Came across a pic of this Illinois FC on the Risky Devil blog. Sittin on AME FS-01’s in Sapphire Black, 18×9+25 F / 18×10+25 R. In addition, he’s keepin it in the family sitting on some Zeal Function B6 coilovers. He mentioned that he’ll also be installing his Foresight FRP spoiler as well as a Knightsports vented hood.

BUT S15 TASTEESSS SOOO GOOOD!

LOL

Seriously though, right after my post saying I was gonna lay off the S15 thing for a minute, I talked to D.O.M and then wham, another S15 post. I might as well post about Tokyo Banana or something. He said they got the Endless x D.O.M Beezy S15 running after some major engine work done by Neptune Speed.

For those who like to fast forward when watching *cough* “movies” *cough*, fast forward to :58 if you want to get to the money shot.

Engine work includes:

HKS Inner & Outer Valve Springs
HKS Valve Stem Seals
HKS Retainers
HKS Rocker Arms
HKS Solid Lifters
HKS Step 3 Intake Cam
HKS Step 3 Exhaust Cam
HKS Injectors
HKS Head Gasket (thanks Daniel)
HKS GT-RS Turbo
HKS Turbo Elbow
HKS Downpipe
HKS Twin Power DLI II
HKS Intercooler
HKS Oil Cooler
HKS F-Con V Pro
HKS EVC
Moonface Test Pipe
Moonface Engine Damper
Kakimoto Exhaust
**** Radiator
Nismo Thermostat
Nismo Engine Mounts

a.k.a parts I cannot afford for my 240.

Tomorrow the car will go to get tuned at HKS USA.

Must be nice.

My car is tuned by Hopes & Dreams Motorsports (yes I’m quite envious).

To add to my previous post about Tribe…I remembered about this gem from Q-Tip’s solo stuff.

Q-Tip - Let’s Ride

*NWS* if you work for some dictatorship and they don’t like Sung Hi Lee’s right booby. I know I do.

If you don’t like Nissan turn away, cause I’d like to say this will be the last S15 I post up for a while, but who knows these days. Moar pics of Chris’s S15…too bad the S15 never made it stateside to the US. It probably would’ve intially sold like poo poo (much like the kouki S14), but it wouldn’t be a bad car to pick up years later when the resale value was something realistic. I bet Nissan North America would’ve put in a KA24DE into it though. I got mad love for the KA since I’m a S13 guy, but for some reason I couldn’t imagine popping the hood of a S15 and seeing a KA.

So clean Fat Joe would lick the bottom of this thing (sneaker heads will get the reference). Even you suspension purists can appreciate the wheel fitment, nice and flush, but not ridiculously cambered.

His previous zenki S14 was pretty clean as well. Clean kit, clear headlight covers, and sittin low on Work KS-KF’s. Simple equation but still, all I see these days is busted 240’s. Disappointing when people have more than enough info and inspiration to fill up a MANUAL but still make forehead slapping cars (probably cause they don’t bother to take their time and read the directions!).

“Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick / I’m sweeter and thicker than a chico stick.” Decipher that. This car is _______ and _______.

Nostalgia is probably the best feeling when it comes to music choice. Ever since the “Golden Age of Hip Hop” (aka the 90’s), rap’s been on the downhill (YULE! CRANK THAT SOLJAH BOY! YULE! WTF???). Rather than subject myself to the garbage that is MAINSTREAM RADIO, I’ve been looking backward to the past….and been on a Tribe tip recently:

1) A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
2) A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhime
3) A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God
4) A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario
5) A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour
6) A Tribe Called Quest - Find A Way
7) A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
8) A Tribe Called Quest - I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
9) A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
10) A Tribe Called Quest - Lyrics To Go

If any of you Socal heads haven’t already realized, Tribe’s gonna be at the Rock The Bells tour coming to the I.E soon. Reunion tour I guess, its gonna be fire.

It seems like S15 mania recently. Chris sent me pics of his S15 sitting on 17×9+22 Advan RG II’s in Silver (which I originally had sold to him when he had a S13). Talk about an upgrade. You can see Tarek’s S15 playing peek-a-boo in the back.

Close-up-for-no-apparent-reason shot. Wheel companies: 3 factors for success - 1) Concave Face, 2) Good fitments, 3) Good looks. He’s got some decent meat on there though, 235/40 F + 245/40 R (although all you tire wasters are gonna say so small). Nice and clean, reminds me of D.O.M’s S15 before he went all NAWTS on it.

Last night, the coworkers and I were shooting the ish after work, and were fiendin for some Japanese food. In South El Monte (where A Spec is), there is a lack of Japanese food (but an abundance of good Mexican food). We ended up at Bento-ya in Arcadia, which is an random location to have a bento joint, but I ain’t mad. Peep my coworker Tuan’s slammed Miata, again upsetting all the suspension geometry purists out there. 15×8.0+0 w/ 195’s all around on you bustas.

