3rd and FINAL Round 2009: 14b Talon ends the season on a high..

[SBstar]

Intersting for sure. I do agree with the all time 14b thing. But I guess I still like to classify between fwd/awd at times, and definately between w/nitrous vs. w/out nitrous. Overall 14b is of course the real class isn't it. In the end it depends on how far you want to push things Phil, you could always go full lexan, 1 gal. fuel cell, lightweight everything, etc. In the end Joe Bucci went all out and it's scary to think he probably still could've lightened the car a bit more. It definately becomes a pure track car at that point and once you cross the line of pure drag car it's tough to wonder if you're going to lose some of the enjoyment from the car.

 

[Phil1320]

phil, i would love to see what this car can do with a e16g! This would be your solution to getting into the 10's as your car is setup perfectly in every way. With the 14b your going to kill the car sooner or later and i bet its pushing a lot of heat by now. I would save the cash that you are planning to get cams, extrude honed intake etc... and bolt the e16g instaed. Faster et and mph FTW!!

btw, my car is coming along nicely and its pulling pretty good, so track will be here shortly.

You know, I have many people around here that want to see the same thing, me included......but, I just can't help but think there's a bit more in the 14b.

You bring up a solid point about literally killing the car or turbo.....

I have the cams already, just never put them in. You have a point about the money spending, but, I really need a better FMIC anyway, so I'll have to spend that either way. But, money that would be spent for further weight reduction could easlily buy a turbo......I get different votes:

-stay on the 14b

-add NOS to the 14b

-build motor and stay on 14b

-bolt on E316G


............decisions, decisions

That's great by the way and I'll look forward to hearing about your track visit!

Intersting for sure. I do agree with the all time 14b thing. But I guess I still like to classify between fwd/awd at times, and definately between w/nitrous vs. w/out nitrous. Overall 14b is of course the real class isn't it. In the end it depends on how far you want to push things Phil, you could always go full lexan, 1 gal. fuel cell, lightweight everything, etc. In the end Joe Bucci went all out and it's scary to think he probably still could've lightened the car a bit more. It definately becomes a pure track car at that point and once you cross the line of pure drag car it's tough to wonder if you're going to lose some of the enjoyment from the car.

I hear you. That's the whole thing, how far I want to push it. Or more importantly, how much $ do I want to throw at it.....that answer to that, is plainly, NONE. Foolish of me to say, but, I speak the truth.

ONE gallon fuel cell--- NO FN way......10 gallon in the back where it belongs, a thought....major weight savings....probably not.

Lexan- I have the rear 1/4 windows to go in...major weight savings...probably not. Side windows and windshield, yeah maybe...major weight savings.....a decent amount I guess.

Polk control arms- major weight savings. About 22 lbs. If it's true that's big for unsprung weight. In the overall picture, not really.

Tubular front and rear subrames $$$$$$$$. Sure it would be great, not sure I trust them though for some reason and definitely would not trust them on the roadcourse in the future...so, a total waste of alot of cash IMHO.

lighter wheels- maybe, but will it net much OVER what I have now? Most likely not, and for the related cost....really not!

Carbon fiber doors---I WANT them yes....$$$$$ the guys gave me a great deal, but still were over $1000...weight savings...without a doubt...our stock doors are what keep the DSM from sounding like a Honda when we close them.....some heavy and solid ass doors.......Even my gutted driver door with roll up window is heavier than any honda civic door, ok maybe the latest civics are heavier....but, still DAMN heavy!!!!!

The dashboard, get rid of it for a custom aluminum piece. Weight savings......a bit.....and not a bad cost factor, but, the one thing that I loved about the Talon the first time I sat in one was the dash/console set up and overall feel. Console is gone, dash is all that's left. Talk about losing what I love about the car.....that may kill it....or not.....

........and now we add the weight of the cage.....but, I will get a new lighter seat to go with it, so maybe we lose a bit there.

It's really a crap shoot I'm involved in now......


....and after that list of expensive(thousands of dollars worth)of weight reduction efforts, will it net me .65 in the 1/4......not a chance.

