Archive for October, 2010

Words by Zach Taiji / Photos by Jesus Calles

“I guess you could say I lean towards form over function for the most part”, says the owner of this super clean 1991 Lexus LS400. I’d say that just about sums up this simple, but well executed LS.

The owner is Isaiah Roberts from Bellevue, Washington and he is very active into the PNW automotive scene; he attends lots of drift events throughout the year and is a moderator over at northwestnissans. Back in Middle School, his brother would bring home Import Tuner and Super Street magazines. “I just remember enjoying flipping through the pages and reading about cars even if I didn’t know what a turbo was at the time.” Ever since then, he’s been hooked on everything about cars. “My past few part time jobs have all been car related, and I don’t think I could really see myself doing anything else for pay that doesn’t involve a car.”

So what made Isaiah get into the whole stance scene?

“I would have to say being around the drift scene and having friends with drift cars that are “stanced out” has kinda opened my eyes to the scene. Theres something about seeing a car with good fitment that makes me appreciate the time the owner has put into his setup more than anything.”

He’s owned this fresh LS400 for over a year now, he picked it up after selling off his 280z project. It came bone stock with 140k on the clock. He first bought a set of coils, and eventually bought some proper wheels for the car. They’re Work Emitz, 18×9 front and 18×10 rear.

“I was inspired by some of the people’s builds on Clublexus and VSC but the one particular person that comes into mind is a dude from Texas named BLKonBLK98. He owns the lowest static first gen Ls400 that I’ve seen and has Work Carving Head 40s which are similar to my Work Emitz but at the same time slightly different. After seeing his car I knew that I wanted wheels similar to his; thus part of my reason for buying the wheels I did.”

Isaiah plans on lowering it some more, having a skid plate fabricated, doing some exhaust work, and body work to fix some of the damage. “Maybe a Junction Produce kit after that happens.”

“My good friend Levon has put a lot of wrench time in on this chassis. He’s helped me with a lot of stuff since I purchased it and whenever I need advice as to what I should get next he’s usually a good source of knowledge. ” nw-built looks forward to what Isaiah has in store for the future!

Exterior

• Red Clear Red Tailights (RCR)
• Clear Corners

Wheel & Tires

• Work Emitz 18×9 18×10
• Nankang NS-2 215/35 and 225/35

Suspension

• JIC Magic SF-1s (old school)

Interior

• Junction Produce Neckpads

Looking super clean as always. You can see Nick’s full feature on nw-built here. Photo by Mark Bello.

A bunch of the PNW guys made it out to Stance Of The Union in Sacramento this last weekend. They had a large 20+ car convoy, full of crazy events. There was a crash, people got tickets, but most importantly the group bonded as a family throughout the whole journey. It really shows how much the PNW supports the automotive scene, and also how they support each other no matter what happens. Photos thanks to Mark Bello.

Photos by David Green / Words by Dylan Evans

Before we get started, you should know that I fell in love with this car from the first moment I laid eyes on it at a PGP summer drift event. So I can only assume that now that you’ve looked through these pictures, you’ve fallen in love as well. I had seen the car up close a few times before this shoot, but when I met Erich and he was telling me about it, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

The day started with David and I meeting up with Erich at the old U.P. Garage location. We then traveled to the new, completely top-secret U.P. Garage. As we got out of the car Erich said to me: “Now, you guys were never here. You don’t know where this is. This is not U.P. Garage.” Top secret debriefing out of the way (they will be revealing the location when the new shop is finished and opened), I started to browse the multitude of cars in and outside of the shop. It was like being a kid in a candy store.

In the back of the garage was an old school Datsun 510 with an S15 SR20 swap… and automatic transmission. I’m assuming you’re as shocked as I was to hear that, but apparently, “That’s what the customer asked for.” Also in the lot was the first all wheel drive 240SX in the U.S., powered by an RB26DETT. While the car wasn’t 100% finished, maybe we’ll be able to get a good look at it when it is. While David started taking pictures I got to talk to a few of the guys from U.P. Garage. The place has a very friendly environment; it feels like a big family. Hopefully we will be going back in the future to do a full profile on the shop.

Anyways, back to the E30. This thing is pretty special. When I asked Erich about why he chose the CA18DET, he replied, “The engine choice was kind of an accident, in fact, the whole car is kind of an accident. It all just fell together.” He told me that he picked up the parts separately and all by way of fate.

