Project-T: Back to the Future!

Let's do some time traveling! Since I've been posting about Project-T, I've actually gone ahead and done a lot more that I can write! In fact, it has already been around about TWO years since the little monster has been boosted!

So here's a fast forward post to get you up to speed and the conclusion of Project-T! ...But don't worry, I'll back track after this post so you can see all the crazy happenings once you've boosted your monster!

After Boostworx worked their magic, I've maintained the lil'Sportivo with K&N oil filters and Castrol Edge Sport fully synthetic oils (5W-30). I've simply been tuning the car and using it as my daily drive. Lots of LOL things have happened, to be posted in due time, which could help out others in similar situations.

Other than a bargain second hand Go Fast Bits (GFB) Deceptor Pro Blow-off Valve (BOV) which I scored on eBay, and a replacement wideband computer, no other major mods has been done!

To date here's the current specs of the monster:

Fried Rice BANZAI Toyota Echo Sportivo

Engine and Drivetrain:

• 1NZ-FE, turbocharged with Zage TDO4HL-32G @ 0.5 bar
• ??? HP (un-dynoed)
• Zage Intercooler
• Weapon-R Secret Weapon Pod Filter
• GFB Deceptor Pro BOV
• K&N Oil Filter
• Stock Drive Train

Wheels, Brakes and Suspension:

• Stock Sportivo Spec

Electronics:

• AEM FIC Piggyback Computer
• Innovate LC-1 Wideband Controller (...like I said, some craziness has happened)
• PLX Devices SM-AFR (I'll talk about this on another post...)

There's some newer pics of what I've been working on recently on my Instagram (friedricebanzai), so feel free to check that out too!

Although Project-T is now deemed COMPLETE, I still have lots of war stories to tell about from tuning to maintenance... The fun never ends with boost!


 
 

The Monster Egg: Echo Sportivo

My first car was a Toyota Paseo. Once I saved up enough money for an aftermarket exhaust kit another fellow driver failed to give way and I was forced to bid farewell to my automotive cherry popper.

A huge shadow loomed over... Enter the naturally aspirated R33 Nissan Skyline GTS. An entry level R33 sports coupe lacking the doubled edged sword that is the High Capactiy Actively Controlled Steering (HICAS). It drove like a beast. It felt like a tank. After fitting an aftermarket Xforce exhaust, it turned heads to say the least. But after awhile, costs seemed to stack. Fuel was getting expensive, maintenance grew and after focasting my budget; a lot of the costs came from the car...

So I was in the market of something more economical.. But I didn't want to lose the joy of zipping in a sports car. The first few cars that came to mind was the Toyota Starlet GT, Suzuki Swift GTi and the Toyota Echo Sportivo. I wanted something different. I wanted a sleeper. A car that looks totally pedestrian but under the hood a samurai. The Starlet GT and Swift GTI were crossed from the list.

After doing some research on potential mods that you can do to an Echo, it made my choice clearer and clearer. One major aftermarket part that caught my eye at the time was the Blitz Supercharger. Could you imagine a supercharged Echo? How unique would it be!