Ken242624's FK8 build #32003 as a dedicated daily driver

[Ken242624]

Hello Guys! I have been on the forum about 2 and a half years now. As I am making my car closer to what I wanted everyday, I figured to record my journey of the build.

As many of you purchased the FK8 Type R as your weekend fun car, dedicated race car, or even just a "new toy", I bought mine as my one and only transportation method everyday-my dedicated daily driver. Don't get me wrong, the stock FK8 is far more than enough to be a super fun daily car, but I want it to be better suited to my everyday need, and a source to put a big smile on my face, no matter what happens that day. There are few main points that I want to achieve:

1. better power performance with everyday drivability
2.more precise handling even under heavy loads
3.Cleaner exterior look that turns more heads on streets.

Here's a picture of the car stock and what is looks like now. Let's get started!

Here's a complete current mod list:
Greddy Supreme SP catback exhaust
PRL high volume intake
Blitz Strut tower bar
Spoon oil cap
Cusco center power brace
RSR down sus springs
Mugen Carbon Fiber shift knob
overland designs alcantara center console trim
ZL1 adding rock guards
Rays Gramlights 57cr wrapped in Firestone Firehawk indy 500
@Unity Performance side markers
Mugen Front Grill Garnish
Mugen front lip
Mugen door handle protector
APR performance gurney flaps

Follow my insta: @ken_has_a_fk8 for more!

 

[Ken242624]

First ever mod: Sticker! Got a sticker with Chinese character that says "Used for grocery shopping". That's what I do!

Alright this might not count as a mod. But my first ever mod came not so long after. I was still deciding what route should I go, and I can't afford big mods yet, I bought an K&N drop in air filter from local auto zone. From that I drive my car with windows roll down everyday just to hear the swoosh!

 

[Ken242624]

Starting to dig how sound can make me love my car so much more, I purchased my first "big mod", exhaust! I spend weeks on Youtube just to listen to sound clips, while searching up which one is under my price range, ultimately I landed on Greddy Supreme SP exhaust:

Review: this GReddy exhaust have one of the deepest, most beautiful tones among all aftermarket exhausts out there!
P.S: I do not recommend this exhaust for a daily driver. Drones every time you put force on your throttle. I get used to it now, but please, get something that has less drone like HKS.

 

[Ken242624]

From here I kinda took a rest, gave myself time to enjoy(also getting headaches) from the exhaust. Being my daily driver, I did lots of road trips, even at extreme cold conditions with stock wheels and tires(do not try this). I am just impressed how this car can perform but being so capable at carrying loads and easy to drive!

The fact that this car have more room after four big suitcases is just crazy.

stock wheel under snow gang!

 

[Ken242624]

After months of doing nothing to the car, I finally decided to get some proper wheels and tires for daily use. Everybody have suffered the stock 20's enough, so did I. As always, after spending many days searching up for looks and fitments, I landed on Konig Ampliforms with Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 +. I live in Illinois area with crazy winters, so these wheels can carry me well enough through Illinois winters.

dark Gunmetal on Championship white just pops!

 

[Ken242624]

Again. I took months to enjoy the much-improved ride quality and handling from the new wheels and tires, the fitment is spot on, lines up with fender just right. But every time I look at my car, something looks off...

Yes. It sits too damn high.
That means some suspension mods need to be done, which was my most suspicious mod at the time, mainly for two reasons:
1: My areas have shitty roads with cracks and potholes.
2: Stiffer suspension will highly affect my daily ride comfort.
Still, the SUV-like fitment just gets to my nerves every time. Not wanting to compromise magnetic damper in different ride modes, I started to search up lowering springs with the mildest drop, and came up with RSR down suspension springs.

Finally, suv Type R is gone, what comes is the perfect fitment look I can ask for...

With an ~0.8 in drop on the front and ~0.9 drop in the rear, the car sits perfect with absolutely no rub, and pothole-resistent. The springs does ride a little bit more stiff than stock, but it's definitely daily drivable and keeps the comfort nature in comfort mode.

Also noticed the @Unity Performance side markers there? eliminates the orange look.
Mugen door handle protectors also added! can't just ask your friends to but their nails every time...

