So you want to wash your car?
Detailing your car the right way, with the right products has become a serious talking point in the car community abroad and it has trickled down to our community here in Barbados as well. Here enters Automotive Art. The goal of car care is top on their list so it’s only logical they would want to help you maintain your ride.
For the second time around, Automotive Art is offering its “Gearbox” limited edition package. Who is it targeting? Is this something you would want as a car enthusiast? Did it exceed expectations? I’ll try my best to answer these questions in this article.
Detailing your car the right way, with the right products, has become a serious talking point in the car community abroad and it has trickled down to our community here in Barbados as well. Dealing with streaking, paint swirls and of course because of our location in the Atlantic Ocean we are dealing with the unique issue of Saharan dust. Here enters Automotive Art with car care being top of their list so of course they would want to help you maintain your ride.
The Basics
Sitting at the bottom of the Gearbox, we have “The Works” from Surf City Garage. There are: (1) Wash and Wax car cleaner (2) Dash-away interior cleaner for your interior surfaces (3) Glass cleaner and (4) Wax detailer. Contained within these 4 bottles, is the ability to give your car a mini detailing session of your own. The wash and wax will protect the exterior of the car, and the detailer will tidy up those hard to reach places you may have to go over after your rinse.
I think it’s quite clear what glass cleaner does, and so we’re moving right along! Dash cleaner would allow you to wipe up and clean your dashboard and other interior plastics and leather textures, refreshing them to an almost factory state. Of course all of this depends on how bad you let it slip, I hope you’ve been keeping a tidy ship.
Personally I’ve used Surf City’s cleaning products before and it’s always exceeded my expectations. The wash and wax foam up quite decently, although I do find myself using a bit more than stipulated, might just be me. As for the other products they do what they are supposed to, they clean up the glass and the inside of your car quite well. An added bonus is the scent they leave behind, its pretty sweet, if i do say so myself!
After you’ve washed the car down on the outside, its time to stop dirty droplets from drying onto your precious car. For drying your car off, there is a chamois provided within the package and a microfiber cloth for cleaning your glass and more delicate parts of your cars interior. It would’ve been nice though, if the Gearbox came with a rinsing sponge with a microfiber exterior so you wouldn’t have to look for one separately. But overall they give you a well-rounded package for cleaning and drying the exterior and for any sprucing up that needs to be done on the inside.
More than Basic
These gift coupons were included: (1) A free headlight polish (2) 50% off a wheel alignment and (3) 10% off 4 quarts of Valvoline. Sometimes these are things you want to buy but just never get around to it. Automotive Art makes it just all too easy for you, just pop in and there you have it!
Styling
Alright, so you’ve stepped out the million-degree sun, and you want to roll out to meet up with your boys at the “hot boi” spot. Your car is rinsed and waxed all in one, check! Your dash and interior are clean, check! What’s missing? Your car doesn’t smell like apples, what are you going to do? Don’t worry Automotive Art has you covered. I got an apple-scented air freshener. Of course, whether or not the air freshener smells like apples, is up to your nose but i’m sure we will all agree the scent is quite pleasing.
This Automotive Art limited edition snapback is also included, apparently, they are only available if you get a gearbox so DON’T MISS OUT! It sports a blacked-out automotive art logo and a vibrant underside, it’s an interesting understated look.
When it comes to personalizing your car with stickers, there’s an endless array of stickers out there. I believe a few of these stickers were just added as a cross-section of options for your ride or maybe inside of the workshop.
Automotive Art is the official dealer for FALKEN TIRES here in Barbados, and they have been running a long and a well executed marketing strategy resulting in these tires on your cars. I thought this scale model of a FALKEN TIRE liveried truck was pretty cool as a keeper for sure.
In my opinion overall the 2020 “Gearbox” was good, it covered the basics, and that is the most important part. It also gave an idea to an average consumer looking to get into some simple car care what it would entail. The limited edition items did give some incentive to collect one as well, if you’re a big fan of the brand, then you would want to represent those you support. I thought maybe the Gearbox could’ve included a wash sponge to go along with the rinse and wax and maybe 2 air fresheners so you can do more than one full clean up and touch up. The coupons are a great incentive to reach out to an Automotive Art store though, and in-store consumers will definitely stock up on more supplies while their car is being serviced. I’m looking out for the next one, to see how things could change or even improve. This is Alex and I’m signing off for now, happy motoring everyone!
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This Corn fed Evo isn't lacking in Power
Highly boosted engines are not ideal when using pump gas. This is why, having a healthy diet is important to this build. This engine is making upwards of 38 psi of boost, and this is made possible by good old corn juice.
This month, I wanted to make an effort to find more project cars, I am dubbing it “Project Car Awareness”. I am looking for those that were being built for a while, and really deserve to be followed up to find out what’s been going on with them. I reached out to “EVOSOCIETY” here in Barbados and they put me on the trail of this interesting EVO 8. If you have an interesting project, send Sleeper Forest a message in our form down below! We look forward to hearing from you.
Being Vegan is the latest dietary trend these days. Recently here in Barbados, we have been hyper alerted to things that damage the environment as well. Being Eco-friendly is all the rage. So it goes without saying that you should put your project car on a diet, a vegan diet. This Corn fed EVO 8 isn’t lacking in power on it’s healthy diet of corn juice.
