It is a funny thing and I think sponsored by the importer of a country. In the UK we are much nearer, and could easily drive it home, yet such factory collections haven't been possible for a very very long time. Instead they place them on trains to the harbour, then go by boat and we have to wait age, get dents on them and have to decontaminate the iron fallout.🤣It was super fun, and I didn't even want to do it, I was motivated by the wife! Now, having done it, I'd very highly recommend it, if you're taking delivery on a new Vette. Not only is the whole experience pretty awesome, but there's a rumor that NVM delivery cars get a little extra TLC. Hahaha, yeah, you want the drive home to be pretty epic vs. a 30 minute tripMine was like 800+ miles, and we detoured through the Blue Ridge Parkway (which was amazing).
An old acquaintance of mine did a Porsche delivery in Germany, it was one of the special 911s at the time (this was several years ago), a lot of the same thing as the NCM, but, of course, he didn't drive it home to the states
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The Car Thread ... !
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It was finally dry, and no more ice or snow. So what better to do than create some snow of your own...
And yes, ahem...The Full Fat Range Rover Supercharged is missing, it is ahem being a real Range Rover and like to spent some extra time in the workshop
And yes, ahem...The Full Fat Range Rover Supercharged is missing, it is ahem being a real Range Rover and like to spent some extra time in the workshop
I was going to do mine. But Mrs AFB had me digging instead. Then I’m off to London so it will look filthy regardless after the trip.It was finally dry, and no more ice or snow. So what better to do than create some snow of your own...
View attachment 1733322 View attachment 1733323
And yes, ahem...The Full Fat Range Rover Supercharged is missing, it is ahem being a real Range Rover and like to spent some extra time in the workshop
my fav part of having a car is washing her after some rainy dirty daysIt was finally dry, and no more ice or snow. So what better to do than create some snow of your own...
View attachment 1733322 View attachment 1733323
And yes, ahem...The Full Fat Range Rover Supercharged is missing, it is ahem being a real Range Rover and like to spent some extra time in the workshop
2002 Jeep Liberty.
San Antonio Texas Feb 15 2021. Winter Storm Uri.
San Antonio Texas Feb 15 2021. Winter Storm Uri.
Well... at least you have four-wheel-drive, even when you least expected it in a state like Texas.
BTW, Your avatar had me cackling ....😁
What’s wrong with it? I assume that electrical issue you had last time.And yes, ahem...The Full Fat Range Rover Supercharged is missing, it is ahem being a real Range Rover and like to spent some extra time in the workshop
Chasing a coolant leak
I’ve had a slow but persistent coolant leak and I don’t want to increase the power before getting to the bottom of it. But along the way also noticed place in the supercharger coupler/snout, various brittle vaccuum lines, burned up rear brake pads, split CV gaitor. But as it’s too cold to do it myself it’s at a workshop to let someone else do it. Besides I’ve gone back to full time work so time is limited. 🤣Leaks, even though minimal for the most part I think for the majority of vehicle problems, can be some of the most difficult to trace and become expensive very quick. But, that’s part of any car that ages. You pay to play!Chasing a coolant leak
But Man, I’m ready for Spring (which probably won’t be here until mid May at the earliest.) We just got nailed with another 10 inches of snow and more on the way. I think we have 77 inches so far for the year, which will probably hit 100 total, maybe more.
Wow!
And definitely. Mine seems fine on longish journeys but then dumps it when standing still for a few days. I’m suspecting a hairline crack in one of the many, very many hoses or connectors. I’ve basically given them authorisation to just replace all of them that are underneath the supercharger (and thus have difficult access). It’s cheaper than spending the time on labour in trying to find it. And exactly what I did with our Golf MK2 myself. Just change all vaccuum lines, hoses and sensors, the parts are cheap anyway.
I wish an early spring upon you. I hope we still get some snow and ice as I’ve got all these winter wheels and tyres ready 🤣
And definitely. Mine seems fine on longish journeys but then dumps it when standing still for a few days. I’m suspecting a hairline crack in one of the many, very many hoses or connectors. I’ve basically given them authorisation to just replace all of them that are underneath the supercharger (and thus have difficult access). It’s cheaper than spending the time on labour in trying to find it. And exactly what I did with our Golf MK2 myself. Just change all vaccuum lines, hoses and sensors, the parts are cheap anyway.
