The Beast is Back!

I have finally got the GTO back, and she runs! That GTO shaped hole in my garage is gone, snuggly filled with my baby. I'm a happy boy. 

Always love a fat arse!

I missed the call to pick her up yesterday whilst driving home. I got back with 5 minutes to spare before the garage closed so called them and arranged to pick her up today instead. So last night I couldn't sleep for thinking about her. And I thought of her whilst I was getting ready this morning. And I rather struggled to concentrate at work today, watching the clock ticking down till I could leave and pick her up. 

Back home where she belongs.

Mrs 3oD was kind enough to drop me at the garage to pick it up, but as we set off and headed the 15 miles or so home I decided I couldn't stop. I live up in the hills, with many a fine B road to blast down and having not driven her for 4 months the temptation to go for a little hoon was too high.... I just wanted to drive, and drive, and drive.... 

After a short while, I pulled over, and just had to take some photos of her as the sun was setting. (I even used the big boy camera, not just my phone! Oh so grown up...) 

Not the first I took, but by far my favourite!

In truth, blasting through the countryside made me realise how far I have to go with this car. It highlighted a few issues I had forgotten about from before she was taken off the road in February.

Under heavy braking the steering wheel was shaking uncontrollably in my hand, I have experienced this same feeling before in my Hawkeye when the brake rotas needed replacing through slight warping. This is the reason my next big purchase is planned to be a big brake kit, and I will probably be taking her easy until I get that installed, she still stops fine but I don't want to take any chances. Thankfully she's not a daily so doesn't need to see many miles in that time. 

Another issue is third gear had always been a little hard to find, and with changing the clutch this was much improved, but still not ideal. When I get round to ordering a short shifter I wonna have a look at the selector mechanism because it feels more like that than the box itself, but in all honesty I can see 2017 bringing a gearbox refurbishment. I think I would be kidding myself if I thought anything else, this is a 90's Mitsubishi after all!

The winding mountain roads also made me realise that I should have probably gone for a stage 2 clutch. I warned warned by the manager of the garage how heavy it was before I got in the car, but was still shocked at how much force it took to depress the stage 3. My left leg is gonna be ripped! That is something I will get used to, and the extra torque it can take will hopefully one day be a necessity for the 3 of diamonds!

Find some more of my pics below, I need a bit more practice, but hopefully I'll get there with using that camera soon. 

Check out my last couple of posts:

Still no GTO

Car Porn

If you would like to laugh at my lack of progress in real time you can follow me on social sites by clicking the links below or search the @s :

Instagram   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Google+ 

Twitter   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Facebook   @3ofdiamondsGTO

Still no GTO?

So, when I set the time aside this weekend to write my next entry, I was fully anticipating having got the GTO  back from having the work done on it, posting images from taking her for a hoon through the countryside to celebrate her return. Unfortunately due to a slight miscommunication she is not yet ready. Cue sad face emoji.

So instead I have been sat working out what my next few mods will be for the car, as I get stuck in to working on her properly for the first time. The next big purchases are easy, I live up in the hills and as a result have a wealth on winding, apex filled country roads which are national speed limit, so it would almost be insulting to the car to not start with a big brake kit and some suspension upgrades. Brakes will probably come first, and I'm in the process of saving up, but don't think they'll happen until July. 

Big brake kit for a Mitsubishi

So what happens in the mean time? When she's up and running again I don't exactly want to wait to July before I can start with improvements... Well, as mentioned at the end of my last post I have a 57i induction kit waiting to be installed. When I install this I will also trying to use up my stash of elbow grease to clean up the engine bay. For some reason I don't quite trust 25 year old electrics with the power spray, so it may be a long and tedious job doing it by hand, but it's gotta be done! 

K&N Logo

Along with the induction kit, I also have ready and waiting a set of JDM speed tow hooks and a Summit Racing windscreen repair kit. Although my insurance covers me for windscreen replacement, I would have to pay a rather large excess, and as the chip in mine is only small thought a gamble on repairing myself first was well worth it! 

My JDM Speed Tow Hooks, hope the red against black looks mint!

If I fluff this one up can always cover with a sun strip I suppose!