Kyle and Jabarry
I met up with Jabarry “Prince” (in blue), and Kyle (in red) to talk about Jabarry’s project. He’s been working on it for the better part of 2 years now, and it’s been a long process of building to get the car to where it’s at now. He’s part of a local racing team here called “PK RACING” and he’s been building the car to specialize in Drag Racing.
The Workshop
Jabarry has built a space to work on the car at home, and his machine finds its way home and on jack stands when it’s time to start working on it. When I came by he was doing some work on the factory inlet manifold, he was exchanging it for a PRO Series intake, housing a larger throttle body, and a more free flowing design.
The first thing I like to do is really take in a workshop, it’s such a great place to photograph contrasts of textures. Shiny chrome tools covered in oil, and what would’ve been clean toolboxes, covered in dust from use. It tells the story of a home project, taking time after work and a few hours on weekends to squeeze that time with your machine.
factory inlet
Friends are a large aspect of home projects, as well. Jabarry has been part of PK Racing for a long time, and other than it being a racing team, it’s really a group of friends who really love cars. They would have grown up together, and eventually wanted to make their own mark on Barbadian car culture. His friends know, when they see the light on, he’s working and they’ll pass by and see how he’s doing.
Kyle helps offer up the new manifold.
the 4g63
Why are EVOs so good? Obviously,because their engines have the correct orientation, that’s why. Fight me in the comments section. Mitsubishi has built one of the most legendary engines. This is a fact. Over the years, they have been working on different ways they could really deliver the most this platform has to offer to the surface it’s used on. On paper this engine sounds pretty mundane. It’s a 4 cylinder turbo, with a 2 Liter capacity.
What’s amazing about it, is that it gets the job done. Jabarry has rebuilt the motor in this EVO, exchanging many of the internal factory parts for forged aftermarket parts. EVOs really come alive when you throw copious amounts of boost at them. They just take it all and throws the power out at you.
Highly boosted engines are not ideal when using pump gas. This is why, having a healthy diet is important to this build. This engine is making upwards of 38 psi of boost, and this is made possible by good old corn juice.
Ethanol is an organic fuel. It can be obtained from cane, corn and other plants. What we know as race fuel, is derived from corn. Ethanol allows an engine to run far more advanced timing than gasoline. Its overall energy density being lower than gasoline means you will have to flow a lot more fuel into the engine, this means changing the fuel pump, injectors and the regulators.
Using ethanol though, really improves the performance of your engine, its cooler, has a much higher octane than gasoline and burns much cleaner. Downside to ethanol means, he will have to refill almost every pass on the drag strip, but it grows on trees right?
Looking Ahead
This project has been setting some crazy times on our 8th mile at Bushy Park Raceway, it’s well into the six second range. Building the engine is definitely important when it comes to a drag car, but some time can be shaved off using some better suspension, and coil overs are definitely planned for the near future with this car.
He’s been running the factory diffs, and driveshafts on the car, and according to some, they say he’s on borrowed time with this aspect of the car due the change in power the car is making, but he’s willing to run them until something happens, then he’ll know he's really surpassed what the car is capable of.
This car is an ongoing project. I’m excited to see what else happens with it. I really appreciate the welcome from PK Racing, and allowing me to take a look at this pretty unique build.
Until next time, Happy Motoring, and don’t forget to eat your greens.
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It's called OEM+ right?
Each of us can only say what we feel when it comes to the solution of that question. Some may want their car to be on steroids, nursing a bottle of nitrous-oxide and more juiced up than the Russian Olympic Team, and others love a car that breaks everyday, (I swear that’s not what FORD stands for). At the end of the day, we all need a hit, because driving is our passion.
What does driving mean to you? If you can’t answer that question you probably don’t belong here. As an enthusiast, we can answer that question, but we know it’s a trick because there’s no single answer to it. Each of us can only say what we feel when it comes to the solution of that question. Some may want their car to be on steroids, nursing a bottle of nitrous-oxide and more juiced up than the Russian Olympic Team, and others love a car that breaks everyday, (I swear that’s not what FORD stands for). At the end of the day, we all need a hit, because driving is our passion.
Duane’s Honda back in 2018
Consuming this hit; now, this is where the passion starts, some of us are like addicts, and just like in a world of addictions, there’s the high functioning addicts, those who make it into an art-form. The real connoisseurs, make it sure it’s the purest, the cleanest and of course make sure it doesn’t interfere with other aspects of your life. Work Hard, Play Hard. Duane’s EG hatch, is his passion. He’s a real connoisseur. It’s been a little while since we left off with his project car. It’s driving now and I had the pleasure of heading out for a shoot with him. This is his rendition of Honda’s EG hatch. He’s built his Honda around what he loves to do, and that’s drive.
cruising on the roads 2019
Duane’s has still been dialing this car in, it takes a while because its a process, but so far he has had no regrets with the build. Project cars are never really finished to be honest. His car is a weekend warrior, it usually sits in the garage, till the weather is good, and the mood is right, when you can drive and just escape the stress of the week, or simply to enjoy the hard work put into building the car.
