Grand Touring?
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Grand Touring?
As I spend more time reading here, it strikes me that there seem to be more or less three groups of people here.
1) The stockers - People who keep their car more or less stock and enjoy it without any major modifications. They may attend club events and put theirs in the occasional show, but nothing serious.
2) The racers - These are the people with the 700 hp engines, roll cages and a constant search for a wilder cam.
3) The showcars - These are the cars with more money invested painting the engine compartment than most have on the entire car. They open the hood and you need sunglasses to avoid being blinded.
But I'm in a forth group that's rarely mentioned. I want a GT car. I want a car modified to be the best long distance runner possible. That means I'm willing to give up some performance for some comfort. I want QUIET and I'm willing to spend bucks to get it. I've done the frost king insulation mod, but now I want even more quiet. How can I make this thing REALLY tight and quiet? I want NAV and good sound. I'm looking at the Pioneer AVIC unit. What other mods can you make to improve the quality of the car for long-distance travel?
1) The stockers - People who keep their car more or less stock and enjoy it without any major modifications. They may attend club events and put theirs in the occasional show, but nothing serious.
2) The racers - These are the people with the 700 hp engines, roll cages and a constant search for a wilder cam.
3) The showcars - These are the cars with more money invested painting the engine compartment than most have on the entire car. They open the hood and you need sunglasses to avoid being blinded.
But I'm in a forth group that's rarely mentioned. I want a GT car. I want a car modified to be the best long distance runner possible. That means I'm willing to give up some performance for some comfort. I want QUIET and I'm willing to spend bucks to get it. I've done the frost king insulation mod, but now I want even more quiet. How can I make this thing REALLY tight and quiet? I want NAV and good sound. I'm looking at the Pioneer AVIC unit. What other mods can you make to improve the quality of the car for long-distance travel?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 536
Likes: 3
From: bel air md
groups
As I spend more time reading here, it strikes me that there seem to be more or less three groups of people here.
1) The stockers - People who keep their car more or less stock and enjoy it without any major modifications. They may attend club events and put theirs in the occasional show, but nothing serious.
2) The racers - These are the people with the 700 hp engines, roll cages and a constant search for a wilder cam.
3) The showcars - These are the cars with more money invested painting the engine compartment than most have on the entire car. They open the hood and you need sunglasses to avoid being blinded.
But I'm in a forth group that's rarely mentioned. I want a GT car. I want a car modified to be the best long distance runner possible. That means I'm willing to give up some performance for some comfort. I want QUIET and I'm willing to spend bucks to get it. I've done the frost king insulation mod, but now I want even more quiet. How can I make this thing REALLY tight and quiet? I want NAV and good sound. I'm looking at the Pioneer AVIC unit. What other mods can you make to improve the quality of the car for long-distance travel?
1) The stockers - People who keep their car more or less stock and enjoy it without any major modifications. They may attend club events and put theirs in the occasional show, but nothing serious.
2) The racers - These are the people with the 700 hp engines, roll cages and a constant search for a wilder cam.
3) The showcars - These are the cars with more money invested painting the engine compartment than most have on the entire car. They open the hood and you need sunglasses to avoid being blinded.
But I'm in a forth group that's rarely mentioned. I want a GT car. I want a car modified to be the best long distance runner possible. That means I'm willing to give up some performance for some comfort. I want QUIET and I'm willing to spend bucks to get it. I've done the frost king insulation mod, but now I want even more quiet. How can I make this thing REALLY tight and quiet? I want NAV and good sound. I'm looking at the Pioneer AVIC unit. What other mods can you make to improve the quality of the car for long-distance travel?
think there is 1 more group-part time racer/traveler/shower. has clean car,drives over 7k a year(5 months a yr) takes to track few times a yr,has engine/exterior/interior mods and makes noise.just my $.02 worth
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
I think that would more or less apply to the first group. They just don't do it enough to be serious about it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 430
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I bought the Corvette because I could drive it every day (150 mile round trip,) take long distance trips while getting great mileage (let's see a Ferrari return 25mpg at 80 mph,) do the odd track day every couple of months and attend car shows as a participant, not an observer.
My first "mod" (because there were a list of repairs prior to it) was to install a Pioneer deck that would work with my iPod...because no iPod and the car would have been up for sale the next day.
The day I bought my car I left for a 1000 mile road trip. 2 weeks later I drove it to a funeral in Nebraska and got to learn about skiing the Vette in Utah.
Great car that does it all and uses (reasonably) inexpensive parts. (my friend spent $600 for front brakes on his Boxster.)