The first thing I want to try when I get her back is Sleepy Eye. In theory it should be the easiest, most straightforward mod I do on the car. Aaaaaaaand I shouldn't have said that because I've just jinxed myself. The picture below demonstrates sleepy/lazy eye, but when I do it I'm going to consider removing the side light cover from below the main headlights as it looks cleaner without that there.

'Sleepy Eye' or 'Lazy Eye' on a Mitsubishi GTO (3000gt)

Whilst we're in the head light area, driving the car in the dark and rain before she was taken off the road was a little scary. I want to do a bit of a DIY headlight restoration as I went to turn my full beams on, thinking my normal dipped headlights weren't enough.... only to find I already had the full beams on. This won't be as important for visibility through summer, but if I'm drawing attention to the headlights doing Sleepy Eye, they gotta look good!

I also want to try and polish some life back into the paint, I would love a full respray eventually, however priority with budget will be on performance first. With that in mind I'm hoping a good seeing to with a rotary polishing tool/mop will do the trick! (at least in the short term) and in my head I'll be silently hopeful that I wont burn the paint having never used one before or the respray may be moved up in the schedule.....

If these mods don't keep me busy until I can afford bigger and better mods, there is always weight reduction. I don't really want to do this until the new clutch is broken in, so I can do before and after 0-60 runs.  She is a rather large girl, and does need to go on a diet rather badly, but we shall see how the other mods progress before we get started with this.

GTO having been on a diet

I'm hoping the next time I post it will be with the GTO back in her home in the garage. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next few days!

I'm currently running a poll on Garage Amino. 'Which reinvention of 90's JDM muscle looks best?' At the link below:

http://aminoapps.com/p/h1ztc4

Top left: Mitsubishi GTO (3000gt) Top Right: Toyota FT-1 (but will evolve to next Supra)
Bottom left: Mazda rx9 (possibly first true replacement to rx7?)
Bottom Right: Nissan GTR - for the fanboys,  I once read it would have carried the skyline name were it not for a legal hiccup between the Nissan and Infinti brands.

Head on over to the app to cast your vote! I have already had a couple of messages denying the FT-1 becoming the next Supra, for doubters check this link http://www.teamimports.com/2016/03/finally-officia-new-toyota-supra.html regardless, the Supra is currently smashing the vote! Lets face it, none of these cars will have many parts left over from being used on their predecessors, so lets just enjoy the next breed of Japanese muscle!

If you enjoyed this post, check out my previous entry E85 Society - April Meet. Caution, the entry contains much car porn.

If you would like to laugh at my lack of progress in real time you can follow me on social sites by clicking the links below or search the @s :

Instagram   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Google+ 

Twitter   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Facebook   @3ofdiamondsGTO

E85 Society - April Meet

In my last post I mentioned that I wouldn't leave it as long before my next post, so as promised, here goes. But first a disclaimer. This post comes with a warning:

So warning over, shall we begin?


Last night I attended the April E85 Society meet and the cars in attendance didn't disappoint. There was a wide range of cars there, from Low n Slow VAGs, to JDM beasts, and even the odd bit of domestic muscle, speaking of which is where I'll start.

My favourite car on show was this 600+BHP Ford Escort Cosworth:

Simply stunning example

Engine bay - Car porn!

Boot build on the Cossie

Many of these cars spent much of the 80's and 90's either upside down in hedges or being plagued with rust, so to see one not only in such good condition, but also modified so well, felt like a very rare treat indeed.

So from one legend to another, Godzilla. There were not one, but three Skylines at the meet. When the White one pictured below arrived, just reversing into the bay it managed to set off the car alarm on one of my mates project cars. I think that this laid down the gauntlet for when I get the GTO back next week. Next meet I gotta try and do that! If it can't in its current guise I'm sure I'd manage it when the 57i is installed.

The blue r34 (also shown below) went one better though, as it left the meet it spat flames, damn big flames. Sadly I left the meet before it, so didn't get any pictures, but the E85 Society on facebook has plenty of videos of it I'm sure.

Loud Exhaust

Flaming Exhaust

 You might just be able to make out that the cars sat either side of the blue skyline are a little special as well. Both are imported JDM Honda's (well... sort of). To the right is an Integra type R. I think that if I was to own a Honda again, this would be the one I'd go for. They seem to carry a bit more presence than a lot of other Honda's, they look awesome and sound great. To the left of the Skyline is a Mugen Civic, not exactly something you see at every meet.