A JDM purist.
Honda maybe the most iconic Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) brands on the planet. This is something we’ve definitely covered before though, usually when it comes to Honda, it’s a whole subculture behind those who modify them. Calling out of Osaka prefecture in Japan, the Honda community there has been seen as the home of JDM car culture, and especially Honda’s subculture birthplace. It may be shocking but, most of the JDM culture we see today, is really a bastardized version of what this influence really meant.
Duane’s car screams 90’s JDM overtures. His RPF1s aren’t cambered out of usefulness, and his modest Osaka JDM rear wing politely fixes the OEM solution. These rims are extremely light, it helps save weight, and obviously, fitment is everything when it comes to filing the wheel arch, these are quite pleasing. The wider tire definitely gives way more grip.
The inside is where the magic happens though. He’s very carefully, kept the interior pristine, its the OEM Honda EG hatch set up, just sporting a few gauges and a MOMO wheel. His AEM wide-band looks like it came out of Honda factory like that. I love the way everything really feels like a 90’s era project. His car was actually an automatic before the swap, but he’s kept the standard dash cluster for now, with the idea of switching it to the cluster from an S2000. In my opinion small things like that, makes the car a bit more interesting, it tells it’s story really.
a view from the office
A basic set up is far more driver oriented.
Duane’s Honda, is by no means a Russian Olympian, it’s not juiced up, but it offers a particular driving experience that was craved for back in the era of the 90’s. He’s swapped the factory D series for in favor of the Integra Type R’s B18C. Technically, this makes his EG Hatch a Type R Honda? I’m probably starting a huge fire by saying that. Swapping the Engine was really easy, but he took on the extra task, of adding air conditioning to the car, and in Barbados, it really is worth it. A few weeks of planning and fabrication and adaptation of some pipes and hoses and he was was well on his way to luxury. The B18C in this car, makes around 180hp, which means he gets about 150 hp to the wheels. It’s a modest amount, but it does the job on this ultra light chassis. It’s really around the perfect performance to weight for a fun B road killer.
Cooled by mishimoto
B roads in Barbados
Where would you say is the perfect road in Barbados? Our roads usually spark debate, but don’t forget that we have some of the best tarmac rally stages in the Caribbean. When we talk about B Roads though, we mean those that are out of the way, not really connected to the highways, somewhere in the back country.
Barbados may have one of the most dense road networks in the world. On the upside of this, it means some roads maybe grow into obsolescence not by choice but simple pragmatism. Leaving them pretty lonely and pretty important for a weekend warrior. So instead of taking that left, you usually take when you know the road, how about you take the right and find out where that road leads you, because some of the best roads maybe sitting under your nose.
A good weekend bash, coming to an end, it’s always a good time to check in on the family, and see how they are faring, because we know the week is ahead, it’s a shame weekends don’t last forever. Maybe the fact we don’t always have the chance to drive for the sake of it, makes the ritual a lot more mystic.
RESPONSIBILITIES
I’m extremely pumped to have had the chance to shoot this JDM gem. It’s a new year with Sleeper Forest, and there’s so much to look forward to this year! New opportunities and new projects always bring new and exciting content to the website.
This is Alex and I’m signing off for now, happy motoring everyone!
This Toyota Starlet EP82 is going to be the death of me
Every project needs to start somewhere, and bodywork was definitely on the top of the list along with suspension (more on that in another update), especially when you have a couple mini rust craters on the roof.
A car manufactured the same year I was born, a car I had always loved and now a car I own, this Toyota Starlet EP82 is going to be the death of me. It's either going to work me to death or I'm going to get my head chopped off for all the money I’m going to throw at it over the years; one way or another, this love child is here to stay.
Every project needs to start somewhere, and bodywork was definitely on the top of the list along with suspension (more on that in another update), especially when you have a couple mini rust craters on the roof. I neglected it for a while but when an angel and a devil is on the same shoulder whispering in my ear, it was time to get it into bodywork and paint. the angel was there to save me from the pain of water leaking from the roof from progressive rusting and the devil telling me go full baller on the paint.
Well a little about me before we get deep into the article, most of the car scene would knows me as Vizionz ’93 Photography, but my name is Byron. I've been a car head for as long as I could remember and that love manifested into me falling into automotive photography. My plan for this build has probably been done time and time again but with every evolution of this 4 stage project, it's going to be a daily driver with autocross and time attack (hopefully it stirs at bushy park again) mode during the weekends!
So off to my cousin, Chillie Clarke, to get everything done in quick time. This isn't the first time I've seen him work but definitely the first time I've seen him working on a car; and trust the attention to detail is second to none. A cigarette in the mouth, sanding block and a bucket of water to wet sand the body with, he was already in his give when I got there on the day and nothing would stop him.
Touching the sanded primer/ filler spots around the car all I can feel is nothing but an extremely smooth surface, smoother than the previous paint on the car even; definitely took me for a loop! The rear right of the car that never lined up with the trunk is now aligned. The rust spots on the car that I always cringed at whenever they were in my sight, I can't remember which side had which spot, and did I say already it was buttery smooth. The only thing reminder of the car I know I first bought is the door handle I broke on the right passenger door.
