The Gearhead Thread (updated title)

[DarkDryad]

Actually most drag cars run autos. My 96 gt has a PA C4 race tranny with a 2900 stall converter. Corse its got a 5.4 liter triton in it with a vortech huffin on it :)

Maybe I'm weird then.  When I drive a sports/muscle car I want to feel the car.  I'm more interested in actively driving the car than I am about perfect optimization.  The difference in feel driving a BMW, Porsche, or any of the muscle cars I've owned with an automatic just doesn't compare in pleasure to that of having a manual.  If that costs me a tenth of a second in the quarter, then I'm good with that. 

you can have the best of both worlds. The PA in my GT has a manual valve body. You shift it manually but no clutch petal to worry with. That and a line lock make for nice off the line times.

[SnakeCharmer]

If you're not doing it for a living, then you're doing it for fun.  If having an automatic do all the driving for them makes it fun... more power to them.  I'll still never understand it.  The joy of driving comes from the connection between man and machine.  You can never feel that when you have a computer doing the work for you.  Period.

There's a not surprising number of people that are betting some serious cash on racing at the track I semi-frequent.  Everything from parts to cash to titles.  I saw one guy lose the keys to a near brand spanking new Z06 Corvette to a guy driving a '96 Mustang Cobra that sounded like a freaking jet when it cut loose...

Nevertheless, I agree with you.  There's infinitely more skill involved in launching a manual cleanly, even on a prepped track.  Every so often I get tired of shifting gears, but I'll probably never own a sports car with an automatic.

[Yegolev]

I prefer a manual myself for the reason Nebu gave, but driving a manual Ram pickup for a few years did bad things to my knee.  Now I don't feel so bad for driving automatics.

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm generally against buying brand new vehicles but goddamn I want this.  The GTO may be up for sale when this thing comes out....

[Selby]

I'm generally against buying brand new vehicles but goddamn I want this.

I haven't wanted to buy a new car since they killed the Trans Am until I saw this guy.  Naturally I am probably going to stick with my 35 year old car, but it sure does make me think.  We are renting a G6 and the car is quite a step up from the junky crap Pontiac was putting out in the last 5-10 years in their mid-size car lines.  If I lived where winter ate my car, I might consider it (although a full framer would probably last longer).

[SnakeCharmer]

Couple things to consider when looking at that G8...

It's actually an import, really.  It's a rebadged Holden Commodore from Australia.  My GTO is the same thing, imported and rebadged from the Holden Monaro. 

The goodies:
The engine in the G8 is a detuned LS2, the very same LS2 that was in '05-'07 Corvettes and '05-'06' GTOs.  Output was 400 horsepower.  The G8 has been detuned (and probably with a weaker cam) to use 87 octane fuel.  Still gets 361 hp.  So, a mild cam and a custom tune (or even a reflash) and you're in 400+ hp territory again.  Will need higher octane fuel.  In stock form, the LS2 in the G8 has a lower compression ratio than the more highly tuned ones, so it will make it very supercharger friendly.  Say goodbye to the rear tires     All the while maintaining a stock exhaust note, no loppy idle, and only a barely audible whistle or whine at idle or normal speeds.  And if some ricer asks what the noise is, tell him your power steering pump is going bad and to meet you at the track

Independent rear suspension.  My GTO rides like a dream.  It's truly not a muscle car, anyway, it's more of a grand tourer coupe.  So, if my GTO is any indication of how smooth the ride is in the G8, it will be wondermus. 

Interior of the GTO is spectacular, and from what I've seen of the G8, it looks even better.  Very unAmerican looking.  Very Euro-ish feeling in the switchgear, the leather, everything.  No wide seams between panels, no cheap feeling plastic.  Weak stereo though (Blaukerpunkt).  Big, legible gauges.  The very best way to descibe my GTO is a BMW 3 series coupe with a Corvette drivetrain.  The most comfortable seats I've ever sat in.  Even moreso than my wifes ML350.  Great A/C and heater.  Even the rear seats are comfortable, with plenty of legroom for full sized adults.  With rear A/C, in a two door coupe.

It's that good.  I fully expect the G8 to be something between a cross of a 3 series four door BMW and the 5 series, again, with the Corvette motor.  Which would be all kinds of win.

