The road has not been so smooth on my way to VIP

For those that know me off of the forums in the last few years, you will know exactly how rough I had it on my road to VIP. Jediah's recent thread motivated me to start this thread. Not to compete with his thread but more as a "co-sign" to his thread to let people know that VIP status is not as easy to achieve as it looks. I was debating over if I should even do this thread due to the fact that it may slow down the growth of VIP in my area. At the end of the day, those that want to go the extra step will look at this as motivation to keep going and not get discouraged when something does not go their way.
 
[B]I have popped over 30 tires[/B],[B] bent or cracked 7 struts, lost my exhaust twice[/B] and a bunch of other issues. I have gained so much experience in these last two years through trial and error.
 
Some tires I been through include, Goodyear, BF Goodridge, Vrederstiens, Nankangs, Dunlops, Toyo's, Falkens, Hancooks, and a few other brands I can't think of this moment. When a tire pops, I usually have to get what ever is available. If my size wasn't available, I had to experiement and up size or down size and figure out how different size profile tires wills give me the same clearance I needed. Some precious experience I learned was; how to approch a normal tire stop and "talk" them into stretching a tire, which brands run small/large, how different brands look stretched, etc. I had one week where I popped 6 tires. I still blame that on the West Indian Cootchie I was getting at the time. She put a spell on me.
 
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/yadontwanttheseproblems/1018082326.jpg[/IMG]
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In NYC, most highways don't have a shoulder lane. If you get a flat, you have to ride it out to the next exit. Because of that, my inner lips were getting bent and looked like cheese gratters.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/wheels/125_3179.jpg[/IMG]
^was still holding air.  I rode on it for another 50 miles. God blessed that tire
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/wheels/125_3176.jpg[/IMG]
^poor tire lasted 1 day. Notice the sharp wheel edges. I cut my hands badly changing the tire
 
 
Going air was no walk in the park on my car. No one was willing to do the install on my model down here so I had to travel 210 miles away to get it done. Thats a 9 hour round trip. No problem right? Not when you make a trip up there every few months to weld up some new struts.  I had to take a bus to a train to a grey hound bus to a taxi cab to pick up my car. $80 traveling but that was nothing considering what a flat bed costs to tow a car 200 miles in the first place.
 
The reason I kept bending them and cracking the struts was because I drove very low with almost no air up front. Add camber up front with metal banging on metal action hitting craters everywhere in NYC will give you problems.
 
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/yadontwanttheseproblems/IMG_0799.jpg[/IMG]
^bent
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cracked
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^ snapped the washers and the rear shock came out of place. That was an easy fix though
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^ crazy camber due to a bent strut

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^bent strut and popped tire day of Rides photoshoot
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^wheel is tucking and it shouldn't. Bent strut
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^cracked a strut and scraped up front bumper less then 12 hours after getting it back from the shop. I dont raise my car for car shows and God forbid I put blue tape on it. A vip car should be low at all times and should look good at all times. I am against blue tape
 
 
The tow trucks hated me because the car was so low. They would often turn me down. Some of them, I had to pay off in order to tow the car even though triple A paid them.[B] I had my car towed 15-20 times in 07-08[/B]. If you think I am kidding, I have 3 triple A cards all maxed out every year and I have used some of my friends tow's too. A few I had to pay for. Triple A does not cover NY highways so I had to usually wait an hour of two for a tow truck to tow me off of the highway and pay them $100 then wait a few more hours for a triple A truck to show up. If it is after 10pm, I would usually have to wait until 8a.m. the next day.[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/yadontwanttheseproblems/0827082049-1.jpg[/IMG]
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^Rides magazine photoshoot
 
I am not that electric savy. Some issues I could have avioded but no one around here had air suspension. I had to find everything out myself. I must of popped about 10 fuses before I upgraded to a 200amp flat fuse.
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/yadontwanttheseproblems/IMG_0148.jpg[/IMG]
No problem right? Not when your fitment is tight and your wheels sit on the fenders when parked. Towing the car at that hight resulted in fenders getting messed up and paint chipping off them in other situations.  The bumpers took a beating too.
 
[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/aedprix/yadontwanttheseproblems/IMG_0338.jpg[/IMG]
^One eyed Willy
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^would eventually get yanked off on both sides
 
 
I was more embaressed then proud of all these issues at the times they occured. You can use the "flat tire" excuse on a girl once but after 4 times, they start to think your a bullshitter or your car is a hooptie. The time spent scrambling for tires, getting them stretched (usually takes 2-3 tries with a beadblaster due to the sizes I stretch), waiting on tow trucks, traveling to pick up my car, it is enough to make a sane man insane. So when you hear crazy things come out of my mouth, its because VIP made me crazy ;)

This is why.