It was time for another layer of primer; a cigarette and a steady hand is all it takes as the scent of the primer permeates the garage. Walking around the car one last time, I pay attention to all the spots I know that would’ve never been noticed till he did his work.
A spot of guide coat would bring an end to the day, just to pick up the sanding block and another cigarette again the next day. Till the next update, I'm just going to let you know now, it's going to be a bit sexier…
Gallery
Making a K20 Fit
SDRR was founded in 1999, they specialize in the the repair and made to order assembly of hydraulic and air hoses, metal lines and control cables for agricultural, construction, marine, automotive and industrial applications. When the guys at SDRR, told SF to come down to take a look at their project car, we were naturally super excited
Companies are teams of people working together. Good Companies are made of good teams, this is why building a good team is always stressed upon when striving for excellence. A few companies may pay for their workers to go to the beach together, or play a sport together, but SDRR Hydraulics and Industrial Spares Inc is a little different. Instead of going to the beach, or playing a sport, they decided to build a car. This is a company retreat I can get behind.
JabarI works at sdrr barbados
SDRR HYDRAULICS AND INDUSTRIAL SPARES INC.
SDRR was founded in 1999, they specialize in the the repair and made to order assembly of hydraulic and air hoses, metal lines and control cables for agricultural, construction, marine, automotive and industrial applications. They also provide spare parts, lubricants, accessories and industrial supplies from industry leading brands such as Aeroquip, Deutz, Tamco Tools, Permatex, Wix and Phillips 66 Lubricants. They were also known for project car they had in the works, for a while now, they were posting progress images for a few years on social media while it was being built. When the guys at SDRR told SF to come down to take a look at their project car, we were naturally super excited.
An unlikely FIt
This Honda Fit wasn’t their initial idea. In fact, they were learning towards something German, but a Honda as a project car was tossed around as an idea in the office for a while and it eventually stuck. This chassis was one of the younger ones they found and it carried the RS badge from factory, which meant it was a 7 speed automatic 1.5 L Ecobox. This didn’t matter though, as they had plans to make this all change.
Now you must be asking yourself “but Maurice it’s just a Honda Fit,how is that special?” well besides the monocoque chassis which makes it very light weight and rigid. The Honda fit, is a biological descendant of the Honda Civic. This is gives it some measure of credence to it’s family occupation, that of being a track day bully.
Engineering a Race Car
Building a race car, actually starts with tearing said car apart and preparing it from the ground up. SDRR did not hold anything back when they were building this car. The chassis of the car wasn’t perfect when they started though, it suffered from front end damage when it was bought. That was fixed.
Looking into the cockpit of the car we can see the changes made which makes the car very track day oriented. Everything is now displayed on a Racepak cluster which covered the OEM cluster, the only thing it’s used for now is the fuel gauge. Making it super easy to track rpms and road speed and other miscellaneous things which are now easy to keep track of.
Bucket Seats and a detachable racing wheel were also added to, as well as a racing harness. these are super essential for safety of any occupant in the car. These seats were imported along with other important bits needed to make this car what is.
K-tuned Shifter
For the shifter, it was replaced by a K Tuned Race Shifter, ensuring gears aren’t missed, which can lead to lost time on the track and the easy to reach hand brake is right next to the shifter, for those really really, sharp corners should they show up. A swirl pot tank, was also added to the fuel tank this ensures there’s always positive pressure for fuel when taking high G corners.
Swirl pot and battery in the back
And, of course the part that ultimately stops the family from stepping into the rear of the car. The roll-cage, which was actually fabricated here on the island was installed. The battery of the car was moved to the middle of the chassis making some space in the engine bay, but it also helped to change the weight balance of the car. The Honda Fit actually has a really odd layout. It’s fuel tank sits in the center of the chassis, so the weight of a full tank of gas, the weight of the engine, and the driver all sits somewhere in the middle of the car.
“It handles extremely well, despite its suspension layout is very basic.”
Although the Fit wasn’t originally going to be their first choice when looking for a car to build. I’m sure they’re glad they did.
The engine
So, I know you clicked, because you saw K20, and nothing gets a JDM fan, or a Honda lover going as much as that one letter followed by 2 numbers. Creative builders have been finding ways to utilize this engine in as many ways as possible, from standard Honda to Honda swaps, to really weird Toyota and Nissan swaps.
The belly of the beast
Inside this Honda Fit, sits a 2.0L K20 engine, from a DC5 Integra Type R. Although this is a Honda to Honda swap though, it is rare swap to do so rare in fact, most parts were fabricated so it could work. Although the swap has been done before there aren’t many direct bolt on parts for this swap. The engine harness was built by Rywire. All of the braided brake lines, fuel lines, oil cooler lines and clutch lines were done by SDRR.
Just enough room
Although it’s stock the engine really hauls this car along, Type-R engines are amazing. The car weighs in at around 1085kgs (2392lbs) and with an engine making 214 whp its moves. The engine is managed by a Hondata ECU and was tuned by Fabian Tudor here in Barbados.
How Fit is it?