So, where is the money better spent if it ever IS spent? That damn engine. I'm finally believing that the $$$ should be spent there. If that doesn't put me near or in the 10's, then spend the final bit on more extensive weight reduction if I'm that obsessed with being top gun.

Truth is, as camfast points out.....a $600 turbocharger puts all the above options to shame in the cost for ET gain ratio department.

So, I have decisions to make for sure. My main goal of 2009 was just to merely put the car in the 11's on the 14b. Something I should have done about 7 years back and couldn't. I never planned on challenging for the overall record ever again. And the way things look, I won't be challenging for it ever again. I did, however, run quicker than I thought, put myself in front of Leon once again, and in the end edged Dave's 11.51---with help from Dave himself. That success this year does make me want to continue a bit on the 14b, but, I may start doing like Dave, throw another turbo on, see how it goes, and I can always bolt the 14b back on for "an engine break in" or WHATEVER and see how it goes in the future. I'm less inclined to do that only because would probably just close the chapter as that's generally the way I work, but, there's always exceptions.

So, I will go out on the 14b next year to see if I can edge Nate Crisman's long standing run of 11.44. At that time I expect pneumo to be running about 11.25 on his 14b.....right in the arena I think I can squeeze out of my talon with a few minor changes. If he and I can get a healthy battle going in the LOW 11's, that may keep fueling the 14b fire. If I go out and the added weight of the rollbar combined with not much more performance out of the car with the cams and/or the ETS FMIC keeps me at or above 11.49, I really don't have a choice but to go with one of the above scenarios if I want to run quicker 1/4 mile times.

Keep in mind that some of the hypothetical costs of some of the above mentioned items will easily buy me some Wilwood brakes from TCE, some sick 17 X 9 inch wheels and some roadrace slicks......and there's the crossroads....which way will I go?


Almost makes me sick to think about it, but, what will be, will be.

Thanks for reading guys.......

 

[Gooberlog]

Well with winter peaking around the corner, it looks like you'll have plenty of time to think these things over. There might be some long cold nights in the garage this winter. I'm still plugging along to beat my old 14b record with the laser before i pull it off.

 

[SBstar]

A true crossroads. Nevertheless whatever you choose, you've done amazing things with the 14b and have paved a path for little turbo tuning! How many people with much much larger setups have not even been able to come close to what you're doing!?!?!

Make a run with Dave next year, see how far it goes and go from there. Seems to me your heart is set on doing some road course style stuff, I can't blame you, it's more fun then going in a straight line. I honestly don't think a dsm is the best platform for it, but it's what you know, and of course they say the same thing about the 14b not being the best "platform" for going fast right?

 

[Phil1320]

Well with winter peaking around the corner, it looks like you'll have plenty of time to think these things over. There might be some long cold nights in the garage this winter. I'm still plugging along to beat my old 14b record with the laser before i pull it off.

True, definitely have tons of time to think it over. Once the extreme cold hits, there will be no work on the car at all. I just exhausted the cash for the FMIC with the purchase of tires, all new timing belt stuff, water pump, and front axle CV boots for the Galant. So, I'm one step back on the talon already. I'm sure you will beat 12.42.....and again, you don't NEED to do anything with the car at all, just improve your driving and that's it! However, if your trans needs more work......obviously you'd want to get that rectified.

A true crossroads. Nevertheless whatever you choose, you've done amazing things with the 14b and have paved a path for little turbo tuning! How many people with much much larger setups have not even been able to come close to what you're doing!?!?!

Make a run with Dave next year, see how far it goes and go from there. Seems to me your heart is set on doing some road course style stuff, I can't blame you, it's more fun then going in a straight line. I honestly don't think a dsm is the best platform for it, but it's what you know, and of course they say the same thing about the 14b not being the best "platform" for going fast right?

That's the tentative plan, but, truthfully, I may not even get the rollbar and new seat and harness in there for next year, which means, no racing it all. And quite honestly, I'm fine with that.

