Wet Okoles, rear seat delete...

[MidnightDave]

Here's a pic of my final rear seat delete "upgrade" and new Wet Okoles. As you guys know, I bought Steve's rear seat delete kit, and put the factory covers in. Today, I put a dark fabric, attached with velcro, draped across the back, so I can put cargo back there without exposing it, and I just pull it out altogether when the dogs are riding back there on the rubber mats.

P.S. to Drew, the way you get the clasp down next to the driver's seat by the console is to ratchet the thing all the way up first! Duh!

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6646/1181829imged8.jpg

[HPUdrew]

Looks great Dave.

I can't believe we didn't think of that... must have been the heat, yeah, that's all, just the heat... :p

Drew

[MidnightDave]

Drew,

What size were those "plugs" you used for door handles, if you recall? If not, I'll just experiment. NM, found it! 5/8" and 11/16" http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71373

BTW, I took that goofy cupholder out, Goo Gone took care of that double backed tape you warned me about.

And finally, "a star is born!"

My wife named it MINICHI b/c these cars generate good Chi in the world!

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3180/1181834imgsm0.jpg

[HPUdrew]

Awesome, awesome, awesome... love the name, glad you figured out the plug sizes... Should only be a couple of bucks at Lowe's. :)

Drew

[MidnightDave]

I'll just keep using this thread to post mods. Just had Dan, THE MAN at Grassroots Garage install a Helix CAI, with minor fabrication to use the existing back, (hello Dremel), and a too cool boost guage in the air vent in the dash. He hooked it up to dim with the rest of the dash, it fits perfectly and it's a blast to watch the swings from (average 20 lbs vacuum) to full on 11.5 lbs of boost, just before you hit the rev limiter ;-)

CAI first
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/4632/1202095imgyv3.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6382/1202096imgdj5.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5523/1212108imgdh8.jpg

Boost guage
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1663/1202094imgyv4.jpg

[MidnightDave]

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/2742/1202093imgwi7.jpg
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/5687/1212104imgoq6.jpg
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/9969/1212103imgiz6.jpg
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/3182/1212105imgew3.jpg

[MidnightDave]

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/8193/1212107imgti4.jpg

Here's a couple cars he had sitting around in his shop! ;-0
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/7296/1202097imgtd9.jpg
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/5940/1202098imgux9.jpg

Drew's Xmas list:
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/9201/1202100imgao8.jpg

[oznogonzo]

I really like the guage placement, however I'm not too sure I want to lose a vent... very cool though. I'm hoping to get similar mods done in a month or so.

[MidnightDave]

Try closing it and you'll hear the vent right above it, (that's why it's no great loss), and the other vents just increase their volume. It's not as dramatic as you might think at first. Of course, I haven't experienced the "extreme ambient temperature in the car opposite of what I'd like situation" yet! ;-)

[simplygriff]

Looks nice Dave! :D

I gotta get me one of those gauges... :D
-G

[MidnightDave]

Next upgrade today while I was getting my tech spec and "racing" brake fluid, oh, and two quarts of oil b/c some dummy thought the 'puter in the dash would tell him when it was low. ;-)

Anyway, got the Texas Speed Works engine damper and WOW what a seat of the pants difference! It comes with really nice/sturdy brackets, hence twice the money of the leading brand ;-) , but IMO, worth every penny.

Takes all the lash out, gives quick throttle response, no clunk when you let off on hard accelerating, etc. I don't feel the vibration some guys complain about, but then, I drove a 5.0 Mustang 'vert with a B303 cam before this and the whole car shook at idle. ;-)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7746/img2310jl7.th.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2310jl7.jpg)

[MidnightDave]

Update to last post. After the track day I shook something loose on the rumble strips and now have the stoplight vibration/rattle. Oh well, small price to pay and that's why they put stereos in cars. ;-)

Dan just put the Invidia exhaust on, and it's awesome--welds are beautiful, blue tips moreso, and the sound is great. Not too loud inside, (the CAI is louder under full throttle), and the BUUURRRBBBBLLLEEE is awesome with this exhaust!

Thanks to Andrew and Dan for the good work, the good fun and the good BBQ!

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8895/1272771imgmx5.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/18/1272775imgvc2.jpg

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9387/1272772imgey8.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1765/1272778imgoa7.jpg

[MidnightDave]

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5218/1272776imgxt4.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/28/1272777imgsz8.jpg

Who gets tired of looking at pics of MINI race cars? Not me! ;-)

[simplygriff]

That's hot Dave! Can't wait to see and hear it in person!
-G

[Vango]

Looks nice! I too gotta get one...the gauge that is!!

[BlimeyCabrio]

Dan's MIG welds on my one-ball are nicer than THAT! :)

(just kidding - but I don't see that angle of my car very often...)

Still - that is one pretty exhaust - can't wait to hear it!

[MidnightDave]

After seeing a lot of bling today at the monthly Hangin' at Hendrick's event, I did...this:

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5456/1303033imgqm9.jpg

I'm pretty sure I hate it, and need advice: a) do you hate it too, b) how do I get the rattle can off of these, or do I paint them black over the top?

[BlimeyCabrio]

Now that you've started, you might as well Union Jack 'em.jk...I'd resray them black... nothing short of sandblast will get that stuff off... and that would be painful and you'd still have to respray them...

[MidnightDave]

SOLUTION! This might come in handy for a few other folks, too! Look how great this guy's car looks!

http://www.minspeed.net/WSBP.htm

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1644735#post1644735

[simplygriff]

Gah! Yes I hate it. :p Just say no to Chrome vents. :)
-G

[MidnightDave]

Good news and bad news! The vents came out great, however, I decided to remove the grill, PITA, and remove more fake chrome--voila! It's now MINICHE with a pencil thin moustache!

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/740/1303047imgza9.jpg

Maybe it's Boris from Bulwinkle?

Whatever it is, it's NOT GOOD! ;-)

I'm in the process of fixing it now, will post pics later, just thought any midday surfers might get a kick out of it!

All better, I think? Honest opinions are welcome, and you won't hurt my feelings if you tell me I should have just painted the whole grill. I just want something different, and I sure got it, just not sure I like it?

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5885/1303056imgbd9.jpg

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4338/1303055imggm5.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9811/1303057imgfp6.jpg

Yes, Griff, Jason, Paul, all you perfectionists, I know the "TOW" is crooked. ;-) I'm kind of going for the that race car look where there are chips and imperfections b/c the car's tracked. Once it is more, it'll be moreso and less contrived and hey, at least I'm not putting spray on mud on my truck to feign a recent wheeling trip. (Yes, they sell the stuff!)

Most importantly this WURST brand trim paint is excellent!

[BlimeyCabrio]

Heh, Heh....

Maybe you ought to learn how to use Photoshop as a pre-paint-application-sanity-checking device... :)

Or, at least vinyl tape... :)

I think you WOULD be better off with a total blackout of the grille... but, again, I'd tape it before I put paint on it...

[minianni]

I think it needs teeth ;)

[N2MINI]

I kinda like it. I'm into the different look. Why do what everyone else is doing. Now you need to do the head light rings..I just blacked out all my chrome with flat black vinyl. Matches factory black trim. Beltline, door handles, headlight rings, front grille, rear boot handle. If I get tired of it or get rock chips I can peel it off..