Erich still has big plans for this little BMW. He hopes to get more power from the CA18 and will eventually be getting a new full vinyl wrap from sponsor Fusion Graphix.

I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited to see how Erich does next season. Even though I know the Germans didn’t build this beast to do what it does, it does the job just fine. Even if it does get by with a little JDM help in the power department.

Chassis:

• 1990 BMW 325i Coupe (E30)

Engine:

• Nissan CA18DET w/ Upgraded S15 T28 Turbo
• 2.5in. Downpipe
• Kakimoto Exhaust
• Apexi Intake
• RB Blow-Off Valve
• Custom FMIC
• Accusump Oiling System
• Greddy Boost Controller
• Apexi Power FC

Drivetrain:

• OS Geiken Twin-Plate Clutch
• OS Geiken Lightweight Flywheel
• Custom Locking Differential
• Custom One Piece Driveshaft
• 4.1 Final Drive

Suspension:

• Ground Control Coilovers with Custom 440F/750R Springrates
• Ground Control Camber Plates
• Koni Adjustables with Custom Housings
• Ireland Engineering Sway Bars
• Ireland Engineering Strut Tower Bars
• AKG Motorsport Bushings
• Steering Rack Spacers

Interior:

• 6-Point AutoPower Roll Cage
• Woodgrain Steering Wheel with NRG Quick Release Hub
• Custom Bubble Shift Knob
• Sparco Racing Sprint Seats
• RJS 4-point Safety Harnesses
• Custom CNC Hydraulic E-Brake

Exterior:

• Custom Delphin Metallic Paint with Various Sponsor Stickers
• Eurosport Rieger Front Valance
• E36 M3 Sideskirt Reps
• Zender Rear Valance
• R32 Nissan Skyline GTR Spoiler
• DDM Tuning 3000k HID Kit
• Custom Candy Purple Rota P45R 17×9.5 et30 4×114.3, 4×100 to 4×114.3 25mm Wheel Spacers/Adapters

A sidenote from Erich:
I want to acknowledge and thank the whole crew at UPGARAGE: Doug Smith (owner), Erik Rittscher, and Randy Sisler II. I cant stress enough how much they have helped and how awesome they are. This car WOULD NOT be what it is without them. So happy to be part of the family! Also, big thanks to Terry Vo and Vu Nguyen at NOS Energy Drink! Super excited for things to come. Along with Tyson Blood at Fusion Graphix for his support and awesome design ideas. Jon Lindsey at CT specialties powder coating; I cant even count the times I’ve gotten compliments on the wheels he did for me.

I can’t wait for next season!

Photos by Mark Bello / Words by Zach Taiji

Here’s something you don’t see or hear everyday: a stanced Mazda 626. Those words just don’t go together; when most people hear of a 626 they think of a boring, mid ’90′s family sedan. Lame.

But once I caught glimpse of this 1993 Mazda 626 LX at a MazdasNW event a couple months ago, I quickly changed my mind. This car is fitted to perfection, sitting on Diffusion Dish’s. 17×8 +12 Front and 17×9 +1 Rear, wrapped in 215/40 Falken 512′s. To give it the lowness, it’s on KSport Kontrol V2 coils.

Austin Johnson is the owner, hailing from Marysville, WA. Cars have been in his blood ever since he was a youngin’; his dad has been into the car business for over 45 years.

I have plans this winter, but it’s confidential until it’s 100% game on. Don’t want anyone to get their hopes up. But fresh paint is definitely in the mix, very soon.

Austin said he gives credit to his friends Mike (Mazda MX-6 featured on nw-built) and Dennis for helping and starting the build. “Cracking oil pans and killing road turtles” are just a few of the problem’s he’s encountered since having the 626. Sucks to roll hard. Keep an eye out for Mark Bello’s silver scion TC you see below, feature soon!

Engine:

• KLDE 2.5 liter V6
• 5 Speed

Exterior:

• 8k HID Headlights & Foglights

Wheel & Tires:

• Diffusion Dish
• 17×8 +12 front / 17×9 +1 rear
• 215/40 Falken 512′s

Suspension:

• KSport Kontrol V2