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+-- Forum: Technical (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Member's Projects (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: Project: TL Type S (/showthread.php?tid=7345)
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 02-17-2011
Just under $600 in labor for the timing belt + tensioners, water pump, oil change, spark plugs, transmission / power steering service, etc. with my supplied parts. Not bad all things considering. Very lucky to have a friend who is a Honda master tech
Rear camber kit is going on when the new tires arrive. Got a $110+ prorated credit since these Falken Ziex 912s lasted barely 26k miles. Bought a set of Nitto 555s which some folks have gotten over 50k miles out of. Hoping these last that long!
J Pipe also came in. Wow it is a really well built piece, the manufacturer even went so far as to weld on a laser etched and numbered nameplate with the company logo...group buys for the win
Re: Project: TL Type S - Mike - 02-17-2011
great deal on that service.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-09-2011
First impressions after Nittos, rear camber kit, RSB and J pipe:
I'm going to start with the handling. It's been a while since I've driven a car with any kind of suspension mods. The new tires always make a big difference, but I like the Nittos already over the Falkens. They seem to have a pretty stiff sidewall and are much quieter. Alignment specs came out DEAD on thanks to the camber kit, which is awesome because that has never been the case. Apparently there is an OEM part that Acura sells that serves the same purpose as the Ingalls kit, which puzzles me...did they mean for the camber to purposely be positive from the factory? I don't know, but I'm tired of going through tires every 25k miles.
Turn in is much more precise now with the RSB, MUCH less body roll, a healthy bit of oversteer when pushed hard. I will need some practice before I push this car hard through some twisties, but 99% of this car's duty is daily driving so it's not a top priority.
J-pipe. Awesomeness. I had Chris reset the ECU with the Honda programmer at the shop so it's still a little sluggish in the learning phase. The mid to top end so far though have been noticeably improved, which was exactly what I was expecting. Especially toward redline the car pulls noticeably harder and overall the entire power curve has been smoothed out. No more fake boost kick at 4900 RPM, just smooth power. The sound was unexpected too, I can hear the whooshing / whistle of the air a bit louder from either the intake or the exhaust....can't tell which. At first I thought it was an exhaust leak, but I've had those before and it doesn't sound like those do. It almost sounds like a turbo only when VTEC kicks in. Yo.
Overall I am very pleased and I'm looking forward to driving the car more. Hopefully I won't need to do the PCDs like I wanted to do anytime soon. I would prefer to leave the cats in this car....but I'm sure I will end up doing them anyway
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-10-2011
Now that the ECU is getting back on better terms with me, the top end power is more noticeable than the mid range torque. The only thing I can compare it to is when I added the cams to my old STi. Thumbs up!
The damn tires saved the front of my car last night. When it rains here in Charlotte people are CRAZY DRIVERS. I had to jam on my brakes when some douche in front of me slammed on his brakes while hopping onto an interchange. It was raining and I had minimal sliding thank God....my old tires probably would have squealed up and I would be replacing a front clip.
Re: Project: TL Type S - ScottyB - 03-10-2011
awesome to hear its working out for you...i bet once your ECU is fully acclimated you're gonna be having some fun. i wonder if it will increase your MPG's any....if you can keep your foot out of it, haha.
i'd love to see that big TL lifting a rear wheel around an off-ramp :lol: OK, probably won't happen like that, but i bet that thing's gotta be more fun now with the RSB. i love sway upgrades...you never notice them until you hit the turns, and then the fun begins.
i hear you on the dumbass drivers. i can't believe i never had an aneurism living in atlanta. glad you drove away from that one. every time i drove through charlotte going between atlanta/roanoke i always thought people were pretty aggressive there (in the dry).
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-10-2011
My MPG has been woeful after the upgrade because I can't stay out of the gas :lol:
I hear you man, I have to drive down to Atlanta (Roswell) next week and I am dreading it.
Re: Project: TL Type S - ScottyB - 03-10-2011
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I have to drive down to Atlanta (Roswell) next week and I am dreading it.
what's your ETA for atlanta? depending on when you arrive it can either be smooth sailing or
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Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-10-2011
I'm leaving after work, so probably heading out around 5pm and arriving around 9. I don't *think* traffic is too bad heading southbound on 77 on the south part of Charlotte / north SC but I'm sure I'll find out! How is hotlanta going to be by the time I get there? Hopefully not bad?
I'm driving back to Charlotte probably mid-afternoon around 2:30-3pm on Tuesday...also hoping the traffic isn't bad at that point yet.
Re: Project: TL Type S - ScottyB - 03-10-2011
you'll be totally fine. traffic is the worst on 75/85 outbound between 4-7pm. i used to reverse-commute on 85 and it was 75mph straight from my work in Duluth inbound to Decatur inside the perimeter (10 miles outside downtown, if that).
i take it you are going 85S to 285W to 400N? 400 may have a little traffic still but i doubt you'll ever have to get off cruise control.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-10-2011
Nice! Thanks for the info!! :thumbup:
This is telling me that I'm taking 85S all the way until 140. My hotel is right off of Old Roswell Rd. I believe.