I wish an early spring upon you. I hope we still get some snow and ice as I’ve got all these winter wheels and tyres ready 🤣
Did some more stuff on the MG yesterday.
Made a road trip today to buy some parts. I actually came away with a beautiful original front bumper to replace the awful reproduction(the repros are have good chrome, but don't wrap as far around the sides as originals and are also lighter gauge steel), although since I've been told I don't care about the appearance of my car I guess there's no point in installing it.
Oh well, guess it was a wasted trip after all, even though I saw some really amazing V8 conversions from a guy who specializes in them(how does 500hp in a 2000lb car sound?).
Made a road trip today to buy some parts. I actually came away with a beautiful original front bumper to replace the awful reproduction(the repros are have good chrome, but don't wrap as far around the sides as originals and are also lighter gauge steel), although since I've been told I don't care about the appearance of my car I guess there's no point in installing it.
Oh well, guess it was a wasted trip after all, even though I saw some really amazing V8 conversions from a guy who specializes in them(how does 500hp in a 2000lb car sound?).
Those reproductions use thinner gauge steel because they are race lightened!
Sounds like great fun. Hope they upgraded a few other parts as well to not only handle that kind of power to weight ratio but also be able to stop it.
Personally I’d rather have a Donkervoort D8 GTO with an even better ratio when doing that kind of stuff.
PS. Good edit, the original was kind of childish and boring. Just give it up already or stay away from the internet if you can’t handle it.
Man, I just love me some V8 powa..😁
Speaking of.....
Lexus re-releases the IF500 ‘F Sport Performance’ 5.0 V8:
-472HP/395Tq
-8 speed automatic
-0-60 MPH 4.5s
-$67,000 [Available fall 2021]
I think the most unique thing about the car has to be the ‘quad tip stacked’ design exhaust. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before, although a bit off-putting at first, definitely gives this car more of a unique tone from the rear.
I think it’s a sharp car, but the numbers it’s putting down, definitely is on par with the likes of the Mustang/Camaro for 20K less, in order to really want the IS 500 F, you’d have to be just a fan of Lexus and want the ‘luxury appeal’, but the competition in the domestic V8 segment offers just as much power, if not more.
Also, the front of the Lexus IS 500F is very reminiscent of the Avalon Trd Grill, very wide open, but a bit different of a shape.
www.caranddriver.com
Speaking of.....
Lexus re-releases the IF500 ‘F Sport Performance’ 5.0 V8:
-472HP/395Tq
-8 speed automatic
-0-60 MPH 4.5s
-$67,000 [Available fall 2021]
I think the most unique thing about the car has to be the ‘quad tip stacked’ design exhaust. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before, although a bit off-putting at first, definitely gives this car more of a unique tone from the rear.
I think it’s a sharp car, but the numbers it’s putting down, definitely is on par with the likes of the Mustang/Camaro for 20K less, in order to really want the IS 500 F, you’d have to be just a fan of Lexus and want the ‘luxury appeal’, but the competition in the domestic V8 segment offers just as much power, if not more.
Also, the front of the Lexus IS 500F is very reminiscent of the Avalon Trd Grill, very wide open, but a bit different of a shape.
472-HP 2022 Lexus IS500 F Sport Brings the 5.0L V-8 Back to the IS
The IS500 appears to be the spiritual successor to the IS F but is called an F Sport Performance model this time around.
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I’ve never been a fan of Lexus. They are almost too perfect for my liking. I know that sounds weird 🤣
I’m not sure whether you get Alfa Romeo in the USA. I’m pretty sure they’ve been doing stacked exhausts for ages with the excellent Guilia cloverleaf. And come to think of it, I think the Brera had them as well.
I’m not sure whether you get Alfa Romeo in the USA. I’m pretty sure they’ve been doing stacked exhausts for ages with the excellent Guilia cloverleaf. And come to think of it, I think the Brera had them as well.
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To have some kind of character, you need a little imperfection here and there.
"Unique tone"?
I has a GS300 when I had my Supra (my I-can't'-drive-my-Supra-anywhere backup vehicle ...)
I will say, the ownership experience was the best I ever had, in particular, when engaging with the dealer.
