C5 Golfer

My thoughts and condolences to the members of the Virginia Tech Community How sad and difficult it must be for the families, and to any of you with friends and family close to that -- I am sorry for your loss.

I was kidding... Like I assume you were when you are kicking the dog and barking at the wife... :lol: :lol:

Careful Greg - with an attitude like that you might get banned! :lol:

James Bond stunt Car Mods... I found it in my Autoweek archive... here is the story on fitting Ford V-8 into a Jaguar and the Aston.. In Die Another Day, there is only one Q, purveyor of gadgetry, played nowadays by John Cleese. Behind the scenes there are two. Finlayson is the weapons man; the brains behind the cars is Andy Smith, whose film credits include the Batmobile. “Bond is the ultimate for any special-effects car builder,” beams Smith, who spent $2 million on the latest Bond cars. “And Die Another Day, in car terms, is going back to basics. Having Bond back in an Aston was very special for a lot of people. For me and my team it was a real honor to build the Vanquish. But it was a tough call. “We had to build eight cars [four Astons and four Jags] in 12 weeks. All we had was a set of computer drawings to use as reference for the cars and what we had to do to them. There was no time to draw it all out. We knew that we had to remove the V12 engines from both cars, and fit in the bay a Ford V8 and a four-wheel-drive system from an Explorer. “The Aston was pretty easy, we just unbolted the front, but being a monocoque, the Jag was a lot more complicated... luckily we got it right pretty well first time,” he says. “Mind you, I had 20 or so of the best guys in the business working day and night for three months.” An Explorer drivetrain? Jokulsárlón is why. It’s a lagoon in Iceland. Last winter it became the focus of filming for Die Another Day. The lagoon was dammed, and in temperatures of minus 30 degrees, it froze solid as a massive ice lake—where devilish Gustav Graves lives in his ice palace. It is also where Bond and Zao clash in a slippery car chase. Smith’s team set up base in a tented camp on the edge of the lagoon. His tools and spares filled 13 shipping containers. The temperature dived so low that car batteries froze and the car froze to the ice floor. Even in the heated tents the thermo-meter rarely broke freezing.http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2002/1230/1230bond1.jpg" width="250" height="168" alt="" border="0" align="left" hspace="7" vspace="7"> “Four-wheel drive was a must, for traction,” says Smith. “But also we had studded tires. Originally Yokohama came up with ones with 1000 studs. They were too good. We couldn’t get the car to slide at all. So we used standard road tires, fitted with about 60 three-millimeter studs in the end, which was more spectacular by far.” Smith reckons that below 100 mph there are few cars he has built that have better traction. He also had to ensure reliability. At an estimated $20,000 an hour for shooting, a broken stunt car is a costly heap of metal. HERE is the entire article http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20021230/FREE/212300702&SearchID=73277862031751

That's right up there with owning an Edsel or worse - what the special stunt company of one of the recent James Bond movies - don't remember which one - installed a Ford engine in one of the Aston Martins for some of the movie stunts.

Damn-- you scared the crap outa me-- I thought for sure he was going to catch on fire too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ9-T-xVlvU

Swapping engines in different cars was pretty easy a while back.. Lots of engine room - even to where on some you could almost climb inside an engine compartment and close the hood. Swapping some engines and parts were easier than others. If you compare Chevy small block V-8 with Ford's engine - the Chevy V-8 engine started in 1955 with a 265 cu in went on to 283, 302, 307, 327, 350 and 400 with basically the same motor mount system and most internal parts interchangeable. So one could take a 327 block and build a 302 or a 327 or a 350 depending on what stroke of the crank you used. To hear a well builkd tuned 302 is music to the ears. Made the Z-28 Camero quite famous. This motor is basically unchanged from its early days to todays well designed and built LS1 Corvette motor 5.7 liter motor and the LS2 6.0 liter motor, and is still a push rod design. Amazing! 52 year old design and still top of the class. One interesting fact on custom built "Hot Rods - Roadsters" the most popular body style like the 1925-1940s are Fords have more Chevy small block engines in them than they do have Ford engines. Ford engines starting with the 312 cu in and 351 and 352s are complete puzzles and know one knows why. Regarding gear boxes -- there are so many adapters out there for so many trannys you can mix and match just about anything.

