Mitsuko (Mitsu-chan)

[B+O]

good talk, LOL!


Soooo I figure I'll give a review of these bad boys...


Venezia Crusade




I should preface this with I'm a bit of a tire snob. I love a well gripping tire, but at the same time I a frugal spender so spending 1200 dollars on a consumable item that can last less than a year even down to a couple months depending on how you drive doesn't sit well with me. Getting the best bang for buck is always appreciated in in my book.

I have a few opinions on the several types of tires I've used and, while I still think Continental makes the best tire i've driven on, second to that would be bridgestone. I'd say, for completely different reasons, the Venezia Crusade is the third...

The Crusade is actually an amazing all-season radial. It is, however, not in any way shape or form an ultra high performance tire sports tire. If you approach it as a what it is, that is, a "high performance" all season radial it is staggering in its competence for the price.

I got these when they were still relatively new to the market and since their acclimation the prices have gone up considerably. That said, the tire is still worth the price.

My driving style is moderately aggressive with large numbers of miles accumulated every year. About 5-10k less per year than the venerable Half Million Man, Tyson himself. These tires lasted about 40,000 miles and I'm EXTREMELY pleased with their life and performance.

In the time i've had them I've pushed multiple hairpins, in different seasons never felt unsure of the tires. They're not as grippy as continentals Bridestones but WAY more grippy than those Federal SS595 that I've had. The soft sidewall made the tires quiet and amazingly compliant over surfaces. The tires literally rode as well as the stock 225/50s.

overall i highly recommend these tires if you're a daily driver with sporting aspirations but don't intend to track your car. They're sticky enough to inspire confidence and progressive enough to not stun you when they break traction. Even bald, they're still quite impressive in moist conditions (not puddles but definitely wet pavement)

[B+O]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... There's a reason why you do things in stages.

I wanted to do things in an order that made sense. First you make it grip, then stop, then go.

First up to bat was wheels (an aesthetic and performance thing)... I had to be able to stop with my one of my goals being "added power." so big brake kit went on...

For a while I had to explain why i had a big brake kit on the RL...

Now, i don't need to explain it.














Mitsuko is now Updated with a bit more muscle!

CHURRRRBOOOOOOOOOO



She's gone way down hill in the last several months... Will be refreshing EVERYTHING, but I'm trying to get out of this habit I have of waiting until something breaks before posting pics

[GrtOutdoorsAZ]

More info please!

[OLD_HATCH]

Uh Ivan, shame on you. Theres no armor all on the tires!

[Dreams94coupe]

I guess the last mod you will be doing it Air ride right?

[B+O]

Originally Posted by OLD_HATCH

Uh Ivan, shame on you. Theres no armor all on the tires!

damn you Dennis!!!

Just got some new tires, Found out that one of my front wheels is seriously bend on the inside and cracked... it was from a VERY gnarly Pothole I hit 3 months ago... wheel NEVER leaked air... Swear these were the sturdiest wheels I've ever purchased, but time for some new shoes!!

[B+O]

Originally Posted by Dreams94coupe

I guess the last mod you will be doing it Air ride right?

Not going Air... I actually really dislike Air suspension. I will be going Hydropneumatic much like Citroen, and have designed an active "roll control" system kind of like Citroen's Xantia Activa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09-C33SrJi8


It will be ride height and damping adjustable system. I designed it For analog control, but now I'm redesigning the damping system for digital adjustment. I don't like talking too much about what I'm doing though, so I'm sparing the details as they tend to change once I get going.

Only a few people knew what my plan was as far as turbocharging the car. I will continue keeping my moves close to my vest, but as far as details currently:

Engine Management, right now, is a Perfect Power SMT8 piggyback and a Rising Rate. plus a few goodies to keep it safe.

I tried to avoid buying anything cheap and cheesy. FUT used to say "Cry once" So I tried to do everything right from the bottom.

This is just me getting the car rolling under boost, once I grow a little further, I will be upgrading the whole system, including Engine Management and transmission Hint... there will be paddle shifters and launch control.

I try not to give too much information so that's all i'm giving as far as the plans moving forward

[OLD_HATCH]

Looking good man just need some rolling vids.

[B+O]

I'll get some rolling vids... Hopefully make a whole little intro movie when I can get the car back...


Had some issues with my wheellllsssss nooooo...


Time for new shoes!

As for what they are... let's just call it a semi-homage to FUT

[B+O]

So here's a few pics...

Getting Dropped off...




Entire Exhaust ripped out from A-Pipe back


Dual Run to and from the turbo.


The complex piece you can't see... getting to snake over the A-pipe then up the backside of the engine into the engine compartment was tricky. Dude pulled it off just like I wanted. I will be gold wrapping the pipe here.



I gave them artistic freedom here. All I asked was that the turbo be tucked up tight to the underside of the car... The accomplished it flawlessly. You can not see the turbo even when you get down on your knees and look up under the car.




As you can see, fully installed, no dangling pips and no ground clearance lost.



again I will get more pics when I get the car all cleaned up. This happened fairly quickly... they fabricated the whole system in 1 workday but it didn't get finished by these guys...

I ended up having to have the system completed by IMA motorsports. They work specifically on Porsches, but the owner is a cool guy and decided to let my chubby Japanese girlfriend hang out with the long legged germans he had in his Garage.



First company to make a twin turbo kit for the 997 GT3 Porsche
http://www.secretentourage.com/lifes...t3-twin-turbo/
http://www.germanboost.com/showthrea...-997-GT3-setup





ANNNNNND for throwback Thursday!