No doubt, if someone had the pick of cars for track days, noone would pick a 1G DSM. Sure, Miata, Corvette, 911, and numerous cars are better platforms, but I could care less about that. Half the guys out there with the "better platforms" can't drive for shit or are too scared to push a bit. Even though I only run for fun on track days and it isn't a race, I gave plenty of guys some fits trying to catch me in the EVO, and even in the Forester at the shorter 1.5 mile Lime Rock Park. I had guys in Vipers and Mustangs giving me props because the only place they could get me was on the straights. Now, that's with a Forester with a cat back probably putting down maybe 185 AWHP, my EVO had a down pipe and cat-back, with the stock cat still on the car, so maybe 245 AWHP. Forester 3300 lbs and EVO at about 3300 also. Now, we take a 2400 lb car, my talon, back the boost down to 16 and still make 280 HP at the ground. Anyone that was near me or running quicker than me by a couple of seconds will be dust in the wind, so it should still be quick even though not the best set-up. The speed differential will be huge, as well as braking as the car is so light. I've got the camber plates for adjustment up front and the Polk A-arms would provide even more. Sure, it's still not an M3 or a Lotus Elise, but it will get the job done and can still learn a bunch. I've been driving FWD cars since I got my license and AWD since '96. If we still had our Z06 Vette, I'd be out learning some RWD technique, but, I wouldn't be able to take the traction control off because I'd be afraid of tossing it into the woods.

The other thing is that I've been driving cars I owe money on at the track days, and they were my daily drivers. That is kinda the point of some track days, to get your street car out there so that you can see how the car reacts to certain things that may help you on the street. I would feel much better about circling the track in a car that doesn't need to get me to work the following week.

Anyway, I'd use the Galant as the daily/track day car, but, I have no cash to throw at that if I plan to do anything to the talon. I kinda like the fact that the VR4 is just bone stock....and it still cost me some extra cash just to get the maintenance up to date.

So.......I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the accomplishments like you said, and think about what the plan will be. Right now, I'm only speculating, the more I think, the more I want to do absolutely nothing to the talon at all as far as drag racing goes. I say that I'll be out next year, but then, I regress and wonder if I will be or not.

If not, I'll pop some Orville Redenbocker's and watch what else goes on with all you guys.......

 

[bullettdsm]

10's would be nice.......that will be my final goal most likely......just wondering if I'll need a 16G variant to get there.

Stop that....

I'd like to see what an E16G would do on your car.

....I said cut it out....

phil, i would love to see what this car can do with a e16g! .

....enough already......

You know, I have many people around here that want to see the same thing, me included......

-stay on the 14b

-add NOS to the 14b

-build motor and stay on 14b

-bolt on E316G no, no, no


............decisions, decisions

We gotta get you to a shrink


Well, I guess its obvious where my vote lies .

I just don't know that I can somehow reduce ET another .50 to give me a 10.99. I'm definitely trying to work out a strategy to see what I can do.

Agreed, that will be difficult/impossible to do on the fully stock, uncracked, unsprayed motor.

I most likely really can't get the car out of the hole much better.....maybe low 1.4's but that most likely will not net me much at all on the other end of the track.

Agreed, gonna be real, real difficult at this power level to get into the 1.3's. I'm thinking beer can here. Just too much inertia to overcome. 1.4's are quite impressive, 1.3's?

So, I've got a tough task now. Depending on what I'm able to pull together for next year, the initial goal is to run better than the 11.49 and maybe edge Nate's 11.44. That's probably the most I can ask for at this early stage. I think 2 tenths would be an accomplishment next year, so 11.29.........................

What do you guys think?

Agreed as well. I'm a big proponent of raising your goals high. But don't try to raise them to an unreachable level. That just makes for disappointment in well deserved accomplishments. I would put breaking into the 10's as the long term goal.

Couple of things to put out there; as for the turbo itself. It may do you some good to shoot your turbo over to Robert. BUT keep in mind that you are over 300awhp on a 14b. How much more would you expect to see out of her IF you got her rebuilt? If we're talking port/clip/alter her a bit then that's one thing. If we're just looking at a rebuild.....I'd discuss that with him.