Awesome.

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;268443] 
its because VIP made me crazy ;)[/QUOTE]


Agi this smells like a GREAT t-shirt dude.



whenever im having a bad car day im going to look up this thread to make me feel better, thanks for posting up your experiences. :bigok:

damm.. still going strong after all the problems...
 
this should be sticky in the 101 section, to let them all know shit aint cheap when u wanna do vip shit... and if they aint down with it, stay in clublexus...

Jeez , I had no idea anyone in the "states" would put up with all this and ride it out , 

props and its your daily too

You are hardcore!!!! :biggthumpup: to you because you still ride dump and clean as hell!

no one make a better set of struts for your car? what about a coilover system?

forgive me, i dont know much about nissans.

Thanks
 
[QUOTE=airmax;268485]no one make a better set of struts for your car? what about a coilover system?
 
forgive me, i dont know much about nissans.[/QUOTE]
 
I been on 3 different air suspensions. No companies make struts for my car but the problem isnt the strut, it is the means I went about getting negative camber up front and ride height. I know of people who bent stock struts, bentstock wheels and cracked stock axles on stock cars. I am not one to complain but I have not seen roads as bad as they are here.  
 
You either do it or you dont, no excuses. Like my friend said "you can not be half pregnant."  
 
Just because your roads are bad in your area doesnt mean you have an excuse to not dump your car. Sorry, your not vip :shrug: If you want it bad enough, you will find reasons as to why you should do it.
 
There is no way I can explain what I do to a normal person and expect them to accept it.  I just go about my business and don't talk about it.

damn thats must be hard on the pocket bro.  I hate tow trucks man.  There always breaking something on the car.  Just adds up to the cost. 
I thought AirRunners had a kit for your car.  
Good luck on your build man.

Agi, a true inspiration and beacon of courage. And you have probably spent more on this hobby than anyone else on here, just to get that *look*
 
 
 
Which you got to a T....

Werd...

Classic Agi. Classic. I don't think anyone has spent the time or the money, or even the thought that you have into your car.  You just need to get titanium parts put on your car now. AND NOT JUST LUG NUTS! LOL

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;268487]I been on 3 different air suspensions. No companies make struts for my car but the problem isnt the strut, it is the means I went about getting negative camber up front and ride height. I know of people who bent stock struts, bentstock wheels and cracked stock axles on stock cars. I am not one to complain but I have not seen roads as bad as they are here.  
[/QUOTE]
thats right i remember that conversation now lol. and trust me i know what you mean. keep doing your thing and hurry up with the updates :thelaw:

THANK YOU AGI!
you inspire me also. I wont be able to drive my car for another month cuz i cant afford to fix it (massive holes in the exhaust, suspension issues, cooling fan issues)but i aint got shit to complain about compared to you. I aint stoppin till the wheels fall off and if they do, i wil just put them back on and keep ridin'
thanks for keeping it true to what its supposed to be EVRYWHERE!
-Martin

wow hardcore... 
 
but damm you got rust under that car ...

wow true dedication ...

Q man i feel your pain. an im abotu to feel it again. stuff like this is a badge of honor, and shouldnt deter ANYONE. you should aim to be at the point where you break shit. if you arent, you arent pushing the style hard enough. 

I also blew tires every month or so. they blow on teh sidewall/tread meeting area due to camber. the rest of the tires are perfect, but the camber point gets chewed away.



but agi, if you went coils on bags, ALOT of that wouldnt haev happened :)

Man, this car has been on the battle field.

[QUOTE=//935GS400;268490]
I thought AirRunners had a kit for your car. 
Good luck on your build man.[/QUOTE]
 
The air runner kit at the time wasn't getting the F50 low at all. The new "On The Ground" kit will get it where I want it to be but at this point, I just need the front struts. It would be a waste of close to 6g's just for 2 struts
 
 
[QUOTE]Agi, a true inspiration and beacon of courage. And you have probably spent more on this hobby than anyone else on here, just to get that *look*
 
 
 
Which you got to a T.... [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks, I really appreciate it.
 
 
[QUOTE]Classic Agi. Classic. I don't think anyone has spent the time or the money, or even the thought that you have into your car. You just need to get titanium parts put on your car now. AND NOT JUST LUG NUTS! LOL [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks. I hope no one has to go through half the BS I went through.
 
 
[QUOTE]thats right i remember that conversation now lol. and trust me i know what you mean. keep doing your thing and hurry up with the updates :thelaw: [/QUOTE]
 
The updates will come soon. All I had to go through really did take a toll on my pockets so I had to step back for a while. I only drove my car one day in 2009 and that was straight to the body shop in April where it has been since.
 
