Stutopia

I've been looking at styling mods, got a list to pick through and there seems to be lots of info around. I'm learning daily. With styling mods, it seems mainly a matter of personal taste and fitment. However, performance mods seem to require a bit more strategy and long termism. I'm trying to figure out a performance upgrade path, which will lead to a remap and possibly after that a supercharger. I love supercharger whine and I always dreamed of owning a car that makes that sound, first things first though. I've inherited from the previous owner a 2004 Zed with a Scorpion exhaust, a Cosworth panel filter, and what has been identified on here as a poorly fitted plenum spacer. Other than that, she's fully stock. I have read here that it's best to get the breathing right first, then go remap from there. The upgrade path I've identified seems to be: Breathing In Motodyne basic plenum spacer 5/16ths - http://tinyurl.com/bqmhma3 On the basis that it fits straight in under stock brace and bonnet. I'm a little confused as to what the iso thermal aspect of some spacers is, so any explanation is appreciated. I've also picked up from some threads that the benefit over the basic is negligible, please correct me if I make poor assumptions. Velocity Stack Don't know much here, beyond the fluid dynamics theory. Do they even fit in the 04 air box? If so, anyone on here sell them? Intake I believe the Cosworth panel is reasonable and other intake variants (pop charger, ram) on the stock airbox are more aligned with making a better sound, not necessarily better performance. I'm not after much louder, but interested in good airflow with proper levels of filtration. Breathing Out Y-Pipe - http://tinyurl.com/d9pod4n The cobra seems to be a popular choice round these parts and reasonably priced. A decent choice? Again, not after super loud and motorway drone is a no no. HFCs - http://tinyurl.com/cgphbxu An area I've read a lot but learned not so much, other than the Berk HFCs seem popular. Where do these fall in terms of legality and current MOT regulations? I'm not keen on anything that the Feds will be even remotely interested in, even if the likelihood of them checking is only 1%. I don't have a friendly MOT mechanic, or any desire for my insurance company to get the hump if the worst happens. Does this mean I'm stuck with OEM and will that ruin my plan? Misc Belt and lightweight pulleys - http://tinyurl.com/cb7j66z Another are with plenty of theory, not much practical. I get reducing pulley weight drops load, I've also read a few bits about undercranking, which I think I'm happy enough to live without. Any comments on this are appreciated. No idea about belt - please help! Uprated Radiator Caps Seems too easy & cheap to me to make any big gains, but happy to be disproved. Also are there any risks of increasing pressures in there? If so, what's the sort of max pressure rated cap you'd want before risking leaks? Grounding Kits I've read a few back on forths on the benefits or not of these, performance wise there's plenty of opinions, but nearly everyone agrees it's beneficial if you run quality ICE and will at least smooth idle. Have I missed any opportunities here? Massively mis-understood any of this? Identified these in the wrong order? Please bear in mind that 3 months ago I thought performance mods were fluffy dice and leopard skin seat covers. I'm not aiming to order all this tonight, I would just like a bit of a plan to budget for and do things in the most appropriate order. I started off here (http://tinyurl.com/co8e3lt) as my basis of making a plan but I’m very much open to suggestion. Thanks (sorry I've gone on a bit).

Write directly to Morgan Freeman, cut out the subordinates.

+1 on pics Assist springs sorted mine, the some clown messed around with the rear bumper and now unfixed!

Yep I think both those comments merit one, but you might have a chance to redeem yourself Ok point taken.... I would only go for the GT86 if I wasn't getting a Jag Nice one, I hear some jags are quicker than both Transit vans and mobility scooters. I the right hands obviously.

Good read, reminded me of my confused adolescence ;-) I think the proven link between psychos and killing animals is more aligned with behaviours such as torturing and mutilating animals as a source of pleasure/entertainment, rather than killing to eat or remove pests. Where killing for sport fits in on that scale I'm not sure. Stick people on an island for a month with plenty of clean water and abundant animal life, watch them all go Lord of The Flies on Day 2!

They look really good, nice looking motor all round

I'm quite new to this franchise of Wheeler Dealer shows but enjoy the focus on cars rather than 'hilarious' and contrived Clarkson style japery. Brewer's a bit of a tit, but watching China working on the cars in the proper show is well interesting for a learner like me. Won't be bothering with Trading Up again any time soon. Keep the focus on the cars not the alleged characters!

What was mobile coverage like up there away from towns? Full 4G network yeah or am I buying a satphone too.