The bad:
The independent suspension needs work, if it folllows the GTO (which actually was a four door, they just 'removed' the two rear doors and made it a big two doored coupe, complete with rear A/C).  I expect axle hop to be a problem, a disconcerting 'whack!' if shifting gears VERY agressively from the rear antiroll bar hitting the frame as the rear end sinks on accel, some frame creakiness, and a little bit of slop after about 30,000 miles in the 2 piece driveshaft (that has rubber insulators that don't last very long).  It will probably have some odd electronics quirks to it - my speedo likes to go from 0 to 200 for no apparent reason every so often, as example.  Nothing earthshatteringly bad or unsafe, just enough to make you go 'huh?'.  The Aussies also tend to take being upside down in the world pretty seriously - the battery terminals are reversed, so you HAVE to get a replacement battery from a dealer - IF they have one in stock.  Since these cars are built in 'roo land and New Zealand, parts have to come from there as well.  So if you break something major, you'll have a wait.  The GTO was never really supported by Pontiac, so they never really kept many parts for it.  As example, I had to wait over a month just for a replacement bulb for a fog lamp.  It took 5 weeks to get a new door jam trigger light switch.  And if I need brakes, I have to order them 2-4 weeks in advance. 

Expect to pay a premium on go fast parts.  They just aren't cheap for LSx engines.  Never have been.  An HCI swap after the warranty ran out cost me right at $2,200, including a custom tune of the computer, and that was with me doing the labor of the install.  Heads, a cam, and an intake just shouldn't be that freakin' expensive.

Even with the bad, I love it.  Absolutely love it.  All is forgiven the minute the key is twisted, a good side step of the clutch, and two 150 foot long black marks are pasted on the pavement.  Or even just a good run from a merge lane onto the interstate.  It's comfortable, cozy.  It handles well, despite it's weight (fat 3800 lb pig), and always leaves a smile on my face.  And even if the G8 suffers the same quirks, I'll no doubt love it, too.  It's essentially a four door version of my GTO. 

The next person that offers to buy my GTO (and it happens often), is going to get taken up on it. 

[Jimbo]

How come the overseas guys and gals gets the true manual transmission and GM keeps shoving automatics down our throats...
But then again, it probably started when the military decided to ditch the manual transmission and buy only automatics (about 1979 or 1982?).  Hopefully Jeep (by jeep I mean the true jeep and not the other crap they make) and VW hold onto manual transmission.  Hopefully Jeep will have a diesel engine made by Cummins in its wranglers in 2009, and they get to make the jeep pickup that they keep testing with the same setup of Cummins diesel.   Both would be with the NSG 370 six-speed manual transmission (hey I would have rather have them kept the NV3500, NV4500, and NV5500...but it still is a decent mid sized transmission).

I still got my "last of the CJ's" torn apart in the barn.  I rescued a 1986 CJ 7, it was a beach mobile that had so many holes in the body the pope blessed it.  I should have it ready by spring, so I'll post some photo's of it eventually. 

[Trippy]

How come the overseas guys and gals gets the true manual transmission and GM keeps shoving automatics down our throats...

Because US drivers demand automatics and Euro drivers demand manuals.

[Sky]

You can't suck down a quadriple latte while yakking on your cell phone and manipulate a manual.

[DarkDryad]

You can't suck down a quadriple latte while yakking on your cell phone and manipulate a manual.

Wanna bet :)

[Nebu]

I really want to create a device that sends an audible obnoxious signal to anyone using a cellphone in a car.  I have two friends that are highway patrollmen and the stories they tell me about people with cellphones are too stupid to believe. 

[Trippy]

You can't suck down a quadriple latte while yakking on your cell phone and manipulate a manual.

That's why the Italians pull over to the side of the road when they need to do that (they need both hands free to talk on a phone).

[slog]

Don't know how I missed this thread.

Here is my caddy that I'm in the middle of restoring.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60986452@N00/

[Nebu]

Slog,

Can we see a full body shot?  I'd like to see the profile of the car.  How's the frame?

[slog]

Slog,

Can we see a full body shot?  I'd like to see the profile of the car.  How's the frame?

You will have to wait until spring for the full shot.  The car is WAY to big to get a shot of the whole thing in my garage.

Frame is in excellent shape.  Once I finish the fenders, I'll be filling in some other small holes and will be painting it.

Here are the factor specs on the car: http://100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1960/cad67d.htm

[Nebu]

Yeah, the car has a great profile which is why I wanted to see the full Monty.  My question was more in terms of straightness.  Every time I've picked up a car from the late 50's and early 60's the frame has needed to be straightened even when it looked pretty good to the eye.  If you found a car that long with a straight frame, you've done very well for yourself. 

[SnakeCharmer]

I need to upload the pictures of my '68 Mustang resto-mod, and others that I've done.  I used to take TONS of pictures as I took something apart so that I would have a visual reference of how it went back together.  The trick is going to be finding the disks...

