Nissan – illmotion

iM Feature: P.Tan’s Nissan 240SX

February 17, 2014

When you are new to anything and everything about car modding, you start off with little things like wheels and tires and the addiction goes from there. Over time, you begin to develop a certain style of your own and do things your way. When you’re a “veteran”, if you will, in the car game, one thing will always remain the same. The one thing that every tuner has in common and yearns to achieve is a build that will leave a lasting impression on the car scene for generations to come, a timeless build that never gets old and will never go out of style. When it comes to having a prime example of a build that has timeless style and a car that will definitely leave it’s mark on the local car scene here in Calgary, one car comes to mind: A 1989 Nissan 240SX owned by Pat Tan.

For Pat, the name of the game was simple: build a clean, proper and functional drift car. Having previously owned a formidable AE86 which he did compete with in drift competitions, Pat felt that his 86 was just too slow for drifting and decided it was time to move on and let it go. His replacement of choice, a Lavender Frost 1989 Nissan 240SX coupe.

To break away from the slow speed of his previous build, Pat first focused on the 240SX’s source of power. Keeping things in the Nissan family, Pat ditched the stock KA motor and replaced it with an SR20 engine, a popular motor swap among S-Chassis owners. Powered with a GT2870 Garrett Turbo, Pat’s 240 dynoed at an impressive 330whp. With the car naturally being the project drift car that Pat had originally intended it to be, major suspension upgrades such as Cusco front and rear sway bars, a Cusco Roll cage, and Stance AL+ coilovers were of course implemented to bring the noise when it came time to battle at drift comps.

After an unfortunate mishap while grabbing some lunch for his co-workers at Speedtech Racing Development, Pat’s 240 suffered some damage via a Honda CRV. Fortunately, Pat did not see this as the end and decided it was time to update the exterior of his Nissan with help from a full Origin Lab aero kit.

Fast forward to 7 years later, this is currently how Pat’s Nissan 240 sits: clean, proper and functional, which is exactly what Pat had envisioned from the very beginning. Having owned the car since 2007, Pat’s 240 has been one of the most infamous and popular builds in Calgary ever since.

Whether it be at drift competitions, track days or even flossing at various car shows, Pat’s unmistakable Lavender Frost 240 has definitely been one of the more timeless builds that has definitely made it’s mark in our local car scene. It’s cars like Pat’s 240 that inspire the rest of us to achieve that timeless style we’ve been longing for with our own projects. Have a closer look at the rest of the pictures, and you’ll see why we think so.

ENGINE.&.DRIVETRAIN
SR20DET
Tomei Pon cams
Garrett gt2870 w/1 bar wastegate
Tomei turbo manifold w/ARP studs
Greddy turbo outlet
Greddy down pipe w/test pipe
Apex mid section w/dual Greddy tips
Greddy intake plenum
HKS fuel rail
SARD 550cc injectors
Sard 1 to 1 FPR w/ gauge
Braided earls fuel lines
Stance 8% water pump pulley
ATI crank pulley
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
Samco hoses
Koyo radiator
Carbing 3pc cooling plate
Dual fal electric fans
Circuit sports aluminum coolant tank
Greddy fmic
ARC turbo intake
Greddy oil catch can
Synapse bov
Greddy oil pan
Splitfire coil packs
ARC wire cover
Power coated valve cover
Tomei oil cap
Apex power fc w/map sensor and PC software
Innovate wide band w/gauge
Boost gauge
OS Guiken lighted flywheel
ACT 6 pick clutch (unsprung)
HKS shift spring kit
Battery relocation kit

INTERIOR
Nardi steering wheel
Momo hub
T1r titanium shift knob
Factory heads up display

EXTERIOR
Full Origin-Lab kit
Origin roof wing
S14 trunk wing
Origin rear tail lights (clear)
Hid’s w/ headlight conversion kit
Circuit sports hood dampers
Full led lights

