thing. Don't want to pretend to be a BNR34 when it is not one. So I guess those parts are now surplus.

Pic 5: ER34 Duke Racing Carbon Fibre Z-Tune Style Hood

Option 2

Keep it as it is and just slap on the Duke Racing Carbon Fibre Z-Tune Style Hood. End of story. But I'm quite afraid of water seeping into the engine bay via those huge vents. And it rains a lot here!

Pic 5: ER34 Veilside VS D1-GT Carbon Fibre Hood

Option 3 
Keep it as it is and just slap on the Veilside VS D1-GT Carbon Fibre Hood. End of story.

Pic 7: ER34 IMPUL 534S Front Bumper (modified to include nose)

Option 4

Another option is to fit in the Japanese modified IMPUL 534S front bumper which sports a nose job. The same bumper on the ER34 now does not have that. With that nose, I can fit in the BNR34 Aluminum Hood, which will require BNR34 bonnet hinges and locks.

Pic 8: ER34 East Bear Front Bumper

Pic 9: ER34 East Bear FRP Hood

Option 5

Or as with option 4, fit in the Japanese modified IMPUL 534S front bumper and top it off with the ER34 East Bear FRP Hood which will bolt straight on.

Option 6

Fit in the East Bear Front Bumper and East Bear FRP Hood. End of story.

Pic 10: Origin Wide Fenders with Vents

On the Origin Wide Fenders with Vents, that can go in together with option 2 till 6. Still a bit unsure if I can accept that look.

As you can probably imagine, with so many options, one will tend to get confused and lost. So at the moment, the ER34 remains as it is until I figured out what to do. Perhaps you guys can give me some ideas? Comments appreciated. :)

113,000km Service

The ER34 has just undergone it's 113,000km service. Fresh fluids in the form of Torco SR1 10W-40 went in together with an original Nissan oil filter (Part No. 15208-53J00). Looks like the ER34 is slowly but surely raking up the miles. :(

 

Do Luck Room Bar

Just got hold of the Do Luck room bar for the ER34 and this probably marks the beginning of my chassis mods. Got a couple of items and plans lined up for the ER34 and it'll begin with this. The rest will be unfolded once it's done and also when those parts arrive. 

The Do Luck Room Bar is installed on the inside of the car and basically connects the left and right side of the car across the transmission tunnel. Main purpose is to tie the car together tighter and provide additional rigidity assistance.

Will post up installed pictures when it gets done with some other chassis reinforcement parts which will be unveiled in my next entry. Stay tuned! :)

Super GT 2012 Round 3: Sepang International Circuit

It’s that time of the year where Super GT fever afflicts the Malaysian motoring folks. June 9th and 10th marks the 3rd round of the Super GT after Okayama and Fuji in Japan. The organizer of the Malaysian round JPM Motorsports, held a press conference on the 9th April at the classy Pavilion Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur to announce the event and all the activities planned during the race weekend. 

For those unfamiliar, Super GT actually started way back in 1993 as the Japan GT Championship. There are two classes of race, the GT500 and GT300. Each class is limited by the amount of power the machines put out, 500hp and 300hp respectively. These power outputs are capped via the use of intake restrictors although some heavier cars are given allowances to run larger restrictors to maintain parity. In order to ensure maximum excitement, both of the GT500 and GT300 groups are run at the same time although points are awarded separately for each group. 

Pic 1: The organizers

Pic 2: Mr. J.P. Chin, founder of JPM Motorsport

Pic 3: Mr. Masaaki Bandoh, the President of Japan GT Association

The top class in Super GT, GT500, is dominated by the Big 3 Japanese automakers: Honda, Nissan, and Toyota/Lexus. The lower GT300 class has a few factory teams but mostly are privateers with cars from Subaru, Toyota/Lexus, Honda, Nissan and continental makes like the BMW Z4 GT3, Ferrari 458 GT3, Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3R, Corvette Z06R GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Lamborghini Gallardo RG-3 and others. Notable new entrants are the latest Subaru BRZ and Toyota Prius. All of these cars racing together on the track make a race like no other! Fierce competition and excitement in every corner is expected. 

Besides racing, Super GT fans can look forward to a host of innovative off track activates to cater to all genre of the crowd. There will be a huge motorshow event with participants from Honda, Porsche, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Naza World and other manufacturers. For the shopaholic there’s also the Akiba Town, which is a lifestyle themed bazaar for Japanese gadgets. 

Something very different would be a BMX challenge and also the Gran Turismo 5 Asia Online Tournament 2012 Challenge, the winner of which will compete with international players for the title of Asia’s GT5 Champion. 

