Teh Official "Dude Where's My Forum?" Thread, Brought to you by the minds of Box, and her fiancée, Lorelei Options

[Box]

The Sport COMP-2s don't seem too bad after going down the road a few minutes, I could start doing a rolling burnout from the driveway to the stop sign before getting onto the highway.

[Bitter]

I took the car out once in 20F temps and had a little fun, I could easily get them to spin on dry road in lift and from a standing start with a brake torque. I did not try turning or stopping though cause I knew they wouldn't be there. After about 20 minutes at highway speeds they were warmed up but it wasn't a safe thing to do at all. I've had the car out in colder temps just short distances when it wasn't snowing because I had to move it or the other car was down and the train station is only 2 miles away. Not fun at all! Amazingly that TINY battery started the car no problem below freezing after it sat out all day, just turn the key on, turn a draw on in the car for about 30 seconds, turn it off, wait about 10 seconds, then start with a strong crank as normal. Needed to get the electrons loosened up a little first when the lifepo4 cells are cold, otherwise it cranked a little slow at first and I was worried about flooding it out if it cranked slow. I could have just swapped in the lead battery but....I didn't.

[Box]

Usually it stays above freezing most of the time during the day even in Winter, like as of now mid 50's seems to be the norm during the day. I could easily break the tires free with it hot out even already rolling, of course I'm also driving knowing the tires are compromised somewhat and adjust accordingly. I had thought about all seasons since it is a year round daily, but then that'd have meant bleh traction year round versus a couple months and usually our Winters are fairly mild in comparison to most places anyway.

[Box]

Also looking for more information on amber gauges I came across where apparently some later BMWs came with amber interior lighting as well from the factory:

Which it makes sense in theory at least, if you need to find something at night instead of white light killing your night vision you can find what you're looking for without effecting it having the amber lighting. If the gauge cluster and all the accent lights turn out well I might give it a go since I was already thinking about chunking the white LEDs anyway.

[Box]

Said the Hell with it and went ahead and ordered ten 42mm festoon 8x5050 amber LEDs since it makes more sense than obnoxious bright white. There's a method to the madness for ten of them though, I'm going to put two together in parallel back to back for each mirror light so that way one side faces out while the other bounces off the reflector and will do two in parallel for the dome/cargo light so one faces the cargo area and one the passenger compartment. Sure it means a little modifying but nothing terribly hard and not like premade amber 360º festoons exist anyway.

I think the Firebird is going to end up with some kind of identity disorder at this rate, taking ideas and elements from all kinds of cars and implementing them.

[Bitter]

Gonna be a rainbow.

[Box]

It'll be made of Skittles? Mmmm... Skittles...

[Box]

Well the replacement rigid loop LEDs are supposed to arrive today, just in time to be replaced with the amber LEDs anyway. I'm sure I can find some use for them maybe.

[Bitter]

Another vehicle I'm sure. Or give to someone with a car like yours at a car meet, people love free ****.

[Box]

Two replacements are good, went ahead and tested them then took the flickering one out since that took like two minutes. Was thinking could give them to someone or repurpose them, it'll be awhile before there's another car meet so if I can't find a use for them that's probably what I'll do.

[Bitter]

My engine light came on in the Mazda last night, P0141, driving today the engine light went back off. I need to inspect the wiring and then probably just replace the sensor. I had a pending P0141 once before when I checked so it's probably on it's way to crap out. 145K miles and it's the original one, not too bad. $40 for an OE NTK replacement sensor.

[Box]

LEDs made it to the post office but before delivery routes started I guess, that's ok busy tomorrow anyway.

That's not bad at all for an o.e. replacement.

[Bitter]

Nah, I was pleasantly surprised! So long as it's not wiring somewhere and the sensor comes out cleanly I'll be happy. Heck, the light may stay out for years to come yet but I'd rather just get it done, intermittent problems suck though. I kind of wish the light had just stayed on the problem present the whole time so I could concretely diag it.

[Box]

Hopefully it's just the sensor, and intermittent problems are the worst. Speaking of codes, now that I actually own an OBD-II car I should probably buy one of those Bluetooth for Android or Windows scanners.

Found these two that're top rated: https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-34t5-B...36%3A1253493011

https://www.amazon.com/Veepeak-Scanner-Adap...493011&th=1

[Bitter]

I think you'd more enjoy the Scanguage2 or similar device!

[Bitter]

https://www.scangauge.com/products/scangauge-ii/


Guy I bought the RMM strut bar from refunded me $25 of the shipping cause he overestimated the shipping costs.

[Box]

Primarily it'd be for pulling codes, hadn't really put much thought into doing anymore with it. Though I've seen where people will get like a 7" or so tablet to run the software and have all the info displayed in real time. Have heard of the ScanGauge as well but never really looked into, will have to give it a read.

That's good, always nice to get a refund.

This post has been edited by Box: Nov 24, 2016 - 6:43 PM

[njccmd2002]

Can we rename this thread to bitterbox house of fun

[Bitter]

I proposed a rename a while back, the box n bitter bull**** hour of power.

[Box]

Probably might as well. Maybe we'll get our own show where we sometimes talk about cars and occasionally drive them.