Teggy Type R

Mugen Civic

There was a variety of other Jap cars there, one of which was this rather clean Mitsubishi GTO. It made me a tad disappointed I hadn't been able to get mine back on Friday as planned. but I do look forward to getting her out to meets again soon.

Mitsubishi GTO SR

She is an SR model, so although not as fast as my baby, she is in really good condition in comparison.  This one gave me some goals for body work, eventually....  after she's had a bit of love and attention in the performance department. 

So, as I move on to the next couple of cars I was going to mention, I would just like to take a moment  and pause for a second to point out this is not a JDM society... honest... Here are 2 Supras and a couple of early MR2's:

4JZ Power!

Stock spoiler or carbon? Left or Right?

Toyota should never have changed form this early format

The later MR2s are like a completely different car

I think thats probably enough JDM goodness for today, if that's even possible.

As with most car meets, a large proportion of the cars there were VAGs, many of which rather than modifying for speed, instead chose to see who could make their car sit on the ground the lowest. I always find this relatively funny watching people trying to leave over bumps, but it can make for some admittedly dramatic and good looking pictures. There is also something strangely satisfying about the signature tssssssssssssst of an air bag signifying a VW has just parked next to you at a meet.

 Last but not least is probably the most unexpected car at the meet. Not every day you get a machine like this at your average car meet in a car park on a Saturday night. Dat Lupo tho!

Dat Lupo tho!

There were many more cars there, and I wish I could have featured them all in my entry, but I suppose I should save some for next time! Hopefully next time the 3 of Diamonds herself will feature!


If you enjoyed this post, Check out my previous post by clicking here. It contains less cars, but more humor, lots of laughs in that one... Well... OK... there is SOME humor at least... Check it out.

If you would like to laugh at my lack of progress in real time you can follow me on social sites by clicking the links below or search the @s :

Instagram   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Google+ 

Twitter   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Facebook   @3ofdiamondsGTO

Last weeks post, this week. Kind of.

This week saw the return of Game of Thrones, and with it winter was no longer coming. It came. It came all over the hills where I live. And then it was gone again. And back. And gone. And back.... you get the picture. You can really tell the British summer is coming when the weather only lasts 10 minutes before changing.

So the first meme was aimed at falling in line with my opening paragraph, but I simply couldn't resist putting the second one in as well. It appealed to my inner geek too much.

It has again been a couple of weeks since  my last post again, not good enough I know, but with these wintery showers and summery blizzards the changing of the seasons hopefully marks a change in my ability to get stuck in to the project!

Speaking of which, I currently have a GTO shaped hole in my garage as she has finally been taken away today, through the blizzards, to have her stage 3 Competition Clutch fitted.

GTO shaped hole... just a said tyre impression left in the dust...

This post in truth was intended to be posted last week, she was supposed to be collected last week and I should really have had her back and running by now... sadly the same thing happened with the recovery vehicle as last time and the first one they sent was unable to tow her. Never mind. Fingers crossed I will get her back by Saturday lunchtime ready for the next e85 car meet at the weekend.

So her getting taken away meant I had to bolt in the Sparco wheel Mrs 3oD got me for xmas, here's what it looks like:

I think it is a big improvement over the ripspeed that was in when I got the car.

Before, ugly old Ripspeed wheel

After with the Sparco wheel,

So what's gonna happen when I get her back? Hopefully I should be posting from the next meet in a couple of days. Then the GTO will need a 500 mile break in for the new clutch. I already have my next mod sat waiting for an install however:

57i awaiting install

So all going well with the clutch, this should be happening in the next couple of weeks. I have the cold air kit, not just the filter, I know it wont change the BHP, I just wonna make it sound good for now! When the 500 miles are up I will do another 0-60 test to see what she she can do without bald tyres and without a slipping clutch, and then who knows from there!

If you would like to laugh at my lack of progress in real time you can follow me on social sites by clicking the links below or search the @s :

Instagram   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Google+ 

Twitter   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Facebook   @3ofdiamondsGTO

BMW 320D M Daily Driver - What mods would I do?

So in my last post, I reviewed a BMW 320D M, and said I would talk through any mods I was thinking in my next post, so here goes. My 11 things I would do to the car. I was torn between doing a list of 11 because I would want 11, or 10 because of ocd.... 