 
[QUOTE]THANK YOU AGI!
you inspire me also. I wont be able to drive my car for another month cuz i cant afford to fix it (massive holes in the exhaust, suspension issues, cooling fan issues)but i aint got shit to complain about compared to you. I aint stoppin till the wheels fall off and if they do, i wil just put them back on and keep ridin'
thanks for keeping it true to what its supposed to be EVRYWHERE!
-Martin[/QUOTE]
 
Thanks. Luckily I am not married or I would have been divorced a long time ago lol. Keep doing your thing
 
 
[QUOTE]wow hardcore... 
 
but damm you got rust under that car ... [/QUOTE]
 
Those are old pics, you should see it now LOL. I am going to have most of the rust removed but in the North East, it is difficult to keep it off.
 
 
[QUOTE]Q man i feel your pain. an im abotu to feel it again. stuff like this is a badge of honor, and shouldnt deter ANYONE. you should aim to be at the point where you break shit. if you arent, you arent pushing the style hard enough. 
 
I also blew tires every month or so. they blow on teh sidewall/tread meeting area due to camber. the rest of the tires are perfect, but the camber point gets chewed away.
 
  
but agi, if you went coils on bags, ALOT of that wouldnt haev happened :) [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks. That is true. I don't mind messing up body parts but messing up the suspension and exhaust is a pain in the ass. This time around, I am doing some serious under car mods in order to get lower to the ground. You are right about the coilovers which is why I have been seriously considering going bag over coilover.

damn Agi..doin it big..lol.

damn a true enthusiast. i give you a lot of respect for riding it out and keep going :thumbsup:

Yeah Agi... You definitely have Heart... You know you can always catch a ride with me until you get your car out of surgery...

I experienced some of those episodes on the side of the roads... Big Bodi does get disrespected by AAA... You a true trooper of East Coast VIP

You are a true soldier AGI, I know you dont want to hear this but we need to get you a beater :biggthumpup:

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;268443] God forbid I put blue tape on it. A vip car should be low at all times and should look good at all times. I am against blue tape
[/QUOTE]
 
nice write up...
 
yes it takes alot to roll VIP...forget the cost of building one, try driving one daily, props Agi.
 
and Im with you on the quote above....
I only raise my car behind closed doors...haha...
 
vipcar should always be clean....no tape.
 
so where is the car at its current state?

[QUOTE=rodneyc77;268663]Yeah Agi... You definitely have Heart... You know you can always catch a ride with me until you get your car out of surgery...
 
I experienced some of those episodes on the side of the roads... Big Bodi does get disrespected by AAA... You a true trooper of East Coast VIP[/QUOTE]
 
Thanks for comming to help me out a few times.  Triple AAA has my license plate black listed.  I once caught them talking about me and then when they realized that they didn't press the mute button, they hung up.  "BIG BOOTY (plate reads BIG BODI as in big body) is on the phone again.  His car is always breaking . . . CLICK"
 
 
[QUOTE]You are a true soldier AGI, I know you dont want to hear this but we need to get you a beater :biggthumpup: [/QUOTE]
 
My neighbors think im the Don because I have a different vip car pick me up every couple of days.  I always see them peaking out the windows :smiley-rofl:
Once I turn 25 and my insurance drops, Ill get a beater.
 
 
[QUOTE]so where is the car at its current state? [/QUOTE]
 
It's been in the shop for a few months.  I changed some of my plans a couple of times so I am waiting on new parts to come in before they can touch it.  I will start a build up thread when I get some pics.  Right now, I just have parts to show for.  Release date should be late spring 2010.

Incredible dedication.  My hat goes off to you.

Wow, you got some balls. I'd love to dump my car even more, but no way possible, can't get into my driveway as it is without scraping it.  Bags would be the end all answer....REALLY diggin your ride, looks bad ass...especially the super negative camber up front.

I just spend the weekend at NYC and after seeing the horrible road conditions + traffic, I give props to those riding low in NYC.

Thanks guys.  While I was going through this, it felt so routine.  I wasn't even getting pissed because there was no one to get pissed at but myself for choosing to do this.  At the time, I had a really stressful job doing tech support on a loan program that had new glitches every month.  I was smiling every day while people were pulling their hair out.  I guess vip gave me a lot of patience lol.