Most people (huge genralisation alert), particularly urban dewellers (second generalisation alert) will happily kill a rat (or pay to have some one do it for them) in or around the house, but then get all touchy feely when it's a cute squirrel or bushy tailed Mr Fox or monochromatic Billy Badger. I'm sorry but surely you either you agree with killing stuff, be it to eat it or because they're a pest, or you don't? This, "well it's ok to stand on a scorpion if its going to sting you, but not eat a horse because it looks like Ruud Van Nistlerooy" is a little hypocritical IMHO. The obvious exception being endangered species, which no one is talking about genociding here.

Please don't mention the price of petrol, at this rate, it'll be cheaper to have two weeks in Cuba, contraceptives included. I'm on my own (unless anyone else fancies it at practically zero notice?) with Zed, camera and toothbrush an OB (passport?) starting in Blackpool, but I've added too many stops to the list that google maps can't deal with it. Pretty sure I can find Glasgow from here though, generally south west yeah? http://tinyurl.com/c7d9v5a Updated route, looks like Cairngorms might be a mountain range too far. I've been there before and it'll mean missing out me capturing Nessie on the way home and getting to do my Quint speech from Jaws in a local pub. Also the new route accommodates General Wade's Military Road - with a name like that, it must be good. Thanks all for the tips, not sure how much more can go in, it'll be over 1000 miles by the time I add in getting to Glasgow and back from Annan - I only planned for 4 days, might go for 5. Just got to cross ref the fuel stops with the route now.

Applecross and Trossachs added, thanks! Nice one Ewan, added also. Didn't really think about Zed owner pitstops along the way, great idea. Downloaded a bunch of oil company apps, at this rate it'll be a route of Scotland's best petrol stations, well Partridge, mustn't forget my Toblerone and remember to add Dundee. Ahhhh haaaaa!!!

Thanks mate, that'd be great. Did some of the Cairngorms as a youth, but will be able to squeeze it in. I remember learning to windsurf on a loch up there, and it started snowing whilst I was out there. Think the water was quite cold!

Nice. Thanks again.

G Wagon? Merc and 4x4 all in one, and they look, er... Macho.

Is the octane booster any good, or just a better alternative than regular? Just quickly browsing shell, esso & BP store locators, looks pretty low on ANY kind of station north of Inverness. Maybe an emergency jerry can for the boot, as well as booster, I bet there's only enough petrol in one of them for about 12 miles in the Zed!

Nice one, I'll check it out, thanks. Photo added to original post, I assumed the link would go straight to my mega route on a map, not an itinerary.

So the warranty is up on my Zed at the end of May. Apart from a couple of 2 hour trips over the Pennines I've not really driven her for extended periods and I want to reveal any camouflaged problems before the 3 months is up (and possibly test out my roadside assistance policy too!). I've seen a few roads on TV/movies that looked awesome, and having visited more of Colombia than I have of the North of Scotland, I thought why not do a bit of a road trip and take a few days off work? This initial route might be a bit ambitious (I can get carried away with maps) but I've had a sniff around the web and this takes in what others have described as some of the best roads in Scotland. Anyone got any suggested route changes, must see landmarks, or simply a big list of petrol stations with super on tap, that they can suggest? http://goo.gl/maps/kFtf0 As usual, thanks for any comments.

Whoop whoop, great scenes iron, thanks!

Think these are totally legal here. Could it be rigged up so that if anything metal touches the exterior you get a warning, then shortly afterwards a response. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrzMGdYWZc&sns=em

You could cook an entire cow with one of those! Obvs some kind of fire too, maybe a Miura flame grill....

Didn't realise there was so much love for the GM round these parts!

Not bad, but I think I prefer something slightly maturer with a fuller body, like this excellent vintage Bellucci, when I watch a movie. Perfect.

Never even crossed my mind, but it has now. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Streetwize-Urbanx-Racing-Style-Extinguisher/dp/B001JP7W74/ref=sr_1_9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1365463976&sr=1-9&keywords=fire+extinguisher For £7 it seems like a no-brainer. Anyone any idea what the UXFE-1, 2, or 3 stuff means? Don't want to get one then if it's ever needed find out it's useless.

Gutted for you mate. It's a filthy, rotten, low-down thing for anyone to do. Good luck with the repair, hope you get good deal and a good finish.

There's boot loads of adhesive rubber feet on ebay. I nearly bought a batch but went for some adhesive Kevlar to stick to the "landing pad" instead. If that fails ill be feeting up as the next ploy.