Off topic banter - cars.

[[AK]Hylander]

Hey all,

I'm not sure how many of you are into automobiles or racing, etc.. but thought I would share my little project. Now that I "Own" the car (its paid for) and it's no longer under warranty, I figured I would put a little into it as I'll probably drive it a bit longer as I'm waiting for a few 2005 models I want to look at, although my wife will probably get a new vehicle this spring.

I currently own a 1999 Dodge Stratus ES with a 2.5l SOHC V6 with autostick. Pumps out about a modest 168HP and 170lbs of torque in spec configuration.

No, I'm not going Fast and Furious or Ricer on anyone... although there are NOS kits available for my car.

This is basically what my car will look like. It looks similar to this way now, except I have the factory 15in aluminum wheels and a two-tone gray/silver pin stripe. My default window tint is also much lighter (Although I'm condsidering going 15%). I'm getting new 17in 215/45/17s in the near future (I haven't decided between silver/chrome or Gun Metal yet)



and the pin stripe is coming off due to cracking. This car pictured is also a DOHC 4 cylinder, and not the V6 - but I am more talking about the appearance and not the mechanicals.



I'm on vacation next week and plan to install some items I purchased from Dreamspeed recently. I have front and rear strut tower braces to stiffen up the suspension and reduce body roll. I'm waiting for a new thicker rear sway bar as well, but won't be available for another 6 weeks or so. I also have a new air intake system to put on as well:




After all this and I have to save my pennies for a new PC rebuild in Aug / Sept.

[[AK]Squidly]

Looks like someone watched "Too Fast, Too Furious" recently...lol. Get back to me when you put your NOS kit in it.

[[AK]Hylander]

Originally posted by [AK]Squidly
Looks like someone watched "Too Fast, Too Furious" recently...lol. Get back to me when you put your NOS kit in it.

I actually haven't seen 2F2F yet If I can find a way to get a Venom 400 NOS system delivered to my house and get it installed without the wife finding out, I'd do it!

Fast and Furious is one of those "bad" movies that you are ashamed to admit you enjoy watching. I have a few of those types of movies:

Fast and Furious
Road House
Diggstown
Weekend at Bernies

[Pancito]

Hi guys, i saw cars and i had to post

When it comes to looks i always try to stay clean, what i have right now are 5zigen wheels they are cheap, light and clean 5 spoke design, you should check on that.

Strut towers do the job pretty nicely, some say you have to jack both tires to install them (fronts or backs) but i did it with out.

What i recomend now instead of the Venom NOS Dual Fogger (yea i have seen it too), what i recomend is buying shocks, they make a difference in handling and with everything else you have it will handle like a charm.

160 HP is not bad at all to start with the only thing with cars and mods are that you probably can't stop. (like gaming).

Hope you end up with a nice ride with out that many mods and you will be satisfied.

BTW i have http://www.5zigenusa.com/pages/wheels/fn01rc.html this rims.

when you are ready here in mexico we have a stratus R/T with a Turbo 420A Engine that will take care of your power needs

[Drewski]

I've done 2 things to my car, the first was the installation of new speakers; 2 way, 4 inch blaupunkts in the front with eclipse 6x9s in the rear, toped off with a 10 inch Clarion sub powered by a 200W Clarion amp. All that and a blaupunkt cd player I bought like 2 years ago
The second was a cold cathode I mounted to the inside of the roof. It blinks off and on to the baseline, witch is way cool at night, it really lights up the entire inside. I can only use it in the parking lot tho, its illegal to drive with it on.

All that good stuff in a '88 Mazda 626, 5 speed stick and a mindblowing 100hp 4cyl SOHC.

I deliver pizza with it I don't need anything much faster then that....altho it would be nice :P

[Widowmaker]

Buy this:



Forget the cars. They are so 20'th century.

I'd suggest not spending any money to make a speed machine out of a car you won't be able to use at that speed without paying outrageous tickets. I'd put the money aside to repair and parts and drive the thing till it or me died. It'll end up being a better investment

Either that or buy a classic muscle car and at least have a speed machine with personality.

[[AK]Hylander]

Originally posted by [AK]Widowmaker
I'd suggest not spending any money to make a speed machine out of a car you won't be able to use at that speed without paying outrageous tickets.

I guess you don't know how to drive properly

I've taken my car to the limit, figuratively and literally, to 125 when the speed limiter kicks in on several occasions. If I ever buy or do a PCM (Power Control Module) mod, that will take care of that. Well, the Venom NOS kit would take care of that as well I believe.

Just for the record, the fastest I've ever driven is 158mph... and that was down the front stretch at Watkins Glen when I use to race GT-1 in the SCCA.

[[AK]Hylander]

Originally posted by [AK?]Pancito
BTW i have http://www.5zigenusa.com/pages/wheels/fn01rc.html this rims.

when you are ready here in mexico we have a stratus R/T with a Turbo 420A Engine that will take care of your power needs

Nice wheels... I really can't decide between aluminum and the gun metal coloring. My wife doesn't like gun metal, so I may go with the aluminum. Tirerack has some decent wheel / tire combos going. I have to be careful with the offset though for my car when going Plus 2 on the size.

