DannyBoy

Aren't LS2 crates like 12k? and that's without getting it fitted. I would think a modest bottom end build (pistons, rods + associated gubbins) and a vortech V3 with a new pulley would get you the same-ish power for less. But obviously not as reliable as an engine that was always designed for big power. DB

I took a JWT one off my car recently (to replace it with an '06 box) and using the other items in that pic for scale the JWT would seem to be a bit chunkier than the Japspeed. The JWT felt like proper heavy engineering had gone into it, and going by Japspeed's general reputation I doubt it will be made as well as the JWT. The JWT also has a heatshield for what it's worth, not sure a metal plate is really going to be such a fantastic insulator, but it's a bit more bay bling if nothing else. DB

If you actually mean that I'm making a carbon fibre triple A-pillar housing for Wasso at the moment. It's not done yet, but it's far enough along that i'm pretty certain it's going to turn out as planned. DB

Vinyl wrapping is a pretty well established way of solving that; cheap and not that hard to do. Or you could sand it back and paint/laquer it as an alternative. DB

I have no problem with parking aids WITHIN REASON. I think as long as you can still work without it if needed and don't rely on them then fine. E.g I can navigate a light aircraft visually using maps and gubbins if i need to, but why would I make life hard for myself when there's a GPS display right in front of my nose? DB

Best advice really, don't get fooled into all the marketing gimmick out there; So called "LED" TVs are really LCD TVs which use LED for back light rather than using fluorescent lamps. All the rubbish about 100hz/200hz modes, quoted contrast ratios, blacker than black modes etc is all marketing talk. I could well be wrong but I thought all 'LED' TVs were just LED backlit LCDs. i know you can make a screen out of LEDs, you see them all the time as noticeboards, but i didn't know anyone had bothered to scale it down into a TV. Another thing to watch for is the two types of LED backlighting. you want the 'local dimming' type, as this gives you the blacks that fluorescent lighting can't, I can't remember what the other kind is called but it lights from the sides of the screen, meaning you get a very thin screen, but otherwise not much improvement. Happy shopping DB

A properly fitting Nismo V1 bumper I'm starting to think this might even be beyond Santa's abilities to track down DB

Short answer: there are two amps, the one behind the sub which you wanted to replace and also one in the boot under the polystyrene false floor, which is the one you have recieved. I'm no ICE expert so i can't offer any solutions I'm afraid, but that is definately not the sub amp you have there. DB

Something else to check is under the trim in the boot. When i took my boot apart to fit some soundproofing i found a trim clip that had snapped off the trim section that covers the back of the boot (i.e the bit at the back of the car) and fallen inside a cavity in the metal structure underneath. It was pretty easy to get it out and solved what i thought was my rear suspension falling off, so if you have the patience it may be worth a check. DB

Not entirely sure what point you're arguing there Zugara, I even said in one of my posts that i probably wouldn't recommend the outlay for the gains I got, and that i only went for the spacer as well because in the context of the lump of money i was spending (~3.5K in total) it didn't really add much. However I meant that in the same way that Clarkson said he'd love an Alfa but he could never recommend one to a friend in good conscience: I like it, but i can still see it wasn't a logical decision. Suggesting I just bowed to peer pressure in bombing 2.5K on pointless mods just seems like an unnecessary dig. What you haven't considered is that maybe there is an untangible benefit that i gained in feeling that my car is now performing at its full potential, the way i feel it always should have. I don't do peer pressure, i really don't, but one of the things i do do is tinker with stuff, always trying to improve them. So this is just an expression of that trait as i see it. Things like this are always going to have that subjective element to them depending on people's motivation. If you're chasing numbers then yes you're absolutely right, give it up and either live with it or buy a faster car, but if it's about feeling like the car is running as it always should have then I'd have to say that it was worth it just to know i've taken every reasonable (again, this is subjective) measure to improve my car. I hope this didn't come across as a rant, because it wasn't, just a bit more explanation on why I DON'T regret this particular mod. DB

So the instant lotus took the Elise and put a roof on it to make the stiffer and faster Exige, it just stopped being a sports car? Sorry but I'm struggling with that one. I'll admit the Zed isn't really a sports car because it's too fat and comfortable, but then claiming that the even fatter Roadster IS a sports car because it doesn't have a roof is just bizzare DB

I used this stuff to replace the original felt-like material that Nissan put on the dash parts to stop rattles. had to take off the original stuff when messing around with carbon skinning, and this seems to do the trick. Unfortunately only available in large (100m) quantities so pretty pricey if you only need a few inches. http://www.affixit.co.uk/foam-tape-normount-v2800-c-2_204_275/normount-v2800-12mm-100m-p-1675 DB Edit. just found this stuff which isn't half as tough but is a lot cheaper: http://www.affixit.co.uk/single-sided-foam-tape-single-sided-foam-tape-black-c-2_204_205_206/thick-black-foam-tape-p-163

Errr LED Lensor X21 - 1300 Lumens Surefire can only reach 900 Lumens .... and they are twice the price There's a cheapo chinese rip-off company that make Surefire replicas called Superfire, for £35 I got a ~300 Lumen tactical weapon light that has been thoroughly abused for about 3 years now and still works fine. Not sure they do the uber-bright handhelds, but what the hell do you need 1300 Lumens for anyway? DB

