cmcveay
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Posts posted by cmcveay
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A quick trip (or online order) from Mach V will get the Strut Plates and a rear sway bar for you. I installed the M7 plates and added the strut bar and intalled the NM engineering 22mm rear sway bar. The strut plates and strut bar were just for my own "comfort" factor after reading about the mushrooming problem. All I can say about the rear sway bar is "wow"! I have access to a lift and pneumatic tools so the install was much easier than it would be working on a floor jack and hand tools but it only took about an hour. The front strut plates are a 30 minute job with very basic hand tools.
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I'm thinking the same thing! Kinda hate to miss out on the meet and caravan but I can sleep until 9:15 if I want and still be there early!
I talked to one of the sales guys this week and Friday or Saturday should be their first day open for sales -
Any info on a general time frame? I'd hate to make the trip out there and be too early or, worse, too late.
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Sounds like something to do on a Friday night! What time do people start showing up? I'll need time to give the girl a bath and shine 'er up a bit!
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Thanks for the thoughts. Part of it is "easy", I'm not in an R53, I'm in an R56 so there's no pulley mod for me. I am changing out the turbo/intercooler discharge as soon as M7 gets them in stock - they say a week -. I do appreciate the perspective and thoughts of others in this "project" though. Thank you,
Craig
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Maxi,
I'm looking more at spirited fun as that seems to be the route to take that leaves the most possibilities open. I think if it's done right, it can go autocross and have a good time, drive to/from work everyday (having fun while doing it) and still being a good choice to get out on the twisties. I totally agree on the balance though, especially the "look". Not many macho drivers would expect a little cooper with a bike rack on top to beat them up on the curves... So I would suspect my next steps should be the exhaust, brakes, tires and the JCW ECU flash? I'll do some "looks" stuff after that as I'd like to get rid of some of the chrome on the car. Black and Laser Blue seem to work well together!
Thanks,
Craig "KOOPDUP"
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I'm enjoying reading all of this as I've recently done a good bit of this as well. I installed the Mach V springs which lowered it about 1.5" (fun getting it back OFF the lift when done) and an NM Engineering 22mm rear sway bar along with the M7 front strut brace. I had a 4 wheel alignment by the guys at Mach V done and after a week for everything to settle, I headed out to Skyline Drive yesterday. Oh, I also put in a cold air intake so I get to hear the car working. Wow, what a difference! We hear people use the term "cornered like it's on rails"... I'll go one better. Corners like a rollercoaster! There's no doubt that the car will take on the corners and I don't feel like I ever got close to it's limits. I came off of skyline at Hwy 211 and went all the way down the hill and had so much fun, I turned around and went back up and it was twice as much fun!
I'm installing an M7 pre intercooler charge pipe this coming weekend and then a cat back exhaust before the end of the year.
What I "say" my final change will be is new tires and, for now, I'm seriously looking at the Kumho Ecsta ASX tires in 215-50/16 so I can put them on the stock rims.
With all of the wisdom in the group, I have to ask... What should I consider for next year? JCW ECU programming? lighter wheels?
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Anyone know where you can buy a brain bucket for the autocross? The website says most motorcycle helmets aren't certified and I'd rather have something that's open face anyway.
Tks,
Craig
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I didn't know if they would carry pieces that could be cut up! I'm about 2 miles from PMoA so I'll just hold off and go visit them next week! Thanks!
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Does anyone know of a source for the material used in the invisishield? I have a Thule roof rack (for my bikes) and I don't like the way "stuff" gets under the feet of the rack as it tends to scuff the paint. I'd like to cut/place four rectangles of the material where the feet go to prevent this.
Thanks everyone!
Craig:motor:
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Okay, I'm registered. This will be my first event. Anyone have a suggestion on where to get a "brain bucket" since it's required?