Re: Project: TL Type S - ScottyB - 03-10-2011
yeah, you'll be fine. the farther you can stay away from the perimeter, the better
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 03-15-2011
Ironically the only traffic I got stuck in going down 85 was right across the border in SC. Damn accident and then they were repaving the road going southbound. People driving in the rain here are just as bad as in Charlotte.
I will say that any questions I had about buying the Passport 9500ix over the Redline or the V1 are completely null and void when the GPS database picked up its first red light camera. What a damn handy feature. We don't have those in Charlotte and I'm not in the habit of running red lights...but this is IMO one of the best situational awareness RDs that's out there right now. An added benefit is the GPS false signal lockout feature which makes driving through urban areas bearable.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 04-25-2011
Car accident yesterday.
Very minor thankfully. I wasn't feeling well so I let Chelsea drive my car to IHOP. They were directing traffic in front of a church and we got waved to stop by a police officer. Guy behind me was traveling too close to us and slammed into the rear.
Bumper cover is damaged, don't know what's underneath but it held up surprisingly well considering the force of the impact. I've had a scrape on the rear bumper for a while now and I was going to get it fixed on my own...glad I didn't get it fixed now!
Re: Project: TL Type S - Jeff - 04-25-2011
Its amazing how hard a minor impact FEELS in the car. I got rear-ended in a Dodge Avenger at a McDonalds once and it was only just a few MPH but I thought the guy was going like Mach 4. Cost his ass $500 to make it go away....because I am an understanding fellow. He was a mechanic taking one of his customer's cars to lunch.
Re: Project: TL Type S - Jake - 04-25-2011
Jeff Wrote:Its amazing how hard a minor impact FEELS in the car. I got rear-ended in a Dodge Avenger at a McDonalds once and it was only just a few MPH but I thought the guy was going like Mach 4. Cost his ass $500 to make it go away....because I am an understanding fellow. He was a mechanic taking one of his customer's cars to lunch.
This. The lady that rear-ended Chris and I in the Miata was only doing ~5 mph but it felt like more. Granted, she was in a Liberty so the weight may have made it feel faster. That was a nice $700 check.
Glad you guys are okay, Lee, and hopefully you can get it fixed up soon.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 04-25-2011
Thanks guys. Yea i know what you mean. My poor girlfriend, it was her first accident ever. I told her that was a pretty good one for your first...my first one was pretty bad.
I couldn't be too mad at that kid that hit us honestly. I mean he probably shouldn't have been following so close, but that was just a shitty situation with the cop directing traffic. There was another fender bender we passed by in the same line of cars before we got hit.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 04-27-2011
Fuck, this lady's insurance company can't "get ahold of her" to confirm the story. Fortunately I have a PDF of the police report and the police officer was right in front of us when it happened. Hopefully that's enough to make sure this gets squared away.
Re: Project: TL Type S - BLINGMW - 04-27-2011
WRXtranceformed Wrote:I couldn't be too mad at that kid that hit us honestly. I mean he probably shouldn't have been following so close, but that was just a shitty situation with the cop directing traffic. There was another fender bender we passed by in the same line of cars before we got hit.Unfortunately that's what most drivers don't understand. The road is full of "shitty situations". That's the norm. And if you don't leave extra room or awareness to handle them, you crash. Hopefully you don't kill anyone while you're at it.
WRXtranceformed Wrote:Fortunately I have a PDF of the police report and the police officer was right in front of us when it happened. Hopefully that's enough to make sure this gets squared away.I wouldn't worry about it, the police report should get it done.
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 05-02-2011
Nice no big issues, taking it in tomorrow morning and I get a free rental car on their insurance company. Thank God one of their recommended shops is the body shop at the same place I get my mechanical work done so I trust them....I've seen the quality of their body work and it is good. They are super slammed because of all the hail we've had, but I'm ready to get this wrapped up.
For $125 they're going to fix my curbed wheel too. The interior rips and tears I'm just going to leave alone, I never sit in the back seat so they don't really bother me!
Re: Project: TL Type S - WRXtranceformed - 05-05-2011
Got the car back in only like 3 days. Wow I am impressed, the work is flawless. Even the wheel repair is completely perfect. Would definitely recommend people in this area to use this body shop.
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Like it was never there!
Just need new pads and turned rotors soon and then I'm straight for a while. If I have some money left over after my investment plan in June I will probably pull the trigger on precat deletes and then call it a day.
Oh, I also replaced the driver's side foglight due to a rock smashing it out. Found a used OEM one on Ebay from a local place in Concord for $110 shipped and installed it myself.