Slicks are always a balance of launch and trap speed. You may try to put back a couple of pounds to get a few hundredths out. Its possible.

Weight, as we all know, is a biggie. I know that a 3 gallon cell will help you up front [weight transference to the front [which isn't all that important for AWD, but I believe it is better]/overall weight loss/ less movement of fuel) but I'm thinking for the cost and time, the savings will be minimal.

You and I agree on the spray. Leave that to Turbo Tony

Gotta hit up the engine. Get those cams in there. They should give you more peak power, more power up top and more power under the curve (if somebody did their job right). Put the bigger front mount on there and check her out at that point (I'm sure there are a couple of things we discussed that I am forgetting right now, but those two things, plus some weight savings, should help).

Now you haven't even gone into fine tuning (i.e. DSMLink...er...ECMLink etc.). I honestly don't know if it will even help you, but that option has not been tried yet.

I think there's a little bit more to do that's not THAT pricey, before you really start getting into goofy things.

Just a little dos dinero's from a goofy Polack.

MB

 

[Gooberlog]

bulletdsm
that's funny stuff

 

[Phil1320]

Stop that....

....I said cut it out....

....enough already......


We gotta get you to a shrink


Well, I guess its obvious where my vote lies .




Agreed, that will be difficult/impossible to do on the fully stock, uncracked, unsprayed motor.



Agreed, gonna be real, real difficult at this power level to get into the 1.3's. I'm thinking beer can here. Just too much inertia to overcome. 1.4's are quite impressive, 1.3's?



Agreed as well. I'm a big proponent of raising your goals high. But don't try to raise them to an unreachable level. That just makes for disappointment in well deserved accomplishments. I would put breaking into the 10's as the long term goal.

Couple of things to put out there; as for the turbo itself. It may do you some good to shoot your turbo over to Robert. BUT keep in mind that you are over 300awhp on a 14b. How much more would you expect to see out of her IF you got her rebuilt? If we're talking port/clip/alter her a bit then that's one thing. If we're just looking at a rebuild.....I'd discuss that with him.

Slicks are always a balance of launch and trap speed. You may try to put back a couple of pounds to get a few hundredths out. Its possible.

Weight, as we all know, is a biggie. I know that a 3 gallon cell will help you up front [weight transference to the front [which isn't all that important for AWD, but I believe it is better]/overall weight loss/ less movement of fuel) but I'm thinking for the cost and time, the savings will be minimal.

You and I agree on the spray. Leave that to Turbo Tony

Gotta hit up the engine. Get those cams in there. They should give you more peak power, more power up top and more power under the curve (if somebody did their job right). Put the bigger front mount on there and check her out at that point (I'm sure there are a couple of things we discussed that I am forgetting right now, but those two things, plus some weight savings, should help).

Now you haven't even gone into fine tuning (i.e. DSMLink...er...ECMLink etc.). I honestly don't know if it will even help you, but that option has not been tried yet.

I think there's a little bit more to do that's not THAT pricey, before you really start getting into goofy things.

Just a little dos dinero's from a goofy Polack.

MB

This was funny!

True, I don't think even a 1.40 60' will make much of a difference at the 1/4. 1.3's would be killer, but, not a goal of mine per se'.

I'd try throwing a bit more pressure in the slicks to try to pick up tenth or two at the top of the track, while hopefully hittin similar 60' times.

I made 304 AWHP - UNCORRECTED....my corrected number is 295. I'm not sure what any tweaks to the turbo would do for me at all. Clipping they say is a good thing at the top of the track as more exhaust gas can escape, but, I never wanted to clip because of the throttle response loss, that was when the car was a street car......wouldn't be good for the roadcourse either. Robert did recommend clipping and did want me to send the turbo to him for inspection and such. The compressor outlet can also be ported to help flow. So there are some tweaks to the turbo to do

If the motor was built and tuned as well as pneumo's, 320 plus at the wheels is possible. I bet Joe B's FWD did 330-350 at the wheels, even as light as he was, the 126 MPH traps suggests that type of power to move 2200 lbs. down the track with that kind of speed.

