6 votes

Car/motorcycle modifiers, restorers and racers... what do you drive, and what have you done to it?

I'm a serial car/bike addict, and have owned close to 50 cars and 10 or so bikes. Usually at least mildly modified for performance/handling/modcons, if not heavily modified. I'm not so much into visuals, as I am into improving cheaper cars so I can get more bang for my buck (I'm not well off).

I've owned everything from 1960s Mercs and Holdens to brand new Subarus and VWs. V-twin sport bikes to show-level streetfighters. I just like weird/unique vehicles, and tinkering with them.

Currently got a '97 Nissan Stagea RSFour imported from Japan. RB25DET with a few mods. FMIC, turbo back exhaust, intake, boost controller, turbo timer, TE37 reps, BC coilovers, and currently converting the centre console to a 7" RPi-driven touch screen with CONSULT integration to the ECU for sensor readouts, and setting it up for track days (half cage, etc). Pic.

Also about to take on a late 80s JDM Honda Goldwing which I want to fully restore to meticulous detail, for no other reason than I think they look retro-cool and are massively underrated for cruising. I plan on doing a small turbo conversion, and upgrading the brakes and suspension, but keeping it looking 100% stock and perfect down to every last bolt.

8 comments

  1. [2]
    Alfa-Dog
    Link
    In the 10 years i have been driving, i've owned over a dozen cars and 4 motorcycles.Not all were "projects" and some invited being modified more than others, like the beater 1971 VW Square-back i...

    In the 10 years i have been driving, i've owned over a dozen cars and 4 motorcycles.Not all were "projects" and some invited being modified more than others, like the beater 1971 VW Square-back i picked up that was already kind of thrashed so i slammed it and murdered it out. Right after i picked up a 1974 Alfa romeo GTV Veloce that i did my best to keep as close to stock as possible. the 1964.5 Mustang coupe was previously a drag racer and was already modified to hell before i blew it up. On my newer cars, it was usually more of a utility thing, like my 17 Tacoma long bed that i turned into a bit of a bug-out camper with an insulated shell and aux power. I also had a brand new 14 genesis coupe r-spec 3.8 that only ever had cosmetic things like wrap and wheels done to it. surprisingly enough my WRX stayed stock for as long as i owned it.
    As far as motorcycles go, my DRZ had functional mods, like a larger gas tank and suspension. My victory hammer S i chopped the rear fairing and did the breathers. Then i moved onto a harley wide glide that slowly turned into a bagger, with a huge fairing, pin-striping, highway bars, bags, sissy bar, the list goes on. Now i have a 2018 low rider and while I've only had it for 10 days (and 800 miles), I'm looking at wrapping it (since im over having a black Harley like everyone else) and doing the seat and a sissy bar (thinking of being really stupid about it and wrapping it in a matte Tiffany blue with a better seat re-upholstered in Louis Vuitton printed leather. because fuck it).

    1 vote
    1. rorso
      Link Parent
      That's a very cool variety you've had. I'd love to see pics of the Tacoma and the bagger. In my "one day soon" list is a bagger of some kind (although I guess the Goldwing kinda covers that...

      That's a very cool variety you've had. I'd love to see pics of the Tacoma and the bagger. In my "one day soon" list is a bagger of some kind (although I guess the Goldwing kinda covers that practical purpose, I still love the look of a proper bagger) and I really want to make an off-road van for exploring my country more. Something like a lifted Elgrand or Hiace decked out for minimal survival-style camping/exploration.

  2. [6]
    Hassium
    Link
    I can't really chime in on the discussion myself however, I'd like to hear from you and anyone else how you got into modifying your cars? Did you have previous experience/knowledge from being...

    I can't really chime in on the discussion myself however, I'd like to hear from you and anyone else how you got into modifying your cars?

    Did you have previous experience/knowledge from being around mechanics? Did you just get stuck in one day and start repairing something you knew was off? What gave you the confidence to take this thing that you spent a good chunk of cash on and play with it like that?

    Thanks

    1. [5]
      rorso
      Link Parent
      My career is IT (like I assume lot of ~ is), but I've loved cars since I was a toddler. I have zero mechanical training or guidance other than Google. I just realised one day that cars are pretty...

      My career is IT (like I assume lot of ~ is), but I've loved cars since I was a toddler. I have zero mechanical training or guidance other than Google. I just realised one day that cars are pretty much computers, just a bunch of modular systems bolted/wired together into a complete system. If you break it down into the individual modular components, it's not really any more overwhelming than building a custom PC. Just dirtier, sweatier, and heavier. Performance mods are like swapping out the CPU or GPU. Some screws/bolts, take the stock one out, put the aftermarket one in. Then work your way up from there. You can do a fair bit to your car with nothing but a few socket wrenches and screw drivers and YouTube. Exhausts, intakes, wheels, coilovers, seats, accessories, stereos, can all be done by anyone, with zero experience and basic hand tools.