WHEELS.&.SUSPENSION
Varrstoen 18×9.5
Work lug nuts
Brembo 4 piston brakes
5 lug conversion
Steel braided brake lines
Hawk pads
KVR and Powerslot slotted rotors
Stance AL+ mono tube coil overs
Techno toy tuning TC rods
Front RCA’s
power coated and reinforced FLCA’s
Peak performance inner and outer tie rods w/ spacers
Circuit sports aluminum steering column spacer
Suspension techniques front and rear sway bars
Energy suspension bushing kit rear subframe included
Powder coated front, rear subframes
Rear traction and tie adjustable arms
Cusco roll cage
Shakito plates
Brake master cylinder shield
Cusco front and rear strut bars
Circuit sports spin turn knob

iM: The Re-Up 2013 (Part 4)

January 6, 2014January 6, 2014

Gonna wrap things up in the features/highlights side of things as we roll ahead with Part 4 of 2013 Re-Up series! Definitely stay tuned for Part 5 & 6 as we take a look back at Driven 2013 and Sunday School 2013! Let’s get right to it…

There’s no denying the fact that the FR-S has definitely made it’s imprint on the automotive scene this past year but it’s awesome to see the new school “86” owners linking up with the old school “86” owners like we have here featuring Beniot’s FR-S and Spencer’s AE86. Peep the old school and new school love.

iM Feature: Beniot’s Scion FR-S & Spencer’s Toyota AE86

When the Honda Fit is brought up amongst car enthusiasts, one thing comes to mind: ‘it’s a daily driver’. Be that as it may, the Honda Fit as many of us may not know has a very strong tuning culture in Japan. A look at Gangster D’s daily driven Honda Fit and one will you can get a pretty good idea of what can be done to Honda’s beloved subcompact car.

iM Feature: Daniel’s 2007 Honda Fit

An S14 with a 1JZ power plant?! For Noel, this build in the works is definitely worth it…and we can’t wait to see what Noel has up his sleeve for this coming season!

iM Highlight: Noel’s S14 Nissan 240SX

Undeniably a big part of car history, the Shelby Mustang lives on in today’s car society and it’s owners like Rob who don’t let anyone forget about Ford’s prized pony.

iM Highlight: Rob’s 2007 Ford Shelby GT500

illmotion’s videographer Corey O’Hara, hits us with another one of his masterpieces this time showcasing Terry’s immaculate 1998 Acura Integra Type-R. We definitely can’t wait to see more videos like this from Corey this year!

iM Film: Terry’s 1998 Acura Integra Type-R

Wrapping up 2013 was an update on Ricky’s Volkswagen GTI. With that perfect fusion of Japanese and German performance Ricky definitely goes the distance to making his GTI stand out from typical European fashion.

iM Update: Ricky Luu’s Volkswagen GTI

iM: The Re-Up 2013 (Part 3)

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014

Moving along with Part 3 of our Re-Up 2013 series highlighting a car from Edmonton and the rest coming out of Toronto courtesy of our illmotion East/Level One representative and photographer Galen Wan aka GAWA, and photographer Alex Lu. Let’s take a look at part 3!

Something we definitely look for when it comes to the cars we showcase here on illmotion is the originality and uniqueness of the platform that the owner decides to build upon. A good example of keeping things different yet still turning heads is Jules and her Ford Focus ZX5.

iM Highlight: Jules Cragg’s Ford Focus ZX5

Coming out of the Level One crew is DC and his MK6 VW GTI. Equipped with air suspension and sitting on all time classic BBS LM wheels, DC’s GTI is on route to becoming another one of those proper VW builds.

iM Highlight: DC’s MK6 Volkswagen GTI

Without a doubt one of the most popular features to come from Galen in the year 2013 is Next Mod owner Peter and his HKS GT800 Nissan GT-R. Equipped with a plethora of JDM goodness, it’s only right Next Mod’s head honcho comes correct with a build of this caliber.

