[Kaishi]

INTRO
This OP will contain a description and photos of my baby in her present state. The photos attached right now are a little old, but I'll take some new ones and put them together. Later posts will be in order of modifications.
CURRENT LOOK

chargin' mah lazer

MODIFICATION PHOTOS
TINT, DECALS, & SPOILER

tinnit windoz

brand of the sacrifice

MIRRORS

Blaaaaaaack.

BRACES & RIGID COLLARS

Pierce Motorsports 4eva

OIL CATCH CAN
<insert photo here>
Some silly caption goes here.

WHEELS AND TIRES
SUMMER:

WHEELS:

TSW Nurburgring RF, Matte Grey, 18x8, 5x114.3, +35
TIRES:

BF Goodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2, 225/40ZR18 88W

WINTER:

WHEELS:

AXIS Sport XMX, Matte Grey, 17x7.5, 5x114.3, +35
TIRES:

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 225/45ZR17 91W
BRAKES

+25kW

 

[Kaishi]

FULL LIST OF MODIFICATIONS in order performed

1. LED Modules to replace all bulbs other than Lowbeams (various vendors and manufacturers)
2. Engine Mount Bushing Replaced (REV Motorsports, via Pierce Motorsports)
3. Strut Tower Brace Installed (Pierce Motorsports)
4. Windows Tinted (3M Ceramic)
5. Subframe Bushings Installed, later removed (Shark Racing)
6. OBD-II Reader Installed (ScanTool OBDLink MX via Amazon)
7. Trunk Brace Installed (Pierce Motorsports)
8. 4-Point Tie Bar Brace Installed (Pierce Motorsports)
9. Brake Calipers Painted (VHT via Amazon)
10. Mirror Glass Replaced (KDM, Hyundai Mobis via exLEDshop)
11. Vinyl Decal Applied (RAYD Workshop, via Amazon)
12. Tow Hook Painted (VHT via Amazon)
13. Mirror Caps Replaced (KDM, Hyundai Mobis via exLEDshop)
14. Wheel Spacers Installed (SpeedShop, via Amazon)
15. Winter Wheels and Tires (TireRack)
16. Dimpled Slotted Brake Rotors (Pierce Motorsports)
17. Rigid Collars (Turbosocks)
18. Summer Wheels and Tires (MrWheelDeal)
19. FMIC (BDCustomz/845Motorsports), upgraded core
20. CAI (BDCustomz/845Motorsports) with Amsoil EAAU3050
21. Synchronic DV (Synapse Engineering)
22. Functional Hood Vents (btjetman + turbosocks)
23. Rear Torsion Brace (Pierce Motorsports)
24. Lowering Springs (ARK GT-F)
25. Koni Sport Struts (LTB Autosports) (plus an alignment afterward; safety first, kids)
26. Automatic Headlights (KDM, Hyundai Mobis via Shark Racing)
27. non-metallic Brake Pads (Pierce Motorsports)
28. Stainless Steel Brake Lines (Pierce Motorsports)
29. Black OEM Spoiler (Hyundai Mobis)
30. Tork Pipe
31. Heel Plate installed on driver's side carpeted floormat

MODS IN PROGRESS These have been ordered and may have arrived, but have not been installed yet.

1. 3" Turboback Exhaust (845Motorsports)
2. Tune of some kind, maybe BTRcc, maybe SFR, maybe wait for Turbosocks, we'll see

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 1: Engine Mount Bushings and Strut Tower Brace!

My friends, Doug and Mike, helped me install my first mods! I looked up the torque specs, and did most of the wrenching, but they made sure I didn't screw up. Together, we installed my Pierce Motorsports Strut Tower Brace (red <3), and my REV Motorsports 75A Durometer Lower Engine Mount Bushings. Then we had pizza.


Mike and I, working on the engine mount. I'm on the left.

A couple of weeks later, Doug, Mike, and I went to a well-reviewed tint installation shop, and Hyuna came back with some tanned windows. I went with 43% 3M Ceramic on all sides.


Fresh Tints Applied!

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 2: Subframe bushings.

My neighbor, Gil, saw me washing my car, and offered some compliments and advice. I told him about the subframe bushings I picked up from Shark Racing. He offered to let me use his tools and his driveway. 30 minutes later, I had firmed up my front end a bit, and made a new friend.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 3: Brake Calipers should be red, damn it.

A shipment of paints and masking tape arrived from Amazon, so, Gil helped me get my wheels off, and I got to work masking Hyuna's bodywork.

4 coats of each of:
VHT SP118 FlameProof Coating Flat White Primer
VHT SP731 Real Red Brake Caliper Enamel
VHT SP730 Gloss Clear Coat

My Amazon Review includes a complete DIY writeup.

Hovercar!


because racecar


All done!


mmmmmmm~

 

[ELS]

How'd you come up with the name Hyuna? Psy's backup dancer in Gangnam Style is Hyuna...

 

[Kaishi]

How'd you come up with the name Hyuna? Psy's backup dancer in Gangnam Style is Hyuna...

She is not his backup dancer, it's a cameo, because she's a pop-star in her own right. Just saying.

 

[ELS]

I know, I couldn't remember the word. My English is dwindling slowly...

 

[Kaishi]

I know, I couldn't remember the word. My English is dwindling slowly...

no worries also yes, you've got the right idea.

 

[Hyperion]

My cars name is Hyuna too!

 

[Kaishi]

My cars name is Hyuna too!

what, are you serious? that's cute :3

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 4: Pierce makes the best braces, just look at the welds

A few months prior, I submitted an order for a 4-point tie bar brace from Pierce Motorsports. Then, I proposed a custom trunk brace with tie-down points, to replace the babyseat anchors. Jim Pierce put it all together and shipped it as a single package.