As this car would be a daily there is nothing too brash, not trying to turn it into a race car, that's what the Mitsubishi is for after all. This list would just be a few mods to make it more mine and less like every other 3 series on the road, because lets face, there's a lot of them about these days! Each is chosen to have a relatively high impact for a low cost. I wouldn't be trying to give the car false credentials by doing mainly aesthetic mods, more just trying to make it mine (and hopefully not rice). 

1. DPF delete

DPF

DPF is Diesel Particulate Filter and its job is to filter the soot particles from a diesel engined vehicle, it eventually gets clogged up and this can lower the performance of your vehicle, preventing the exhaust to work quite as effectively as it should/could. Rolling coal anyone?

2. Remap

BMW getting remapped

The idea of this, combined with the DPF delete, would be to give the car just a bit more of a kick under acceleration. Turbo diesels typically respond very well to remaps and gains with little/no other mods can actually be surprising. And for any eco-mentalists out there, they also help you get a higher mpg!

3. Second set of alloys for winter tyres

BMW Alloys

Where I live, I wouldn't call it mountains as such, but its definitely not flat and I've known it snow in August. With that in mind winter tyres would be a must with a RWD car here. This is the part where I would normally sigh,  and reflect on how much I miss my Hawkeye. Cue the worlds smallest violin. 

4. Refurb current alloys - blackness

Black Alloys Black BMW

If the new alloys I got were really good I would use the current alloys for good summer tyres, with summer air in them and everything. The alloys had little M badges on them though, and I really liked that.... I'm a big kid at heart really! So the second set would probably be for winter tyres and the set that/s on there would get a refurb and a black coating (excluding the M badges, obviously).

5. Window tint

Limo tint

Point 4 probably started a bit of a trend, you may notice a recurring theme here. I would probably go quite dark on the tint at the back.  Partly because black looks cool af. Mainly because very black tint would hide the child seats and any mess caused by the toddler during the week till it could be cleaned out at the weekend. 

6. Paint chrome on front bumper body colour

Black grill

I would say that I'm sure the chrome grill was in fashion 2 or 3 years ago when the car was new, but I think that would be a lie. Maybe it was and I'm just not the target market.... either way the chrome would go, and as above it would look so much meaner as a result!

7. Tint head lights/tail lights black

Black tail lights

The reasoning behind this is partly the same as point 6. I like the idea of a very mean looking BMW and think this would add to that. You wouldn't get away with going as dark as the image above for long in the UK, but I'd try and get it as close to that as I could for as long as possible!

8. Tint fogs yellow (tape x too much?)

BMW Yellow Fogs

This is a funny one, because I think only certain cars suit having this done (no, your vauxhall corsa/astra/whatever is NOT one of them). Normally I would reserve this for cool old euro rides, and certain JDM ones, but I think I actually like the look of it on the BMW's, even the newer shapes. Would it be too put to put tape X's over each of the lights as well? 

9. Roof rack, low black and aggressive

Roof Rack BMW

OK, so this may be starting to get played out, but as with the yellow fogs on the right car it still works. I would mainly do this because every other car on the road these days seems to be a 3 series, and I'd just want to break that common shape up a little. The rack I'd choose would be by no means functional. But it would be black. 

10. Tow hook

BMW Tow Hook

Depending upon the colour chosen for number 11 on the list, this would be either red or yellow as they are the colours which suit the black the best. Having opted for black and red on the Mitsubishi wold probably go yellow to mix it up. As the picture shows below I actually managed to find a company that specialises in making these just for BMW's.

Dong parts.... dong....parts.... haha

11. Big brake kit upgrade (or failing finding a cheap set, paint calipers red/yellow)

Last but by no means least (and probably first to be honest) I would try to source a brake upgrade. This would most likely be a second hand set from a proper pure blooded M3 which would be a substantial upgrade for the 320D M. Failing that I would get a tin of caliper paint and have a bash at colouring in as it would probably be mainly for looks anyway. 

I just need to stop getting myself getting distracted with a Tesla Model 3 because I quite fancy one of them now... hmmmm

If you would like to laugh at my lack of progress in real time you can follow me on social sites by clicking the links below or search the @s :

Instagram   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Google+ 

Twitter   @3ofdiamonds_GTO

Facebook   @3ofdiamondsGTO