iM Feature: Peter’s HKS GT800 Nissan GT-R

Another popular feature from Galen this past year was Jacky’s 2006 Honda S2000. What started out as a dream eventually became a reality for Jacky and it sits in the form of the S2000 you see here:

iM Feature: Jacky’s 2006 Honda S2000

Wrapping up part 3 of our Re-Up 2013 series is fellow Level One homie Danio and his latest build. Departing from his infamous S2000, Dan keeps it in the Honda family and it looks like he’s on the right track to building yet another infamous build with this NA1 NSX.

iM Highlight: Danio’s NSX

iM Highlight: Noel’s Nissan 240SX S14

October 12, 2013September 26, 2016

When you put so much time and effort into something, there’s always that one question that will creep up in the back of your mind: ‘Is it worth it?’. The answer usually leaves you with two options, you will either stop what you are doing, quit and move on OR you will step up to the plate and continue to put in the work and time necessary to finish what you started. For Noel and his custom 1JZ equipped Nissan 240SX, “quitting” was definitely not an option.

A quick look at the exterior of Noel’s 240SX and what is immediately noticed is the aggressive URAS Type 4 aero and wide front (custom made) and rear fenders fitted with a wide set of Work Meister S1Rs. Noel, who came out to the shoot hood-less, rolled up to the location showing off his custom swapped toyota 1JZ-GTE power plant complete with more custom work done in the engine bay. One thing that we can’t help but commend Noel on is all the custom work done to his build to make it how you see it here.

With more plans under way (and under wraps) for Noel’s 240, we can’t wait to see what else Noel has planned for this project. So when you put so much time and effort into something, is it worth it? In Noel’s case, “Hell Yeah F*cking Right!” it’s worth it! On to the pics…

ENGINE.&.DRIVETRAIN
1JZ-GTE Motor Swap
Holset HX40
R154 Transmission
Custom 280 Degree Cams
Power FC with Commander
AEM Water temp, Air/Fuel, Tru boost gauges
Clutch Masters 4 puck Unsprung Clutch
Custom “Home Built” Driveshaft
Be Cool Radiator
Black Magic 15″ Fan
Custom DIY Tubs
Custom 3″ Exhaust Dual 4″ with Black Chrome Exhaust Tips

INTERIOR
Personal Steering Wheel
Nismo Horn Button
Diamond Shift Knob with “Custom Wifey Built” Jack Daniels Shift Boot

EXTERIOR
URAS Type 4 Body Kit
Version Select 25mm Rear Over Fenders
Custom DIY Front Fenders
D-Max Roof Wing

WHEELS.&.SUSPENSION
Work Meister S1R
-Front: 18×10.5
-Rear: 18×11
Megan Track Coilovers
Circuit Sports Arms

iM Event Coverage: Driftwest Round 3 @ Stratotech Park

July 25, 2013

Saturday July 20th marked approximately 5 years since my last drift event (seriously; circa 2008, DMCC days).

I can’t really offer a good reason why, other than life happened. I got busy with work and eventually kind of fell out of love with photography for awhile, putting me on a bit of a hiatus over the last couple years as a photographer…but after Saturday’s event, I’m not quite sure how I managed to stay away.

Being out at Stratotech brought a rush of good vibes and great memories. From seeing friends I don’t see nearly enough, to admiring the evolution and fruition of the effort of those that pour their heart and soul into making their cars and the scene better, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

So if you haven’t been to an event before, hopefully the following photos will convinced you to attend one in the near future( seriously, you should).

– Kevin

P.S. : If you want to see more, feel free to visit the gallery on Flickr, or the gallery on Facebook for more images (and maybe even some in colour!).

iM Feature: Peter’s Nissan GT-R

July 10, 2013July 10, 2013

When you’re operating one of THEE go to tuner shops out in Toronto, what do you drive?

For Peter of Nextmod, the answer is pretty straight forward and to the point: A Nissan GT-R.

Considering the GT-R is still fairly new, this certainly did not stop the aftermarket from supporting GT-R owners like Peter and the hunger for more performance, and inevitably more power. Being exposed to some of the biggest names in aftermarket performance on a 9 to 5 basis, Peter definitely had the upper hand when it came to building his GT-R and it really shows in all aspects of his car.

