Thats such a great cinimatic pictureFun time weekend! COTA again, this time with moar powaaaaaa!!!View attachment 24202
Thats such a great cinimatic pictureFun time weekend! COTA again, this time with moar powaaaaaa!!!View attachment 24202
Is that a pink NSX? I don't mind the color, just can't see what's exactly hiding in the darkness! Pretty cool pic!
Well, while Mr.Stockish had fun blasting around the track, on the same Friday, my freshly serviced project Bimmer was blasting smoke.
Or as we like to joke around with it, it decided to elect a new pope, just as I was inching forward in the afternoon rush hour traffic. I watched the temp gauge climb from middle to bang in less than 30 seconds, there was the pop and then the huge amounts of white "smoke" billowed out from under the hood as the bottom coolant pipe connected to the expansion tank let go at the fitting. Instead of the overpressure valve in the exp tank's cap. Known issue with the old stock caps... I had half a bottle of coolant in the trunk, poured it in and found the source of the leak, and after 2 minutes of removing the airbox, I could get to the fitting and it was all connected up again. I got real lucky that it was just at the fitting and didn't fracture any of the pipes (probably). My bimmer maniac friend came along to help out, brought enough water to make it operational again, and we made it home.
Saturday night in the dark and freezing my toes off, I spent 2 hours on filling it back up with antifreeze and went for a drive to make sure there were no large bubbles left, and to try and figure out the reason for it overheating.
Cabin heat started to work after just a few corners, and all coolant pipes were scorching hot as they should be, so new pump and thermostat are fine probably. My current guess is the fan. I don't know why it decided to shit itself just now, if it is indeed dead, they usually last pretty well in this model.
I let the car sit at idle after the drive, and while checking the pipe temps, I noticed that it wasn't running. It seemd like it wanted to run. It just didn't. It did small wiggles back and forth, only starting for a split second, never rotating more than 1-2 blade widths, what the magnets allowed for.
Also in the light of my flashlight I saw some smoke coming from between the fan blades for like 30 seconds then it stopped, then after a while it smoked again for a bit and then stopped again. First I thought it was the blown out coolant residue smoking off, but in the cold I couldn't make out any smell. Also if it was indeed coolant, the cabin air was still pretty pungent with it so I gotten used to it by that point and couldn't smell it anyways. (btw, my previous car had a tiny coolant leak in the heater block for like 5 years, so I pretty much gotten so used to it I wouldn't notice the smell unless someone poured out a full bottle right into my lap)
Sooo yeah, I don't know yet, but if I had to bet, I'd say the fan fried itself. It would explain overheating while standing in traffic, but not overheating while on the move just an hour before.
As I lack a proper diagnostic tool which could start the fan, and my aircon isn't connected up which would start it up when turned on, there is no easy way to check by myself if it is indeed dead. I guess I could unplug it and try to apply 12volts directly?. I'll have to wait for my friend to bring diag tools or take it to the shop again, which I will have to do anyways as it needs a new clutch now that it regained it's stock power (had a new AC+filter installed along with a CCV system that mostly solved the huge amounts of false air issues and running lean, still waiting on a time slot when I can get the intake seals changed cos it's leaking a bit there too).
Long story short, I had my first proper breakdown with this car (and probably third breakdown in 20 years of driving).
What a great collection of well sorted projects...Not much beats working on a project...I think most guys prefer to smell like oil and gasoline....Reminds me of my youth in New Mexico. Thanks for the drive down memory lane!!!!!Since I was 16 I've owned more than 100 vehicles, many times more than 5-6 at a time. When I was younger I really enjoyed modifying lowered and lifted trucks. Here are a few of my early builds from decades ago. Most of the fab work was performed by me as I learned how to weld and shape metal.
My all time favorite build was my 1997 Chevy Silverado because I learned so many new skills by doing it. I bought it stock with 75k miles and built over 4-5 years (2002-2007). After many years of using it as a daily driver, taking it all over the country to truck shows and a magazine feature, I sold it/traded it to a fellow club member in TX. It went through many stages, but in it's final stage it had a 2-linked rear, air bagged suspension on 20x9.5 /20x8 Billet Specialty Psychos. Powder coated frame, tweed wrapped interior, Katzkinz leather tahoe buckets seats with custom painted console, 2500 watt sound system with four 12" woofers under the rear seat. Nothing shaved, stock buffed paint. Just clean, reliable and hammered.