I'm not Darren, lol, and those were the only power mods, all the other stuff was brakes and suspension. Word of caution; the HFCs add a pretty loud raspy 'bark' to the exhaust between about 4 and 4.5k. Could be a marmite thing, as i personally love it but could certainly understand how someone could hate it. DB If you fit a Pop Charger too then it fills in that 4-4.5k area with a really nice sound I have a modified air box that I swap over for when the weather turns bad and the windows stay up The car had a JWT on it when i bought it, and i have to say i didn't notice any difference in noise when i swapped it for the '06 airbox. Could just be because i wasn't really listening for it. Might think about a CAI of some sort again in the future, but for now the exhaust on its own is enough for me Getting vaguely back on thread, i have to say my most regrettable mod is my homebrew carbon dash/centre console. Looks fantastic now that it's finished, but the three interiors and many hours (actually more like months) of my time, plus the pretty hefty materials costs have soured the end result really, which is a shame. DB

I'm not Darren, lol, and those were the only power mods, all the other stuff was brakes and suspension. Word of caution; the HFCs add a pretty loud raspy 'bark' to the exhaust between about 4 and 4.5k. Could be a marmite thing, as i personally love it but could certainly understand how someone could hate it. DB

Have to disagree, Just had plenum spacer + HFCs + Milltek fitted and upreved with an '06 airbox and Cossie filter and the car is definitely quicker but more importantly pulls better throughout the revs, so just feels miles better. Maybe just the spacer on its own wouldn't be worth the cash, but as I was replacing the exhaust anyway (old one fell apart) im glad i dished out for the rest of the mods to get the most out of it. DB How much have all these mods cost you & how much have you gained? The Milltek + Berks + plenum spacer + Uprev cost between 2 and 2.5K, don't know exactly as i had a lot of other stuff done at the same time. It dyno'd at 307BHP, so if we assume my DE engine was actually making the stated 276 horses (which it probably wasn't) then i gained 31BHP, giving me a cost of at best about £64 per horse. Doesn't sound like a great deal when you put it like that, but factor in the much smoother torque delivery and the power all the way up to the limiter, as well as the epic noise from the new exhaust and it just about feels worth it. Not sure i'd have gone and paid for the lot if the car was already working perfectly, but it had a blowing OEM system with a ratty K2 on the back, so that needed replacing anyway and i figured i might as well do it properly DB

because they are identical down to a very tight tolerance. So the only differance between the pre and post air boxes is the tube? It's a velocity stack, the larger velocity stack results in less turbulent airflow between the box and the intake tube, and (speaking generally) less turbulence means better efficiency. DB

Just a quick question about these bulge bonnets; do they increase clearance where the strut brace is or does the HR just need more room somewhere else? If it means better strut brace clearance on the bonnet (pretty sure plenum spacer is causing some vibration) then i'm also interested. DB

Have to disagree, Just had plenum spacer + HFCs + Milltek fitted and upreved with an '06 airbox and Cossie filter and the car is definitely quicker but more importantly pulls better throughout the revs, so just feels miles better. Maybe just the spacer on its own wouldn't be worth the cash, but as I was replacing the exhaust anyway (old one fell apart) im glad i dished out for the rest of the mods to get the most out of it. DB

Can't believe I missed this off my list as well, totally forgot Where do you play? DB Play all over the place mate, always happy to make an awesome roadtrip to a site (especially in a Zed.. the boot is actually a good shape for gun bags!) Xsite High Wycombe was my first site and my 'regular' site (although dont play that regularly outside summer because team mates are at Uni). Xsite is a bit aimed at new players and does more paintball style games, but its very well run and marshalled and is a good day out. Also pop down to Ground Zero every now and then, woodland and Urban, been to Urban Assault up in Peterbrough too. And a couple of other one time trips! Yourself? My regular site is Gunman Airsoft which is sort of near Thetford, but i've been to Urban Assault a few times and a site in london I can't recall the name of. I stick with Gunman cause the standard of conduct is outstanding, and it's the best balanced Mil-sim i've played, decent ammo rules, not fat guys with box mags and over-developed trigger fingers. If you fancy a good day of Mil-sim it's well worth a road trip. DB

Can't believe I missed this off my list as well, totally forgot Where do you play? DB

I practise MMA pretty regularly, used to train 3 or 4 times a week at Tsunami gym in Cambridge but I don't spend much time in Cambridge these days so not as regular any more unfortunately. I'm also working towards a PPL, so most of my 'hobbies' time at weekends gets taken up with that these days DB

Am I missing something, surely if it's an '09 reg it will have an HR in it? I would have thought that was a fairly safe assumption, or am I being stupid? DB Old style bonnet won't fit (over) the HR engine. Ahhhhhh, didn't even think to look at that. You see i'm the kind of idiot they'll get away with selling it to as a 313 until i looked under the hood at least. DB

Am I missing something, surely if it's an '09 reg it will have an HR in it? I would have thought that was a fairly safe assumption, or am I being stupid? DB

I think you mean cooling panel buddy DB