Just a few examples:
I did some F-sport aftermarket, the wing came in the smallest imperfection, in a barely visible spot underneath, they rushed in a replacement, next day air, they sent two people over to my office, with a nice RX300, left that with me ("just in case you want to go out for lunch"), took my car, did the install, __returned__ my car to my office (and picked up the loaner).
This other time, I had just gotten the GS, and was in mid-paint on my Supra (an OEM spec silver), I was back at the dealer as they wanted to do a full service for me (it was used, they wanted to confirm a fresh oil change, which in itself was excellent), so a truck was delivering some new cars, and one was this amazing darker metallic gray, I asked about it, and a sales manager took me back to receiving, let me look up close at it, and got me the name and paint code (Lexus Graphite Gray Pearl FYI ...)
FWIW, I had the paint shop stop, change colors They had already installed my rollbar setup in the previous silver, so I left it that color, the lighter solver was a nice contrast, and matched the Sparco seat trim:
I has a GS300 when I had my Supra (my I-can't'-drive-my-Supra-anywhere backup vehicle ...)
I will say, the ownership experience was the best I ever had, in particular, when engaging with the dealer.
Just a few examples:
I did some F-sport aftermarket, the wing came in the smallest imperfection, in a barely visible spot underneath, they rushed in a replacement, next day air, they sent two people over to my office, with a nice RX300, left that with me ("just in case you want to go out for lunch"), took my car, did the install, __returned__ my car to my office (and picked up the loaner).
This other time, I had just gotten the GS, and was in mid-paint on my Supra (an OEM spec silver), I was back at the dealer as they wanted to do a full service for me (it was used, they wanted to confirm a fresh oil change, which in itself was excellent), so a truck was delivering some new cars, and one was this amazing darker metallic gray, I asked about it, and a sales manager took me back to receiving, let me look up close at it, and got me the name and paint code (Lexus Graphite Gray Pearl FYI ...)
FWIW, I had the paint shop stop, change colors
They had already installed my rollbar setup in the previous silver, so I left it that color, the lighter solver was a nice contrast, and matched the Sparco seat trim:
This guy has mostly hit on a dead-reliable formula. Of course this is custom work so it's all done to the owner's taste, but between V8 "Kits" he's personally sold(He does a ready-to-go-kit) and ones from his shop, he told me one of the ones in there now is #102.
I believe-and don't hold me 100% to this-that the T5 is his transmission of choice, which is plenty stout. Of course, the stock transmission is probably plenty strong, but you're still left fairly tall gear ratios and a 1:1 top gear and needing to adapt it, while it's easy to mate a T5 to a 302 Windsor.
His rear end of choice is the Ford 8", which is plentiful and has basically been in every RWD Ford vehicle since the early 1980s. That includes the F150, the Explorer(old), the Panther platform cars, and the Mustang. They shorten them in their shop to give it the same track width as an MGB rear axle. They get Wildwood disks, and depending on owner's preference he either fits the stock 4 lug pattern or he'll do a 5 lug set-up to have more wheel choices. That's mated up to a custom 4 link suspension-no leaf springs with lever arm dampers to hold the axle in place.
I took a bunch of photos, but realized that you couldn't see any complete ones particularly well. The one below was his first, and he's constantly tinkered with it, but it follows the same basic formula. The 427 rockers are were fitted because he had them on the shelf when he needed a set, but said that a Windsor 327 can actually be bored and stroked to 427(If I heard him right). That seems a big jump to me, but then I think these engines can be bored over quite a bit.
The Windsor is his engine of choice for a few reasons. Many small block OHV V8s are good MG candidates since they're small and can be made light enough for a good matched(I asked about the small block Chevy, and he said it would fit without too much work but is too heavy). With the Windosr, though, mmong other things, crate engines are readily available and there are TONS of aftermarket performance parts for it. In the US, its ubiquity especially in older Mustangs means that there's a big market for that sort of stuff. A Windsor with aluminum heads and an aluminum intake is a tad over 400lbs, which is on target(a fully dressed cast iron 5 main 1800 B series engine is in the 380lb ballpark, so this doesn't appreciably change the weight balance).
