SSR GT1 rims plus rear decklid Phatbox install

[CWaters]

I'm finally getting around to posting pics of the SSR GT1s plus my phatbox install. The GT1s, which are discontinued but that saved me about $70 rim, are forged 18 by 7.5 and weigh about 17 pounds. They are a bit on the shiny side for my tastes, but not overly so. My goal was to reduce weight as much as possible while still maintaining stock size.

And in that they succeeded. Putting on the light rims makes such a difference in reducing the heavy feel of our cars. The car feels almost light and nimble. A lot of my driving is east coast city driving, and acceleration is much more effortless. Gas mileage seems to have improved a tick or two as well as a result.

The rims are surprisingly a total bitch to clean, but they really show the brakes. I may paint 'em black, tho.

With the phatbox, I didnt want to cut my door and reduce the practicality of my hatch by having some delicate machinery sticking out. I have seen another decklid install on here, but he used the brackets that came with the Phatbix and therefore had about eight large screws showing on the top of his lid. In looking at the phatbox, I noticed a number of female screw holes on its bottom. Going to home depot, I found the metric screws that fit -- I cant remember the size though and threw away the packaging. Not hard to find though.

I brought my decklid inside, screwed the four screws into the box, aligned the box on the lid where I wanted it to go, and pressed down so that the screw heads made indentations on the decklid. Drill the pilot holes where the indentations are. After that, remove the screws from the box, and install them with washers from the other end. You obviously cant see what you're doing, but the accuracy of your pilot holes from the indentions mean that if you just feel around for a moment you should find each female screw hole on the box. I should have spray painted the screw heads and washers, but didnt want to wait and instead colored them with a black sharpie. The cable for the box easily can be run from the side of the hatch door with it remaining fully closed, as it is not that tight. I can now use my hatch for storage of the air compressor (altho I have the spare I carry it) and some binocs.

The advantage of this install is I dont have to cut my hatch door, and I dont have something sticking out that reduces the practicaility of my cargo area. The con is that I have to unplug the phatbox and remove it with the decklid anytime I am carrying something that requires it. However, its easy to plug the one cable right back in, and I can live with CDs again whenever I'm hauling something big.

[cmr]

looks nice... good job.

[GTItraveler]

could you post a straight on side shot? TIA. looks good!

[redbomber1.8t]

Who's purse?

[abeR]

Quote, originally posted by redbomber1.8t »

Who's purse?

yo mammas

those are Binoc's

[fleesR32]

i carry binoc's as well....
to look at yo momma lol

[BadAssLilR32]

Quote, originally posted by fleesR32 »

i carry binoc's as well.... to look at yo momma lol

LOL!

If you wanna trade me my corner I would there....mine is cut out so you only see the cartridge showing and just slide it in and out. I wanna trade since I no longer own a phatnoise

[bonedust]

those wheels looks simply awesome on the R!!! very nice!

[hingedthinker]

BMP is the best color. Nice wheels man.

[Mike Solo]

Quote, originally posted by hingedthinker »

BMP is the best color. Nice wheels man.

I'll have to respectfully disagree on the color, but agree on the wheels!

They look terrific! I'm really into 5-spokes, nothing like showing off our calipers! Where did you buy the wheels, by the way?


Modified by Mike Solo at 8:49 PM 3-25-2005

[BadAssLilR32]

Quote, originally posted by hingedthinker »

BMP is the best color. Nice wheels man.

Sorry I'll disagree for my own reasons, but car does look clean so props to him. Black will never show the R's lines and parts as well as the other colors

[peppeVR6]

I love the wheels. They are the ones I want.

[vwk2]

nice...

[eduardopepe]

Quote, originally posted by vwk2 »

nice...

[CWaters]

Thanks for the comments. I'll try to upload a straight on side shot. Wheels and tires were gotten from the tire rack - - I wrapped 'em in Pirelli Nero Zero M&S A/S tires.

[Kevbelz]

Very nice install.....
But I have to disagree with you all, there is only one color that this car looks GREAT in, and I'll give you a hint, there are only 500 of them in the US.

[j-dub]

Quote, originally posted by Kevbelz »

there is only one color that this car looks GREAT in, and I'll give you a hint, there are only 500 of them in the US.

[Saltbaked]

Quote, originally posted by BadasslilGTI »

Sorry I'll disagree for my own reasons, but car does look clean so props to him. Black will never show the R's lines and parts as well as the other colors

Are you sure?

[lndofgoshen]

Please post some more pics of the exteriror. I have read a lot here about problems with the stock wheel/tire set up so I have been thinking about some five spoke 17 inch wheels and I may have found the wheels I want. Thanks.

[nobbyv]

Awesome wheels, had them on my MKIV GTI. SSR makes great stuff, and since they are being discontinued the price on the GT1 is even better.

[GotBoost01]

[GR32]

Looks nice.
I'll be putting on my GT1s in a week or so.

[CWaters]

Bump for all the phatbox frenzy.

[spydor]

Just put my GT1's on, I love them!! I got about 5 comments on my R today because of those wheels. LOL had 3 ppl at the popeyes drive through gauking at the R

[CWaters]

I've gotten a few questions, so I thought I would add this to the thread:

You need metric screws, I cant remember the size, but they are easy to find, just take the unit inside Home depot or get the metric screw closes to the conventional screw you have. The conventional screws will only screw in part ways before the threads cross, the metrics will go in flawlessly.

[CynicStudios]

The screws you need (worked for my install anyhow) are 3mm X 20mm machine screws. The place I went didn't have 3mm washers, so I bought 4mm ones that worked just fine.

[CWaters]

Quote, originally posted by CynicStudios »

The screws you need (worked for my install anyhow) are 3mm X 20mm machine screws. The place I went didn't have 3mm washers, so I bought 4mm ones that worked just fine.

If my memory serves me correctly, that's the one. I may have even used conventional washers; I cant' remember.

[myblueR32]

dude
whats that little blue box under your purse in the rear where the amp is??????

[GR32]

Quote, originally posted by myblueR32 »

dude whats that little blue box under your purse in the rear where the amp is??????

That looks like the air compressor for the tires.

[R32Bum]

Its the air compressor

[CWaters]

For the second time in the thread, that is binoculars, not a purse, and the compressor.

[crazy88]

Quote, originally posted by myblueR32 »

dude whats that little blue box under your purse in the rear where the amp is??????

you've got one, too (air compressor, not the purse, er... binocs)

[myblueR32]

yeah but my air compressor is black not blue at all and the stickers are all in german

[OettingerGTI]

Quote, originally posted by myblueR32 »

yeah but my air compressor is black not blue at all and the stickers are all in german

my air compressor is blue

[crazy88]

Quote, originally posted by myblueR32 »

yeah but my air compressor is black not blue at all and the stickers are all in german

interesting... the only ones that i've seen are blue