I installed the MACH V springs, NM 22mm sway bar and M7front strut brace today and I dropped in the cold air kit yesterd
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Dan,
I just installed these this morning with the NM sway bar and the M7 front strut bar. Can I make an afternoon appointment for the 4 wheel alignment?
If anyone is considering the springs, they are GREAT! I set the sway bar on the middle hole (medium) and I did not trim the bump stops (yet) and you will notice a little "firmer" ride and I will really, really look for potholes now but YOWZA! What an improvement in the handling. I hit my two favorite off ramps this afternoon and it was like a different car!
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I tagged a PW MCS with Hawaii plates and an MCB HAWAII DoD decal in the "C" parking at the Navy Annex last week. Seems we keep parking near each other. Saw it pulling into the parking lot a couple of days ago and I got a wave back. Give me a shout sometime, I'm in the DIRINT's Office - Just ask for the Deputy FLO.
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It's always good to have options!
Like several others, if I'd known how inexpensive it was, I wouldn't have waited and I would have been doing this in the past. I even took my Girlfriends 350Z and had it done - I may take by VW and get it done as well. -
Edge, I walked out for 140 for five windows and both sunroof windows and they too stand behind their work. I took my bike rack off to make it easier to get to the sunroof to fit & pre-shrink the film and next thing I knew, one of their guys had a buffer and he was cleaning up the area where the "feet" of the roof rack sits with no charge for that little trick. I was there when the opened on Saturday morning at 10 and I was on my way home by 11.
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Not sure of the general opinion of it but I took "KOOPDUP" to Hallstar Tint & Detail in Laurel MD. Good prices, really fast turnaround. I liked it so much, I took Lona's 350Z to have it tinted as well. The owner drove a Cooper for a while too, he likes us. Their prices beat anyone in NOVA too!
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I didn't adjust or crop any of the pics I'm uploading, they are "as taken". If you see one (or more) that you like, feel free to download them. If you can't download them, send me the image number and I'll email them to you.
Looking forward to the ne
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Thanks to everyone that put forth the effort to organize the ride today. Anyone have any thoughts on how to combine/share the pictures we all took? Looking forward to the next event. Lona & Craig
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Anyone from the Springfield Mall area going up to the event in the morning? Planning on leaving 7:45-8:00. Email me at cmcveay@gmail.com
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Dark blue w/ black top and tan interior (heated leather). 41k miles, dealer maintained. Asking 11,500 (firm). I have the carfax report on the car.
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I have a 27" SDTV (CRT) that's yours for the taking if you are still looking. In Southern Alexandria (Near Springfield Mall).
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Hi Rahm! Tell us about your MCS. Funny you mention the similarity to Jeep owners. I drove a '77 CJ-7 for about 6 years and I liked the way Jeep drivers always waved to each other on the road. MINI's are like that as well.
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I Parked in the Franconia/Springfield Metro station, 4th level last Friday afternoon and I happened to find a spot next to a Silver Cooper S (black bonnet stripes). I also see a Yellow Cooper with a part of the black panel on the drivers side windshield post broken near where I live and then, I see him pulling into the parking structure where I work. Was it you?
Out of curiosity, why don't more MINI drivers wave at each other?
Gauges for 2009 Clubman
in Maintenance & Modifications
Posted
I have to agree with a previous post regarding modern uni-body construction - I drove a '75 Nova without subframe connectors for a while and if you could get it to hook up the rear end at launch, it would twist the body...
Regardless, I did go with the M7 brace and strut tower plates (about 20 minutes to install). I won't say I felt any difference because I also installed the Mach V springs and the 22mm NM Engineering rear sway bar the same day (sway bar and springs took about 3 hours total). Now THOSE two things did make a difference! It no longer corners like it's on rails, it now corners like a roller coaster! Last week, I had to jack up the front end for some other work I was doing and I realized how stiff the rear suspension is. Lifting the front left corner with a scissor jack actually lifted both left tires off the ground. The front tire was about 3" off and the rear was about 1.5".