tommy

I think I'll just let that one go.

C230 Sport Coup

Since we have essentially the same setup, I can't imagine having the sprint booster. My gas pedal is already so touchy. I considered it, but it would make the car almost undriveable.
It only takes about 1/4" of depression to make it go.
We look for thing..to make us go.

I so barely have to touch the pedal. It's always a challenge driving onto a lift.
An extra 1//4" and I'd be through a wall.

tommy

After having two SBs on my car already (yes, doesn't say much for the quality of the units; supposedly, they are better now), I have to say that the response without one seems like an eternity to me. Might be that I'm so used to the stage 2 clutch on the crx?

C230 Sport Coup

Well, I guess it's different with an auto.
So much more torque from stock and it just wants to go.
It pulls constantly when in D and will go about 20 mph on idle.
Stock it just sat there.

LILBENZ230

20mph at idle speed?

tommy

He lives his life a quarter mile at a time.

MW_ATL

You guys keep talking, I might just have to consider a pulley and tune! Guess, I could paint the pulley the OEM color (black??) also....

MW_ATL

Matt....you REALLY need to turn that autocorrect off!

CoupeCrazy03

Do you have a sound clip of this? I drove one of these coupes with this motor at my work a couple weeks ago and it had some kind of exhaust work done and it sounded BEAST! I know I can never make my 1.8 sound like that

tommy

No, I don't. I'm lucky I can take pics.

tommy

It'll make you enjoy your car much more, honestly. The pulley was the best mod I've done to my car.

Got out the hatch trim at lunchtime, and turned the rear strut knobs 180 degrees firmer. Car feels great; the thin metal one did great for the passenger's side. I do need to get some thin velcro strips; both little push pins are now toast, and I'll be taking out the trim at least a couple of more times (don't know if you've got it right til you adjust things a bit too firm, and then back off).

Decided on a location for the SB switch; will put it just to the left of the ciggy lighter; will fit in there easily, and I can snake the wiring down to the gas pedal by following the wire for the Scan gauge.

Midnight Koop

hey tommy,

can you post profile/side-view pics of your ride height?

i'm potentially looking into new suspension and am not sure if i want to stick with H&R coilovers. I'm moving to an area with more potholes and am tempted by the adjustable shocks.

thanks!

tommy

Yes, I'll do that. Will have to be over this coming weekend, though, as I'm driving/working on the crx this week. Just got a new clutch, rear lca's, and getting new rims in it today, then Thursday, inspection and cf VIS ZC hood. Friday, I'll switch at the garage, and get the smurfmobile back, ready to fight evil. I'll see if I can give a photographer buddy of mine a few beers to take real pics of the car on Sat or Sun.

I really like the Konis so far. Do have to do some playing around with the adjustments, though, to see how tight I can make it without beating up my kidneys.

tommy

Since I've gotten a couple of pic requests, decided to take some pics on Friday at lunchtime.

The first one's for infected, just to show that he's not the only one silly enough to buy one of those ebay front tow hooks:



Think I'll leave it in a while, even though the car's not tracked at all anymore. Everyone at work got a chuckle out of it.

For MK's request (sorry that the first is a little fuzzy - no idea why that happened):





As you can see, it retains the ***-down stance (Eibach Pro springs), which is fine for me. Doesn't kill me on the always-wonderful NJ roads, but now that I've adjusted the Konis, feels really good.

Final pics are for jerkin. Hope you can see the T for the boost gauge in the pics.

Midnight Koop

Thanks Tommy... My H&R's give that same ***-down stance that I can't seem to get ride of. I wonder if I can fix that if I go with a new set (got mine used).

my shocks are starting to make a recoil/squish sound when I hit larger bumps. i'm moving to Richmond this summer and the roads are worse there than DC, so i'm tempted to go with something adjustable like yours.

are there many potholes in jersey?

also, what is the warranty on your shocks? If i get a new set of H&R's... I think they're warrantied for life, so although rough.. it sounds appealing.

tommy

Yeah, my Eibachs did that kind of sound too; that's when I figured that it was time to replace them with the Konis.

From reading Koni's website, looks like a lifetime warranty. No idea how getting them to live up to that would work, though.

And yes, Joisey's streets are pretty bad in general. Corruption, for some reason, has been proven to not be a positive when it comes to road construction.

tommy

Turned the firmness setting on the Konis one full turn total in front and rear after work last night. Still not at the point where the improvement in handling is not worth the decrease in ride comfort, which is good. I'll leave it at that for a while.

Less than 1500 miles til my mileage badge.

BTW - Fiat says all Abarths have been produced for the 2012 year already, so it's been a huge success, so will have to wait til the 2013s are released if I do want to make the switch. Local dealer had them as preorder only. Who buys a car without having driven it first?

Midnight Koop

Do you have to remove the wheel to adjust?

tommy

No, just open the hood, take the adjustment knob
http://www.koni-na.com/apparel.cfm?level=1&category=K
that Koni gave you (different sized tab front and rear), slip it over the tab at the top of the strut, and turn counterclockwise for a firmer setting (no blue pill needed).

The rear struts are tougher, as the space is very tight back there for someone with the Bose sub, and the rear trim has to be peeled back also. That's why I picked up the Suzy B-sized flat adjuster shown at the bottom of that link.

Very easy process, even I can do it. Just have to find the sweet spot in the adjustment process.

LILBENZ230

You're gonna get the badge and then immediately move to another car?

Lame!

tommy

True, just slightly lower on the "lame" scale than getting an automatic because you didn't think that Mercedes offered manuals.

Midnight Koop

ah thanks for the feedback.. i'm most likely getting these once my wallet recovers from a monster laptop purchase (going back to school and i can no longer mooch off of my work laptop).

tommy

No problem. Good luck with school (though I'm very glad that mine is all behind me, unless I want to kill myself for 6-9 months and attempt the cpa exam again).

JDM_love

Sorry for this off topic question, but I have an 02 coupe 6 speed, and today when i turned it on and tried putting it in first gear it wouldnt go in all the way, and it grinded when i pulled the clutch out a little. It seems to be harder to put it in other gears too now, i have to apply more force with each gear and i have to guide it all the way in, it seems like it was just last week when i just pushed the shifter and it went in easily. Anyone know the problem?

tommy

When was the tranny fluid replaced? Are you on the original clutch? Has there been any work on that part of the car? Synchros still original?

I had my OEM clutch replaced a couple of years ago. Have never experienced what you are currently on my car, though. Time to start eliminating contenders. If you don't know how to do this, it's certainly an area left to professionals. Where in Jersey are you again? Bell's behind the Fashion Center off Rte. 17 in Paramus would be able to help out.