hpfiend

I likely shouldn't respond to this but I will as practice in conflict resolution. I do not see how my private conversations with AJ have any bearing on this matter but cut and paste as you may they will not discredit me. I voiced the same concerns to him. In fact, I posted these same questions yesterday and then decided to edit them out and ask about Dan Pop instead as I figured if AJ was pleased then it's a done deal. However, 3 hours later yesterday you responded to MY original inquiry with the clutch explanation which I felt needed further clarification on how that would work with the second dip. I was not aware of these dips being present in so many v8 torque curves as you have seen many more torque curves that I have- and will agree on closer inspection that if the scales were the same on Linn's curve there could be a similar dip. The fact that it exists in other curves still does not explain the dip, however. I wonder if Linn also had a poorly behaving clutch? lol only joking :-). I asked if the TPS data backs up the second dip, I suggested the coolant on the disc could cause that, I asked if the timing looked strange in that region, etc, I ask doctors questions about their procedures even though I dont have an MD, I ask contractors daily about their work though I am not a licensed contractor, I question my wife on legal aspects and do not have her JD. I have learned that people that truly enjoy and comprehend what they do typically do not have issues with questioning and actually enjoy discussing it and illuminating others. In my work life and personal life I have chosen to only deal with contractors, doctors, tuners, etc that entertain these questions and this has proven a successful venture for me so far. Perhaps you are having a bad day and would be more responsive to my inquiries another day- I will talk with AJ this autox season about you and your coworkers as I also know other people on this forum personally who have used your shop and have had good results with their cars. There is no reason to waste any more bandwith on this matter and if you would like to discuss theories on what you think may cause momentary dips in torque curves please private message me as I would like to learn. Thank you for your time and have a nice day!

I inquired into the dip in the curve mainly out of curiosity and consideration of my friendship with AJ. With your response I get the feeling that you and your company feel threatened by these curious inquisitions. The curves you showed are indeed bizarre and I would question those just as much as anyone elses for personal education and an intrinsic automotive curiosity that I believe I share with a lot of others members on this forum. Linn's curve which is also LSX based looks to me as a v8 torque curve should look and I have numerous other curves of my personal modified LT1 and 5.0 cars that look the same way. Frankly I do not care to discuss this any further as the spark of my curiosity has been doused with your bad attitude, AJ currrently seems pleased, and your defensiveness only reinforces the fact that I will be taking my LS6, my father's LS3, my father-in-laws LS2, and my brother-in-laws LS1 elsewhere should I ever need work performed.

That explains the 2200 rpm step and the A/F ratio seems to correspond- but does that also explain the 2750-3200 rpm dip as the A/F ratio looks appropriate at that point? Does the TPS output show that the throttle was put down halfway, lifted and then stepped back down? A slipping clutch would explain that I suppose but when a clutch starts slipping and the load is maintained or increased does the clutch normally grab at that point? That clutch has what 10-15K miles on it right with the use and abuse of a 346 right AJ? And it was factory designed to handle the torque output of a 505 hp 427. AJ is your heel toe procedure that bad to have won ASP? ;-) It very well could be a bad clutch as !@$ happens but I don't know if that grab under load behavior is typical of a failing clutch. Coolant that was on the disc that burned off could do this however... I am by no means an expert but something does not look right in that window and curiosity killed the cat. Were there any other runs that were "cleaner"? Any timing output vs rpm in the 2750-3200 region? It sounds as if the car is very strong and the owner is pleased but I wonder if it could be even better if this dip were explained- it is going to be running against my similarly cammed '03 z this year you know hehehe ;-)

I know what you mean- I worked at Acceleration for a few summers on High St and we saw more than enough VWs with electrical problems- Add to that a few delightful audis, bmws, porsches and mercedes and I had about my fill of german cars- add that to the two 914s, the 924, and 911 wide body cabriolet my dad had along with two audis and we know enough about them to avoid them. I don't know anything about them other than their relatively high used resale and every contractor in their brother seems to have one with 200K+ miles and loves it but I have never worked on one... I hated the WRX (non STI) I test drove- way too laggy.

hah well I got it in late August 08 so I guess that means I better hand you the title In all seriousness, I need to win in Super Stock before I even dream of getting into road racing, provided I have yet to actually attend a points autox event, that seems far off hehe. However if I would ever claim to be in love with a car it would be this one. My mustang was without a doubt thrilling but it was more of a "like" sort of car.