Haha, true that, you've changed a lot over the years.  It is true though, it's more of going through the paces..as you start to go through more and more tires and parts that get bent/broken you just get accustomed to it.  Even my wife doesn't get impatient or upset, it's just part of the life...

cant wait to see it done next spring bro good luck

I'm so happy we have such good roads in Australia.
^^^ I think this is the first time *ANYBODY* from australia has said that
 
Because after almost 3 years running low offsets, stretched tyres and bad camber (though not AS low as you, not AS stretched as you, but possibly more camber), and i have not had a single blowout, cracked strut or anything else to do with damaged suspension
 
 
I started thinking last night though... With all the damage you are doing (cracked/bent struts), you must really be going through hell INSIDE the car while driving??? I mean, at one point i bought some short coilover springs and when they were installed i would hit bumps and it felt like the chassis was smashing the ground.
 
Turns out i was coilbinding - the coil was completely compressed and bumps were going directly through the chassis.
 
But even with that i didnt get any blow outs, or broken/bent struts. And to be honest, that felt like absolute shit. The sound/shock goes through the whole car and interior panels pop out etc. As baller as the car is, stuff like that makes girls want to go ride in other cars!
 
Agi, i think its time you went to straight coilovers. I reckon ride quality would actually improve in your case

[QUOTE=elpresidente;268972] Even my wife doesn't get impatient or upset, it's just part of the life...[/QUOTE]
 
Lucky you.  I wish they made more like that lol. 
 
 
[QUOTE]cant wait to see it done next spring bro good luck [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks.  I am more excitted over the fact that the east is actually on the map.  Next year will be the year we become a force.  I am just glad to apart of the movement :biggthumpup:
 
 
[QUOTE]
I started thinking last night though... With all the damage you are doing (cracked/bent struts), you must really be going through hell INSIDE the car while driving??? I mean, at one point i bought some short coilover springs and when they were installed i would hit bumps and it felt like the chassis was smashing the ground.

Turns out i was coilbinding - the coil was completely compressed and bumps were going directly through the chassis.

But even with that i didnt get any blow outs, or broken/bent struts. And to be honest, that felt like absolute shit. The sound/shock goes through the whole car and interior panels pop out etc. As baller as the car is, stuff like that makes girls want to go ride in other cars!

Agi, i think its time you went to straight coilovers. I reckon ride quality would actually improve in your case [/QUOTE]
 
The ride is actually really nice at that height.  My struts are much shorter then stock.  My max height is tucking 25% tire up front.  When the struts bend, there is a noticeable change in the ride quality and it does suck.  A dip in the road will make my wheels go airborne literally and it sounds like a shotgun goes off in my car.
 
Girls do hate it but some deal with it because they love the attention.  "OMG, look they are all staring at me" -girl 
"No hun, they are staring at my wheel, it looks like its going to fall off" -me
 
It's funny that you mention going straight coilovers.  I had a post not to long ago on a private section of a local message forum titled "F*ck air, im going coilovers!"
 
I thought about it long and hard but one day when I seen my friend waste 2 hours in 0 degree weather while laying on the freezing cold ground, I said "no thank you."  It does get cold here and I will continue to go through tires frequently (unless I decide to tuck 1-2mm, that will allow me to run a bigger tire size. I havnt made up my mind) and when I do pop a tire, I will have to waste much more time.  It also doesnt get more embaressing then having to get out of your car and push it up a driveway.  
 
I might still give it a shot knowing that I still have my whole air setup wired up.  I can just replace the springs with bags if I get fed up :shrug:

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;269027]I might still give it a shot knowing that I still have my whole air setup wired up.  I can just replace the springs with bags if I get fed up :shrug:[/QUOTE]

sounds like your answer right there :biggthumpup:

^ +1 , another route

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;269027]
 
I thought about it long and hard but one day when I seen my friend waste 2 hours in 0 degree weather while laying on the freezing cold ground, I said "no thank you."  It does get cold here and I will continue to go through tires frequently (unless I decide to tuck 1-2mm, that will allow me to run a bigger tire size.  [/QUOTE]


LOL sorry but at least u learned through my tribulations.

[QUOTE=Spyder78;269112]LOL sorry but at least u learned through my tribulations.[/QUOTE]
 
:smiley-rofl:

i thought i had issues...makes my little stumbles seem like nothing!   but i feel the thread.  i got out of the fast car scene, b/c i got tired of breaking stuff...lol but dam this vip stuff is just as bad.. but i love it!

for real i have never being what your being with cars man , thank god !!! but at the end you live and learn so it help !!!

Agi,

When I first started investigating VIP, I thought, "these people are nuts!  Who would drive a heavy luxury sedan on the ground after dropping serious coin on modifying it?!  No way.."  Then I saw your ride.  I saw how you were rolling and despite being in NYC (which I can testify to the notion that you have some of the worst roads in the US) you still kept it on the ground.  Throw on top of that your car was 3x's the value of mine, I knew I didn't have any excuses.