The focal point of Peter’s GT-R is found in it’s heart and soul, under the bonnet. In the engine bay, Peter looked to build upon the GT-R’s already impressive out of the box power plant, with hefty modification packages by HKS including a full GT800 turbine kit, GT570 Sport Package, and a GT600 Racing Package. Exactly what do these packages entail? Long story short, everything from the turbo, intercooler, and piping down to the exhaust goes through an upgrade. HKS was not messing around when it came to improving the GT-R’s performance on every level, which we are pretty sure Peter was well aware of. *wink wink*

To maintain Nissan’s sporty exterior styling, Peter added aero pieces that provided a subtle yet aggressive aura with an Amuse Powerhouse front lip and a Voltex 1700mm Type 5 GT Wing. Less is more with the interior of Peter’s GT-R as he swaps out the original seats with Recaro SR-7 ASM Limited Ruby Red seats. a full Carbon interior dress up kit can also be noticed inside this GT-R. To keep the car planted to the ground without sacrificing ride comfort, KW’s coilover sleeve kit was implemented and paired with 20″ Advan GT wheels wrapped in Toyo R888 tires.

With a well thought out project both inside and out, it’s no wonder Peter chose the GT-R as his prized showcase when pointing his Nextmod customers in the right direction to performance, function and form. After all, when you’re the head honcho of a tuner shop like Nextmod, it’s only fair that you have a car that will get people coming back for more. And Peter’s GT-R, is something we definitely cannot get enough of.

AERO.

Amuse Powerhouse front lip
Voltex 1700mm Type 5 GT wing

ENGINE.AND.DRIVETRAIN.

-HKS GT570 Sport Package
Racing Extension Pipes (75mm)
Racing Center Pipe (75mm x2 – 85mm)
Intercooler Pipe Kit (Polished Alum.)
Pre-programmed EVC (JDM Spec)
Pressure Release Computer (PRC)
Super SQV Blow-off Valve Kit
Reinforced Actuators
Super Fire Racing Spark Plugs (M45HL)

-HKS GT600 Racing Package
Premium Suction Kit
Fuel Pumps x2
Fuel Pressure Regulator
Superior Finisher with GT600 emblem

-HKS GT800 Full Turbine Kit
GT II 7460 Turbine, Waste Gate HKS GT II 50mm, Front Pipe
Forged Piston & Rod Set
Metal Head gasket
Fuel upgrade kit 860cc
HKS V Con Pro
Full Control System (F-CON V Pro,VALCON、Harness)
Sus Center Pipe
Intercooler Kit
EVC for R35 GT-R
Intercooler piping Kit
Super SQV3 Piping
Super Fire Racing M45HL Spark Plugs X 6
Super Hibrid Filter
HKS Oil Transmission Pan
HKS Superior Spec-R Full Titanium Exhaust
Top Secret Oil Catch Tank
Top Secret radiator reservoir Tank
COBB AccessPORT
Samco coolant hose kit

INTERIOR.

Recaro SR-7 ASM Limited Ruby seats
Full carbon interior dress-up kit

WHEELS.TIRES.AND.SUSPENSION.

ADVAN GT
-FRONT: 20 X 9.5 +29
-REAR: 20 X 12 +20
TOYO R888
-FRONT: 285/35ZR20
-REAR: 315/30ZR20
KW Coilover Sleeve Kit

Voltex S2000 coming soon….

iM Event Coverage: Weekly 403 Honda/Beyond.ca Meet – June…

June 17, 2013June 17, 2013

It was a nice sunny day on Wednesday June 15 to head up to the weekly 403 Honda/Beyond.ca meets. With the rain finally deciding to let up for a night, it was nice to get out there and check out some rides. Actually, it was a little too sunny out as you can tell by some of my pictures, and was getting hard to fight the sun and the shadows, so I gave up and went inside to eat, only to come back outside with it being cloudy again.