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I traded the 1997 Silverado for some cash and a 1999 Chevrolet 3500 dually that had been modified, but needed work to finish. It was already lowered 5/7 and the interior had been spruced up, but it needed a paintjob and a little body work. I added the Cadillac Escalade front sheet metal, Cadillac deville tail lights, frenched the antenna into the rear fender and painted it flat black, with a patina'd center section. I had a local painter add the pinstripes and door logos. It featured a well endowed pin-up girl with a nice camel toe, bending over the words "Tiny's Toe Service" since it was tow truck, and my nickname is "Tiny". I'm 6'7" tall and about 350lbs. I used this truck to tow my lifted Fords to shows out of state. I would keep this truck for a year or two as I burned out of the 'every-weekend show truck circuit' and phased into the getting old, staying at home phase of my life, lol.
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The Ford pictured above was a 1997 Ford F150 Lariat with a straight axle conversion using a custom fabbed shackle reversal, and 10" SkyJacker F250 springs. The previous owner started the conversion by removing the OEM parts, and then lost interest. I bought it pretty cheap and finished it. Pictured here, it's on 46" Mickey Thompson Claws. Eventually I would put it on 49" tall Super Swamper IROKs, then 53" Michelin XZL's before I sold it. It was fun and drew a ton of attention, but was way too big serve any real purpose on 1/2 ton running gear, and was impossible to go anywhere without drawing a crowd.
I sold the 1997 Ford F150 pictured above and bought a 1996 Ford F350 farm truck pictured below. It was on 1 ton running gear from the factory and wasn't long before it was bigger than the F150. It started out as a white truck, and this was my first DIY two stage paint job. We'll just say I've learned alot since then, lol. It was massive, but it had a 460cu in big block and a 6 speed transmission. With a big custom built drop hitch I still used it like a truck. It wasn't my daily driver, but it did see alot of use hauling my tractor and excavator... even on the big tires.
This is the truck I owned when I met my wife. We had our first dates in this truck. I sold it in order to buy an egagement ring. Still the best decision I've ever made. Pictured here it was on 49" IROKS (from the previous F150), but eventually I put 53" Michelin XZL's on it as well. I'm 6'7" tall and the door handle was well over my head.
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I've built several more vehicles since then, and restored a few as well. I''ll add those pics and details as I come across the pics and have time.
Grats, now that's a smooth LTI cockpit right there!
Love those lines....Suzuki power plant?I got to play with a new toy the other day, now I need to save up $40,000 USD lol
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Yea, has a GSX-S(?) 1000cc motor in it. This might be the spec racer for the track I am a member at, so far about 15 members have ordered one.Love those lines....Suzuki power plant?
LOL...Hot?...I'm from the 2 wheel side of the spectrum...LOL! Nothing like sitting on a starting grid in the middle of August at R/A wearing a dead cow and protective gear waiting for the sign to be turned on its side.Finally ended our racing season (its kind of hard at 100*F) so got parts ordered to put on the Type-R and prep for next year and attempt a full season. On the list of tracks is Road Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas (gotta podium for once right) and possibly Laguna Seca as a bucket list item. Also looking to go to a few other races within the Gridlife groups and expand out a bit.
I was Firefighter/ EMT years ago. I get it. I still think they should officially update it to 344. Keith Roma died a hero on 9/11 too.Trivia pic. Changed my plate number after 9/11. Some will get it and some won't
Yea, wearing fire resistant underwear and race suit in a hot car with no air flow definitely helps get me slim. Luckily I got smart and picked up a Coolshirt system so I can at least keep the core cool.LOL...Hot?...I'm from the 2 wheel side of the spectrum...LOL! Nothing like sitting on a starting grid in the middle of August at R/A wearing a dead cow and protective gear waiting for the sign to be turned on its side.
Best 30 years of my life and best way to lose water weight ever
I was pleasantly surprised on how many folks in and out of the paddock noticed it.I was Firefighter/ EMT years ago. I get it. I still think they should officially update it to 344. Keith Roma died a hero on 9/11 too.
Never forget.
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