My diff has polished ring and pinion... not sure if that would make a difference with gear whine...
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My diff has polished ring and pinion... not sure if that would make a difference with gear whine...
hrmm... that's a great question!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sockethead
Put myself and the whip to the test yesterday on a mission to retrieve all of the interior bits I need to erase the damage from 12 years in the Florida sun.
The route:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2ce51eb71c.jpg
The stats:
6am start time: the sun was tryna catchup but red car 2fast4u
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8127fe035d.jpg
Like a billion mountains:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f18cd7641f.jpg
Three tunnels:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ffb18dd66f.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c8938bc57a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3c3f7e3bfb.jpg
One dragon:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...52950857d7.jpg
Two cheese sticks on a makeshift cooler via half-installed headunit:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...123e1c646d.jpg
One really weird section of Kentucky:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e701dace62.jpg
Four states EACH WITH THEIR OWN DISTINCT POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES*
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...11a7ed27d6.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...53ae440ca4.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...71868435c1.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b7211cbf9e.jpg
*lol nah kentucky is trash
And one very red car:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f79497573b.jpg
Back home at 10pm: 16 hours and 957 miles later
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7226366fa1.jpg
I was pleasantly surprised with the final MPG number after spending the trip running balls out at 80+mph, ~30 minutes in crawling traffic, and stopping 10+ times to refuel the car, refuel the man, load up the parts, and drain some fluids (followed by redlining 1>2>3 at every on-ramp, of course). Confirms that my new CAI is straight kicking butts. More to come on that bad boy.
Impressive and entertaining as always.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tbh I thought Kentucky was a pretty state. But I was on backroads the whole time.
awesome trip - that must've been great! but.... sad to see no pics of the red car trying to be a Touring. where's the All Loaded Up pics?
(and why didn't you take the Touring? ;))
Wow, that's a heckuva parts run. :)
Stop at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville next time.....
I 40 over the mountains is always a fun drive.
How did you fit all that stuff in the red car? Did you strip the interior before hand and sit on a stack of old newspapers for the first 7 hours??
C’mon Yelkos, no one gets the paper anymore...well, at least not the Charlotte Observer. He sat on magazines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yelkos
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yelkos
I just really wanted to drive the red car so I made it work. That pic was actually at mile 700ish with the full load!Quote:
Originally Posted by slater
I pulled the passenger seat and rear bench/back/bolsters before the trip, so I drove up with just the driver's seat. Installed the new passenger seat and rear seat parts in place, driver's seat on the rear bench, three door panels in the trunk, one door panel behind the front seats, and the headliner...man...I did not have a plan for the headliner...I set it up on the rear deck (headrests removed) and shoved it all the way to the back glass, sunroof cutout fitting around the driver's seat laid in the back, and the rest softly bent down behind my driver's seat with the back leaned all the way forward. Very upright position for the drive home, but it wasn't bad.
Here's the driver's seat strapped in with a child-locked seatbelt:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...86ae178edc.jpg
And the headliner bent into place:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2b7e48b9bf.jpg
Should have mentioned the part that you'll appreciate: The fatigue finally hit me at hour 15 when it got to full dark out, so I had to bust out the big guns to stay awake until I made it home: singing along to the entire Greatest Showman sound track. I'm talking that high note hitting sore throat type of work.Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWCurves
I'd definitely do it again, but make sure that I got back before dark.Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyNC
It was a great drive all the way through Tennessee, but no time for tourism. 16 hours was enough for one day.Quote:
Originally Posted by PetesZ
I-75 is all potholes, deer carcasses, and Christian theme parks. I also ran into a Walmart to pee so got to see the real Kentucky.Quote:
Originally Posted by 704sw
The real Kentucky? Shit, brother, I stopped for gas in Harlan County and I swear to god it was like I stepped onto the set of Justified. It was very clear my presence was unwelcome.
YES! that's how ya do it. but i guess i should've expected that! beers on me next time you're up this way.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZHPizza
also - yeah, your headliner is in sad, sorry shape... it's an easy swap.
haha... man, too bad The Slater Family wasn't along for the ride! that soundtrack gets heavy rotation around our house. it's pretty good. that and the hamilton soundtrack... which is a masterpiece.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZHPizza
You guys are too much :rofl
This just confirms my theory about red car owners.
It is so they can hide the blood.