Yes, I think a DSMlink, or AEM would help out quite a bit with getting ALL the power potential out of the car. It might be worth 10 horsepower, who knows?

I could lose the MAF entirely, or have thought about the GM MAF blowthrough that may also help, but, it's a matter of how much? Again, who knows?

So, your vote is obviously to keep the 14b on the car Well, your vote will prevail, not quite in the fashion that you or me are/were thinking.

OK GUYS, HERE'S THE CURVEBALL.............

..........I wasn't and won't get into this as much as I thought I might, but, beating around the bush a little, here's the deal:

I won't get TOO personal, to summarize:

I was laid off my job LAST December, found a new job in January, was laid off that job at the end of March. I have not been able to regain employment since. It has been pretty tough to say the least. I'll leave it at that. A few other things have come into play, the last one just this morning. With all of that, unless things change drastically for me between now and January:

There is NO chance that a rollbar will be installed in my Talon for next year. Therefore, I will not be drag racing the car. Before all this other stuff we're talking about can even be realistic, the car needs to meet the safety standard required to run.

I'm sorry to be a bit vague, but, I feel I have divulged enough to make the point and let you guys understand the situation.

Unfortunately, I am still suffering some blows to my ego, my character, and my bank account. As stated above, this morning waking up to another, which has prompted this post.

Well, that's it. I have not started a blog about me and the talon for the main reason that I thought things may come to this. No use really getting into anything if there is no/minimal chance that I'll run next year.

I believe things can change for the better, but, they still haven't and certain things are much worse. There are a few other factors at work here that I'm not at liberty to discuss at this time.

I'm sorry to report this. DSMtuners is a place where we come to discuss the hobby we love and to report and congratulate accomplishments with our awesome cars. Sorry to change that tone

Hopefully, things will turn around...

 

[Gooberlog]

I can feel ya Phil. Our lives have mimicked each others for the past 10 years or so.
Fall of 2002 we both found dsmtuners, a few years later we both got in to sport bikes. We both had a motorcycle accident and went back to dsms around 08/09, we both lost our jobs late 2008.

The job situation is definitely tough. I have been working part time since January and have been applying to different police departments for about two years now. I don't know what i would do if it wasn't for my wife.

 

[Phil1320]

I can feel ya Phil. Our lives have mimicked each others for the past 10 years or so.
Fall of 2002 we both found dsmtuners, a few years later we both got in to sport bikes. We both had a motorcycle accident and went back to dsms around 08/09, we both lost our jobs late 2008.

The job situation is definitely tough. I have been working part time since January and have been applying to different police departments for about two years now. I don't know what i would do if it wasn't for my wife.

You are right....they really have.....

......it is really tough, and unforgiving to say the least.

And, kudos to your last line. I don't know what I'd do either man.....

 

[SBstar]

I can feel ya Phil. Our lives have mimicked each others for the past 10 years or so.
Fall of 2002 we both found dsmtuners, a few years later we both got in to sport bikes. We both had a motorcycle accident and went back to dsms around 08/09, we both lost our jobs late 2008.

The job situation is definitely tough. I have been working part time since January and have been applying to different police departments for about two years now. I don't know what i would do if it wasn't for my wife.

Didn't know you worked in law enforcement as well! Hope someone picks you up quick!

Phil,
I think anyone can understand financial burdens and pressures right now, I thank God everyday that I still have my job and can continue to go to work, we've had quite a few scares and this economical situation doesn't look like it's going to change soon so we're bound to have more. I hope and pray for you and your family that things will start looking up into the other direction. Car's and hobbies come second behind everything else, as much as we'd like to see your car out there breaking records and laying down awesome times we all can understand when you don't have the finances to keep it going. Good luck!

 

[bullettdsm]

OK GUYS, HERE'S THE CURVEBALL............. the economy got me like many others in the country........
Hopefully, things will turn around...

I think all across the country we're all hoping the same thing. Some of us are fortunate enough to still have a job. But believe me, even though I'm the big fish in our little pond where I work, I'm concerned everyday I go in. Everyday I go in to see if the place is locked up, .

