From 3SI Wiki

September 2009 - Ride of the Month Submission

Matt "1320VR4" Stefans

Cosmetic:

• 1G 3000GT body conversion
• R/T sail panels
• Painted valve cover
• Polished aluminum "3000GT" spark cover
• Chrome intake pipe
• Snake eye mod
• H3 fog lights
• RUFF Racing 18x8.5 rims
• 99 Garnish
• Sonic Blue paint
• Home Depot Racing Lip
• LED license plate lights
• Vanity plate

Interior:

• Shift Knog
• CF gauge cluster trim
• LED under dash
• LED strips behind door handles
• LED dome lights
• LED under door (so you can see when you open the doors)
• Custom radio surround

Performance:

• Injen intake filter
• MSD Spark plug wires
• NGK coppers
• Half shafted throttle body
• 3sx Downpipe
• Maximal test pipe
• Maximal solid motor mounts
• Tanabe Concept G blue single shot
• 3sx stock size crank pulley
• Ground wires
• General Exclaim UHP tires
• Spec Stage II clutch
• Eibach springs w/ new KYB struts

Sound:

• Pioneer speakers, front and rear
• Pioneer head unit
• Visonik sub + amp

Brakes:

• OEM remanufactured calipers
• Drill slot front rotors, new rear rotors
• Ceramic pads

My story:

Well in the last year not a whole lot has changed. The two drastic things she really needed was a drop and a lip and those two I had to get before anything else. Last fall I bought a set of KYB GR2’s and a set of eibach lowering springs through my good pal Jason at pricematchedparts.com. As far as the lip goes, I really had my heart set on a Kaze lip but I couldn’t justify spending $500 on something that has a good chance of being wrecked on a speed bump, curb, or unintelligent wood dwelling creature. I came across the garage door lip posted on our forums and gave that a shot. Using duck brand garage door bottom seal and all season double sided tape, the end result is what you see here. I’ve gotten many compliments on how good it looks, and many people asking where I bought one, when I say $15 at Walmart, they have a quite confused reaction, aha. Other than that I ditched the Ebay style plug wires that came with the car and bought some quality MSD wires, noticeable improvement.

Regular maintenance and upkeep has been a challenge over the last twelve months though. This passed winter we had a very bad ice storm that did a number on my hood due to falling ice and debris, it’s in okay shape now, however it will never be quite perfect again. This coming winter I’m looking at getting a carbon hood for a small spring overhaul. Also this coming spring I’m contemplating another paint job and perhaps a carbon combat wing to complete a new aggressive look.

Last November I picked up my silver VR4 as a new project and the one thing I can say is although the TT has way more power, going from the Stealth to a completely stock car really made me further appreciate the work that went into this car. This ES started life in my hands as a vehicle you probably would best be finding at a junkyard. Through a few good friends, way too much money, and a wicked amount of elbow grease, somehow it became the car I have today. At least 80 percent was done in my driveway with a hundred and something piece craftsman tool set. I could go on for hours about each individual project we undertook and all the stupid and funny memories that go along with each. Granted my VR4 is a lot faster, and handles way better in the snow, there’s no way in hell I could ever bring myself to sell this one.