Caliber's R32 GTR Project

[caliber676]

i have been busy with small little jobs on the car and getting a guy down to my garage to respray the engine is proving more difficult than i expected. So i've started cleaning and covering the subframe, knuckles and underbody with por-15. Its expensive paint but i cant think of anything more durable than this stuff!

[ColinR33]

Good stuff! I just bought some POR-15 too, planning on doing my wheel wells when it warms up enough. Anyissues with the application?

[caliber676]

Just make sure you follow the instructions directly. Ensure that all the dirt and grease is removed with the marine clean, then apply the metal ready and let sit for about 30mins. I do a thorough blast with an air gun to make sure any residue is removed as the metal ready gives a greasy coating in spots. Then just paint over. I would suggest you get as many parts prepped at one time and paint them then as the paint does thicken up quite a bit when exposed to air for even a few minutes.

[xyz999]

Wow, I can't wait to see you finish this car. Your signature says everything about your car man.

[caliber676]

Well now that im signed by Audi as a mechanic I have a decent income coming in. I've been dumping money in it for the past few paychecks and the parts are starting to come in. Just got my first little batch of things. I picked up a few things i got on sale or at a price i had to scoop up, and then focused on the suspension so i can get the underbody sprayed and ready to get off jackstands.

Picked up some Tomei Procams 270 duration, 10.25mm lift and some supertech valves seals at a amazing price. Also an N1 waterpump and some timing bits and bearings cheap. Then focused my money on suspension as followed:
-SPL solid aluminum subframe and differential bushings
-SPL monoball rear knuckle bushings
-SPL rear traction rod
-AMS rear control arms
-AMS Max-Hicas Eliminator kit
-AMS front control arms

I also grabbed a full set of wheel bearings and grease seals as well but some of the parts are on back order so i got to work with what I have.

So i dropped the rear subframe, gas tank and basically everything right down to the bare body for a respray.

The first order of business was to get the old subframe bushings out and what a b*tch it was. But after some cursing, a few extra hands and some sweat there you see the comparison of the oem next to the SPL. I was impressed with SPL having a full set of collars and spacers to tuck your subframe towards the body up to 1/2", very awesome product!

The new ones went in easily, just froze them overnight and heated the subframe when installing. Good aim and some smacks with the dead blow had them in. Now its ready for a clean and POR-15 treatment.


Next I had to get the rear suspension taken apart for new bearings, new seals and the SPL monoball bushings.

Picked up a C-clamp press from princess auto i will be returning right after im finished lol. The Bushings went in well, same with the differential bushings. And this is them all done.

As always they're ready for a clean and POR-15 treatment with metal effect!

Just got bored after that and polished up the transfer case, will do the transmission housing after.

Next on the list is getting the underbody sealed and possibly repainted in the Aston Martin paint for that show car look but that may just be overkill for an underbody?? Also waiting on the rest of the suspension parts to come in and for next paycheck to pick up a set of PBM coilovers, the front tension rods and some swaybars which I am undecided about.
Also I want to sell my LMGT4's for something different, so if any of you guys want a set let me know! As well as all the stock suspension parts someone can pick them up off me for $50 so i have work space!

[C-unit]

W T F.....you polished your transfer case...

[caliber676]

yeah....It was dirty as hell. I wanna make everything look fancy

[frankiman]

just so you know, from what i've learned in my engineering classes, a polished surface as less heat transfer capabilities than non-polished

[caliber676]

dont worry, its not actually polished polished. I merely degreased, scrubbed the thing hard with a heavy brush and applied a light metal shine compound by hand to bring out the natural aluminum colour. Its by no means cut into and polished. I have heard of polished surfaces and heat transfer, as well as porosity problems from the degradation of transmission housings.

[frankiman]

btw, i really love those spherical bearings replacing the stock bushings,
something i might do next year..

[cortexx]

a rough surface has a larger surface area

[caliber676]

btw, i really love those spherical bearings replacing the stock bushings,
something i might do next year..

Yeah they look like they're well made. They also look like they will rattle my brain and be very unforgiving on the road. Thats the downside I guess right?

[frankiman]

Yeah they look like they're well made. They also look like they will rattle my brain and be very unforgiving on the road. Thats the downside I guess right?

because racecar

[caliber676]

Small update, just got the rear subframe painted as well as all the other suspension bits I wanted coated as well. Now I just gotta decide if I want the whole underbody just undercoated or actually painted


I also sold my LMGT4's and already pre ordered some SSR SP1's in Flat black. 18x11 -1 SL disc for the rears. Haven't placed the order for the fronts as i wanna do some more research into the width and offset I want.

[cschepp]

Are you going to go with staggered sizing? I don't understand how people do this as the way I understood it is it wil really mess with the attessa. Anyways I'm liking the refresh on the suspension, just curious now as far as the wheel setup goes