Phil, you know coming from me, this isn't to minimize your situation. On the contrary, its to let you know that you are one of many successful and strong people who are also in the same boat - and just hoping to stay afloat until she turns around

Hang steady, my man.

MB

 

[Phil1320]

Didn't know you worked in law enforcement as well! Hope someone picks you up quick!

Phil,
I think anyone can understand financial burdens and pressures right now, I thank God everyday that I still have my job and can continue to go to work, we've had quite a few scares and this economical situation doesn't look like it's going to change soon so we're bound to have more. I hope and pray for you and your family that things will start looking up into the other direction. Car's and hobbies come second behind everything else, as much as we'd like to see your car out there breaking records and laying down awesome times we all can understand when you don't have the finances to keep it going. Good luck!

Thanks Shane, means alot. I will do my very best to be positive and hope things change for the better. It would be one thing if I could just go back out next year without changing anything, you know maybe eek out another tenth as the car sits, but as states elsewhere, I have a safety reg to meet and that's gonna cost. Anyway, I will see what happens and maybe I'll eat my words come next year. I have some things to tend to and if I can rectify them, then and only then can I think about spending anything on the car.

I think all across the country we're all hoping the same thing. Some of us are fortunate enough to still have a job. But believe me, even though I'm the big fish in our little pond where I work, I'm concerned everyday I go in. Everyday I go in to see if the place is locked up, .

Phil, you know coming from me, this isn't to minimize your situation. On the contrary, its to let you know that you are one of many successful and strong people who are also in the same boat - and just hoping to stay afloat until she turns around

Hang steady, my man.

MB

It's true, companies make decisions very fast when they are backed into a corner or see the sales charts plummet month in and month out. I hope your job is safe. My brother in law just made it through the 3rd round of lay-offs this year, so I'm sure he arrives at work everyday in similar fashion to you. It's gotta be frustrating and a bit frightening as well. I know you're not tryng to downplay my situation, but with that little bit you added into my quote, yeah, I'm one of many. So, thanks for the world, Mark!

 

[Gooberlog]

Didn't know you worked in law enforcement as well! Hope someone picks you up quick!

Have been trying to become a cop for a couple years now. As hard as it has been to get selected, now with all of the unemployed increases, you can imagine that many more people are now competing with me for the job i want since it has govt. benefits and starting pay over 40-50k w/ no experience necessary. Everything works out in the end though. Stay positive everyone.

 

[Phil1320]

Whelp.....a bit more bad news:

Just found out that my 11.49 run had been taped over. My buddy Doug who taped a few of my runs was using an old-school tape video cam that was a friends. The camera was at their garage and one of the guys decided he'd pick up the camera and take some video of his engine compartment without first checking the tape. Of course, it taped over my 11.49 run. Doug went there to review the tape, saw this, and then after you see the 11.49 up on the boards with no run before it. The kicker, is this is a group of Honda guys. So, we have some lame ass Honda powerplant in place of my run. Awesome.

On a positive note, he has a clean vid of my 11.66 run, my first run of the day. It's a 1.54 60' with a 7.41 1/8. He was up in the tower announcing for most of the day after that, and was able to catch my last run, the 11.49. We had another vid taken of my last run, and the camera refuses access to the disc. So, two cameras on the 11.49 run, zero videos! Ahhh, what can you do? They both tried.

I know that Doug made the guy feel a bit bad about the tape over and let him know he taped over a "record run." Dougs words I told Doug that I wished the guy a broken axle shaft at his next drag strip launch Douchebag.

So, hopefully, we'll have an 11.66 run to watch soon

 

[SBstar]

Dang, can't catch a break eh! It'll be nice to see an 11.66 run either way, have him attach that 11.49 on the board to the end of the video anyways, it'll be like a teaser haha!

 

[Phil1320]

Stay positive everyone.

Totally trying to for sure.....hopefully everything will turn for the better in 2010.


I've considering becoming an officer several times. I never went for it though. Good luck!

Dang, can't catch a break eh! It'll be nice to see an 11.66 run either way, have him attach that 11.49 on the board to the end of the video anyways, it'll be like a teaser haha!