 

[Ken242624]

partially satisfied with the exterior, I started to want more power wise. While only a catback exhaust and a drop in filter can make you more than capable on streets, I want to spice things up just a little bit more. I got rid of the drop in filter, and upgraded to @PRL Motorsports high volume intake. While we are at the engine bay, I also added Blitz strut tower bar, mainly for the looks let's be honest. You cannot feel a different of them driving on everyday streets. Spoon oil cap also added for the look!

for the intake I believe my throttle response is better than before. But for the most part, the swoosh sound just makes me smile every time!

 

[Ken242624]

As a daily driver, interior matters too. I freaking love the Alcantara in the FK8, but don't you think there can be more?

Awesome product by @OverlandDesigns with the alcantara wrapped console trims! I also added Mugen Carbon Fiber shift knob instead of stock aluminum knob to avoid burning hands!

 

[Unity Performance]

Again. I took months to enjoy the much-improved ride quality and handling from the new wheels and tires, the fitment is spot on, lines up with fender just right. But every time I look at my car, something looks off...

Yes. It sits too damn high.
That means some suspension mods need to be done, which was my most suspicious mod at the time, mainly for two reasons:
1: My areas have shitty roads with cracks and potholes.
2: Stiffer suspension will highly affect my daily ride comfort.
Still, the SUV-like fitment just gets to my nerves every time. Not wanting to compromise magnetic damper in different ride modes, I started to search up lowering springs with the mildest drop, and came up with RSR down suspension springs.

Finally, suv Type R is gone, what comes is the perfect fitment look I can ask for...

With an ~0.8 in drop on the front and ~0.9 drop in the rear, the car sits perfect with absolutely no rub, and pothole-resistent. The springs does ride a little bit more stiff than stock, but it's definitely daily drivable and keeps the comfort nature in comfort mode.

Also noticed the @Unity Performance side markers there? eliminates the orange look.
Mugen door handle protectors also added! can't just ask your friends to but their nails every time...

Looking great! The side Markers clean up the profile indeed

 

[Ken242624]

more more exterior touches: APR gurney flap

 

[Ken242624]

As my miles go up, my brake pad change was about to due. With this opportunity, I figured why not do a upgrade instead of the stock ones? I went with Project Mu B-spec pads. Similar to oem pad feel, but with less dust! and to be honest, the teal color looks sooo good.

 

[Ken242624]

As you can see from the upper post, do I need another set of wheels? no. Do I want another set of wheels? yes. After a year of ownership with konigs, they serve me great but just getting tired of them. Started to dig more into the "white on white" look, I sold the konigs(sadly) and went with rays 57crs. And as the weather getting warmer, I got a set of more grippy tires to pair with them: fire hawk indy 500s. Have always heard great things about them, cheap too. So far they serves me great! and man do those white wheels look good on a white car!

 

[Ken242624]

Still, with the wheels, side markers, gurney flaps and stuff, the body still looks fairly "stock". I didn't want to do too much on the body before because I am afraid to drill holes on it. But hey, you always need to sacrifice a little to Achieve something better. I started with some Mugen front grill garnish, which I think spice things up a lot more! gives the car subtle but unique look:

Figured that's not enough in my opinion, I decided to get a front lip. I was diciding between Varis and Mugen, but considering road qualities and price, I went with Mugen. It came unpainted, But got the inspiration from @.grimace, I wrapped the lip in 3M carbon fiber textured with a red strip to match the whole look!

From here, my dream FK8 exterior is basically complete.

 

[Ken242624]

As a daily driver, I started to become more and more sensitive about handling and steering precision. I recently started to test out some power braces on the chassis to see how it can help for daily driving:

Started with Cusco Center Power Brace. To be honest, can't feel the slightest change during daily driving, might add front and rear to test it out in the future.

While I was doing maintenance, I believe a heavily driven car every day can use some magnetic drain bolts for iron residues. I went with Greddy ones.

 

[Ken242624]

There. We. Go. There's all of what I have done to my Daily Driven FK8 Type R. For daily driving, I admit that a lot of mods that I have doesn't even make sense, or unnecessary. But all of them are based on my personal preference on how I wanted my car to handle, to perform, or to even turn heads on the street. With that being said, A lot of trials and errors are being done. But anyways, I think now my car sits now is what I dreamt for a perfect daily driver. Fun, capable, and not hard on my body lol. I hope my build so far can give daily driven, everyday FK8s out there some inspiration, and I appreciate all of the help and inspiration that I have got on the forum so far!

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