Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Crap-ness

Disheartening Tuesday. The Honda MTFIII Ultra doesn't blend well with my gearbox. Currently experiencing the irrating 'crunch' on my 3rd gear after the gearbox gets hot. I need to use thicker oil, not as thin as the MTFIII. Hope I can source the Lightweight Shockproof gear oil in Kuantan. Here are some other things on Black Mamba that need my attention and action:

1. Cracked windscreen - Happened during the Pasir Gudang track day. It was a small crack and but a delayed treatment caused it to be longer and more serious over time. Lucky the windscreen is insured but damn, have to wait for 1-2 months to get the glass!

2. CEL error code P1167 (A) - A/F ratio sensor 1 Heater System Malfunction; The beginning of a faulty O2 sensor. Typical issue for a K20. Not complaining at all since my engine has already clocked 100,000km, fuel consumption is still good, and it can be eliminated by 1. purchasing new 02 sensor or 2. Use Hondata to permanently disable the error code (more favourable haha). But most importantly, the VTEC still rocks hard at 5,800rpm! :)

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Usual stuff, Unusual stuff.

Patience pays. That’s what I told my friends who’s been bugging me with remarks like “Woi bila nak update blog woi” and “I think I saw spider webs on your blog brooo”. So today with this post I hope it’ll clear all the doubts you have. Black Mamba is still..ALIVE..and she has received some well deserve (and rare) pampering from me. Be prepared with your food and drinks as this will be a very long post.....haha.

Considering the fact that Mamba needs to do some major stuffs, I decided to drive down from East Coast to Sunway to get the items and get it fixed by my mechanic John of Hiper Racing. Reached Sunway tad early but lucky I have a CL7 Euro-R friend of mine around. Had breakfast and good chat with him before heading off to few shops to invest my savings on the needed parts. Haha.

Shareil’s well done CL7. Matte TC105N with Wilwood 4-pot callipers make this rare sedan outstanding from others.

So then I went to two places, N1 Racing and Samurai Racing (Formerly known as SS Racing) to buy these things:

1. Greddy F4 Pro engine oil

As you have read on my previous posts (under maintenance tab), I used Blitz engine oil for the car. But since N1 Racing has no longer brought in the oil, it was replaced by Greddy F4 Pro oil. The viscosity is similar to Blitz and I have used it for a few oil changes without any issues. Thanks to the robust iVTEC engine that doesn’t need to be lubricated by expensive oil.

2. OEM Honda MTF-III gear oil

The decision to change the gear oil came when some friends told me that the Redline Lightweight Shockproof gear oil I’ve been using ever since can create sludge residue in between the gears. The prolonged usage can cause the gears to be ‘sticky’ and it can damage the synchros over time. Not wanting to take any chances for disaster to happen to my gearbox, I opted to get the OEM recommended gear oil – the Honda MTF-III. One can is 4-liters. Good for two changes. Thank you Desmond for helping me to get this from Exceptional Auto. Let's see what will happen to my gears with this oil.

3. Endless SSS 500deg brake pads

Having driven the car for almost two years without changing the brake pads, I decided to get the same brake pads that came with the car – Endless SSS (Super Street Sport) with the maximum temperature of 500degrees. Pretty happy with this brand as the wear rate is very slow. 23 months with 60,000km on the mileage coupled with few track days doesn’t stop the pads to perform at its best. And there are some leftovers too. Rear pads are still good though, so I guess it will only be changed next time.

This pads can be fitted on Fairlady Z33's Brembo as well.


Macam pad cap ayam je???


Perfectly placed in between the worn out Brembo callipers. Hehe.



Old pads. Still usable..well, for few hundred kms perhaps?


4. Skunk2 rear lower control arm

This is one of the item I’ve been drooling since I got the car and after months of contemplating, I finally made up my mind to get this. Apart from being the ‘bling factor’, the purchase is justified as when the OEM rear control arms were taken out, I found out that the bushes are already torn. Gold was chosen from other colours (including the stealthy black limited edition version) as it appear more visible from other drivers view (drool factor)..hahaha. Took John less than 20 minutes to install this and as soon as it was done I took the car out for powersliding. Nah just kidding. Well upon installation I could feel that the rear doesn’t ‘bump’ as it used to be. Probably due to the harden bush on the Skunk2 arms.

What do you get inside.


The hardware. I farking love the embossed ‘S2’ logo on the bolts.


Say goodbye to the stock control arm. Your service is no longer required haha.


Sifu John at work..Rambut makin kurang dei..


Stock vs S2. Worlds apart. Period.


S2 is thicker but it’s lighter. Senyum sampai telinga.

One side in, one more to go.


All set! Looks damn ganas with the S2 tie bar and Cusco ARB. Rear end mods completo!


Hensem tahap cipan!

Costs:

1. Greddy F4 Pro = RM135/can (4 liters) – N1 Racing, Sunway
2. Honda MTF-III = RM 180/can (4 liters) – Exceptional Auto, Glenmarie
3. Endless SSS pads = RM500/set – Samurai Racing, Sunway
4. Skunk2 rear control arm = RM7XX after discount from RM850 – N1 Racing, Sunway (Must nego till you cry then only you’ll get the discount)

Once everything is done, I took the liberty to snap some spy pics around Sunway....this might be at Hazry’s interest. Hahahaha

John ‘korekking’ a Skunk2 intake manifold for a 300whp K24 project on a.......Civic ES! :D


Remember Aloysius who helped me with the
CV joint issue? This is his daily driven 2003 C-West DC5 on dyno. Using full slick tires at the rear. Bastard. Hizam was eyeing at the GT-wing as if it's a naked chick with big boobs. hahahah!


I do not understand why Aloysius, who’s a Mugen freak used C-West bodykits on his car instead of Mugen. Nevertheless, this Mugen MF10 wheels are hard to come by these days and looks effin killer with the Wilwood 6-pot brake kit. Just to make things more interesting, his interior is fully equipped by Mugen! You the man Aloy!


Neo Synthetics gear oil from United States. Highly recommended by Aloy. Might give it a try next time.



This is perfect for Prasath’s 250whp DC5! haha

Last but not least.......Saw this black cat while having my lunch @ the food court. Maybe I should really think of what it said to me..

I'm going for a run now. Till the next mod. :)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Fun Factor - 250whp K20A

This is Prasath driving in Sepang with his newly built K20A. The engine is pumping 250whp thanks to the extra 0.5mm forged pistons, strengthen internals, Skunk2 stage 2 cams + valvetrain and a perfectly tuned Hondata. Listen to the wild vtec engangement sound and how revvy the engine is. Most of us will think the final drive has been changed with FD2R's 5.0. But the truth is the gearbox is untouched except for a set of Toda clutch and flywheel. With the current power I don't it's wise for Prasath to put in the 5.0 final drive. Ha ha ha.