Unexpected kill in the new DD. Options

[JMoushon]

So I finish the body work on the AWD I acquired from Spy. I take the FWD out to get registration. I come home, decide I need to do the free-mods just for a bit of extra pep. All goes well, I have 2 more psi and a slightly leaner mixture, life is good. I think, "She should be clean, well, as clean as she can be anyway.' So I go wash her, and she's actually kinda pretty.

As I'm leaving, I forget the whole "wet tire" thing, and hammer it making a left turn out of the lot. After barely staying on my side of the road by applying about one full turn of countersteer and staying in the gas, I'm all smiles. I feel taller, stronger, faster, and I think I felt something grow downstairs...

I look in the rearview, and I see a 2G behind about 1/8 mile. I slow down to let him catch up. I know this stock AWD automatic won't touch my FWD, but I also know that a 2G fwd won't either.

We get lucky, and get a light. He's stock, 18 at best, and cocky as hell. He looks over and actually laughs. I figure he has that right, his car is clean and only a couple years old, mine is held together with zip-ties and clear duct tape. The light goes green, and he spins...kinda. More like chirps. I'm about 1/4 car behind him, the 13g doesn't want to spool at all with the tiny stock exhaust still in place. However, when it does decide to work, it works hard. Top-end on this stock car surprised me, I'm assuming due to the conspicuous absence of low-end. As I reach the top of first, I'm gaining a bit, and excited.

What I didn't figure in was the shift. Where I'm used to losing 1/4 car o a shift, I'm amazed to find out that when this car kicks into 2nd, it jumps almost 1/2 car. He had shifted into second, which put us about even. As soon as I hit second, I was a solid 1/2 car ahead, and pulling away. we stayed in it until about 80, at which point he was about 4 cars behind.

I can't wait to see what this car will do with a ported 14b, 3"TBE, fuel pump, and MBC. It's gonna make one hell of a daily driver...

[JMoushon]

After I got home from Saturn, where Marcus soundly stomped me, I began to reflect on the comment made earlier. "Sounds like a vacuum cleaner." I'll admit, I had noticed a bit of noise. So I decide to check for vacuum leaks and such when I look down and notice 2 things. First, there is a hose clamp sitting idly on the lower intercooler inlet, and second, there is no pipe visible, although I can barely see the bead. Boost leak? Understatement. I reconnected the pipe, and the sound is better, but not gone by any means. It also likes to boost a bit quicker. I pull out the stock MAF and inspect the licp, there are HOLES in it. Not A hole, but lots of small holeS. I need to replace the licp, and see how she does from there.

This car is an absolute blast. Not super quick, but for what it is, it's lots of fun.