Fear the walking dead my ass. The guy in the red car did it. 4 out of 3 times
A man after my own heart. Heading across western Texas at 2 AM still an hour away from our destination, my driving buddy was PTFO, so I was blaring "Stayin' Alive" and belting along just to stay awake.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZHPizza
Did you stop for some apple pie?Quote:
Originally Posted by 704sw
Ugh, many a trip between Columbus OH and South Jersey... the whole family including dogs asleep... me driving with the window down slapping my face and singing along to something like disturbed to stay awake... good times! :)
must have been all those MODERN BRIDE magazinesQuote:
Originally Posted by 704sw
So a few months ago I bought a bigass filter w/ velocity stack, some aluminum pipe, and a few 45deg silicone sleeves and made a functional prototype for a long tube CAI.
When I first mocked it up, I went in guns blazing. Soldering guns blazing lol
https://imgur.com/sqTFVCF.jpg
Just making room for the giant ass filter to fit in there...
https://imgur.com/NaSnkvi.jpg
There we go.
https://imgur.com/IkXO1ps.jpg
There were two major roadblocks with the prototype, though.
1. The headlight won't fit back in with the xenon ballast hitting that bigass pipe (you can see on the left where I need another inch or so):
https://imgur.com/xPJFtSG.jpg
2. That bigass filter is going to get wrecked by rocks/bugs/water/Cthulhu/etc:
https://imgur.com/SHXuWH1.jpg
I took it on a test drive sans ballast to see how it worked, but didn't immediately feel any better than stock. Hm. I glued the ambient temp sensor back in place, buttoned everything up with the OE airbox, and tabled the project until I could sort out the issues.
I kept researching intake theory and everything pointed to the long tube being the most beneficial for power through the rev range and [obviously] getting the coldest available air. I continued to casually look for solutions and eventually found someone that was able to relocate the ballast (here) and, after wearing out the amazon return policy, found a pre-filter that fit perfectly on the giant cone (here). The pieces were in place and I jumped back into it last weekend.
HERE. WE. GO.
One of the flaws I suspected with the initial test was that, with the brake duct removed, the hot air coming through the radiator was being pushed right into the intake. So I did what any engineer worth his salt would do: I taped that shit up.
https://imgur.com/ZyASYxe.jpg
https://imgur.com/pFDpnQV.jpg
Then came modifying the brake duct so I could use it to direct flow to both the brakes and intake.
https://imgur.com/fQOT4kh.jpg
^Note that by now I've upgraded my soldering gun plastic cutting station with a powerful fume hood (I worked beside the A/C condenser and let it pull the fumes away and blow them up to the sky).
https://imgur.com/ofZitN4.jpg
https://imgur.com/obtR8p5.jpg
oh yeah dat fitment
https://imgur.com/ptQTvCt.jpg
Fitted up with light on it:
https://imgur.com/67X5if6.jpg
and without:
https://imgur.com/wXPb6wU.jpg
Bumper back on, shining a light into the brake duct:
https://imgur.com/6lPoIPT.jpg
and out in the daylight:
https://imgur.com/JWQmxZy.jpg
stealthy
Next step was making the headlight fit. It took A LOT of work to get the little ballast plug moved around to the back, but I managed and man...it just barely reaches. Not a great solution by any means...
https://imgur.com/7V30W4I.jpg
Then had to cut an inch off the old ballast tray seen here:
https://imgur.com/rfXhoDR.jpg
AND in good reduce/reuse/recycle form, used the pieces that I had cut off to (1) seal up the cutout where the ballast connector used to be:
https://imgur.com/Qh6d3mu.jpg
https://imgur.com/CSYukZs.jpg
and (2) provide a catch for the clip on the ballast connector (it's under a lot of tape):
https://imgur.com/jw5zh3f.jpg
Final shot of the new ballast location:
https://imgur.com/LXnat4E.jpg
^It's not pretty...and I really wasn't sure if it would be functional, but it held up find for my 1k mile trip the next day. I still have some work to do as far as securing the ballast itself and maybe some more waterproofing.
Oh and a final shot from the engine bay. I'll replace the zip ties with hose clamps...maybe...
https://imgur.com/GBJVwVI.jpg
Thoughts after 1k miles:
Sound is awesome. I can only really hear it when I jump on it above 3500rpm with the windows down, but it's a good, clean intake sound. No whistling at any rpm.
Power is definitely improved. My butt dyno is not nearly as sensitive as my NVH...dyno?..but there is definitely a power bump. I'm also reading intake temperatures about 10F lower than the OE airbox in all driving situations, so that's confirmed power right there.