I am not going to make any speculation this year about my attendance- I can't believe how our schedule turned out last year that we could only go to one event! At least I managed to unload the 5.0 last year. This new baby in may likely won't help but damn that one event was fun- even in the rain.

Does Dan Pop run SSM?

I don't know much about the different models of VWs but I think the GTI? R32? GLI are all sharp but hard to tell apart. My wife's friend has a 2.8L VR6 01 jetta that I have worked on a few times and I was very impressed with the solid feel of that car without being harsh, impressive power for its displacement, and overall driving experience. I saw a newer passat the other day that had styling on par with a mid level audi. very nice. I would stick with a subie though for reliability if I had to get one of the two cars that have been mentioned. I wasn't that impressed with the WRX but never could find an STI to test drive. I guess it comes down to what you want out of the car- if you want rx8 handling and more power I think you will have a tough time getting that reliably in the VW. If I had to sum up vdub cars with one word it would be neat. Not awe inspring but neat. If you want a german maintenance headache but impressive handling and power for "cheap" why not get an 86-90 porsche 944 turbo (951) and put an upgraded turbo on it. That or an wrx engine swapped 914 are the only german cars I would put up with... well I take that back I have had daydreams recently of bastardizing one of the newer style SL500s with an 5.0 or LS1, t56 and maybe a corvette rear.

double post sorry.

Congrats! Once you find your new ride you wont look back.

I would agree with this- I liked looks of it and the acceleration (v6 version) for a car in that price range new but an accord v6 6spd will own it and an RSX-S wont do too badly against it. I hated the ride/handling... I also drove accord v6, neon srt-4, wrx, and ended up buying our rsx-s. This was back in 03 all new cars. I liked the accord six speed but they wanted more money than the rsx-s and the rsx-s handled MUCH better. The wife has 115K on the car and the only thing we have had to fix on it is a driver side door lock actuator. EDIT I thought all of the 6s were v6s- oh well disregard- the handling is still boring but I don't know what the 4 banger is like.

I would only do it if you were interested in parting that car out or keeping it. I would not plan on being able to sell it for anything. My car was a 90 5 spd factory v8 coupe and arguably cleaner than that one with very similar mods less suspension, that one doesn't list a cam or what MAF it has but I see it still has the FMU and 38? lb injectors??? I had a cam, LMAF, 42lb injectors and SCT tune and custom powerpipe by LaSota. I am glad to see it has a bypass valve. I only ran 5.7 psi and made 365 rwhp 362 rwftlbs- (reliable limits of the stock block are 400 rwhp and 6000 rpm) at 12 lbs (with a pulley swap) that would have put me at 420 rwhp or so maybe a tad more. His power seems about right but the trap speed seems awful high for that kind of power and a heavy full interior vert. Does he have dynosheets/timeslips/compression test? Mine trapped about 114 at a race weight of 3150 lbs with me in it. I sold mine after 8 months of begging/pleading/haggling for 8300.00 last July (I started at 14K which was high I admit but I had about twice that in it considering the price of the car). I was hesitant to sell it for that but the wife told me to dump it and get the vette and I am glad I did. Here is a page I made for it back when I had it... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2697057 So in answer to your question around 8-8500 if you are willing to wait for it or less especially as the economy has worsened since July 08. Probably 5-6 grand for a quick sale. And remember usually if you cage it you keep it which is why I never caged mine and never really pushed to go beyond low 12s. I drove that car near daily for 4 years! I would like another coupe someday but I was ready for a change. I have not looked back.

Of course I wait till it warms up to drop the dash panel--- our suspicions were correct... Car Pro CPX-RS1- now to find an Autopage dealer and get a XT21 remote for it cheaply so I can see if it works!