To me, this is VIP.  Sure the curtains and the garnishes and what not are nice touches and certainly apart of it, but it comes down to your daily commitment to rolling stanced and low while throwing caution to the wind.  

I'm glad you took the time to do this.  Hopefully we can continue to push and inspire each other as a committed community of enthusiasts who choose to live in what we preach.

Ben

Very good thread.  It is easy to see the glamorous nature of VIP, with the slammed show pics and features.   People forget that you can daily drive cars like yours- ones that looks badass on the street and at shows in the parking lots.   Major props to you on that sir.   It's good to know that although we encounter problems doing mods and styling like this, that we arent alone and even the sickest looking cars can have issues.

this thread is very moving.....no bruno.

Gato said it best. Driving VIP daily is not all it is cracked up to be.
I have gone through  like
10 tires
cracked oil pan
damaged aero
dented exhaust
All to achieve want grant said. "The Look" And still not even coming close to Grant or Agi.
Yet I still will do it again when the time is right.

Damn man, BIGG ups. Thanks for posting, one positive I know has come out of your expierience - I don't have any grounds to complain about my little bumps here and there. Thanks for the reality check. You have an INSAINE ride and I think I can speak for the majority of the community when I say thanks for sharing the build here and keep your head up man. Your ride/perseverance is deffinately a contribution the the scene. You have deffinatly paid the cost to be the boss.

shit man. just in the last MONTH ive had this car ive had
two debeaded tires
dented one emitz from it
smashed a JP exhaust 
spent two days modifying coils

JUST IN A MONTH

lol my shit is STILL undriveable

[QUOTE=Dominik;268975]I'm so happy we have such good roads in Australia.
^^^ I think this is the first time *ANYBODY* from australia has said that
 [/QUOTE]


i have to say one thing:)
M1 is a terrible motorway,
bumpy as in a 08 corolla:)i actually felt like im driving in my sentia over there, pretty stiff:) but your country roads/highways are pretty good!
our ones are rooted from floods and other shit

oh yeah
another tire broke a bead today at work :(

those cheap tires that stretch good are not lastin ya huh??? wish i could get 60 dollar tires

They are Toyo trampios that won't stay seated

Thankyou AGI this thread is great for anyone who needs a reason to keep spending money to live the VIP life. AGI is the ultimate trooper thanks for sharing

Thanks guys. If I knew I would have had to go through all this, I wouldn't have started. Everything that went wrong helped me get the car to where it was at not too long ago. If my fenders got messed up, I would use that as an excuse to modify them more driveable at low heights. Lots of trial and error.

Damn i remember the days of waiting 4 - 6 hours for Triple AAA let alone being stuck riding with you out of State and riding on a Popped tire for 50+ Miles watching it spark out the side of the window and watching so it wont catch fire at 1am in the middle of no where. NYC HAS THE WORST ROADS. I live in the West now and this is a Parking Lot compared to the East and have family in Australia and they dont got Ish on NYC Craters. I am talking turning into a street in Brooklyn and you cant even swerve around the holes you have to reverse back out thats how bad it is. And the BQE Is no Mans land unless you do 30mphs and I have seen Agi do it plenty of times with his hazards on. Truthfully I have never seen anyone with so much ambition after all the times of telling him WTF are you nuts nobody even sees you driving that low and being told "SOMEONE MIGHT SEE ME" and now I realize its the style and passion to really be VIP. hes on Air and I dont think it has ever went up to max height even to get over a bump let alone looks driveable half the time it is on the road.

Mad Props riding over here dumped in Norcal on the worst streets dont even feel like a decent road in NY. People dont realize Manhattan is decent Brooklyn/Queens where you always drive LOL I dont even think they fix the roads for years, some streets have cracked your bodykit from the GTP days and still havent been fix.

Mad props my inspiration to keep trying to be VIP. :biggthumpup:

FINALLY! someone who has been on the east and the west and comments on the difference in road conditions.

i was in newyork, new jersey and maryland 2 weeks ago...and i gotta say the roads there reminds me of frisco and oakland roads hahahaha thats bad.

[QUOTE=EASTSiDE 2 WESTSiDE;270658]Damn i remember the days of waiting 4 - 6 hours for Triple AAA let alone being stuck riding with you out of State and riding on a Popped tire for 50+ Miles watching it spark out the side of the window and watching so it wont catch fire at 1am in the middle of no where.
 