      I think people get a lot more overwhelmed by cars than they need to. Modifying your car can bring plenty of benefits (practical benefits, we're ignoring stuff like stancing, airbags, custom paint, etc). Cars from the factory are built/adjusted/tuned for the masses, eg as blandly as possible to appeal to as many buyers as possible. Most cars can get pretty significant performance gains with a few simple bolt-on mods and a single weekend. Suspension upgrades alone can absolutely transform your cheap daily commuter into something that actually feels GOOD to drive, and handles better than factory (cars are very "soft" from the factory in general). You can make a cheap car more comfortable and perform better, or a not-so-cheap car comparable to cars worth twice as much, for not much money/effort. Even learning to do basic services yourself can save you heaps of money, and teach you a lot about your car.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        Alfa-Dog
        Link Parent
        When i started working on cars (and computers, coincidentally) it felt really daunting, until my step father threw this little bit of wisdom my way: "Think about most mechanics you meet. Some are...

        When i started working on cars (and computers, coincidentally) it felt really daunting, until my step father threw this little bit of wisdom my way: "Think about most mechanics you meet. Some are really smart, and some... not so much. They are just people, not magicians or anything. You are at least as smart as the dumbest decent mechanic, if they can figure it out you can too. its not about being smart enough to do it, its jut about know what to do, and when". Regardless of how true that was, i took it to heart and kind of applied that thinking to everything from building computers to handyman work and my career in finance. I might be rambling a bit since you posted a topic I care deeply about, so sorry for that.
        Why do I modify things? Because I can. The first thing i ever modified car wise was my 1988 Camry Station Waggon radio. I hated the cassette tape deck it came with. bought a new cd player with an Aux Jack (it was 2006) and wired it all up. Its a shame the thing got stolen about 2 months later but it made me realize that I can upgrade the bits i don't like without having to pay for upgrading things i don't care about.

        1 vote
        1. rorso
          Link Parent
          Isn't that the entire point of ~? Rant away, I love this stuff! This is exactly why I'm hoping we can get a ~auto going here for proper discussion about modifying, customising, and restoring...

          I might be rambling a bit since you posted a topic I care deeply about, so sorry for that.

          Isn't that the entire point of ~? Rant away, I love this stuff!

          Why do I modify things? Because I can.

          This is exactly why I'm hoping we can get a ~auto going here for proper discussion about modifying, customising, and restoring vehicles. Reddit is SO full of hate that I just cbf posting anything car/bike related there anymore. Unless it's a track-spec MX5/Miata or a factory muscle car, you just get slammed with hate. "How do you get over speed bumps?" ... I don't, we don't have them, and my car handles like it's on rails. "Why would you pour money into such a shit car?" ... shit by whose metric? I personally love every single car I've owned, because I have different taste to other people. Etc etc.

      2. [2]
        Hassium
        Link Parent
        Great reply, thanks for taking the time! I had always thought that to likening it in my head to building a computer was... wishful thinking on my part I guess? Like I just want it to be that...

        Great reply, thanks for taking the time!

        I had always thought that to likening it in my head to building a computer was... wishful thinking on my part I guess? Like I just want it to be that simple rather than it being the complicated symbiotic mechanical beast I've built it up to be.

        I think people get a lot more overwhelmed by cars than they need to.

        ding ding ding hit the nail on the head in my case.

        1. rorso
          Link Parent
          @alfa-dog nailed it above: You'd be amazed how much you can do to your own car with YouTube. Check out early episodes of Mighty Car Mods (more recent episodes are still awesome, but they've gotten...

          @alfa-dog nailed it above:

          Think about most mechanics you meet. Some are really smart, and some... not so much. They are just people, not magicians or anything

          You'd be amazed how much you can do to your own car with YouTube. Check out early episodes of Mighty Car Mods (more recent episodes are still awesome, but they've gotten pretty advanced now). In 20 minutes you'll learn how to change your oil and filters, clean your air filters out, swap your exhaust or wheels, upgrade your car stereo (most cars have adapters so it's literally plug and play like swapping out a GPU), etc. I've quite literally seen people on reddit buy a new car because theirs didn't have Bluetooth, or GPS... both of which can be added for a couple hundred bucks to any car.

          Season 1 & Season 2 especially had LOTS of great episodes on basic maintenance and upgrades you can do in your driveway with nothing but hand tools. Most cars are VERY similar, meaning even if the tutorial isn't about your exact car, it's almost all transferable.

          1 vote