Good vote for the De Tomaso-- +1 Also turbos did well for GM -- the Buick Grand National - v6 that kicked a**. Rumor was it pi**ed off a few Corvette Execs since it beat Corvette in the 1/4 mile which was verboten at GM. Any way enjoy the read... """But the big news for 1987 was the introduction of the limited edition GNX. Only available for 1987, the Buick GNX represents the height of Grand National performance. In a nod to the famous Buick GSXs of 1970-1972, the GNX logo featured a larger "X" than the other letters, just like the GSX logo. All GNXs began life as fully optioned Grand Nationals that immediately left the factory and were sent to ASC/McLaren Specialty Products in order to be extensively modified. The modifications included a more efficient Garrett air-to-air intercooler and a special pipe that connected the intercooler to the engine coated with CERMATEL (Ceramic/aluminum) for increased heat rejection and heat disipation. Front fender vents were installed to pull heat away from the engine while driving. The GNX also received a special Garrett "hybrid" T-s turbocharger that used a very lightweight ceramic impeller (as opposed to metal in standard Grand Nationals). The decreased weight allows the turbo charger to spin up much faster, thereby decreasing the turbo lag time inherent in turbo charged engines. Maximum boost was set at 15 psi and the turbo used an electric wastegate. The turbo also incorporated special low drag, dynamic turbine shaft seals, and a built in contamination trap. All of these modifications added up to 275 bhp and a whooping 360 lb-ft. To handle this extra power, the transmission was beefed up with firmer shifts and the rear axle received a longitudinal torque ladder bar with a panhard rod to help prevent wheel hop and torque twist. It also received a special rear axle housing cover made of aluminum (with GNX embossed on it) that serves as an additional strengthening element and point for the torque bar. For even more strengthening, the car body received special structural reinforcements in the form of "behind the back seat bracing" and special chassis (steel cross member between the chassis rails) bracing. The GNX was the only Regal to ever receive 16 inch wheels. The wheels were made of a lightweight alloy and the rear wheels were wider than the front. The GNX came with P245/50VR16 tires in front and P255/50VR16 tires in the rear. Special welded in fender flares were added to the wheel wells to make room for the larger wheels and tires. The standard transmission was a reprogrammed Turbo Hydra-matic 200-4R four speed hooked up to a custom torque converter. Inside, the dash had a special Steward Warner analog gauge package. All GNXs were black in color and the only exterior identification was small "GNX" badges placed on the front radiator grille and rear deck lid. Under the hood, a special turbocharger heat shield had "GNX" stamped on it, similar to the aluminum rear axle cover. All GNXs received a special numbered plaque mounted on the passenger side dash which identified the number of that particular car (1-547). Also, the Fisher body plate has "GNX" stamped on it. Special "GNX" decals were used on the intercooler and other locations and there were several hidden I.D. stampings to prevent fakes. But all of this came at a price. The cost of the GNX option was a whopping $10,995, which resulted in a final MSRP of $29,900. All out performance doesn't come cheap. Even more rare are the Buick Regal T-Type "Special T." These models had a Grand National exterior, but a Regal T-Type interior. Production: Grand Nationals: 20,193 GNX: 547 Engines: . GNX: 3.8L V6 Turbo 276 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 360 ft-lb @ 3000 rpm. Performance: GNX: 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.43 seconds @ 103 mph.

It is ok to agree to disagree right? I just prefer that gawd awful rumble of low rpm torque just waiting for the little squirt of atomized gas and oxygen to fill that large cavity AKA displacement as it roars to life, shakes your inerds, snaps your head back, twists the frame, earth shakin fire breathing V-8. Sorry - have to ask -- do you like cheese with that turbo whine??

Lovely signage for dog owners

There is just no Replacement for Displacement! Any of those 60s motors - 426, 427, 454, 421, hooked up to a 4 speed manual = eye popping jaw dropping ride!

Sorry -- Butt ugly

Many threads and discusion always gets to American Muscle cars.. So now tell us your favorite all time Amercian Brut Horsepower Muscle car. I will have to go with a 63 Pontiac Catalina 421 cu in Swiss Cheese - aluminum body panel. Not a big Plymouth 426 Hemi fan. http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions/lot_detail.html?LOT_ID=CH1006-42987

I will admit the M3 is at the top or near the top..Waiting for a test drive in the V-8 soon to be out. Too bad someone does not make a C5-C6 Corvette looking car with a M3 V-8 underpinnings and interior. That would be a double thumbs up! The 6 series coupe is not far behind. But at the opposite end of the spectrum I have been looking at 1930-1932 Chevys and a 1963 Pontiac Catalina.

So how do you do on planning dinner for the evening? :)

Jack, Thanks for the idea.. the negative here is golf. A friend of mine has a Porsche of similar size and when he comes to the course it can only be him, cuz his golf bag is riding in the passenger seat, which is the only place it fits. So for me any new car added to the stable needs to hold two sets of clubs and two people.

I might be interested in a May 12 time frame

I am curious to how far ahead do some of you plan if you plan at all. I just planned my 2007-2008 Whistler/Blackcomb dates.

I have owned Chevy (5) Pontiac GMC (4) Jeep (2) VW (2) Fiat Corvette (2) BMW Mercedes (2) Pain in the Ass - Least on top Corvette, BMW and Mercedes - Tied GMC Chevy Pontiac Jeep VW Fiat Fun Factor to drive Corvette Mercedes BMW Jeep - the one with a 350 cu in Chevy Fiat VW Pontiac Chevy GMC I would like to buy a new car -- But I do not know of any that interest me right now. Each one I think of has a negative.

Ok-- so you guys don't get tired of carrying around a baggie for the doggie doo. But how about the actual picking up the doo, crap, what ever you'd like to call the waste, putting it in your pocket or carrying it away-- is it not a pain in the butt to do this everyday ???

Just wondering - all dog owners -- do you ever get tired of carrying around a baggie to pick up the dog crap when you take him/her out for a walk or play outside? Do you Pack it home or to a proper disposal can? (Assuming you are one of the dog owners that do) --

with 2700 HP and a V-16 it may just run over that Ford! You can see the driver looking out his window.

Jack, here is my $.02 ... BMW X5 Owner First -- beware of Carfax... it is a good system alright but it may not be up to date on your particular vehicle you are searching. Get a buyers inspection at a local BMW dealership or Local BMW independant. Check out the chassis for any damage. Not all is reported to Carfax. Second - possibly go here and find a good Certified Pre-Owned by BMW. The warranty is awsome and better than new. Read the Certified statement. I'd buy one - specially a 3 series 4WD - great car with a 6 speed manual. http://www.bmwusa.com/cpo/cpomain?navid=modelsearch

Art, we should find a day to ride --- I can come south to Auburn if you have a favorite ride or route. How was Sun Valley? Kristy and I just returned from Whistler and it was fantastic.. specially Saturday -- all blue sky , no wind, perfect snow and hardley anyone there. I wish I had a way to log the vertical we did. Started at a little after 9 and did not stop cept for lunch - last run top to bottom non-stop at 4pm. Leg burner on the Hot Blast. Cloud Nine off of 7th Heaven was groomer of the day -- I think we went over the speed limit many times. Ridge Runner was empty-- bombed that several times. CYA Lets road bike it someday..