[/QUOTE]
 
 
LOL I forgot about that.  That was scary.  We were out of state this one time and I caught a flat.  The highway I was on only had only two lanes and no shoulder lane.  There were also no lights or cars on the highway.  Only a 18 wheeler here and there.  If I were to stop, there would be a good chance a 18 wheeler might smash into us.  We had to get off the road in the middle of no where and wait for triple AAA to come.  Once they did come, I slammed the car on the flat bed and kept the puddle lights on.  VIP at all times LOL 
 
Thanks alot.  You and your  brother were always there for me.  Also thanks for all your triple AAA tows and everything else:biggthumpup:

[QUOTE=PROJECTGS3;270736]i was in newyork, new jersey and maryland 2 weeks ago...and i gotta say the roads there reminds me of frisco and oakland roads hahahaha thats bad.[/QUOTE]


NJ and Maryland isnt too bad NJ has its bad parts cause of trucks and what not but I was in Frisco last weekend and it isnt too bad seriously I drive my car dropped more then it was in NY and a super Stiff suspension and it does make your teeth chatter but NY outside of Manhattan I couldnt drive more then 30mphs tops cause I would hit something that would cause my car to bottom out or feel like I broke a rim. 

Atleast in Cali eventually they fix the roads if there is even damage Norcal and everything besides the bay gets a reface every 2 years max in Sacramento it gets redone every year and theres no problems half the time.

LOL Agi remember Triple AAA UmmM where are you? For like a hour of explaining we are in the middle of no where in some small town but once we figured out the name they knew exactly what the bootleg gas station was. I gotta say out of NY AAA is pretty nice sent us a Flatbed no questions asked. I like the pictures of the Rides Mag that was the worst having a Sun Burn that made my skin bubble holding a T-Shirt over my arm while we wait for a real Flat bed. LOL Bootleg NY AAA drove by us and kept it moving after seeing your car haha probally was like HELL NO that ish aint gonna make it on. I think I have the pictures of jacking it up with a Nissan Sentra jack to get it up enough to fit the Dolly haha a hoopty saved the day.

lol no problem I dont think I ever used my Triple A tows anyway haha. I am like a 5 year member with all my tows always used and never for my actual car I registered. thank god we had a Q also spare rims were always on hand.

You are truely "livin the low life"

LMAO at slammed on the flatbed with puddle lights on.... I'm gonna have to use that one in the future!

I admire your dedication to the VIP cause, but this is why my ride height is 1 inch higher than the optimum look. As soon as I sit in the car, it looks good, and when I'm 4 up, I can't even go anywhere unless its a completely smooth road. It'll rub if i go over a piece of paper lol
 
Yes, it looks absolutely fantastic to ride low all the time everywhere, but when you're spending extra money on fixing things, imo, needlessly, when it could be spent on other mods for the car, it seems a bit of a lost cause...I would personally ride high for a bit, save the cash you would've spent on fixing shit, then spend the money saved on engineering the car [i]properly[/i] for riding that low.
 
My car is going to Rayvern Hydraulics soon for a full on slam on air, and we're talking full on chassis engineering to take the stress of riding low. My personal motto is to do it right the first time, or you'll end up having to do it again!

i htink you dont really have any clue, and thats why your going ot pay someone.. 


its not hard to do it. just cant use stock parts.
this what what separates the true car lovers


from the guys that just wanna look cool

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271168]i htink you dont really have any clue, and thats why your going ot pay someone.. 
 
 
its not hard to do it. just cant use stock parts.[/QUOTE]
 
 
lol. Anyone can install an air system. It takes just a little more knowledge and experience to start cutting and welding suspension turrents (i.e to not put the stress on the strut, as shown by Agi), and I'm not in the habit of possibly writing off my car by thinking I know what I'm doing ;)

yeah, only people that dont really know use stock struts

i have all tubular arms, that i adjust, coilovers on uas, and ride lower than you ever will. and i have yet to mess up anything but tires.

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271170]yeah, only people that dont really know use stock struts
 
i have all tubular arms, that i adjust, coilovers on uas, and ride lower than you ever will. and i have yet to mess up anything but tires.[/QUOTE]
 
Wow, good for you! I'm just in awe of your lowness! 
 
Since when did this get personal? Do you not see the logic in getting it right the first time? Also, in my opinion, a [i]body[/i] drop get more respect than a drop on air, combine the two however, and it is even more awesome. Lets say for example, that Agi, got a body drop and his struts never broke and his tyres didn't pop off the rim, wouldn't he be a little bit more satisfied?

lol at bodydropping a unibody car.

this isnt a truck man.
its not personal at all. thats why shops exist. so they can do the work the owner cant/doesnt want to do.

