Couple new pics of the 5 speed Q.

[elwesso]

Finally got some more stuff finished on the car... I was going to go get a few 0-60 vids and stuff but it started raining... Probably tomorrow! First, the NICO track slut gets its "tramp stamp". I think they look tacky on the windshield so I thought Id try putting it on the lower part of the rear window, I think it turned out pretty well!



Pedal setup. Eventually I will get a set of matching pedal covers so it actually looks decent, but it drives fine so its not an immediate issue..



Shifter console. has a short throw shifter in it right now, LOVE it.. Feels like a sports car should, you must be VERY affirmative with your shifts, but you KNOW when its in gear... unlike my BMW which was looser than a cheap hooker.

This isnt a final run, this is temporary until I can modify the shifter to fit inside the stock shifter console.. The black thing in the front is part of an ash tray, I usually have my XM radio there but I had it inside the house right now.



Tomorrow Ill post some vids of my new exhaust (I had it on the last video) as well as whatever else anyone wants.

Been about 2 months with the car, probably 2000 miles give or take.. Driven in city and a 1000+ mile road trip to carlisle, PA..

Overall impressions are, sometimes it still shocks me that Im driving around in my Q with a 5 speed... its so sweet! City driving is really weird, because literally I can put the car in any gear and just drive... I can go all the way down to 500 RPM in any gear (including 4th and 5th) and it wont stall, buck, jerk or anything.. It will just truck along, and its really happy about anything above 1000RPM... For instance, I was merging off the interstate in 5th gear into city traffic and I never once downshifted..

Stop and go really sucks because the clutch is pretty heavy, but its easy to manipulate... South bend clutches makes a great clutch, very satisfied so far!!

The AT really sucks up all the low end power that the VH has, this thing just screams off the line and continues to scream up until 7300 RPM.. Ive never really dumped the clutch but man this thing takes off...

Highway cruising is perfect... once you get to 60 just put the cruise on and put it in 5th and go... Unless you want to race someone you never need to downshift to pass... no unlocking of the TC or whatever, its a great setup.

A 4.08 gear would be perfect for this car because under about 3/4 acceleration (shifting at about 5 grand or so) it does tend to fall in and out of the power band a little bit...

But, I still get about 22MPG on the highway (doing about 80) so I cant complain. 2500 RPM is about 72MPH so its a little higher than stock, but its worth it...

[MinisterofDOOM]

I put my NICO banner on the back window, too. Mine's at the top, though.

I'm insanely jealous, Wes.

[jltibbs]

Amazing Wes. Simply amazing. I so have dibs if you get rid of this!

[maxnix]

Very nice.

Put the reverse print Rechts Fahren! on top of the windshield.

[elwesso]

im not sure I'd feel right about about putting german on my japanese car? doesnt that seem a little weird to you?

[audtatious]

Good job Wessikins

[maxnix]

im not sure I'd feel right about about putting german on my japanese car? doesnt that seem a little weird to you?

Nein!

Fahren auf die Autobahnen!

[yodawill2000]

Nice !!!Being married to a full Blooded German I know what that actually means !!

[lino]

It's always nice to see a few pics of your car.I like how nice and clean the exterior looks. The interior on the other hand...looks like you've been to the golf course .Can't wait to see the vids!

... unlike my BMW which was looser than a cheap hooker.

She wasn't like that until she met you

Stop and go really sucks because the clutch is pretty heavy...

Are you talking about what happened on the weekened at the party... .... Blame the classic lager

Lots of guys ended up with strong calf muscles in the 80s from driving Lambos.

In all seriousness, I'm so happy for you. What I love about you is that you said you were going to do it and you made it happen. Love your dedication. You so deserve this and I hope you get all the fun in the world out of it.

[elwesso]

Thanks for the comments guys!! I was going to vacuum the interior but I just didnt get around to it... Ever since I had some rust start to develop on the rear of the rocker panels Ive kinda given up on the exterior... Once I get a car thats my daily driver I will paint the car.

[Adeianos]

How accurate is the speedo with the 5-speed in? And have you come to any conclusions for the parking brake?

[elwesso]

How accurate is the speedo with the 5-speed in? And have you come to any conclusions for the parking brake?

The speedo will be dead on once I install the signal converter which I will have coming to me shortly... Hopefully this week the speedo will be corrected. Right now it reads 15% lower than stock... Makes the quick math in figuring out how fast your going pretty easy!

I pretty much know what im gonna do with the parking brake its just getting around to it... Im really not in a huge hurry because its not really a huge deal to me, even when I had my BMW i didnt use the parking brake much...

[maxnix]

No hills in Indiana?

[jimbyjimb]

Turn it in to the curb and it'll be just fine. V8's hold compression well.

[elwesso]

Ive never ONCE parallel parked on a hill anywhere.. Or parked on an extreme incline.. Ive parked on the incline of my driveway and it holds fine... Even with my BMW i hardly used the P brake, about the only time I used it was when I was letting the car warm up in the winter.

The question now is what car to take the parking brake out of to modify. I was thinking of using one from a jaguar XJ6 because they have the brake in a similar location that I want to put mine.

[maxnix]

Turn it in to the curb and it'll be just fine. V8's hold compression well.

Won't work at a Stop sign on a hill.

Think downtown Seattle.

[Logan76]

Why not just leave it in gear? I've had a few vehicles that didnt have parking brakes (an older dodge dakota, that I drove the hell out of) and I just put it in first if i was facing up a hill, and reverse if i was facing down a hill, never had any troubles with it coasting away.

[jimbyjimb]

Believe me, I know, but if the Q is half the torque beast Wes claims I'm sure anything he's likely to run across is trivial. Anyway, it looks great. All of the awesomeness has outshrouded the practicability gained by the stick as well. More durable, cheaper to fix/maintain. Wes took one on the chin for us all. Thankfully it looks like and sounds like it's been a great success.

[elwesso]

Believe me, I know, but if the Q is half the torque beast Wes claims I'm sure anything he's likely to run across is trivial. Anyway, it looks great. All of the awesomeness has outshrouded the practicability gained by the stick as well. More durable, cheaper to fix/maintain. Wes took one on the chin for us all. Thankfully it looks like and sounds like it's been a great success.

For sure... The car wont stall as long as you keep it above 400 RPM.. Im going to take a video to show you guys how much of a beast this VH45 is, truly incredible, putting the car in 4th gear going up a hill at 500RPM and it not even batting an eye...

The only thing on my car before that would ever make me iffy about taking it on long trips was the transmission... Knock on wood, but theres very little on the drivetrain that hasnt been replaced or isnt in perfect shape. Id say as is Ive got another 150k left in this car before any major issues...

[CrimsonQ]

I want this!

very nice!