The car was built for the track and it has been doing well around our local track Bushy Park in both track days and Drag racing events. The car has done about 1:15 around the track and has done 8.9 seconds in the 1/8th of a mile at Drag racing events.
The biggest accomplishment is being able to finish this project. We all know how project cars go, a lot of them are never completed but after 4 years of work this one is up and running. K-swapped Honda Fit.
We love builds like these, putting a more powerful engine into a light chassis, conceptually simple but still complex. It’s always nice to see people getting together through their love of cars and getting things done. It’s a beautiful thing really.
Hatch Not Hot - Lucian Streets
When you’re asked to think about a Toyota built sports car from the 90s, more than likely the Supra would spring to mind almost as quickly as it accelerates. But what if you’re told to think of something a little smaller? Celica, Levin? How about the Starlet? The Toyota Starlet Glanza V was the entry to the Toyota sports car brotherhood, but by no means is it to be taken for granted. With a punchy engine, go-kart like handling and so little weight that you have to pin it down when you park, the Starlet Glanza V is a potent little pocket rocket.
An Article from our friends over at Lucian Streets in St. Lucia!
Although a popular phrase, the words ‘cheap’ and ‘cheerful’ really go together well about as often as fast and Prius. But on occasion, they do come together in a smiles for miles package, which is what we have here. No, not the fast Prius, the other bit. When you’re asked to think about a Toyota built sports car from the 90s, more than likely the Supra would spring to mind almost as quickly as it accelerates. But what if you’re told to think of something a little smaller? Celica, Levin? How about the Starlet? The Toyota Starlet Glanza V was the entry to the Toyota sports car brotherhood, but by no means is it to be taken for granted. With a punchy engine, go-kart like handling and so little weight that you have to pin it down when you park, the Starlet Glanza V is a potent little pocket rocket.
Starting out life as an economical hatchback, Toyota capitalised on the Starlet’s small size and decided to crank it up from mild to wild. Changes were made to the suspension in order to stiffen it up and improve handling, and under the hood Toyota added a turbocharger to the 4E-FE engine in order for it to produce 131HP fed to the front wheels through a close ratio 5 speed transmission. In OEM specifications the Glanza V wouldn’t have much of an issue keeping up with its larger brothers on tight and windy roads but as with almost every car in existence there was still something to be had. Some pent up potential left for one to discover for themselves.
Valence’s obsidian little fighter began its life in his hands as most Starlets do these days. Battered, faded and in need of love. Tired from years of abuse and changed owners. Not too long after purchasing it Valence breathed new life into the Starlet with a fresh paint job, front lip and many performance goodies. The car’s already impressive handling characteristics were improved on with polyurethane bushing and coilovers, and the car was given a decent amount of more go-go through an aftermarket ECU and TD04 turbocharger pumping air through a larger front mounted intercooler to help keep things, well…cool.
With the larger turbocharger, the 1300cc engine has to reach further up into its revs to get the turbo spinning fast enough to develop positive boost pressures but when it does, the little hatch hurls you towards the horizon at an alarmingly quick rate. And then when you get to the end of the horizon and need to go around a corner, it sticks to the pavement with tenacious grip and minimal body roll, seeming to avoid the laws of physics like a disease. In a world dominated by big ticket star cars, sometimes we need to take a step back and appreciate the light, lower power fun machines. The sort of cars that cost next to nothing to maintain and modify, the sort that one can actually drive to its full potential with more enjoyment than concentration. Small car’s not hot.
Q&A
What got you into the car scene?
A couple years ago I was looking at buying my first vehicle and my friend thought it would be a good idea to buy a car that his friend was selling. Turns out it was a turbocharged Starlet, and that’s what really got me started.
It’s been said that you’re the go to guy for Starlets on the island. Is this where it started?
Yeah, that’s where it started. It started with me knowing little to nothing about cars and then buying this car. Then came engine failure. I gave it to who I thought was a competent mechanic to rebuild the engine which only lasted another two weeks after it was repaired. From that moment on I decided if it was to be done right, I’d have to do it myself. I took some time to research, browsed the web, talked to people and gathered my information. I built a 1500 block myself to replace the 1300. From then on I always worked on my own cars, and have worked on just about every Starlet on island, except for a few.
Do you favour small cars, or is it just Starlets?
I like small cars, I find they are easier to work on. I find the larger vehicles require a lot more effort, and I do everything myself usually without help. I can work on the smaller vehicles in my spare time. I like cars generally – sports cars – but because I do the work myself I prefer smaller vehicles.
What’s your level of enthusiasm in the scene?
I’d say casual enthusiast. Over the years you live and you learn. I look at things differently, especially with this car. When I got it I said I built 3 of them for myself prior so I want to do everything right with this one. I’m not a hardcore racer; I don’t think I have the time or the budget for that. I’m more causal.
What’s the story behind getting this vehicle?
How did it get from where it was to where it is? Getting this one in particular is a very funny story. I noticed it a couple of times on the road a couple years after I sold my last one. I decided if I had to get one I wanted a stock one with no accident history and that’s why I wanted this one. I was hunting it down but could never get it. I got to know the car was owned my someone in the fire service so I spoke to an EMT I knew, and it turned out that the owner of the car was her boyfriend. Initially the owner said his car is not for sale and wasn’t budging. About a month later I was back on the hunt for a car, looking at the GT Advance but the night before I decided to contact this guy again and he said he had just put a for sale sign on the car so I snatched it up.