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271173]lol at bodydropping a unibody car.
 
this isnt a truck man.
its not personal at all. thats why shops exist. so they can do the work the owner cant/doesnt want to do.[/QUOTE]
 
lol, yes, its hilarious that someone who wanted to go low on their car could even consider doing a body drop, the horror!!abc!!!
 
Anyway, jesting aside, I think Agi is at the point where the car is in the shop getting it sorted. Hence, my point in the first place! :biggthumpup:

it is hilarious. becuase its not really able to be done like it is on a modular frame vehicle

but thats cool. i guess you guyse in teh UK know whats up

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271175]it is hilarious. becuase its not really able to be done like it is on a modular frame vehicle
 
but thats cool. i guess you guyse in teh UK know whats up[/QUOTE]
 
Would you consider a Chrysler 300c to be a unibody vehicle?

yes, which needs almost no modification to be on the ground might i add

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271180]yes, which needs almost no modification to be on the ground might i add[/QUOTE]
 
On the ground with [b]no[/b] bodykit and 22"s? 
 
[img]http://www.rayvernhydraulics.com/images/portfolio/237.jpg[/img]
 
 
Anyway, I'm not looking for arguments for arguments sake, at the end of the day, chassis cutting, welding and modification is what is needed for a whole new level of low, and I'm not going to be the one to take an airsaw to critical components of my car lol

pretty sure ive seen it a bunch on 300s with no extensive modifications. and ESPECIALLY on nissans without extensive modifications.  my and agi are the level of low for hte most part for ride height. will that guy drive that low? we do.

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;271182]pretty sure ive seen it a bunch on 300s with no extensive modifications. and ESPECIALLY on nissans without extensive modifications. my and agi are the level of low for hte most part for ride height. will that guy drive that low? we do.[/QUOTE]
 
There was a bit article in Max Power magazine about this particular car, and it was fairly extensive. Stick it next to a standard 300, and then you'll see the work thats been put into it. I believe it is a 6 inch drop from standard ride height, with an extra 2 inchs lift from that. 
 
Does he drive that low? Fuck knows, he's not a personal friend of mine, but as he is the owner of Rayvern Hydraulics, I'm sure he showcases his work when he drives around.

You would be suprised the number of hard parkers.  there are plenty of htem

To get this thread back on track, the issue was not so much the struts I used. They are made for much heavier trucks. It was the amount of camber I was running up front combined with the fact that there was no air in my bags to rebound the impact of all the potholes I come accross daily. I was running somewhere between -6 to -7* camber up front of a heavy V8 vehicle which is a lot and more then most were running in their rears. The strut was not upright, it was on an angle to achieve the camber I needed. I had to get that camber by any means necissary to fit my wheels while getting it to ride low.
 
I am not so concerned with modding to finish a car. To me a car is never finished unless you sell it. There will always be something to do to it. I just find that riding low is very important to the culture in keeping vip true. If I was building a show car or a company car then I might have different views. I am not in a race, in terms of mods.

Lol!! That is so true what you said about a car never being done inless you sell it. I don't know about you but I still think of what else I could have done if I kept the car.

Just saw this now...Holy shit you have perseverance. Much respect as usual.

/sorry for bumping an old thread. I'm catching up haha

[QUOTE=525iT_Feen;326357]Just saw this now...Holy shit you have perseverance. Much respect as usual.

/sorry for bumping an old thread. I'm catching up haha[/QUOTE]

Thanks.  I do it for the love of the scene.  Never quit on something you love

damn this thread is money. i don't think i'll ever complain about my tires rubbing anymore.



who am i kidding, i'm still gonna bitch and moan. :smiley-rofl: but i'll do it with more appreciation.

i just caught all this.. it is crazyness. May i suggest something? It is something I am working on right now, and talking to a chassis tech, and old touring car driver.. you are correct about the stress on the shock.. Reason being most people go inverted not just to get the weight on the tower instead of on the suspension.. but how much thicker it is. 

But to my suggestion. I took the spindles, cut the tube off at a cambered angle. this way, the spindle is cambered, and you can fine tune the camber up top, this way the strut stays almost straight up and down. :D it also is highly recommended to weld a extra round piece that of what you are welding on the spindle to add a "gusset" that way it doesn't snap like your photos show.

Sounds like a good idea, thanks.  I spoke to the shop about swapping the entire suspension and making some other nissan sus work with some fabrication.  We will see

custom cantilever setup would be GANGSTA!!!!

Seems like a big waste of money to me, but your money your call. Keep doing your thing good sir.

I will.  

