Webmining: US-JDM Steez 2

The Japanese obsession with tuning vehicles to look like they'd been modified in the US is apparently not limited to cars.

I stumbled across these shots of a JDM Zoomer that had been completely redone to look like a USDM Ruckus. It has "Ruckus" badges, a "Yoshimura USA" stamped TRC pipe, Bowls and Fatlace stickers (3 of them), and Password JDM parts (I see a bolt kit and radiator screen at the very least).

He's even re-located the horn back out onto the light grille, the exact opposite of what we do.

I guess the TRC is built in Japan, stamped with a "USA" logo for US distribution, and then the guy went to the trouble of having it brought back to Japan to complete the USDM look? Bonkers.

Webmining: US-JDM Steez 1

I try to show some different stuff on here (i.e. Dodge Vans) rather than the same S-chassis, Corollas, and RX7's that are all over the place (not that I don't like them).

Everyone has heard of the "Spo Com" (i.e. Sport Compact) phenomenon, wherein Japanese tuners were putting lambo doors and LED washer nozzles on their cars in an attempt to copy the "F&F" look of half a decade ago.

Everyone wants what they don't have, and so the "USDM" or "US JDM" obsession in Japan has only grown in popularity since. I'm fascinated by this, as it's fun to see how quickly they pick up on US trends over there. I have tons of pictures of this stuff, but for this first look at it, I thought I'd stick to how the Japanese are copying "2009" trends from the US.

Roof Racks, BBS RS, rusted hoods, Fatlace stickers, etc. There are even LHD conversions and USDM (mostly California) license plates. I will be posting more of this in the future.

Sorry for the small pics.

Webmining: Mikami Auto GC10

I love this car and I have more pictures of it, but this will have to do for now.

L20 with triple solexes, kakimoto pipe, S13 Apex'i N1 dampers in the front, HID conversion, Hayashi Streets, good stuff. Far from wild by tuned GC10 standards in Japan, but I'd like it in my garage. Video is terrible quality and short, but at least you hear some music.

Webmining - Nissan ElGrand

Thanks to Google Translator and my limited Katakana literacy, I seem to run across a lot of interesting content just digging through the internet. Until I get bored with it, I'm going to start making a post or two per week with whatever I find.

These shots are from Minkara Carview. All shots on there are limited to 800 x 600, so not wallpaper quality. I will post all content as I find it, so any photo edits (i.e. face/license plate masking) was a part of the original shot.

This is a Nissan ElGrand. Unlike the usual oni-camber/hipari tire look you see in Vanning, this guy seems to have gone for a very track-inspired setup. While I'm sure he has no intention of seriously tracking this behemoth, he definitely gets points for thinking different. I love the brakes and the photography is very good.

Parts!

ATR x Standard Functions extension for the Ruckus. Picked up from a local member who came to our summer ride. Brand new. Install is supposed to be a pain.

Other things on the way.

Am I allowed to like this?

TommyKaira tuned Insight and Prius.

I hate to say it, but I dig, 'specially the Insight. It's supposedly a wretched car to drive, however. I'm glad they kept the old-school TK steez alive with the stripe livery.

I still can't get excited about Hybrids when a 15 year old EG VX will get about the same mileage. Full electrics are rad.

Idiocy

So I had some dumb parts lying around and thought it would be fun to put them on and take some pictures.

I threw a bunch of random stickers on the spare battery box and bolted up this wacky little exhaust. It's actually a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower muffler...I think. It's hella loud, and makes wicked pops at idle.

Obviously I didn't re-jet for this silly exercise, and so the bike will only go like 25mph with the exhaust on it. Sounds nasty though.

It was like 20 degrees out, so I didn't bust out the tripod and all that. I was going to pull both fenders and finally chop the reflector, but I didn't have time.


Actual parts for real build are arriving. Pictures soon.