Fuel mileage is also improved, without a doubt. My balls-out trip to Cincy should not have netted anywhere near 30mpg.
Overall I am very happy with the end result. It is exactly what I wanted in an intake because I built it myself.
Planned revisions: hose clamps, a block off plate from the engine bay, and some heat shielding for the HFM
No TL;DR?
Pipey boi make go goodQuote:
Originally Posted by 704sw
So about two months ago I noticed that my A/C was weak and I was getting that noise in the dash that means low refrigerant. No biggie, car is 13 years old, right? I went to top it off with a can of r143a and noticed a little bit of pressure was released when I removed the cap from the low side service port. A clue! We'll keep an eye on that one...
I get back from my European walkabout, pumped to drive the red car, and lo and behold the A/C is struggling again due to low refrigerant. I pulled the low side service cap, noticed the same burp of pressure, spit on it and saw bubbles coming from the schrader valve core verrrrry slowly. Super tiny leak on the valve core, no surprise there. Now the valve core itself is like a $3 part so replacing it would be no big deal buuuuut that system is hella pressurized with some nasty stuff, so you have to use some special equipment to safely evacuate the system, swap the core, then pull a vacuum while you refill with the refrigerant/oil/dye mix. I'm too stubborn not to DIY everything and you can't rent that kind of equipment from Autozone, so doing it right is out of the question.
Now I work with shcrader valves every day and know how finicky they can be and how little torque is usually used to install them, so with my classic disney character hubris, I'm all like "ok, the leak is tiny so I'll just tighten the core a bit and see if it holds." Here we go...
It was good knowing you, Nate.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is all that’s left of our good friend Nate.Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWCurves
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c506fd38e.jpeg
Press F to pay respect.
i had a leak from the valve cores as well. luckily my system evacuated itself via a number of leaks. replacing them was pretty easy except I learned you have to get the large bore tool as opposed to the regular sized one sold at autozone and oreilly's
Setting:
6pm. My driveway. Wife's wagon is in the garage, red car pulled right up behind it. Hood open. Like 9 billion degrees.
Characters:
ZHPizza, 704sw, Viktor (the dirty Russian valve core)
Scene:
I get home from work [enter ZHPizza] with like half an hour before the wife and I have to leave for a show. We're walking to the theater, so being sweaty isn't a problem, but being filthy is. I can not get dirty. Spenser shows up [enter 704sw] to swap some parts/stories from my trip while I'm using the small time window to tighten the valve core [enter Viktor] and recharge the system so that I can drive to work with A/C the next day. Easy peasy, right?
I get my custom built, recently calibrated torque driver specific for valve cores that I grabbed from work and go to snug Viktor up...dang...Viktor is a thicc boi and the tool doesn't fit. No big deal, I've been in this situation before and can adapt. I grab my smallest set of needle nose pliers and man, they fit in there perfectly. Wrap those bad boys around Viktor and...crap...Viktor is already tight...well...maybe he can handle a little more torque since he's all thicc like...lean on the pliers a bit and...all good! Viktor is looking a little unhappy about the ordeal (red flag #1), but he's still in one piece and no longer leaking >> victory!
At this point I've got like 10 minutes before I need to leave. No problem. Just gotta dump a can of refrigerant into the system, change clothes, and roll out. Well, as it turns out, Viktor's pissed. I go to connect the charge tube to the service port and it pops right back off (red flag #2). Weird. Must have kicked back due to the lock ring on the connector. I pull the ring back and go to slide it over the port and it still won't sit down all the way (red flag #3). Weird. Must be the pressure of the system pushing back on the connection (it's not). It just needs some coercing (it doesn't). I set the connector in place with one hand and give it a firm slap with the other BOOOOOOOM
Y'all know in the movies when there's a police chase and they run over a fire hydrant and it just blasts water like 50ft in the air? That's what my car looked like. But instead of water, it's bright green oil. Fun.
This shit sprays straight out into the kidney grill, which diverts the shower in the specific direction of every-fucking-where [exit Viktor].
I panic and smash the charge tube connector over the service port. I've stopped the flow, but now I'm the little boy standing there with his finger plugging the hole in the dam. I'm trapped.
Good thing my soon-to-be-very-close friend Spenser is still around! He's finishing up a phone call back behind the car and is unaware of my predicament. I wait patiently for him to be free and give him a quick update on the situation, followed by a request for assistance: "please find a pair of safety glasses...ok and a nitrile glove....ok....now....uh....put them on me..."