Rad
Melting Slicks
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From: Butler PA
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From: Colesville MD
But I'm in a forth group that's rarely mentioned. I want a GT car. I want a car modified to be the best long distance runner possible. That means I'm willing to give up some performance for some comfort. I want QUIET and I'm willing to spend bucks to get it. I've done the frost king insulation mod, but now I want even more quiet. How can I make this thing REALLY tight and quiet? I want NAV and good sound. I'm looking at the Pioneer AVIC unit. What other mods can you make to improve the quality of the car for long-distance travel?
While the frost king helps some, it's more a thermal barrier than a sound barrier. Look to products like Dynamat Xtreme, or Brown Bread. These products were designed for noise and vibration supression. Installing these materials under the Frost King should make a nice difference.
There are also products sold in aerosol form that are sound dampners. I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know they're out there. They would work well in hard to reach areas.
Do you still have the run flats? If so, a non run flat tire would be quieter, but then you leave your self open to flats...
If you go with the AVIC unit, you should consider upgrading your speakers and getting and amp at the same time. That along with some further sound dampners and you should see a noticable difference. Of course, it's never going to be a Lexus, but hey, they aren't as fun to drive either!
Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
A few ideas for you:
While the frost king helps some, it's more a thermal barrier than a sound barrier. Look to products like Dynamat Xtreme, or Brown Bread. These products were designed for noise and vibration supression. Installing these materials under the Frost King should make a nice difference.
There are also products sold in aerosol form that are sound dampners. I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know they're out there. They would work well in hard to reach areas.
Do you still have the run flats? If so, a non run flat tire would be quieter, but then you leave your self open to flats...
If you go with the AVIC unit, you should consider upgrading your speakers and getting and amp at the same time. That along with some further sound dampners and you should see a noticable difference. Of course, it's never going to be a Lexus, but hey, they aren't as fun to drive either!
While the frost king helps some, it's more a thermal barrier than a sound barrier. Look to products like Dynamat Xtreme, or Brown Bread. These products were designed for noise and vibration supression. Installing these materials under the Frost King should make a nice difference.
There are also products sold in aerosol form that are sound dampners. I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know they're out there. They would work well in hard to reach areas.
Do you still have the run flats? If so, a non run flat tire would be quieter, but then you leave your self open to flats...
If you go with the AVIC unit, you should consider upgrading your speakers and getting and amp at the same time. That along with some further sound dampners and you should see a noticable difference. Of course, it's never going to be a Lexus, but hey, they aren't as fun to drive either!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Belhaven North Carolina
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Clever, MO aka SOMO
I'm definitely a long distance GT cruiser type too, with some minor mods thrown in the mix. I love my road trips from San Diego to Kansas City and back every other year to see my sons. Great mileage and great comfort in my ol' '98 coupe!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Sarasota Florida
Check out this site. Great price, light weight and fantastic customer service: http://www.raamaudio.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Navarre FL
Check out this site. Great price, light weight and fantastic customer service: http://www.raamaudio.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi
Rick is great to work with. I installed the RAAMmat and ensolite in my Z and it made a big difference. The only place I used any frost king is on the tunnel, over top of the raammat and ensolite. Good stuff, total weight was about 40lbs.
Advanced
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I guess I fall in the first group. Wanted a Vette for years and through a combination of factors I was lucky enough to finally get one I've done lots of mods but mainly to appearance and function - leather console covers, rocker rails; that type of thing. No performance mods. Apart from anything else I'd never get insurance on a modified Vette here in England.
Not group 2. Wouldn't dare track it because I know I'd blow something first time out of the gate. To fix that in England would be a nightmare.
Not group 3 because even the mods I've done have to be approved by "The Management". Bling would cause way too much stress in my life
Not group 2. Wouldn't dare track it because I know I'd blow something first time out of the gate. To fix that in England would be a nightmare.
Not group 3 because even the mods I've done have to be approved by "The Management". Bling would cause way too much stress in my life
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Sarasota Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Sound insulation, a solid top (if targa), and careful consideration of tire selection (for lowest noise) should make it a lot quieter. Plus a completely stock engine. Silicone grease on the door and window seals to keep them supple, and proper alignment.
Or do like me. Put a set of headers and B&B Bullets on it and head for the horizon (see sig)! When the exhaust gets too loud, turn up the stereo. Problem solved.
Or do like me. Put a set of headers and B&B Bullets on it and head for the horizon (see sig)! When the exhaust gets too loud, turn up the stereo. Problem solved.
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Thread Starter
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Roswell Ga
That's the one thing I won't do. I LOVE the idea of NOT laying in the mud trying to get a jack under my lowered car and then hoping I can find the nail, pull it out and then plug the hole. No thank you.