How much work have you done on it?
When I got the car it was in rough shape, visually and suspension wise. It’s had a full respray and suspension overhaul. The stock struts and TRD lowering springs were replaced with McMaster coilovers, every bushing is either Powerflex or Super Street and more. And that’s just the beginning. A completely new engine is going in. It’s a work in progress.
Would you recommend a Starlet to someone?
I would, because one of the things I always say to my friends in the car scene is that when they take parts off of their car to go faster, I just take them to go faster. A lot of the parts that are stock for other cars, are modifications for these cars such as a Subaru’s TD04 turbo. For someone who’s just starting and on a budget I would definitely recommend one of these cars to them.
Go Check out Lucian Streets for more content like this!
You just gotta know how to build it.
We are happy to announce our first sponsored article! We had the chance find one of the most interesting Corollas here in Barbados. We worked with Lucas Oils here in the island, and we took some time to follow up on a local racer they sponsor.
sponsored by lucas oils
The AE-86 comes in loads of shapes and sizes. It’s a pretty basic platform in all respects. It’s just a car Toyota made, not expecting its success. That being said, the humble potato makes some of the most basic to the most extravagant meals, think about that.
Where am I going with this? Well, when you take a potato, and you cook with the right ingredients, it becomes an amazing meal. The same with the AE-86. It’s one of the best platforms to start a project car on. We had the chance find one of the most interesting Corollas here in Barbados. We worked with Lucas Oils here in the island, and we took some time to follow up on a local racer they sponsor.
Kevin's KE70 Corolla
Kevin got his hands on this Corolla back in 2005, and it took him a year to get it together, using some parts from a previously owned Daihatsu Charmant. The car was already a race car, driven by Ian Griffith “the Undertaker” at our local bushy park circuit. He used a 3TC engine, which was an old Toyota sport engine, it was 1.8L 8v and push-rod and heavily modified. It did the job he needed at the time to compete in a few international events at the track. Between 2008-2009 he was able to nab a few podium finishes with 2nd in his group and 3rd overall for the Championship. He also went on to push the car harder racing overseas in Guyana, at their track in South Dakota.
Kevin recounts his racing days.
Unfortunately though, he was met with Mechanical problems in Guyana, and he wasn’t able to do as well as he would’ve liked. The overall experience though was amazing, the hospitality of the people there were fully appreciated. As a result of this though, development of the engine and car began in 2010, where they were making the conversion from carburetors to fuel injection and aftermarket management. That transformation took some time though, and the the racing team took some down time for the next season in-order to iron out mechanical gremlins who showed their faces again in the engine.
A new Heart
With persistent issues with the older 3TC engine. The decision was made to change the entire engine of the car, for something more modern and more reliable. This car being an AE86, the logical weapon of choice would be the the 4AGE. Kevin found a donor 4AGZE for the chassis. Toyota’s 4AGZE engine, is a supercharged variant of their common 4AGE platform. It was used in their sports models, cars like the MR2 and a few later model Toyota Levins and Truenos. Stock, the 4AGZE made somewhere north of 160hp, that’s a pretty decent amount for a street car in Toyota’s opinion at least. This though, isn’t a street car.
Further engine development continued, first on the ECU, where they finally settled in on the Megasquirt 3 custom board, but on the power figure of the car as well. The supercharger was not enough, and he added a turbo charger to the mix. Usually on 4AGZE engines, the supercharger would be exchanged for the Turbocharger, but this wasn’t the case there. Instead, a 4AGZTE was built, a twin charged engine.
Obviously, the first debate that comes to mind is airflow restriction. Many factors come into play though when we think about this, for example, we have to look at the size of the turbo, or the size of the supercharger, they are quite dependent on each other to find the perfect ratio of airflow into the motor. Using the factory Roots Supercharger though, it would seem it’s been quite happy with the current turbo charger on the engine.
“I believe over a certain power, maybe the supercharger can become a restriction, by then you’ll need a bigger supercharger. I haven’t had any data to prove it’s restricted at this point though”
We got the breakdown on the engine from Kevin, and surprisingly it was really simple. This is the key to reliability. The engine had a simple rebuild done, all stock internals and stock supercharger. All the bolts were replaced with ARP steel studs. He’s added a T3/T4 Turbocharger to it, and aftermarket management, which brings everything together. This former 160hp 4AGZE, now makes north of 300hp.
After killing a few gearboxes, the car now has a racing box from G-Force Transmissions and a differential surprisingly from a Toyota Hilux with a 4.5 final drive ratio. The racing box uses an upgraded slave cylinder setup. Aftermarket clutch and flywheel setup are also used, from Quartermasters and Tilton.
Crushed gearbox 1st gear no longer exists
Kevin’s intends to slowly build the engine up, in a way that would increase flow. Port and polish an engine head, and replace the camshafts with something more aggressive, as well as a new valve train. Changing the pistons to forged pistons and steel rods should help as he still has an interest in running more boost.