The Buick/Rover V8 use to be the preferred one, not the least of which because it was a factory offering. but it's fallen out of favor for a few reasons. Maybe you can speak to this first hand, but I understand it's still a fairly common junk yard motor in the UK. That's NOT the case in the US, especially since, IIRC, Land Rovers haven't used them in 20+ years(don't hold me to that number-I'm not super up on LR engines, but I seem to recall it went away when the AJ-V8 came around). Still, though, it fits like a glove. This is a Buick 215 he had that I think belongs to his son
Finally, there's an internet axiom that if it exists, it has been LS swapped. I hadn't heard of that making its way into an MG, but here you go
This one obviously is very, very early along. I THINK he said this oen is going into his garage since it will be his first LS and will be a learning experience and not as polished as his Windsor work. There again, the LS is 411lb at least fitted as this one he showed me.
Those reproductions use thinner gauge steel because they are race lightened!
That's it
BTW, @cyb3rdud3 have you thought any more about the MGB you linked a little back? I spent a while looking it over and it looks like a solid body pull handle-pending a look at the sills and the rest of the underside-but there are a few things on it that may bother you if you care about originality. As a driver, though, it looks solid.
So, another bit of an update...
One of the things I picked up in my 6 hour road trip yesterday was a set of LE wheels which I love. The jury is still out for me on how they will look on my car, but it was $200 for 5 and they had tires at least good enough to roll around/drive around the block and see how I like it(it's a shame to toss 80% tread tires, but they're also 23 years old if not older and most likely cheap tires to begin with).
I'd called someone else I was visiting while up that way, and talked about the wheels a little bit. He said "You know those take special lug nuts, right? Ask Pete if he has them when you get the wheels." I texted and asked, but unfortunately he came up empty.
I did a quick search, and Moss has them but $17 EACH. Shopping around from various suppliers gets them down to $15 each, but that's still a whole lot of money for lug nuts.
Since these are older alloy wheels, I'd assumed I needed shanked nuts. I told Autozone I had a 1980 MGB to see what came up. They showed a set of shanked nuts for $37 for a set of 20-more than I need but also they're $37 for the set. They're chrome and not black, but I figured they'd work for mounting.
I asked on the MG forum if they would suit, and the short answer is no.
I got a really detailed answer from someone who had been through the same with finding them, and here's why:
Most lug nuts are either made with a conical seat or with a shank. The conical seat centers the lug nut center the hole on the stud, while some alloy wheels(particular older ones) are machined tight enough that the shank holds them correctly. So, in other words, it's an either/or deal.
It turns out that the LE wheels require both. They need the conical seat to center them and the shank for support. This is the general structure of them https://lugnutguys.com/collections/...ts/et-style-bulge-acorn-lug-nut-1-2-20-chrome
If things were easy, I'd order those above-they're certainly cheap enough-and call it a day.
Here's the other snag, though. The LE lugnuts have a .20 shank length. This supports and extends a little past the wheel hub without bottoming out against the drum or rotor. The ones linked above have a .30 shank, which is long enough to bottom out and consequently not seat the taper against the wheel.
The person who gave me that link ended up cutting them down on a lathe to get them to fit. This time last year, I'd have stayed an hour late and work and gotten it done at our small in-department machine shop. Now, I don't have access to a lathe the size I need.
I MAY have a lead on a servicable used set, which is easiest. Otherwise, I'm going to be pulling some favors to see if I can either get some lathe time somewhere or get someone to do it.
Option C...there's a 9" South Bend on Craigslist that needs a little TLC but is cheap and not too far from me. I wonder if my wife would let me put it in the back of the garage
One of the things I picked up in my 6 hour road trip yesterday was a set of LE wheels which I love. The jury is still out for me on how they will look on my car, but it was $200 for 5 and they had tires at least good enough to roll around/drive around the block and see how I like it(it's a shame to toss 80% tread tires, but they're also 23 years old if not older and most likely cheap tires to begin with).
I'd called someone else I was visiting while up that way, and talked about the wheels a little bit. He said "You know those take special lug nuts, right? Ask Pete if he has them when you get the wheels." I texted and asked, but unfortunately he came up empty.
I did a quick search, and Moss has them but $17 EACH. Shopping around from various suppliers gets them down to $15 each, but that's still a whole lot of money for lug nuts.
Since these are older alloy wheels, I'd assumed I needed shanked nuts. I told Autozone I had a 1980 MGB to see what came up. They showed a set of shanked nuts for $37 for a set of 20-more than I need but also they're $37 for the set. They're chrome and not black, but I figured they'd work for mounting.
I asked on the MG forum if they would suit, and the short answer is no.
