The head is set to arrive at RSpeed today. Hector will start tearing down the car this morning. I am also putting on the intake manifold. Injectors, 19% and software next week. I'm about done with the engine, suspension and brakes now. The car is already fast enough wide open (for me). I'm looking for more down low, out of the corner kind or power. The next big mod will be the clutch and Quaife. Maybe Sparco Milano prestige seats. I do get like this with all my hobbies :smile: See You at the Dragon

 

Spider, look forward to hearing the results.
Check out my post about Sparco! You'll want these for sure. :smile:

 

What was your best dyno run as is?

I'm curious to see how much HP/TQ is gained by swapping out the head with the mods you already have.

 

Really..really wanna see your car. Do you have some pictures?

 

The car did 178 at the wheels with the stock header and a Borla street. Since then I have added: Pilo coil/nology/plugs, Webb TB, Miltek header and cat-back, and Webb head/schrick cam. I am going to dyno the car asap and I will post along with pictures. I will be at the Dragon on Thursday and Friday. I should have taken pictures of all this stuff going on as we did it (opportunity lost)

I decided to hold off on the 19% and the injectors. I want to evaluate the head/cam on their own for a while.

I really appreciate the interest. I will get the car back from R Speed tomorrow at 3:00. I stopped in on hector a couple of times today and watched the process. (Lots of parts all over the place)

Which reminds me of the guy who used to work on my guitars. He had a sign on his wall

Rates = $100
if you watch = $150
If you help = $200

I did not watch or help long

I'll post my "butt dyno" impressions soon

 

Spyder, If you wouldn't mind, what is this install costing, not including the head/cam from randy?

 

Nobody - including my dealer - works on my baby without me watching every step of the way.

 

I get the bill tomorrow. I will tell you that Hector said "never again." This is the first one that he has done and he insists it will be his last. He had a few questions for Randy who supported him via phone. If you have not seen the front end of your car removed and the engine torn down, I can assure you this is not your father's Oldsmobile. I worked on Dodge 318s and 383s in high school. tore them down to the crank and put new bearings, ground valves.....everything, and there is no way I would want to tackle this car. I would need 3-4 months in the shop as an apprentice to feel comfortable. The clutch and LSD is a 12 hour job. The dealers charge in the neighborhood of 1200 - 1400 to do a clutch. ( I have been told) to me the design seems either like genius or lunacy

As far as not being there. Hector has done 98% of all the non warranty work. He and I have a nice friendship going and I totally trust him. I do have to work to pay for all the mods otherwise I would love to be there every minute.

 

I saw your post and read it already as I have been interested in Sparcos. There is no doubt that they are very cool. My car is dark grey with a black top so red is out but I do like the seats very much.

Besides the $ I am concerned about the safety factor without the bag. If I make the change I would do it for both seats (of course) and I am putting passengers at risk. Without the bags the Mini is a very small car and I need to learn more about how much I would be compromising safety.

I broke my neck in July of 03 getting ready for a mountain bike race and I am lucky to be here. Other than cronic stiffness in my neck and shoulders I have been back riding since 3 mo after my wreck. The Dr warns me about car and bike wrecks and to stay out of both, hence my concern about the Sparcos. (But they look very cool and I love all the adjustments.)

 

Hrmmmm not quite! I paid about $1400 to replace my clutch and flywheel at an independent shop because Irvine BMW wanted... drum roll... $3000!!!!!! That's 13% of the total cost of my entire car!!

 

My daily driver is an 03 IS 300 sport cross. If I did not have that to drive everyday I would probably have modded the car less. This car is lots of fun but I think the Unichip is at the root of the car feeling like it just wants to go. There is nothing laid back about the car IMO.:smile:

 

SpiderX,

I think I saw you at RS today.

 

My point exactly. In 1978 I had a Porsche 911S and it's clutch was $650. A Ford F-150 at the same time was $35

 

I went through the same thinking Spider, but have decided to go ahead with the seat mod and should have my Sparco Fighters in by next week.
Hated loosing the air bags, but this time of year I hate loosing the heated seat option even more .
I figured I still have the side curtain airbag and have also installed a rollbar which should help in a strong side impact. There is also the added safety of the seat itself with it's ability to hold you in better with a side impact and the wider head protection that it offers.

How the heck did you break your neck prepairing for a Mtb race?

 

All goood points on the seats.

I have been riding Mt bikes since the late 80s. I used to race quite a bit and decided in 03 to try to get back to it after a divorce. I was practicing on the course the tursday before the Sat race and while i intended on going slow my "better" judgement got the best of me and I hit a drop I didn't expect going too fast. When i woke up i was paralyzed. Thank God that in about 15 minutes I was able to move my legs and then my arms. The paramedics were on the course because there was also a TTabout to start. They called the firedepartment ( I love those guys) and they hauled my *** out (1mi.) and off to the Hospital. They filled me full of steroids and minimized the damage. To say I was lucky is .....well there is no word in the English language that adequately describes the understatement. I was so very close to Christopher Reeves fate. Maybe this is more than you want to know. I still have some numbness etc. I have played guitar seriously all my life and in the hospital I could not get my hands to make the simplest of 1st position chords (D).

I thank God (the force or whatever you believe in) regularly

Thanks for asking

 

That is a very touching story Spider X

I am sure that pretty much all the sensation will return to your hands in the near future, at least I sincerely hope they do. Nerve regeneration and the human body are phenominal. Believe and it will happen, that I can promise

Take care,

Henry

 

Thanks Henry

 

!!BUMP!!

How's your car running now Spider X? Did the install go smoothly in the end?

Henry

 

I got the car back on Saturday and took it for about a 50 mi drive. Hector said the break in period is 500 mi. and to keep it under 4.5K. So I have not jumped on it. I called Randy this morning and he said it was 1000 mi. break in. I have driven the car about 200 mi and this is what I think. WOW!! (just kidding)There is very noticeably more power. Cruising at 65 down the highway in 6th I probably have the pedal pushed down less than 1/2 inch. My foot has to learn new pedal memory because it has that much more umph! THe idle is smoother, which I didn't expect. The power seems to have grown smooth and broadband which I was hoping for:smile: . I saw a thread about heads before I bought Randy's and I got to say that so far I am very pleased:smile: . If there is better I can't appreciate it and don't need it. I looked at the quality of the workmanship before it went on and it looked very good and I was happy with what I saw. (I ground valves in HS on Chrysler 318s and 383s)

I am (of course) waiting to "push it" some but so far it is "quite entertaining" (thanks Jim).

After the break in and a few surprises I will dyno and report. My car is slowly turning into my vision which is really fun. I can't wait to see all the cars at the Dragon in May. I should be about 95% done with my Mini project then. Then maybe I will finish my instrument rating that I quit (ex wife story) a few days before the xcountry........Oh yes.....and learn how to drive.

Thanks