Kevin has loads of upgrades planned for this car over time. We are eager to see the changes coming to vehicle in the coming months. We are happy to work with Lucas Oils here in Barbados on this article.
Until next time! Happy Motoring!
Westcoast Kings Take Over
I'm in love with Car Culture, and I'm sad it died down a bit here, but We are trying to bring everyone together again, so we can show it off internationally.
It's been a long time coming, but we finally were able to hang out with Westcoast Kings! It's really awesome to see groups start and grow and really add to the Car Culture of our small island, Barbados. Nickolai the founder of Westcoast Kings, let us in on some information about the group, how it started and where he's headed.
What do you drive?
My car is a 1996 EJ6 Honda Civic, it was bought new back in 1996 here on the island. Back then I was a lot younger, and I went with my dad when he was buying a car for my mom. He took me to Tucker, and I was able to choose the car for her back then. Eventually my mom moved on, and bought a CRV, and I was able to take this car off her hands, and the mods began.
“I’m in love with Car Culture, and I’m sad it died down a bit here, but We are trying to bring everyone together again, so we can show it off internationally.”
The search for Orginality
When the car was passed on to me from my mom, it was a bit rusty, so it went to the body shop first for some work to be done on it. The car was OEM pearl green from Honda but it was a becoming a common Honda color, so I picked a random color to start with from Automotive Art and changed the color. The car was automatic so I did a manual conversion. After that came the stance. I bought D2 fully adjustable coil overs and lowered the car so far. I have plans for K-swap of the engine eventually.
Tell us a bit about westcoast kings
I really loved the movement we had in Barbados a while ago, but it slowly died down. I started my brand as a Youtube channel first then I moved on to Instagram. It really started to pick up traction though, and after going to a few car shows with some friends, persons were asking if they could join the group, and be a part of the Westcoast family. Now we are selling T-shirts, Snapbacks and stickers, so persons can identify with the group. We started an online forum as well and we organize meets that way.
Check out some of their content
Big thanks to Nickolai for giving us an chance to hang out and get to know the group, I really love when friends come together for something they all share and love, groups like this continue to keep our Car Culture alive here in Barbados.
Gallery
It's still stock
Nothing major, it's still stock. The car is pushing 19 years or so of age, it just needs some sprucing up. The first quality of life mod I did was install some GlowShift gauges I got from Chris at Redline Barbados who is, by the way, building an amazing 280Z, check out the article we posted a little while ago.
Since we last left off my Subaru GC8 WRX has been through quite a bit of what I would call...quality of life mods.
Nothing major, it's still stock. The car is pushing 19 years or so of age, it just needs some sprucing up. The first quality of life mod I did was install some GlowShift gauges I got from Chris at Redline Barbados who is, by the way, building an amazing 280Z, check out the article we posted a little while ago.
I got a Boost Gauge, an Air/Fuel wide band gauge and an oil temperature gauge, maybe I'll get one or two more but I got these to monitor the health of my car. The gauge pod I got from eBay, it didn't fit right though, so I got it sanded down a bit.
Old car problems.
Now I can maybe wrench a bit but I'm completely lost when it comes to electrical work on cars. So I gave a man a call who is probably one of the best automotive electricians on the island, Randy Brewster, he owns a little company called BossTech Auto, he does amazing work. As the car is old though while installing the gauges and the pod, the centre console piece just shattered on us. Nothing a little super glue can't fix.
Fixed.
She Lives.
While I was there I did an oil change as well, since we installed an oil filter sandwitch plate so we could get an oil temperature reading. An oil change I can do.
The next mod to the car was upgrading the cooling system. I first upgraded the cooling hoses with silicone hoses because they were old and looked like they were about to burst. I assume the radiator was that old because not long after that it actually gave out on me, so I decided to get a decent Mishimoto radiator. It dropped right in, factory fans bolted right on. I just had to bend the housing of the left fan back a bit so it wouldn't foul on the power steering belt. Good stuff.
As is my luck sometime between doing all of this my hood scoop decided to detach itself and blew away on the highway. So i found this company called RPG Carbon, they make fiberglass and carbon fibre parts for a bunch of different cars. So i ordered a new scoop from them and here's how the car sits now.
CHAPTER 2
Working on a car takes some time. It's been a while since this happened, and my parts came. A few were to just fix the problems with the car, things that broke when we worked on her putting in the cluster, the time for another oil change came around as well, and she's been running like a dream.
I started using LIQUI MOLY 10W-40 supplied by the guys at TDK Auto Supplies. Works really well with my engine and turbo charger.
Project Ford in the rear
Some external mods were needed too. JDM yellow fog lights just bring the nostalgia back from the 90's. You probably spotted the change of the indicators to the amber ones as well, really just bringing together the feel of the car.
New center console came as well, fresh from E bay, feels good to have it coming together slowly but surely. I did a small induction Mod solely for the sound, I removed the factory snorkel which up through the side fender, I am pretty satisfied with the sound it makes now when I'm driving.
The next step will be some engine work, big things to come guys. - Maurice
"Not All Heroes Wear Capes".
The issues in the past which really hindered electric Cars were its batteries. I'm sure we all are becoming familiar with this common sign, a green box in the parking lot, reserved for electric cars.
