Thunderhill with ACGG
Last weekend I paid Thunderhill Raceway a visit with the Audi Club of Golden Gate...wow, what an awesome track! Since my car wasn't ready, I decided to rent a Spec Miata for the weekend. and this was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was able to refine my braking and vehicle control techniques over the two days at the track. The first day was split 50/50 with the first half was braking and vehicle dynamics mixed up with on track sessions; the second day was entirely track time.
Honestly, I can say I've learned more with seat time in the Miata than I would have ...
Three exhaust videos: JHM headers, GMG resonated midsection, and straight pipes
Here are three different videos of the car testing various exhaust options. These two videos are of the JHM headers with the GMG resonated midsection, there are no mufflers attached. This video shows what the car sounds like with only the JHM headers.
More exterior photos
Here are some photos of the exterior of the car. JHM stage 4 clutch, lightweight flywheel, solid shifter linkage, Delrin shifter bushings, Stern control arms, and Stern motor mounts have all been installed. We had a clearance issue with the 18x10 TE37s and the rear parking brake spring; it would make contact with the wheel weights on the inner wheel. After moving the weights out 2mm, we didn't have any more clearance issues. 18" wheels with the Alcon brakes are a TIGHT fit.
Homemade B-pillars
CF mirrors
370mm 6 piston Alcons and 18x10 TE37s
Quick walk around video
I brought my camera to the shop today and took a quick walk video walk around. I have some exhaust videos that need to be encoded still.
BBK is ON
After buttoning up the rest of the car, we decided it would be a good day to finish up the brakes. The front and rear brakes were installed, but I only took photos of the fronts.
Stern control arms and completed headers
Today we put the transmission back into the car and buttoned everything back up. If everything works out tomorrow the brakes and cat-back should go on!
Below you can see the high-flow cats mate up to the new headers. JHM offers a pre-lengthened set of O2 sensors since the O2 bungs have been relocated on the longtube headers.
Some "better" photos of the JHM/Stern motor mounts.
Here the Stern control arms have been installed.
The S4 goes under the knife…
Monday the S4 went under the knife to receive the first round of performance modifications. Take a look at the OEM exhaust manifolds. Proceed to cringe.
To gain access the exhaust manifolds we had to lower the motor. Pictured below, the transmission has already been removed.
The motor is supported so it can be lowered down enough to gain access to the exhaust manifolds.
Here you can see the JHM longtube headers installed.
This version of the headers uses v-band clamps.
JHM/Stern Motor Mounts
Thanks to JHM for hooking me up with a set of their modified Stern motor mounts. B6/B7 S4 motor mounts are 110mm shorter than the aftermarket mounts that are currently available; these mounts have been modified so they will fit.
VF Engineering supercharger
After almost a year of testing, VF's production forced induction system for the B6/B7 S4 is in my hands. What a work of art!
VF has reported 496 HP and /434 ft/lbs.
GMG 2.5″ RS4 exhaust with Labree mufflers
The last piece of my exhaust puzzle was the cat-back exhaust; having previously run a 2.25" APR downpipe and exhaust I needed something a little larger to mate up to the 2.5" JHM longtube headers. After poking around I found S-Fore, a local forum member, parting out his S4. He had originally purchased a GMG RS4 exhaust, but found that the internal drone was too much. To rectify this little problem he replaced the GMG mufflers with Labree mufflers and hasn't looked back since. When I asked S-Fore to describe the sound, he said hands down it was the best sounding S4 exhaust. Ever. Once the headers and exhaust are on I'll see how the quad tips fill the RS4 bumper; if it doesn't look right I'll have ...