[end scene]
Conclusion:
I got the cap for the service port back on without spraying too much more shit allover the place. The wife came down as I was cleaning neon green oil off of her car to let me know that we were 15 minutes late. I wiped most of the oil off of my face and went to the show.
Overall, it was a wonderful opportunity for growth in our friendship. I think I breathed in his mouth while he was putting the glasses on my face, and there was a special moment where he was sliding the glove over my oil soaked hand that...well...it's hard to describe.
Fun times in Pizza's garage.
Such vivid imagery. I can practically taste that errant refrigerant
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We’ll always have the garage times...
...and clubbing in Toronto with DJ Dan.
goosebumps...
Dude, this is fucking gold. I was reading and laughing all the way through it. You paint quite a picture.
oh frig, nate! this is almost worse than the gear oil. and yet... i can relate (again) - refrigerant is most unpleasant stuff. had that lime green nasty juice spray on me once, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZHPizza
at least it's less smelly than gear oil.
so what's the plan going forward? i mean.... besides not having A/C on your commute tomorrow.
(posting here instead of just texting you, with the hope somebody else might find this information useful as well)
What is it about the OMP 1010 pedals you like so much? Is it the checkering/texture? What’s the advantage of them versus something like the knockoff versions of the BMW Performance pedals you see on eBay? One is all aluminum, the other is aluminum with rubber grippers.
My takeaway is this: OMP pedals are more about performance, and the knockoff BMW pedals are about looking pretty. This isn’t about my trying to cheap out (they are really close in price), but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a hint concern about using generic-fit pedals in lieu of some which replicate a BMW-specific set, even if the Mad Russian’s OMP install looks good.
Haha man it was quite the adventure. I should have known better, as it was already one of those days where everything was going wrong, but I thought Spenser needed some excitement.Quote:
Originally Posted by slater
It still had pressure in the system after I got it capped, so I picked up some valve cores from the dealer and bought this tool, but the fatty BMW valve cores wouldn't fit through the opening when I went to pull it through. Whatever. I had already lost so much refrigerant and oil that there was no way I was going to get the right mix back in there anyway. Just tucked my tail between my legs and took it to a highly recommended shop to have them evacuate the system, replace the valve cores on both service ports, and refill with the correct oil/dye/refrigerant ratios. I was sure to note in the work request that anyone that took the cap off of the low side port before the system was bled was going to have a baaad day.
They did a fine job and had the car parked out front like this when I went to pick it up:
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2018...c5c07e45e3.jpg
I also had some fun conversation with the owner's son...
Me: Yo man I'm here to pick up that obnoxious red car out front
Him (trying to compliment the depth of imola, but struggling for the right word): That's yours? Man, that's a nice car. I really like the paint...it's like...subtle?
Me: What the hell car are you talking about? Subtle...
Him: Well...no...but like...
Ah my b boo. When we were sexting about the pedals I had assumed that you were a particpant of this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by 704sw
There are some advantages to the OMP pedals -- mainly the wet grip and brake guard. I had the ebay/UUC/whatev pedals in my last ZHP and I really liked them, but they were slippery when wet and my foot would sometimes catch on the screw on the back of the brake pedal when transitioning from gas > brake. That didn't feel no good. I put the OMP pedals in the Mazda and fricken loved them. Looks wise...meh...but functionality can't be beat.
Since I haven't installed the OMP pedals in the red car yet, I'll defer to the Madrussian himself to make the comparison (note that he included install instructions for both in his DIY section):
http://m3.madrussian.net/review_uuc_pedals.shtml
http://m3.madrussian.net/review_omp_pedals.shtml
The TL:DR is that he and I are on the same page:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madrussian
Perfect, thanks bb. Now in the Amazon cart.
I'd be all over those if I didn't have to drill the gas pedal. How easy is that to replace?
I have UUC pedals but they are the original style 10 years old now. They are more similar to the OMP pedals, all aluminum. The have held up very well. no real visible wear. Personally, I don't like any of the style with the rubber on them. Rubber gets slippery... especially when oil or antifreeze is involved
That was my biggest reservation initially too, but I’ve gotten past it—I need something with better feel/grip on the track (I drive in the same cushy Nikes I run half marathons in, not exactly the best for pedal-feel). I don’t want my foot sliding off when I try to heel-toe coming into a braking zone lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWCurves
Bro, just get bigger feetQuote:
Originally Posted by 704sw