I’m a sucker for takoyaki: premade, homemade, or fresh it’s all good. And you know I had to get the refreshment that is Calpico. Although the Calpico was like $3 bones ea. Just as much as the Takoyaki (for 8 pieces).

If you ever eat Japanese food and get the Teriyaki Chicken, shame on you (you are missing out on the good stuff). I keeps it real and love to eat saba (grilled Mackerel). The saba here was awesome, and they give you the whole fish (other half is underneath), rather than some tiny izakaya-sized piece.

Gratuitous I’m full done deal shot. Other coworker Francis got his silly on and threw all his stuff in the picture, flossin like a dentist. They were all out of the Yellowtail Collar bento (aka hamachi kama, which I wanted badly), but oh well hopefully next time. On a side note, I also went to Bentoss in Costa Mesa the other night, and although clean in regards to packaging and appearance (reminds me of Shinkansen style bento), it didn’t have the same fresh and tasty factor that Bento-ya did. If you’re ever on 1st Ave. in Arcadia, go get your fat on!

6/19/08 - On Heavy Rotation:

1) Kidz In The Hall - Wheelz Fall Off (’06 Til) (shown above…Souls of Mischief throwback!)
2) Kidz In The Hall - Mr. Alladatshit
3) Kidz In The Hall - Drivin Down The Block (…for those who remember Outkast’s Elevators)
4) Mickey Factz f. The Cool Kids - Rockin N Rollin
5) N.E.R.D - Sooner Or Later
6) 9th Wonder & Buckshot ft. Talib Kweli - Hold It Down

Pics taken by Tuan’s iPhone

Mark your calendars. Willow Springs, June 28-29. Probably the most anticipated, never duplicated, and BEST private drift event in the USA. I made the run group stickers for the event, and All Star Bash 4 tees are getting printed as we speak!

Summary of Ziptied.com: “That`s so novice / I`m so polished / I got a right to be a little bit snobbish.”

A couple posts back I posted some pics of my customer Tarek’s S15 with his newly acquired Meister S1 3PC in special Matte Black finish.

Today he sent me some more pics he took over the weekend at HIN.

The wheel fitment (on stock body mind you) and ride stance is illin on this car. All the suspension purists right now are cringing at the stretch tire and camber. Too bad so sad you KNOW this isht looks good.

Everything looks good from the rear (…if you say “that’s what she said” one more time…). I only noticed 10 minutes later that there was a S2000 in the front and 350z behind. Notice the big brake face on the S2000 that extends OUTSIDE the lip, while the S15 looks like its smuggling the faces cross the border. I got love for the Hondas, but I’m a sucker for cars that can fit the WIDES.

Slam that clam. Too low for racing, but I’d definitely bang this thing down the boulevard, ridin smoove.

Not a fan of Ja Rule these days, but definitely a fan of 240 guys who buy the REAL WHEELS instead of the knockoff gabbage. Sold a set of Matte Black TE37’s to my customer Manuel in Florida. Between these and D. Blue TE37 color (it’s not MAG BLUE haha), these are one of my favorite colors for TE. Plus too it’s gangster sizing, 17×9+0 F and 18×10.5+15 R. Playing a game of peek-a-boo is a Project Mu Racing 4 Pot Caliper kit.

He went with the murdered out theme, flat blacking the body as well, and he’s running a mix + match kit with D-Max front and Uras GT sides / rear. I could stare at TE37’s all day, they never seem to get old, hmm?

Came across some pics of a friend Jason’s FC vert…hardly seen clean FC verts these days. People are usually wary of rotaries (including myself due to lack of experience with them), but not this guy.

Low, kitted, caged, and flush. All the right ingredients for success. Then add on the fact that he actually TRACKS it, and its all good.

Night drift at WSIR Balcony! Pics are courtesy of his blog Endless Night.

A customer of mine Tarek got his set of special order Meister 3PC for his S15. Wheel fitment (18×9+4 R Disk F / 18×10+5 O Disk R) is spot on, and the matte black face with black rivets is clean.

We had to air freight these things for him to get them here for a deadline, but the end result is well worth it. Simple + clean + fat step lip + lowdown S15, what else do you need?

…Neon Yellow thangs! This past weekend, Toshiki “Toshiking” Yoshioka debuted the new Lexus Soarer (SC430 to us here stateside) at the D1GP in Tokyo Bay. Originally you might have remembered this being at Tokyo Auto Salon in matte black with very few stickers. It’s since transformed into a serious neck breaker.

Engine specs are:

Engine (3S) Design by Prime Garage
HKS 3240 Turbine
Power is 480HP @ 1.3 boost, 550HP @ 1.5 boost, and 600HP with 1.5 boost and nitrous
Prime Garage surge tank
Prime Garage exhaust manifold

One of the craziest parts of the car is the transmission, which is a “X Track” 6 gear sequential (for a 1999 JGTC GT500 Supra). According to Yoshioka it consists of a super light magnesium body.