Unfinished trunk brace, test-fit

The trunk brace arrived unfinished, so I took some VHT flat black undercarriage paint and gave it four coats, then used some of my leftover VHT SP730 Gloss Clearcoat to finish it. After letting it dry overnight, I tossed the brace in my oven, and baked it at 200ºF for one hour. That allows the clearcoat to really set, smooths the finish, and makes it extremely resistant to damage (chemical or abrasive).


Finished trunk brace beside tie-bar brace

Closeup of braces showing differences in finish

I removed the bolts from the babyseat anchors, and used a serrated knife to slit the carpeted trunk cover to allow the brace to sit against the metal below, yet the carpet to remain in place. I then bolted the brace in place using the original hardware, and torqued it down about as hard as I could using my small socket wrench.


finished trunk brace now installed, showing removed hardware and some tools used

Later, I showed the braces (one installed and one awaiting installation) to Gil, who said we could get the tie bar brace in immediately. We tried to install it without removing the subframe bushings we had installed previously, but the brace wouldn't fit. I reported it to Jim, but ultimately removed the bushings and went with just the brace.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 5: Mirror Work

I installed my replacement mirror glass. Here's what you need to know:

The Veloster has very poor rear visibility as a necessary part of the design. The KDM version of the vehicle resolves this issue by installing Convex glass in both the left and right side mirrors. The convex property of the passenger's side mirror appears stronger than the driver's side, and is much stronger than the standard convex mirror glass we commonly see in the USA.

The USDM version of the Veloster un-solves this problem by falling back to the usual flat glass on the driver's side, and slightly-convex on the passenger's side. You can improve rear visibility by using very aggressive mirror angles (some would call this 'proper mirror alignment', and I don't disagree, but it's more aggressive than most drivers use).

The KDM glass is available from exLEDshop, and costs $10 per piece (left or right), so $20 for both. It has the "objects in mirror may be closer than they appear" warning written in Korean, which is awesome :in love:. They are incredibly easy to install, but take a little driver-adaptation (unless you're used to driving semi-trucks or something). Since exLEDshop ships from Korea, it's cheapest to consolidate your orders into the smallest number, to maximize the number of items in each shipment.

A few days later, I managed to install replacement mirror caps too, and without breaking my original ones. I went with gloss black. They're $25 per pair, so cheap enough that you could swap them whenever you feel like it. However, the black really looks good with the glossy-black A-pillars. I think this is how all VTs should have shipped, honestly.


Just after installing, the purple hue is from dusk.


Nice wide shot, showing how the black caps improve the body lines.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 6: Vinyl and Tow Hook should be red too, damn it.

I applied a red vinyl decal to my now-tinted rear window, just under the spoiler. It's a symbol that holds some personal meaning to me.


Taken minutes after applying, just as it started to rain.


Taken months later, in the extremely bright morning light. Hasn't faded, but reflects light differently so looks a different color in photos. Very red in person.

Also, I decided that my tow hook was too obvious: since the tow hook is integrated into the chassis, and painted the body color, mine was glossy metallic white, against dark grey plastic, down in the shadows under the rear bumper. The contrast between the white and dark colors was so high than I found the hook hard to ignore. I decided to paint it the same red as my brake calipers, using the same paint. I cured the paint using a heat gun and an infrared thermal probe, heating the hook to 200ºF for about 1.5 hours.

Then I decided I need to go all JDM and put a drift charm on the hook, specifically because the head of my car club said I shouldn't. I ziptied a cute little plush panda to the hook, and have left him there to be slowly destroyed by the road.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 7: Spacers!

Picked up some 5mm hubcentric spacers on Amazon in time for a car meet. Got them installed, and man do they improve the look of the stock wheels.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 8: WINTER WHEELS HAVE ARRIVED!!!

er mah gerd I have wheels. And tires. Which don't suck, and don't weight 9000 lbs each.


Axis Sport XMX in matte silver-grey with Continental ExtremeContact DWS rubber.

I showed them to Gil, who basically demanded I install them right away.


Driver's side


Passenger's side


So flush from behind~


Looks pretty mean from the front.

 

[Reaper7]

your winter wheels look so gangster, love them! 4get its summer, drive those all the time.

 

[kountrymike]

You have inspired me to get out there and do some painting!

 

[Kaishi]

your winter wheels look so gangster, love them! 4get its summer, drive those all the time.

Thanks! I'm glad you approve. The full wheel specs are listed in the OP, so if you want to get a set you should be able to find them. The summer wheels are even better because they're lighter and better made, but have a very similar look. They're also 18" as compared to the 17" winter setup.

You have inspired me to get out there and do some painting!

Awesome! What are you thinking of painting? Brake calipers are a must, in my opinion. After that, you could plasti-dip some parts of the wheels, or maybe the hood. I really like the look of a tow hook in your accent color. For me, that's red, but make sure it compliments the color of your body panels.

 

[Kaishi]

Modding day 9: new rotors squeak as they break in

Yesterday, I installed my upgraded brake rotors from Pierce Motorsports, with help from Doug and Gil. They arrived ahead of the pads and brake lines, so I figured I'd get them installed so I could break them in a bit in advance. New rotors feel funky! I hear they take about 100-300 miles to really break in. I'll be taking my driving very easy between now and then just to be safe.


Shiny new rear rotors!


Finished product!

After that, I pulled off my 4-point tie bar brace and egged out the rear holes to make them compatible with Turbosock's rigid collar kit. Two more mods off the list!


Upsidedown and covered in sweat, grease, and mosquitos...


Just about done putting the brace back!