It's always something. I suggested to him that he attach the "11.49" to the vid if he can......waiting on a message back......

Hell, I still haven't told the story of what it took to get to the strip the last time....

I will. Soon. And I have some other miscellaneous info to post about the car and my times over the years.

Just been working on getting the Galant finished. Timing belt, water pump, balance belt, new tensioner, and pullies, crank seal(was leaking pretty bad,) front axle boots, spark plugs, PCV, trans fluid. Should be done later today and ready to register and finally drive. So, that should be cool. Gotta get the slicks off the talon, with the cold nights they are on rapid deflate. That's it.

 

[Gooberlog]

Just been working on getting the Galant finished. Timing belt, water pump, balance belt, new tensioner, and pullies, crank seal(was leaking pretty bad,) front axle boots, spark plugs, PCV, trans fluid. Should be done later today and ready to register and finally drive. So, that should be cool. Gotta get the slicks off the talon, with the cold nights they are on rapid deflate. That's it.

When it's on a car that you're really interested in, isn't it a lot of fun getting it all tuned up and maintained. When I first started freshening up the laser when it was all original, I really had a good time making it new again.
My buddies garage where i do my work, he has a LT1 camaro and the slicks on that thing are also on the rapid deflate program. If he fails to swap out the street wheels/tires, i get to pump them up every time i pull the car out of the garage.

 

[Phil1320]

When it's on a car that you're really interested in, isn't it a lot of fun getting it all tuned up and maintained. When I first started freshening up the laser when it was all original, I really had a good time making it new again.
My buddies garage where i do my work, he has a LT1 camaro and the slicks on that thing are also on the rapid deflate program. If he fails to swap out the street wheels/tires, i get to pump them up every time i pull the car out of the garage.

It's been a bit more work and money than I expected, but, it's coming along well. I do like the fact that it will be "freshened" to an extent. Picked up spark plugs and new PCV this morning. Coolant and transmission fluid should be the last things to purchase...I hope. I have not looked at the air filter yet, once all the above is done, then I'll check that out, and see how dirty the throttle body is. Next season I'll pull the intercooler and rinse it with gasoline, and put a breather can in there. The car arrives with almost brand new brake pads front and rear and a newer right rear caliper as the original owner told me about having to replace it due to seizing. He never told me that all the pads were pretty new, so that's cool. Heading out to set tension on the t-belt and pull the pin. Have to torque the axle bolts as well and wrap that up. So, hopefully, by the end of the week or early next week, I can actually drive the thing! And, yes, I gotta get the slicks off the talon!

 

[Gooberlog]

Glad the galant is coming along well. Yeah for some reason i feel that the laser was more expensive for upkeep parts than it was with the Talon. Then again, i was living at home with mom when i had the talon.

 

[Phil1320]

Glad the galant is coming along well. Yeah for some reason i feel that the laser was more expensive for upkeep parts than it was with the Talon. Then again, i was living at home with mom when i had the talon.

Thanks man! I'm actually getting sick of working on it now and want to drive it pretty bad. It' about finished, I got held up on some other things today, but the accessory pullies/belts need to go on, motor mount, etc. load the fluids and fire it up. I didn't do the valve cover gasket yet, it's a bit leaky on the back of the motor, but DRY at the cam gears. The cheapest I could find was $35 and average retail was $50. Thankfully, a buddy of mine works at NAPA! So, it's coming close to being done and I'm sure I'll have some other stuff I want to replace like the fuel filter and injector o-rings, the basics. But, I have to hope that for now, it's ready to go. Ok, well, the oil feed line crush washers seem to be leaking, I have extras, so I'll do that when I do a fresh oil change. The oil was just changed a few hundred miles ago, about 1 month before the car was shipped here, so that saves too for now.

I hope it's a fun car. Even in bone stock trim.

PS-- everything seems cheaper when you live at home, it was great! That is gone for good now!