Having a nice car isn't what got me the respect that I get, its doing it on a hardcore level.  I don't think my crew would be as big as it is if they didnt have that respect for me knowing that I am not fronting and I do this no questions asked.  Now that I got a daily, it shouldnt be as bad

You always had respect from me Agi, but damn I feel for ya on all the isht you have had to deal with.  Being an engineer, I believe in over designing something if I am not sure about its structural integrity.  I know some of the most insane fabricators in the US from Speedware Motorsports up here in Seattle and they always give me advice on stuff.  Helped be weld up some custom Bilstiens for my girls A4.

Keep it up though bro!! Cant wait to see what you got next!!

Thanks.  Just like the Y33 sus, there is no upper control arm.  There is nothing to suport the front when its cambered in.   I look to add an upper control arm to solve that issue

I just read this thread....wow, I'm glad I'm not building VIP. I always thought cambered tires are bad due to tire wear and mostly poor handling, didn't even consider the possible damage to the wheels and the car itself.

That is why we are here. To lewis and clark vip so you dont have to log the forest.. you just gotta build the house with the wood we provided you. Hows that for a analogy

Wow man you have paid the ultimate price, and what makes it awesome is that you don't give up!

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;326768]Thanks.  Just like the Y33 sus, there is no upper control arm.  There is nothing to suport the front when its cambered in.   I look to add an upper control arm to solve that issue[/QUOTE]

Have you considered just buying a front clip off a y50? Or even any Lexus and just redoing everything to make that suspension fit?? I have seen crazier suspension work done on cars, and since you have redone almost every other original part of the car why not? Ha

wow thats some beating, price to pay when Low is the only way to go. True to your beliefs and i applaud you.:biggthumpup:

I was actually going to mention inverting the struts when I saw that you kept bending them.  But kouki monster already took care of that.  
Same thing happened to my buddy's Protege on hydraulics with reverse flow cylinders.  They'd keep bending because of the angle they were at (but no camber).

Thanks guys :biggthumpup:

[QUOTE]I just read this thread....wow, I'm glad I'm not building VIP. I always thought cambered tires are bad due to tire wear and mostly poor handling, didn't even consider the possible damage to the wheels and the car itself.[/QUOTE]

Yes, the undercarriage will take a beating but it does depend on how low you drive and the areas that you have to drive through.  I try to reroute to the best roads at all times but there is always construction going on here.  You can't always choose which lane you want to drive in, highway, etc.

[QUOTE=golfkid777;327555]Have you considered just buying a front clip off a y50? Or even any Lexus and just redoing everything to make that suspension fit?? I have seen crazier suspension work done on cars, and since you have redone almost every other original part of the car why not? Ha[/QUOTE]

Ive thought about the R33 Skyline.  I didnt consider the M Y-chassis but I will look into it.  Seems like a nice option if it is somewhat cost effective VS. some of the other options I am tossing around.  Thanks

I looked under my car and saw multiple drilled and threaded holes that are not used. possible for different transmissions and sub frames. If! the y34 had a rb25 in models.. and i know there is drill holes for that too.. then the rb25 awd or 26 front sub frame will work.. they almost look a like. the only difference is the strut towers. Cause our cars isn't like a y33 crossmember like 2wd skylines and 240s. from what i remember. Our control arm is hella wide like a new m45. again, using M45 suspension was on my to do list, but it comes down to strut towers. I would do it, if i weren't messing around with strut towers on the s14. and believe me it sucks.

Another thought, is using y33 s14 suspension in the front. I know i touched on it a bit in this forum. I am still tempted to do that as well. I think i need more time than suspension parts. oh wells. I know that it would be easier to do that than messing around with strut towers.

You could however.. do s14 stuff on the lower section by machining a new ball joint or making a new taper for the spindle. then weld in s14 upper parts of the strut tower, like where the top hat bolts in. this way it is all angled right with the suspension..

Insane!

I haven't read anything but the first post so forgive me if the thread has diverged on a new track... 

back to the original post... MAN I learned so much dealing with my Work wheels the weight of the car and the ability to ride everyday. I've made a few compromises on my car after getting 3 flat tires in a week and bending 2 wheels... Takes decication...

I spent about as much money refinishing my Eurolines as I have purchasing them:pat:

Love this thread... Puts a real spin on the aggravation that goes with riding fly:biggthumpup:

Respect. I haven't gotten crazy with my new car yet but with my old civic hatches I slammed them on coils so they were tucking rim and everyone would ask why the hell I'd do that and I'd tell them "because I love it"
 
Do what you do, f what people say

gotta give you respect to stay stong

so what's the latest Q?