Price for one of these is said to cost in the $40,000 range! (SH*T!)

They got the car sitting on the new Gram Lights 57D wheels in the special Luminous Yellow finish, wrapped in Yokohama Neova AD07 (265/35/18). I’m pretty sure the wheels are Face 3 (most concave), so probably 18×9.5+12 all around. Suspension is DG5 coilovers w/ Espelir Springs and traction is provided by an ATS Carbon LSD.

Hello Mr. Luxury, let me introduce you to Mr. Race. I’m feelin the graphics scheme, and most especially the hood. The vents flow with the lines of the car, and still keeps it clean. Color scheme (aero by Tom’s) is dead on for a D1 car (although the haters might not), it reminds me of Team Sexy Knights FC + 180sx.

Interior shot, showing off the Works Bell “Yoshioka Edition” Rapfix II quick release (knockoffs can E-A-D). Also take note of the Works Bell Carbon Paddle Shifter Kit…it’s not meant for this car, but it actually serves as a nitrous switch (yes, he also is juicing this thing too, not just his previous AE86).

For seats he’s using Recaros in red, with some clean cage work to finish it off. I’m not sure exactly what’s in the aluminum box in front, I’m guessing fuel swirl pot or something of that nature.

The shot you’ve been waiting for…this is some bad ass engine work. ARC v-mount setup + top mount turbo + cut weld cut weld piping = not your mama’s SC430.

Yoshioka is a super nice guy, but damn, looks like he’s out for blood in this one. Good luck to Yoshi this season, it should be interesting to see how the previous power “underdog” fares now that he is sitting on mad horses.

…for Musha. Went to eat here with D.O.M stat + his queen over the weekend. I had heard many great reviews from my friends previously, but never had the chance to peep game. First off, I’ll review what I thought was good, then get haterrific towards the end.

The kakuni pork, aka stewed pork belly, was quite good. Nice chunks of pork, with potatoes and egg to soak up the oily goodness. Probably the better kakuni pork I’ve had in the Socal area.

This reminded me of Ratatouille for some reason. Their cheese risotto was super rich and definitely one of the highlights of the place. It’s brown rice cooked in chicken broth, then cooked with onions, bacon, and heavy cream. Then if that wasn’t Emeril enough of them, they took it up another notch and mixed it in a cheese block.

Mmmmm….creamy and cheesy goodness. I loved this, but by the second helping of this, the richness definitely had to make me put down the fork. I still ruined a good pair of pants though.

Holy mackerel! They also do welding and fabrication at Musha. Either that or play with light sabers.

LOL. Nah they take mackerel, cut it up sashimi style, then finish it off with a blast of the torch. I wish it was a bit more oily, but for mackerel it was definitely good.

We also got the takotama, which was an omelette dish with pieces of octopus. They put the tako omelette over a bed of yakisoba style noodles, drizzle it with okonomiyaki sauce + mayonaise, then add a bed of bonito flakes (fish flakes). I wasn’t too impressed with this, it was very similar to takoyaki but for some reason just wasn’t feelin it.

Being born and raised in Hawaii, I am a really big fan of poke. Except for the fact that when you order poke anywhere else but Hawaii, it always ends up falling short of my expectations (hater alert). I definitely busted out the negative nancy on this one, simply because I COULDN’T FIND THE FISH. This is worse than staring a a page of Where’s Waldo: I see some rice crackers, radish, and limu (seaweed)….where’s the fish? Oh, THERE IT IS (in the back…that’s what she said). They were SUPER tiny cubes of ahi too…Captain Crunch cereal sized. I think they should make this into a poke salad, rather than trying to pass it off as a $8 plate of “hawaiian poke.”

The M.F.C (Musha Fried Chicken). They should’ve called it the Motherf*cking Fried Chicken, would have been much cooler sounding. But anyhow, this wasn’t “bad,” so much as it was like a commonplace plate of chicken karaage.

Their negitoro menchi katsu resembled that of crab cakes, and much like the M.F.C, it wasn’t bad, but just nothing extraordinary. I think they should maybe take smaller patties of these, and turn them into mini sliders, maybe on a taro roll or something?

Last but very least, the beef tongue. Beef tongue yakiniku style is never really supposed to end of juicy, but I just wasn’t terribly impressed by this. It was definitely cool to have a mini grill in the pot like this, but beyond that wow factor, taste wise it didn’t stack up.

Overall I enjoyed Musha, but mainly its due to the cheese risotto for holding it down. The decor and staff were all great though. Good service, and we ate at the community style table (which typically would make me feel uncomfortable since I enjoy my privacy while getting fat), but for some reason the overall vibe of the restaurant made it feel very welcoming and family-like while eating.

Was reading D.O.M’s blog first what ruined it? Yes, probably. I was much more excited after eating here before I read his post, but in retrospect I think if it wasn’t for the cheese risotto I might not have been as initially excited.