Emily's 04 VR SE

SlugRacer · Postby **SlugRacer** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:35 pm

The wheels suit perfectly! I much prefer the original design of the P1s, they remind me of R34 GTR wheels. :JDM:

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:53 pm

Yeah I think they look really good too, very similar to the 34 rims! Not 18s though haha.
Too bad they are coming off next week haha, got something fatter to replace them ;)

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Sun May 03, 2015 9:01 pm

Another little update

I installed a pair of RSpeed hydraulic bonnet struts, extremely simple mod that cleans up the engine bay as I removed the factory prop, hinge and clip.
Great fitment, no drilling required as the bracket slots under the bonnet hinge nut, and the other end replaced a fender bolt. Not my car, but pic for reference.

Verdict? Worth it.

Next up was a set of Ultra Racing fender braces.
Fitment was not great, as expected.
I had to enlarge the bottom 2 holes to get it sitting perfectly, then was pretty straight forward drilling the other 2 holes in the chassis.
It came with nice M8 stainless hardware for the holes you have to drill, but I had to go to Bunnings and buy 8 bolts for the door hinges, as the brace is quite thick and I wasn't happy reusing the stock bolts as there was hardly any thread left once the brace thickness was added in on top of the door hinge.

I have heard good things about their effect, but am always sceptical of any real gain. Pleased to say I noticed a difference straight away!
I have several sharp chicanes near me to test the cars agility, and I perceived a more direct turn in. The car felt a lot more connected to the road, for lack of a better explanation it felt a lot more like an NA

Verdict? Worth it.

Also had the guards rolled by Nelson from Sydney Guard Rolling.
Mobile, great price and perfect job.

Verdict? Worth it, and necessary for these bad boys :mrgreen:

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sun May 03, 2015 10:08 pm

emily_mx5 wrote:Verdict? Worth it, and necessary for these bad boys

Awwww..... You can't go and post some pictures like these and not tell us what they are!!

A bit hard to see in the photo but are those tyres 235 wide?!!! :shock:

Very nice though.... I've always thought the 'twin spoke' 5-spoke design would be the only alternative to the factory 5 spoke RH rims that I would seriously consider. :wink:

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Sun May 03, 2015 10:52 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:Very nice though.... I've always thought the 'twin spoke' 5-spoke design would be the only alternative to the factory 5 spoke RH rims that I would seriously consider.

I agree, very nice design

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Sun May 03, 2015 11:48 pm

Huehuehue it's gonna be fattttttttttt

16x9 +25 with 225/45/16 AD08Rs (S spec and more like 235 width)

luzinit · Postby **luzinit** » Mon May 04, 2015 1:00 am

Very nice and unique rims. What wheels are those Emily?

Ruffian147 · Postby **Ruffian147** » Mon May 04, 2015 7:12 am

Seen them on a Holden Astra the other day.

Does not suit a MX5 imo, more of a Euro feel than JDM.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Mon May 04, 2015 8:07 am

Very nice Emily! You're doing all the mods I want to one day do, but on an accelertaed timeline. Quite jealous actually.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon May 04, 2015 12:40 pm

emily_mx5 wrote:Another little update
I installed a pair of RSpeed hydraulic bonnet struts, extremely simple mod that cleans up the engine bay as I removed the factory prop, hinge and clip.
Great fitment, no drilling required as the bracket slots under the bonnet hinge nut, and the other end replaced a fender bolt. Not my car, but pic for reference.
Verdict? Worth it.

+1 - it's like the remote control for your TV, not really necessary but once you're used to it, you can't live without it.

emily_mx5 wrote:Next up was a set of Ultra Racing fender braces.
Fitment was not great, as expected.
I had to enlarge the bottom 2 holes to get it sitting perfectly, then was pretty straight forward drilling the other 2 holes in the chassis.
It came with nice M8 stainless hardware for the holes you have to drill, but I had to go to Bunnings and buy 8 bolts for the door hinges, as the brace is quite thick and I wasn't happy reusing the stock bolts as there was hardly any thread left once the brace thickness was added in on top of the door hinge.

I have heard good things about their effect, but am always sceptical of any real gain. Pleased to say I noticed a difference straight away!
I have several sharp chicanes near me to test the cars agility, and I perceived a more direct turn in. The car felt a lot more connected to the road, for lack of a better explanation it felt a lot more like an NA

Verdict? Worth it.

There's a thread about Ultra Racing fender braces somewhere here that they didn't fit a guy's MX5 properly and Ultra Racing dismissed the issue as being a problem with his chassis being twisted. Other guys chimed in with similar issues so I've been wary of Ultra Racing products ever since.
I have Boss Frog Frog Arms and, like you, noticed that turn-in felt much sharper, you can definitely feel the difference (unlike the FM frame rails where I didn't notice any difference while driving, only when jacking up the car).

Looking forward to seeing those wheels on the car, you've got quite a collection now. I'm concerned 235s may rub on the inside at full lock on the SE though - can you include a shot of how close it gets?

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Mon May 04, 2015 1:57 pm

Lokiel wrote:Looking forward to seeing those wheels on the car, you've got quite a collection now. I'm concerned 235s may rub on the inside at full lock on the SE though - can you include a shot of how close it gets?

From memory the SE hits the lock stops before regular NBs. It might work