What did you do to your other car(s) today?

Non-Suzuki related topics. Anything can go here.
SamirD
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Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
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KuroNekko wrote: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.
Super cool. I can imagine what it looks like now from where it started. How far do you consider yourself 'done' on the project? 10%? 90%
Speed_Racer wrote:
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)

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Very cool. I had no idea you could just swap forks like that. I'm going to have to start watching for major bike mods like this. 8-)
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KuroNekko
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Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

Here are some older photos from the VW bus project.

Playing with parts.
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A new drag link installed.
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Front brake caliper rebuild.
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Took apart a CV joint to clean and repack it. After cleaning it out, I realized how cool it looks. After some photos, it got packed with Red Line synthetic grease and put back on the axle.
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2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
Fritz2
Posts: 153
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 3:53 am

I had a friend in high school who had one of these. I don' know if the motor was stock, but when he would accelerate hard(!) from a standing start, the front end would lift even with the two of us up there, and it felt like you were really going fast. I could have just been scared, he was a madman.
Fritz2
Posts: 153
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 3:53 am

Oops, I'm talking about the bus, not the bike!
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KuroNekko
Posts: 5170
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

Fritz2 wrote:I had a friend in high school who had one of these. I don' know if the motor was stock, but when he would accelerate hard(!) from a standing start, the front end would lift even with the two of us up there, and it felt like you were really going fast. I could have just been scared, he was a madman.
Your friend definitely did not have a stock engine. These VWs are infamous for being the slowest thing on four wheels. After all, an air-cooled 2.0 liter four cylinder engine making 88 HP is pushing 4000 lbs (in camper form). However, I've heard of people swapping engines including one who put a Porsche engine in his. For the Vanagons, water-cooled Subaru engine swaps are possible.
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Black)
bootymac
Posts: 1602
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:04 am

Very cool stuff. Rzeppa joints are boss
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Woodie
Posts: 1167
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:09 am
Location: Laurel, MD

I put a new exhaust system on the Aerio, wow what a job! I hate exhaust work, everything is rusted solid and usually needs to be cut off with a cutting wheel.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Should be a convenience store, not a government agency
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Speed_Racer
Posts: 383
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:58 pm
Location: Salt Lake City

I've been doing (and spending) a lot on the SV lately. I installed the new springs and serviced the forks and the bike rides like it's new. Way more confident in the corners and a lot less brake dive.

Other recent upgrades: LED blinkers, re-wrapped my seats with some fresh vinyl, sprayed the inside of my windscreen black as a ghetto-tint. New set of Continental sport-touring tires. Installed a RAM mount on my handlebars for my phone and wired in a charging point by the ignition. Rode to LA and back (1400 miles) last weekend and had no issues, rolled over 23k miles on the odometer.

June's upgrades are a new chain and front/rear sprocket.

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'12 Kizashi,'03 SV650,'04 DL1000
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redmed
Posts: 492
Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:56 pm
Location: Michigan

Oh man, all I did was connect my batteryminder to my F250.
64 Galaxie 68 Olds 442 65 Impala 70 VW Bug
74 Nissan B210 66 Chevelle 73 Olds 98 71 C20
75 Monza 82 Escort 75 E150 75 Civic 76 Accord
86 Escort 87 Taurus 83 Chevy G20 85 Ranger 4x4
93 F250 4x4 95 Silhouette 95 LHS 03 Corolla 10 Kizashi S MT
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SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
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I remembered I have some others...:(
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