cmcveay

I've got a bunch of pictures that I'll hang on Picasso shortly. If anyone would like to add to the album, I'll post the info for it. Thanks for a nice run, I had a great time. Craig "KOOPDUP"

For anyone coming from down south that would like to motor up together. Meet at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Hummer Rd and Little River Turnpike (7-ELEVEN (#10698) 4131 HUMMER RD ANNANDALE, Virginia 22003-2416) with plans to roll out of the par

KOOPDUP is getting a bath in a couple of hours and then into D.C. for dinner with the belly dancers!

Anyone interested in meeting up in the Annandale/Alexandria/Springfield "region" to motorcade up there? If Google Maps and Mapquest are right, it's just about 90 minutes up to the meeting place and I like to be "on time"....

I've got an extra FRS radio if anyone would like to borrow it. I'll put fresh batteries in them before Sunday.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna do the same. I've only had one laser "intercept" since I put it in but it would be interesting to see if the tint cuts down on the ability to see it.

MINImum & Jason, A couple of pics from this afternoon with a better camera. I applied the Lamin-X to the headlights and now, I know that I never want to install window tint for a living! It really wasn't all that bad, I just hate dragging the inverter and the heat gun and everything out to the parking area. At least I was smart enough to take the kitchen step ladder so I could sit close to the ground. I have the lamin-X for the front fogs as well but I didn't feel like laying on the ground to install it. Next time I have it on the lift, I'll get those done. Now it's critical to get the headlight rings and washer "pods" toned down a bit. Jason, can you see the V1? I'm still working on the positioning. I applied a strip of packing tape across the top of the windshield so I could mount it a little higher and it worked pretty good. Then, I mounted my GPS below the toggles in the center stack. No more suction cups (or their marks) on the glass to call the crackhead car burglars attention!

There should be two photo's attached. Couldn't get all the way around, I'm parked too close to Lona's "Z". If anyone wants more photo's with better quality, let me know.

I've got a couple of pictures but I'm not bright enough to figure out how to attach them. I also took her by and put new "shoes" on her today. I went for all season tires, KUMHO Ecsta AST's in 205/50-16. I drove about 10 feet before I realized the difference. With the lowered suspension, lots of bumps were really "harsh". Not so much now. I noticed the difference in noise right away as well.

I went out this morning and blacked out the beltline chrome and I do like it! I'll go back and do a couple of pieces over as I'm not 100% happy with them. Now, I have a kit to black out the chrome side scuttles and I'll be just about done!

MINImum, I started to take the electrical tape route myself just to see how it worked on the beltline chrome. I ended up ordering a kit do black it out and now I just need to find time between the rain and work to put it on. I also ordered smoked headlight covers. I'll finish it off by blacking out the headlight rings and leave it at that. I think the Black and Blue will look pretty good... Maybe some black sport stripes? I would think the electrical tape would work though. It's vinyl and it's got pretty good adhesive. Good luck with it. KOOPDUP

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".

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.

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.

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!

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

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"