Kizashi Club

I know a few of us have side projects so feel free to share what you've been up to here!

Nice! I just thought about all my other cars and how much work I want to do on them...

I removed the roof rack on the SX4 since the really cool Thule faring I had decided to perform an amazing acrobatic gymnastics dismount off my car at 60 mph the other day. It was beautiful till it didn't quite stick the landing and shattered into a million black plastic fragments all over the highway...

sx4rocious wrote:I removed the roof rack on the SX4 since the really cool Thule faring I had decided to perform an amazing acrobatic gymnastics dismount off my car at 60 mph the other day. It was beautiful till it didn't quite stick the landing and shattered into a million black plastic fragments all over the highway...

Wow, that sucks! Why did it dismount like that?

I ordered a new set of tires for the SV650. When I install them, I'm also swapping out the fork springs for a firmer pair.

I also have VWs as my project cars. I actually have two I'm working on. One's a VW Jetta that I'm doing some repairs and maintenance on for someone and the other is the VW bus. The winter put the work on delay for both cars, but with spring here now, it will resume.
Some things I plan to get done to the VW bus soon include the following:
- Install a starter relay for more reliable starting.
- Install an oil temperature warning dipstick.
- Repair wiring issue with the sink.
- Install new shifter bushings.
- Investigate and resolve missing issue at higher RPMs.

Some future plans include the following after the list above is complete:
- Install a front anti-sway bar.
- Install a new exhaust system.
- Overhaul all ducts and try make the heating system actually functional.
- Re-install curtains.

Speed_Racer wrote:I ordered a new set of tires for the SV650. When I install them, I'm also swapping out the fork springs for a firmer pair.

Neat, I never knew you could do that. What type of advantages does that bring? I would imagine more stablity in turns under braking.

KuroNekko wrote: Some things I plan to get done to the VW bus soon include the following:
- Install a starter relay for more reliable starting.
- Install an oil temperature warning dipstick.
- Repair wiring issue with the sink.
- Install new shifter bushings.
- Investigate and resolve missing issue at higher RPMs.

Some future plans include the following after the list above is complete:
- Install a front anti-sway bar.
- Install a new exhaust system.
- Overhaul all ducts and try make the heating system actually functional.
- Re-install curtains.

Very interested to see this! Please share some progress pictures if you get the chance

bootymac wrote: Very interested to see this! Please share some progress pictures if you get the chance

No problem. I have some older photos of when I was working on it in the past few summers. I'll upload them later. With this car, like any project car I imagine, things are done in phases. In the past, I've:
- Replaced all shocks with KYB Excel-Gs. (The old ones were complete goners.)
- Replaced the steering dampener. (Smoothed out the steering. No more wobbles.)
- Replaced the drag link. (Got rid of the clunking in the steering.)
- Replaced front brake pads and rebuilt front calipers. (Got rid of the screech and the bus stops decently now.)
- Replaced front brake lines and hoses. (For the sake of a front brake overhaul.)
- Replaced alternator with a 70 Amp version. (Old one's bearing seized and ate the belt. Turned out the old alternator installed by previous owner was a 55 Amp; made for non-camper buses.)
- Replaced spark plugs and wires.
- Replaced rotor, distributor cap, points, and condenser. (Thinking about going with an electronic ignition in the future to replace the points and condenser for lower maintenance and better MPGs.)
- Replaced valve cover gaskets.
- Adjusted valves.
- Changed oil and filter. (Valvoline MaxLife 10W-40 in winter and 20W-50 in summer.)
- Replaced alternator belt. (Old one seized on the alternator.)
- Adjusted timing (and learned to use a timing light).
- Sealed leak in water tank (For the sink.)
- Installed windshield flower vase (because... VW bus).
- Installed solar trickle charger for the battery.
- Replaced #3 cylinder thermal sensor.
- Replaced transmission fluid with Red Line MT-90.
- Installed LED 3rd brake light.
- Installed LED tail/brake light bulbs.
- Installed high output sealed beam headlights with hi-temp harnesses.
- Installed cargo net for cabin roof carrier.
- Installed rear seat table.
- Installed rear door bike carrier.
- Installed engine bay's fire extinguisher.
- Replaced cigarette lighter wiring.
- Installed high output bulbs for dash gauges (Now actually visible at night!)
- Replaced fuel pump and fuel filter.
- Replaced accelerator cable (Literally a cable running from front of bus to the rear.)
- Probably forgetting a few other things but you get the idea. It never ends but the car is older than I am so it's expected.

SamirD wrote:

Speed_Racer wrote:I ordered a new set of tires for the SV650. When I install them, I'm also swapping out the fork springs for a firmer pair.

Neat, I never knew you could do that. What type of advantages does that bring? I would imagine more stablity in turns under braking.

It's not hard at all, just a few more steps beyond changing fork oil which should be done every so often anyways.

Stock SVs were undersprung from the factory, so as a 180 lb dude I get a ton of fork dive when braking and wallowing in the corners. A firmer set will solve most of these issues and increase confidence in the twisties. The only downside is a stiffer ride around town, a tradeoff I'm ok with.

Another fix that a lot of SV riders do is swap out the entire front end with the inverted forks and brakes from the GSX-R, but that's out of my price range. (Sample pic below)