Making a comeback would be The Biggest Supercar and Performance Car Gathering in Malaysia. Last year, a Malaysian Book of Records number of 405 cars turned up for the event. This year, they hope to break that record. If you are an owner of a sports car, make yourself available and be part of this record breaking feat. 

We have been covering the Super GT event in Malaysia since the year 2000, and this year is no exception. Come and join in the fun this 9th and 10th June 2012. See you in Sepang International Circuit! 

Get your tickets here : click this link

Pic 4: Ms. Lu Shan, Malaysia's Super GT ambassador

Pic 5: Mr. J.P. Chin with some of the supporters for Super GT 2012 Round 3

  

Leaky Fuel Lines

Pic 1: The source of the fuel leak

Just discovered my fuel lines are leaking! It was pretty bad to the point it's continuously dripping fuel from the lines joining the Tomei Fuel Regulator. I wouldn't have know if I did not pop open the hood the other day to try on fitment of a new part that I have just procured. What part is this? Well, let's leave that for the next entry shall we?

Anyway, back to the topic, fuel leaks are seriously dangerous! Thankfully that the ER34's exhaust manifold is on the other side of the engine. If it's right underneath the leak, the ER34 would have went up in flames! Yikes!

Just got all the lines replaced with better quality items and hopefully, it'll last me for many more years to come. What went in is Unigawa Fuel Hoses featuring an external heat resistant textile yam which sort of looked like the weaves of carbon fibre. It has an internal diameter of 8mm and an outer diameter of 14mm. The lines are designed to handle working pressure of up to 10 bar/15psi thus it should be mighty sufficient for the job at hand.

Pic 2: New fuel lines

Pic 3:New fuel lines replaced the old ones

Pic 4: New fuel lines replaced the old ones

Carbon Fibre Air Diversion Plate

Pic 1: Carbon Fibre Air Diversion Plate

I've always wanted an air diversion plate for the ER34 but have never really gotten round to get it done. What's an air diversion plate?

Well it's basically a piece of panel that prevents air from escaping through the top of the radiator. With these fitted, it will force more air through the radiator to reduce engine temperature. Simple solution for more effective cooling. Plus it looks really good too when you pop the hood up.

Not many brands cater to the ER34 and most of it is finished in aluminum bar a small garage in Yamato, Japan that produces a carbon fibre version. Unfortunately, the price is pretty high too.

So it has been left as it is for years until one fine day an interesting opportunity came by. A carbon fibre air diversion plate came up for sale at a pretty reasonable price. Without much hesitation I grabbed it even though I was unsure that it will fit properly on my car. I was afraid that the non-standard front bumper would somewhat hinder the fitment.

And it turns out to be not a direct fitment. I've got to relocate my horn and also fabricate a new mounting bracket for my Trust Oil Cooler in order for the carbon fibre air diversion plate to fit snugly. Not a very big deal but some amount of work there. The front bumper was never an issue.

So yeah, here it is installed on the ER34. 

Pic 2: Carbon Fibre Air Diversion Plate installed.

Pic 3: Carbon Fibre Air Diversion Plate installed.

ER34 in Astro Channel 304 Jia Yu

Pic 1: The Director setting up the camera

Recently, the ER34 was involved in filming a short Chinese New Year 'greeting spot' to be aired on Astro Channel 304, Jia Yu. Jia Yu is a Mandarin and Cantonese based channel aired on Astro (All-Asian Satellite Television and Radio Operator), which is a Malaysian pay television service.

Basically what will be shown is that a bunch of people from IPC and yours truly doing a group Chinese New Year greeting in front of the camera. The cars served as a background for the shoot. It's a relatively quick shoot lasting only half a day.

A mix of cars were present comprising of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, Toyota Celica, Mazda RX-7, Nissan 350Z, Nissan Skyline R34 GTT, Ferrari F430, Aston Martin Vantage, Mitsuoka Le-Seyde, Honda Integra DC5, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, and two stunning stretched Hummers.

Do check it out on Astro Channel 304 as it will be aired repeatedly during the Chinese New Year period. See if you can spot the ER34 and me. Hehehe

Here's some photos from the shoot.

Pic 2: The cars on one end

Pic 3: The cars on the other end

Pic 4: Camera track for the rolling shot

Pic 5: More setups

Pic 6: The ER34 is the sole Skyline representative

Pic 7: Shot from the rear

Pic 8: 8 wheeler stretch Hummer

Pic 8: 4 wheeler stretch Hummer