The world we live in is changing, and it looks like it may not be for the best. It's sad to say, but come one day, the internal combustion engine would've come to its end, giving way to the cars of the future. This is a welcome change though, the petrol engine in its time with us has been responsible for many of the problems we face today when it comes to climate change. Now it's our chance to save a piece of this Earth for our kids, we can really be the hero they look up to.
let's be heroes
I caught up with Jo Edgehill who works with MegaPower, the company spearheading this change here in Barbados. They are the official dealers of the Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3 and a host of other electric and hybrid cars we see here on our roads today.
When was MegaPower Founded?
It was Founded in July of 2013, so this July the company will officially be 5 years old. Having the Company hasn't been without its ups and downs though. In Barbados, our road tax laws are based on vehicle weight. This somewhat made it difficult for owners of Electric Vehicles because by nature they are heavier than normal cars, they contend with the weight of the batteries inside of them. Times are looking up though as this law is soon to change, which would put the Electric Vehicle in the same bracket as your run of the mill Toyota Corolla.
How Many Vehicles are on the road to date?
MegaPower currently has more than 250 vehicles and 10 plugin hybrids making daily commutes on the roads of our small island. Outside of Barbados though, we do work with other countries, helping with their Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. Costa Rica has recently placed an order for 20+ quick charging systems which we are glad to help with as it encourages the use of the vehicles in that country.
What's it like owning a Nissan Leaf?
The 2018 Nissan Leaf is a joy to own. It's sporty looking, its more beefed up in its shape and lines cosmetically. Nissan really hit the nail on the head when it comes to styling on the new Nissan Leaf. What really makes it a joy is the amount of room on the inside. There's no want for space in front, and in the rear, it feels like a real people carrier with leg room for days. The rear seats drop all the way down, and gives more space even for an entire bicycle! The Nissan Leaf is a testament to the fact that Electric Cars are here not only to stay but have the looks like a car for everyday use.
Its battery pack has been increased in size and can deliver an estimated range of about 240 km. This means, for the average commuter, it can last almost an entire week, before needing to be recharged. It's redesigned battery pack offers a 67% increase over its 2010 counterpart. With new it's new power output the Leaf was equipped with a tougher chassis for stability and it's heavier components have been moved more to the center of the vehicle, this is where Nissan's experience building race cars come through.
The Nissan Leaf is pretty much like owning another high-end family sedan, which is a good thing to know. A person can enjoy comfort and convenience without any compromises.
Solving the Challenges of Charging
The issues in the past which really hindered electric Cars were its batteries. I'm sure we all are becoming familiar with this common sign, a green box in the parking lot, reserved for electric cars. I hope those of you with petrol engines didn't park in them, that wouldn't be cool. Advances in technology have allowed batteries to keep a charge for a longer time, but it also helped with the ability to charge the car at a faster rate.
Charging a car is as simple as plugging in a giant phone. Plug it in using the cables in the rear, and swipe your card to start your charging process. Charging stands vary, but there are 2 quick charging stations here in Barbados, which can bring your battery up from 0 - 80% in 20 - 30 minutes. Charging an electric car is different to filling up at the gas station, for one thing, there's no gas, but also, parking your car at either a mall or other place of business allows you to charge more conveniently, your charging station is where you want to go. Normal charging can take between 8 - 9 hours at home, using a 220v plug, like a washing machine or fridge outlet.
Targeting Enthusiasts
Some brands have realized adding flair and style to an electric car can help change the image of the way it is perceived. BMW, for example, has been building it's "I" line with this in view. When I was much younger, I recalled seeing concept car molds being crafted, maybe concept cars showing up in magazines in different car shows around the world, they were always limited by technology.
“Yes! this is me, i just love the way it pops.”
The day has finally come when all those sci-fi wallpapers of cars on your computer become reality! The BMW i3 is a pretty nifty creation, targeting persons who still love cars and style, BMW was able to cram a motor making 170 hp and 184 NM of torque from this compact EV, and it being an electric car, the torque is instant it's 0 - 100kph is within the 7-second range.
Innovation and Technology just ooze from this car though. Its interior design gives a feeling of intuition and sensibility, and it feels more like a computer with a steering wheel than a car. Similar to the Nissan Leaf, leg room isn't lacking one bit. What I really loved about this car though, where it's front opening rear doors, this allows the length of the car to be dramatically reduced making the car lighter and more efficient.
The range on the BMW is a bit less than the Nissan Leaf at 182 km, but it's charge time is also less too, a normal charge will take 5 hours. Its efficiency may be a bit less than the Nissan but it more than makes up for it in smiles per kilowatt.
Looking toward a Green Future
It's bittersweet at the moment to see the combustion engine go, but it's important to start investing in what is to come. I am overjoyed with the work that MegaPower is spearheading here in Barbados. There's no reason why our small island Barbados cannot be more eco-friendly. Electric Cars are still new to the market, but the trends show they will soon have a majority share in the market. So next time you see a charging station remember those green parking spots point the way to a greener tomorrow!
Happy Motoring - Alex
Gallery
On Friday Megapower hosted their EVlution Event at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, here is a small Gallery, hope you enjoy!