I got a really detailed answer from someone who had been through the same with finding them, and here's why:
Most lug nuts are either made with a conical seat or with a shank. The conical seat centers the lug nut center the hole on the stud, while some alloy wheels(particular older ones) are machined tight enough that the shank holds them correctly. So, in other words, it's an either/or deal.
It turns out that the LE wheels require both. They need the conical seat to center them and the shank for support. This is the general structure of them https://lugnutguys.com/collections/...ts/et-style-bulge-acorn-lug-nut-1-2-20-chrome
If things were easy, I'd order those above-they're certainly cheap enough-and call it a day.
Here's the other snag, though. The LE lugnuts have a .20 shank length. This supports and extends a little past the wheel hub without bottoming out against the drum or rotor. The ones linked above have a .30 shank, which is long enough to bottom out and consequently not seat the taper against the wheel.
The person who gave me that link ended up cutting them down on a lathe to get them to fit. This time last year, I'd have stayed an hour late and work and gotten it done at our small in-department machine shop. Now, I don't have access to a lathe the size I need.
I MAY have a lead on a servicable used set, which is easiest. Otherwise, I'm going to be pulling some favors to see if I can either get some lathe time somewhere or get someone to do it.
Option C...there's a 9" South Bend on Craigslist that needs a little TLC but is cheap and not too far from me. I wonder if my wife would let me put it in the back of the garage
Just tell her it was always there and you just tidied up so bow she can see it 🤣
Yes, thinking that Lexus are "too perfect" is particularly weird. I bet that most vehicle owners wish it were the case with their cars.
Could someone please tell me what the official co2 emission rating is on that 5.0lt 472HP V8 engine? I'm asking because here in Europe where I'm located, without considering the purchase price for a moment, the strict co2 emission homologation certification for an engine of this size would trigger a high penalty of at least several thousand euros. From memory I believe the maximum penalty for 220 gr/km (grams of co2 per klm) is an eye-watering 20,000euros (US$24,000). Needless to say new vehicles here with very large engines are relatively scarce.
Regarding reliability, many owners have a tendency of purchasing a newly announced model or especially a current model without looking closely into the specs and it's road-test reliability reviews and scores.
Due to marketing pressure, it's no surprise that new models are rushed out into service, and the consumer ends up being the tester in many ways. Which incidently makes one think of other industries and their insufficiently tested releases, (think butterfly keyboard issues, other laptop recalls for battery fire-hazzard, system crashes due to overheat issues/inefficient cooling on thin 'Air' laptops, screen backlight issues, video card recalls etc.
I'd love to buy a Lexus, knowing that in all probability it should please and be highly reliable, the one drawback being that here in Europe the Lexus range of vehicles are expensive.
Fwiw, I do a lot of research prior to buying a new vehicle - which is not often. We recently sold a 15 year old Toyota Yaris, which apart from having normal wear & tear on consumables (tyres and wiper blades changed when required), only had one defect in all those years, and that was my wife's fault - with the turbo diesel engine she had the bad habit of starting the engine from cold before the glow-plug heating element had extinguished. That led to 2 glow plugs requiring changing at 50k klms.
And my 13yr-old UK manufactured Honda Civic, now with 120k klms has only required tyre changes (twice) and several changes of wiper blades. So far total reliability, which modern Honda's tend to be reknown for.
I've had several Alfa's in an earlier life, and although a delight to drive, one cannot say they are known for their reliability - which is unfortunate.
Every European country is different in that aspect as such it is how long is a piece of string.
I don’t think too perfect is weird. As was mentioned earlier, imperfections provide character. For example the wood used in the cabin is so perfect that it actually looks rather fake. I don’t like it. Same as with leather, leather should have imperfections in my opinion, a natural look.
My Jaguar Land Rover 5.0 Super charged V8 is Euro emissions compliant and allowed in every Ultra Low Emissions Zone. It’s only “crime” is using a lot of fuel.
I don’t think too perfect is weird. As was mentioned earlier, imperfections provide character. For example the wood used in the cabin is so perfect that it actually looks rather fake. I don’t like it. Same as with leather, leather should have imperfections in my opinion, a natural look.
My Jaguar Land Rover 5.0 Super charged V8 is Euro emissions compliant and allowed in every Ultra Low Emissions Zone. It’s only “crime” is using a lot of fuel.