I'm hearing some rumors of a 2 door coup from dodge... Rear wheel drive with a Hemi built on the mercedes shared platform. *drool*

[Widowmaker]

I know quite well how to drive properly. No tickets, accidents, or traffic incidents in more years than I can remeber. I actualy even use my turn signals and never, ever, ever tailgate (my first accident when I was 16 was because I was too close, I will never let that happen again). When I was jobless I drove illegaly without insurance for 5 years and never once had a problem.

Now when I was in high school I was a maniac. I had my 1973 chevy malibu's speedometer pegged out at 120 all the time. My '69 cutlass was my real baby though. That engine had some serious power.

But time took its toll, so did the tickets, accidents and having my insurance cancelled and having no other options for insurance tought me a lesson. Now driving is just to get from one place to another without incidents to me. Driving too fast on public roads is not the wisest thing to do, I speak from experience.

Oh, and trick out that Segway and see what you can get it to do, eh?

[[AK]Hylander]

Originally posted by [AK]Widowmaker
But time took its toll, so did the tickets, accidents and having my insurance cancelled and having no other options for insurance tought me a lesson. Now driving is just to get from one place to another without incidents to me. Driving too fast on public roads is not the wisest thing to do, I speak from experience.

Oh, and trick out that Segway and see what you can get it to do, eh?

The only accident I've had was back in 1995, and I had nothing to do with it. I was stopped in line at a red light and a car two cars back didn't stop in time and hit the car behind me which then rammed the back of my car. So other than that, no accidents. I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1994 when I was coming home from college from VA to NY. I was trying to beat a snow storm and got caught doing 65 in a 55 in NY State. Sucks.. especially when you've been doing the speed limit (65) from VA, through Maryland, and PA only to get nailed on an interstate speed limit of 55.

I also know where I can drive fast and where I can't and I don't due it in urban settings. My biggest fear is hitting the peacocks at this farm I go past.



I don't know anything about Gyros in order to fix up the Segway.

[Pancito]

Originally posted by [AK]Hylander
I really can't decide between aluminum and the gun metal coloring.

I went "Hyper Black" because i have a dark green car and it was either that or Chrome (Bling Bling )

My wife doesn't like gun metal, so I may go with the aluminum.

You cant argue with that, actually my then GF told me she like those rims and i went for them.

Tirerack has some decent wheel / tire combos going. I have to be careful with the offset though for my car when going Plus 2 on the size.

OFFSET IS THE KEY, what ever you do plan your offset really really good, use the calculator, what ever you have to do to have the perfect fitting tire. i went with a +42 offset and my rim looks sunken, since my 240sx is RWD i have to go with at least a +35 or lower offset.

I'm hearing some rumors of a 2 door coup from dodge... Rear wheel drive with a Hemi built on the mercedes shared platform. *drool*

*Drool* since im new to cars i have to get my self on a Turbo I4, or V8, I have own little cars only...

[[AK]Faxman]

A new intake manifold, and a cat back exhaust system are some relatively inexpensive upgrades you may want to look at. I'm putting a Flowmaster on my Mustang come fall, and a new intake manifold, or failing that, port the stock upper intake for a very modest price (machine shop rate + insurance on the part).

Hy, just curious, but how do you like the autostick option on your Stratus? I test drove a Volkswagen GTI with Tiptronic autostick, and I didn't think it was doing anything at all.

[[AK]Hylander]

Originally posted by [AK]Faxman
A new intake manifold, and a cat back exhaust system are some relatively inexpensive upgrades you may want to look at. I'm putting a Flowmaster on my Mustang come fall, and a new intake manifold, or failing that, port the stock upper intake for a very modest price (machine shop rate + insurance on the part).

Hy, just curious, but how do you like the autostick option on your Stratus? I test drove a Volkswagen GTI with Tiptronic autostick, and I didn't think it was doing anything at all.

I've actually been thinking about a cat back system as I "think" I'm starting to hear the 'tinging' of elements in the converter - so it may need to be replaced soon. I have an inspection coming up in the next 60 days... I'll see if it codes anything on the smog test. Unfortunately, they don't make any dual exhaust systems for my car, so it would have to be custom and not really worth it with a stock manifold.

The Autostick is OK, and it does come in handy at times when you want to drop down a gear in a hurry to pull a pass off, etc... but I suspect if you were doing quarter mile times... you might be better off leaving it in pure auto. To be honest... It doesn't get used a whole lot but it's OK overall. I'd be curious to try out some of the new button shifters on cars like the new Saabs to see if they work any differently.

[[AK]Bribo]

CRUISER: My hobbies are fast cars and fast women because uh.. that's why my.. the guys in my car club call me the "cruiser".

OX: Should have called him the dork!!

[Widowmaker]

Peacocks are so pretty when they splatter. I hit one on my motercycle at Maryhill (at the Oregon border) one time. Now that was nasty.

If you are speeding on a country road, well, that is just fun. If it is anything like Central Washington watch for cows and sheep. They make terrible speed bumps.

You ought to make your car real special and convert it to propane. Yeah baby, only the coolest switch to propane, right before they buy a segway .