I leave bodywork up to the professionals, though.  I've got no problems tearing an engine down and rebuilding, but have never really messed with bodywork.

[Nebu]

I leave bodywork up to the professionals, though.  I've got no problems tearing an engine down and rebuilding, but have never really messed with bodywork.

I agree completely.  Fortunately for me, two dear friends from my childhood own/operate a bodyshop in my old neighborhood.  I let them use my projects to sometimes train new hires as long as they supervise.  They tend to do more meticulous work and my friends charge me almost nothing for labor as it's a good teaching tool.  Win win.

[SnakeCharmer]

Oh yeah.  Friends in the business definately helps.

Short list on the '68:
331 ci stroker motor, with Vortech supercharger, fuel injected, custom tune by JSMchip.com, long tube headers, (put together, some in boxes, will go in car last)
Coil over suspension (done)
Baer brakes (sitting in boxes)
Body pulled off frame, frame reconditioned (done)
5 speed Tremec tranny, 4.10 gears for rebuilt rear end with 31 spline axles (done)
Massive amounts of body/frame strengthening, including 6 pt roll cage (will be done in progress)
Custom exhaust, Flowmaster mufflers (will go in once engine is dropped)
Custom interior (next to last, work in progress)
New gauges (in boxes)
A/C, if not too costly
Hood, spoiler, front splitter (in boxes, awaiting body finishing)
Recaro seats (in boxes), with racing harness
Fire supression system (in boxes)
Wheels/tires (done, mounted and balanced)

I figure I've got about 150 hours left in the vehicle total, if that.  Still deciding on a color, and researching putting an A/C system in it.  Once it gets a bit warmer, I'll send the body off for final prep and finishing.  I'm currently tack welding all the little holes for a clean look.  The only real hold up right now is the body.

Cant wait 

[Selby]

My entire website is dedicated to the cars I've restored.  I finally sold the '67 Catalina wagon (for an actual profit) and am looking to downsize one more (probably the Grand Am).  I've got this major basketcase of a '75 Trans Am I am restoring right now (after finally finishing the motor in the '72 Lemans and certifying it "good for daily usage" once again).

[SnakeCharmer]

THUNDERCHICKEN!!!

[slog]

Yeah, the car has a great profile which is why I wanted to see the full Monty.  My question was more in terms of straightness.  Every time I've picked up a car from the late 50's and early 60's the frame has needed to be straightened even when it looked pretty good to the eye.  If you found a car that long with a straight frame, you've done very well for yourself. 

So I started to strip all the paint off after hitting too many bondo spots.  I know it's a little late, but here are some long shot pics.  (no fenders.  Since I took these I've stripped most of the paint off, thrown away that hood and put a new one on, etc.

http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mike003largebj5.jpg
http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mike001largeyw3.jpg

[SnakeCharmer]

That car is just BEGGING for this. 

If I could find the damn cord for my digicam, I'd post a couple of the '68 Mustang.  Cleared off 80 percent of the list below (including paint), all that's needed to be done is the interior.  Ended up going Dark Shadow Grey from Ford.  Looks low, mean.

Custom tune yielded 423 horsepower / 468 lbft torque, with fuel ratio at 13.5 all the way through the range.  Not really happy with the cam; it's a bit too lopey/aggressive.  I'm looking to go with something a bit more mild, even if I sacrifice a few ponies.  The Halon fire suppression system is giving me fits.  Lots of tedious tube bends.  If the SCCA didn't require it, I wouldn't install it.  Alas, have to make the safety guys happy.

[slog]

Painted the cady this weekend.  Still putting the chrome pieces back on.

[schild]

You should get some big brown baby seal eyes for head lights. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

[K9]

Faux zebra-skin seat covers 

The paint job is really nice, it's a great colour.

[NiX]

Faux zebra-skin seat covers 

The paint job is really nice, it's a great colour.

And it's on the steering wheel too. Sexy!

[slog]

Faux zebra-skin seat covers 

The paint job is really nice, it's a great colour.

And it's on the steering wheel too. Sexy!

just placeholders until I can redo the interior.

[schild]

just placeholders until I can redo the interior.

I can't think of a single reason you'd ever want to do that.

[jakonovski]

Here's my new baby. 700km on the odometer so far!



It's a lovely, lovely little car. Only has a 100hp 1.4 liter engine, but the car weighs less than a ton! It's really eager on low gears and has a 6-speed manual with an "eco gear" as the sixth. Gives 40mpg on my everyday commute.

[Sky]

Wish I had money to mod it up right.