Here are a few shots that turned out, all the rest can be found on our Flickr set: HERE

Hope to see you guys out at Chinook on Wednesday!

iM Highlight: Andy Huynh’s Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

May 9, 2013

As lucky as we are here in Canada to have the opportunity to bring in some of the most sought after vehicles from Japan and register them as a regular means of transportation, we have to admit that it is in fact a rare sight to see some of these right hand drive vehicles being driven throughout the seasons. And for the ones that we do see being driven every day of the year, well, they usually are not in the greatest condition by the time summer rolls around. To steer away from all of that though, there are some RHD owners out there who go the extra mile to maintain their vehicles and keep them running and looking proper no matter what the weather condition. One person who comes to mind when it comes to keeping it fresh is Andy Huynh and his “Porsche Mint Green” Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R.

Andy’s goal was quite simple, build a daily driven Skyline GT-R R32 that expresses his individuality and ultimately captures the attention of anyone who lays their eyes upon it. While the engine and interior of this GT-R R32 mostly remain untouched and true to the way Nissan would want it to be, the beauty of Andy’s build is definitely the fact that most of the work was performed by Andy himself, including the bodywork and paint job.

The look of Andy’s GT-R is unmistakeable, a Porsche Mint Green paint job sitting super low on vibrant white Varrstoen wheels, accessorized with a custom fitted Yakima roof rack and a roof box. While some may wonder why this particular Skyline has a roof rack/roof box combo, Andy finds it quite practical as he carries two spare wheels in case of an emergency (complete with a floor jack loaded in the trunk).

Aside from the fact that he did his own paint job, what makes Andy’s GT-R R32 so admirable is the raw simplicity of it. With a unique color combination and set up done to a platform that is usually seen in the high performance sports segment, Andy switches things up and does it his way, with no regrets whatsoever. By maintaining his RHD GT-R through the winter/summer seasons and adding his own simple yet effective style to it, we gotta hand it to Andy for giving the term “Daily Driver” a new meaning…

ENGINE
GREDDY PROFEC 2 boost controller
Apexi typhoon intakes
Cut turbo straight pipe

SUSPENSION
BC SPORT 32 ways coils
S14/R32 rear upper adjustable control arms

WHEELS.and.TIRES
Varrstoen 2.2 18×10.5 et -15
225/40/18 dilente d7 thunder

INTERIOR
Nismo 260km cluster
Nismo carbon shift knob
Nrg quick release
Nardi deepcorn 330mm steering wheel

EXTERIOR
Porsche Mint Green paint
Yakima custom drilled roof rack
Yakima fairing
Yakima rocketbox
Yakima bike rack
Jun CF lip
CF grille
Rocket Dancer Fujimura CF gurney
R35 “GT-R” Badge

PS: With Driven just a few days away, be sure to check out Andy’s Porsche Mint Green GT-R at the illmotion booth!

iM Event Coverage: Weekly 403 Honda/Beyond.ca Meet – April…

April 30, 2013

It was a gorgeous night out for the last 403 Honda/Beyond.ca at Chinook, and that meant a really awesome turnout, the best turnout we’ve seen all season. Hopefully the meets stay as busy as they have been, if not busier!

Here’s a few of the many shots I took. To see the rest, check out the set on our Flickr stream: HERE

And for my buddy Aldo, I know where you hide your snacks now… in your bumper.

Make sure to come on down and hang out the next meet at Chinook on May 1st, 2013.

iM Event Coverage: Weekly 403 Honda/Beyond.ca Meet – April…

April 23, 2013April 23, 2013

Another week has gone by, and that means another edition of the weekly 403 Honda/Beyond.ca Meet! Its nice to see these meets getting busier and busier as the weeks go by and the weather starts cooperating. Its nice to see cars that come every week, and see how they progress as the season goes by. Its also been great in the fact that the cars are getting more and more diverse.

Here’s a quick taste of some of the cars that were out this week, for lots more shots, check out the set on our Flickr stream: HERE

Make sure to check out the next meet at Chinook on April 18, 2013.