What do you attribute the radical step at 2200 rpm and the non linear dip in the torque curve from 2750ish to 3200ish? I am wondering if the first step was the transition to WOT but the second looks almost as if you have some sort of variable timing or TB throttle control event going on in that region.... Do you have timing and throttle outputs that coincide? Is that the only pull?

where would I get the 20v non Z engine?

Thanks for the links... I am a member of mr2oc already and the v6 swap looks nice.... I want to run mid 12s in either so I am going to need a lot of boost and a lot of weight reduction. I figure I will need 20-25 psi in either.

Looking good AJ!

Late 80s early 90s MR2 (supercharged (if I can find one) or NA version) OR miata of early to mid 90s Thanks!

^^^^ I like how this person thinks- however- if she's hot did you ever consider throwing the roomate out and letting her stay? hehe j/k I am with pdqgp

Great review Joe thanks- Good info Doc... Acceleration akin to a stock lt1 is impressive for an inline four but def not an LS6 or LS7. FWIW the Lotus Elise is the ONLY car I consistently read about on corvette forum that people with prior ownership of a c5 z06 do not have buyers remorse about and sell what they have to get another c5 z- I have read that more than a few times about the lotus elise and a lot of people on that forum get ferraris, vipers, c6/c6 z06s, bmw 6s, M3s, etc before returning to a c5 z. It doesn't sound as if I am hardcore enough for one but I do think they look wild. EDIT: In that c6 z06/elise comparison video on youtube- did anyone else notice how many times that stock car driver let his arms cross mid turn? Laters, Andrew

That roll cage looks like it was welded by a 3 yr old. Also something seems askew in its design isn't there supposed to be a cross brace on the back tubes? Copper tubing ftw and what is that expanding foam. The 460 wire routing is kind of screwy to start but that setup looks especially sweet. awesome. Kenny, on the clutch pedal- doh don't you know if it doesn't have the rubber pad anymore you dont need it? ironically this thing would probably own most of us and our comparative garage queens at the strip- 514 ci? with what probably 2500 lbs and a driver that obviously drives it like he stole it (maybe he did)?

M&M head in delaware

Explorer - Reel of fishing line, travel tool set, steel filing cabinet, 22 foot ladder, a set of zip-up galoshes, full rubber boots, loading dolley, golf umbrella, and a large jeep rim/tire as a spare as I am too cheap to pay 60.00 for a correct spare tire at the junkyard that will fit underneath, heavy box of large pipe/crescent wrenches, and two boxes of long pilot light matches. (No wonder my mileage has sucked lately- the sad part is I currently need to carry most of it than the fishing line) Z06 - Nothing but the factory inflator kit as it doesn't have a spare tire. Wife's RSX-S - Jumper cables (temporarily from the explorer as I had a feeling her battery was going to die), LOTS of legal paperwork and who knows what else.

This man speaks the truth! Try selling a car and you will definitely realize this- I think it has been this way for the last 5 or six years. Not sure why but it probably has something to do with the fact that the market is more informed than they were before with the increase in users of both services. I got the most high value interest from the most recent car I sold from the print version in auto trader from guys who didn't know how to work computers.

+1 Not to mention that there is no factory rear seat, factory paint color, front seats, and who knows what other factory parts are missing. The cars that bring the big money are unmolested factory turbo cars or the full tilt 1500hp versions but those guys lose 50-75% of what they have in them as with any highly modified car. The primary reason that people trade is because they can't get anything out of them in the market which is the true indicator of somethings value. I tried to trade for anything with decent blue book (hondas, toyotas, newer stock cars), cars that would be fun (c4s/E36 M3s), and what I ultimately wanted c5s and c5 z06's for a long time with my modified 5.0 coupe before I decided to take the gas. Beware on the trade initiator side as well as I did have a guy that was willing to trade his 95 c4 for it but I wouldn't have traded my car bone stock for that one after seeing and riding in it- I sort of felt bad as after a ride in mine he was in love. I also had a 8 second grand national, E46 M3, and a nitrous 98 C5 offer which I also declined after finding out more information. I could have parted the grand national so that was probably a mistake but I could have parted mine for a lot more than I sold it for as well I just didn't have the time/space/energy to do it.