TheGarageLife: February 2013

2.28.2013

Island Boy

Mikal Barchenger II, and his 91 Miata

Ever meet someone for the first time and instantly just clicked with them on all levels? Never having an previous conversations or any contact what so ever, then the moment when you are park next to eachother you have that first convo about, you guessed it, your cars.

As soon as Mikal and I shook hands on a Saturday afternoon meet I knew this was the start of a great friendship.

Diamond Racing Wheels-15x10 -15et

Mikal left Hawaii not to long ago, and was in search for something bigger, and his move to california was a good move, this is his first state car and man is he doing it right. this dail driven miata gets scraped and cruises from La Habra to LA where Mike goes to school where he literally fixes the broken necks that are caused by staring at his car (he's a chiropractor).

If you ever see this tiny white Miata cruising down the street with a giant in the drivers seat, don't be afraid to say "aloha" to Mike, you will get a head nod in return and a view of this nice rear end.

Exterior- Hardtop, front and rear R-package lip kit, g-wing, quad hids, and a custom exhaust.

Footwork- style roll bar, lsd, Megan coils, Diamond wheels wrapped in 195/45/15 Federal tires.

Interior- nrg quick release with momo steering wheel, nrg 4pt harnesses, cypher racing seats. Ice - pioneer headunit, ma audio all around, 6.5 components, w/ 12" sub in hatch (not trunk).

Next project is to start the interior then build the engine up a little. "Keeping it simple and rowdy" - Mikal B.

Thaank you for the photos Phil!
These shots and more can be found at
www.flickr.com/a_foto

2.20.2013

Forced Hibernation

If you have been visiting the page in the last few days then you may have clicked play on the video of the week, and if you have watched this video once then you should have fallen in love at first sight (and if you didn’t then there is something wrong with you and you should get checked into a hospital).

We’ve all heard the term “breakin’ necks & causin’ wrecks” but if you’ve seen this car then there is a pretty good chance you might be rocking a neck brace at this very moment. Now I haven’t personally seen this beauty in the flesh but I’ve seen my fair share of videos and pictures, but I assume to watch Stephen Knoop slide the ass of this LS1 powered S14 is a blessing to the eyes and to hear it roar is a whole other story.

Now there is good news and bad news to this story, if you follow Stephen on any social media then you would know that he fucked his knee up pretty badly in a skating accident. So badly that he has to hobble around his house and is in so much pain he uses his crutch to drive around in his daily. Now the good news is that Stephen took the time this weekend to clean his garage (with a pimp limp) and snap a couple of shots of his beast in hibernation.

Exterior

-GP Sports G Sonic One front bumper (discontinued)

-JDM Grill

-Modified 'Friends Style' side skirts

-JDM rear bumper and URAS valances

-C-West Mini Spoiler

-Bomex Type 2 Mirrors

-Custom front bumper support/bash bar built by BC at Ramey Built

-Custom fender pull utilizing OEM metal, no material was added to the outside to create the flair

-Porsche Racing Green Metallic paint and body work done by Stock or Modified Body Works

Engine/Drivetrain/Engine Bay

-98 LS1 bottom end with

- ARP rod and main bolts

- Custom 224/224 Lutani cam

- Clevite rod and main bearings

- LS4 oil pump

- LS2 timing chain

- 703 truck heads

- Dual valve springs/retainers

- Trick Flow hardened push rods

- LS6 intake manifold and PCV system

- Modified Hooker Block Hugger headers with 3" downpipes - fabbed by Sikky

Sikky complete mount kit with:

- CNCed solid motor mounts

- Aluminum drive shaft

- Power steering lines

- Master cylinder conversion

- Oil filter relocation kit with SR20 Grex oil cooler

- Sikky 7-quart oil pan

-Custom Exhaust - 3" off the headers with high flow cats, to a single 4" with a vibrant race muffler, to dual 4" tips - Fabricated by BC at Ramey Built

-Rebuilt F-body T-56 transmission with Spec Stag 3 clutch and SLP lightened flywheel

-KA Mishimotor radiator

-Custom fuel system using a Corvette FPR/Fuel Filter and -6AN line

-OS Giken Super Lock 1.5-way LSD

-RE-Spec Garage tubs with fender well modification for maximum wheel clearance

Interior

-Sparco Rev seat with Bride FG rails

-Nardi Deep Corn 350mm steering wheel with Works Bell hub and NRG quick release

-RE-Spec Garage Formula-D/SCCA spec cage

Wheels

-Custom Sempek Wheel 'Knoops'

-2X 17X10 -18

-2X 17X11 -1

-4X 17X11 +12 BBS RSs

Suspension

-Fortune Auto 500 Series Coilovers with Z32 rear mounts and Swift Spring upgrades 10k/9k

-Parts Shop Max Pro Knuckle

-Ikeya Formula inner and Tien outer tie rods with spacer

- Modified front and rear lower control arms with custom roll center adjusters utilizing 3/4" spherical bearings and Chevy circle track ball joint shanks

-Fortune Auto tension rods with RE-Spec Garage boxed in tension rod brackets

-Z32 rear aluminum uprights modified to work on a S14 (by BC at Ramey Built) with Skullworks & Defworks shock mount spherical bearings

-SPL RUCA

-Fortune Auto Traction and Toe Arms

-Parts Shop Max rear subframe risers

-Q45 front brakes

-OS Giken front strut bar

Stephen, thanks for taking the time and putting in the effort into grabbing these shots for me and for the people to see.

Get well soon homie,

Steven Plascencia

Links:

Sempek Wheels

Sumospeed

2.11.2013

Late nights

This weekend I have spent a lot of time getting this site to be a bit more interactive for everyone that visits. I know things like this don't happen overnight and especially since I am a one man team, but that being said I would like to think I'm doing a pretty great job. (Patting my own back)
Now I haven't quite figured out when it will be done but I can tell you that the site is far from it. I'm starting to get a lot of help from friends I've made over Instagram and Facebook and I am hoping that in the near future this page will receive a lot more attention.
But in all honesty I don't do it for the attention, I don't do it for the views, I definitely don't do it for the ratchets. I do this because its my passion. It's grown from a hobby to an obsession. But I know it's something that I care strongly about and I will make it perfect and to my liking.

So as I stay up late at night typing away and searching for things that I think you the viewers will like, I would like to think that my hard work doesn't go unappreciated. To those few that I talk to on a daily basis (new friends and old) I thank you for the continued support. I won't let you down.

Steven Plascencia
Founder | TheGarageLife