 

[Capegaj]

Hey guys, I just wanted to give a shout out to such a great and amazing site! I have been an avid follower of DSM and drag related events for quite some time now and due to a past DSM project car build I was introduced to Phil Beers when he was working at XXTuning in East Hartford, CT. Phil and I have become great friends since running into each other. I could not find a better mentor, friend and big bro than him. He introduced to this site and I'm very happy to see very familiar names as well. Phil has re-introduced me into the hobby of car projects, drag racing and road coarse racing which I fell out on interest for the better part of nearly 10 years. I am very proud to see his enthusiam for drag racing pay off in the result of his 11.49 pass with his Talon. Truly amazing accomplishment from all the time, dedication and hard work he has put into the car! Congrats to him on all of his automotive and racing endeavors. I hope to see you all at DSM based events and at the races!

 

[Phil1320]

Hey guys, I just wanted to give a shout out to such a great and amazing site! I have been an avid follower of DSM and drag related events for quite some time now and due to a past DSM project car build I was introduced to Phil Beers when he was working at XXTuning in East Hartford, CT. Phil and I have become great friends since running into each other. I could not find a better mentor, friend and big bro than him. He introduced to this site and I'm very happy to see very familiar names as well. Phil has re-introduced me into the hobby of car projects, drag racing and road coarse racing which I fell out on interest for the better part of nearly 10 years. I am very proud to see his enthusiam for drag racing pay off in the result of his 11.49 pass with his Talon. Truly amazing accomplishment from all the time, dedication and hard work he has put into the car! Congrats to him on all of his automotive and racing endeavors. I hope to see you all at DSM based events and at the races!

Jumbo, first, I'm glad to see you up here! Second, thanks alot for the killer words man! I appreciate it greatly! I hope I'll somehow be able to make it out next year and that you'll be able to get to the track with me if it's possible.

There are a few things that I can do to the car that will not cost any money as I have the parts, and there is some weight reduction that I can still do, unbelieveably. So, I will keep working on the car in anticipation of being able to make it out next year. It will keep me positive anyway.

Thanks again and I hope to see you up here more often!

 

[Gooberlog]

Hey i just saw dsmtuners.com is now selling the 2010 dsm Calendars and congratulations on getting the cover photo Phil! The car looks great. I guess maybe the moderators do listen to the people since all of us were chiming in our votes that your car make it. Didn't even think about making the cover. I think i would buy two if i were you, one to use as a calendar and one to frame the cover page as your achievements.

 

[Phil1320]

Hey i just saw dsmtuners.com is now selling the 2010 dsm Calendars and congratulations on getting the cover photo Phil! The car looks great. I guess maybe the moderators do listen to the people since all of us were chiming in our votes that your car make it. Didn't even think about making the cover. I think i would buy two if i were you, one to use as a calendar and one to frame the cover page as your achievements.

Trav---- I came up here this morning and saw that and I had a grin from ear-to-ear.....I couldn't believe it either! I'm super psyched! And, I never even thought about the cover at all. Thanks for the props! I will buy several of the calendars for sure! I have to thank ludachris as well! The pic is from July when the car went [email protected].

UPDATE GALANT:It has been fired up and all is well so far. I have to get my insurance card emailed over and go temp register, emissions, VIN verification, and DRIVE IT! Actually, I've driven it about .4 miles, just up and down the street. There are a few small issues that need to be ironed out:

Left rear 1/4 window lets a little water in with a healthy direct blast from the hose, noticed it while washing the car yesterday. It has been a problem before as you can see some of the sealer thay used at the edge of the molding on both rear 1/4 windows, the passenger is dry. I touched a bit of it and it seems its never cured, but I guess that stuff doesn't harden obviously. I'm gonna try some clear RTV just under the edge of the molding to see if I can get it to stop without removing the window.

The other thing is that the reverse lights don't work. I still have a switch on my original Talon trans that I will swap out and try. I looked at both bulbs and they look good....I'll try some other bulbs as well first.

Other than that we are sitting pretty. I hate to remove the aircan and all that to replace the reverse switch as ALL the original ties are still intact at the intercooler piping etc. I've got a pic of it, all original. And some pics of the car all cleaned up and ready to go: