Phoenix Update
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Below the Mason/Dixon Line Alabama
Phoenix Update
I've now had the car back for a couple of weeks. In that time it's been driven in town, to work, on road trips, and on the track.
The engine just gets better and better. It idles fine around town, has absolutely tons of power which comes on very smoothly when asked, and has absolutely no major down-side as far as I can tell. This is really the way the car should have been all along.
We've taken the opportunity to make a few other changes. The Hotchkiss folks were kind enough to replace the broken bar with their newest setup which is vastly different from its predecessors. It has a lot of adjustability, and much improved end links (rear bar). We spent some time tuning this and ended up with incredible handling: coupled with Bilsteins, stronger springs, and F1 Supercar Tires, the car turns in like a knife and is about as neutral as it gets. Steering with the throttle is always great fun, and this engine makes that easy.
Also updated the sound system: new high end head unit driving an ADS four channel amp and 2 pairs of ADS speakers. I know its heresy, but I'm not sure which sounds best-the stereo or the exhaust. As an aside the combination of Kooks 1 7/8 headers, 3" pipes and GHL quads is killer: a bit loud in the cockpit, but no resonance and a ferocious idle and WOT scream.
The engine just gets better and better. It idles fine around town, has absolutely tons of power which comes on very smoothly when asked, and has absolutely no major down-side as far as I can tell. This is really the way the car should have been all along.
We've taken the opportunity to make a few other changes. The Hotchkiss folks were kind enough to replace the broken bar with their newest setup which is vastly different from its predecessors. It has a lot of adjustability, and much improved end links (rear bar). We spent some time tuning this and ended up with incredible handling: coupled with Bilsteins, stronger springs, and F1 Supercar Tires, the car turns in like a knife and is about as neutral as it gets. Steering with the throttle is always great fun, and this engine makes that easy.
Also updated the sound system: new high end head unit driving an ADS four channel amp and 2 pairs of ADS speakers. I know its heresy, but I'm not sure which sounds best-the stereo or the exhaust. As an aside the combination of Kooks 1 7/8 headers, 3" pipes and GHL quads is killer: a bit loud in the cockpit, but no resonance and a ferocious idle and WOT scream.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 929
Likes: 1
From: West Palm Beach FL
Sweet! Glad to hear everything is still going well. I just finished painting my Bilstein shocks and Z06 sway-bars. So I have those to install as well as Z06 springs probably today or tomorrow. Our cars are going to be brothers.. A4 to M6.. blue to red.. same engines 
Not sure when I'm bringing my car into Cartek for the install. Hopefully soon though. I'm all excited.
Not sure when I'm bringing my car into Cartek for the install. Hopefully soon though. I'm all excited.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Below the Mason/Dixon Line Alabama
Originally Posted by jdetar
Sweet! Glad to hear everything is still going well. I just finished painting my Bilstein shocks and Z06 sway-bars. So I have those to install as well as Z06 springs probably today or tomorrow. Our cars are going to be brothers.. A4 to M6.. blue to red.. same engines
Not sure when I'm bringing my car into Cartek for the install. Hopefully soon though. I'm all excited.
Not sure when I'm bringing my car into Cartek for the install. Hopefully soon though. I'm all excited.
You'll love the engine. It just seems to get better every day. As we've discussed it certainly needs a little attention when toodling around in traffic: nothing bad, in fact probably much more civilized than some of the tweaked H/C packages that are out there. Other than that it is just great: smooth linear power, no bad manners except to spin the tires in 5 gears if you really get on it (a nice problem to have!!)
You're right, our cars will be brothers under the skin. We should try to find a common venue (show, race?) and get together. I'm trying to get Dave or Julio down here as well (lots of shows and racing in the summer); it would make for a fun reunion.
Hope you get underway soon.
Regards.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 929
Likes: 1
From: West Palm Beach FL
Thanks! and yeah definitely.. not sure what shows/races I'll be attending this year but I'll at least be doing some of the CCWP events and I go to my local drag strip every now and then. Hopefully going to try a little autocross and maybe even roadracing this year. We'll see!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 487
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From: Below the Mason/Dixon Line Alabama
Originally Posted by DoctorV8
Damned impressive numbers. What's the compression ratio?
