HwyCruiser
07-10-2004, 04:56 PM
Just felt moved to share...
Got up early this morning to see a man about welding on the Magnaflows that have been sitting in the garage for a few days. I was initially pleased with the sound of her starting up and rolling off the lift, but then thought to myself maybe a bit too raunchy. The deed was non the less done, so I drove her home and tucked her in the garage while my wife ran off to do some errands.
I took off for a few hours by myself after the wife got back so I could get to know the MM again after the TC and muffler swap. The only experience I had so far with the TC was to check for the dreaded 2nd gear WOT hesitation. I decided to take the drive out to Hwy 5, a nice winding road between Leavenworth and the Lakeside Speedway. I’ve driven this stretch of road several times. Ten miles or so of rolling 45- and 55-mph two-lane blacktop with 35- and 25-mph curves molded from a Penthouse Playmate… a very nice touring exercise.
As I exited the interstate, the windows were up and the A/C was on full blast. I clicked off the stereo and O/D. I knew that the first run out was going to be a learning curve. The first thing I learned is that when I wanted for more out of a curve, the TC started to magically pull power off the engine in 3rd gear that wasn’t there before without a down shift to 2nd. I also learned how not to lift off the gas so fast as to cause the TC to bog a little while it locked up, at least I assume that was what it was doing. I also noticed what I think was the TC stalling around 3000 rpm under steady pedal.
The trip back was where I tried to pull it together. The comfort of the cockpit, the loping gears, the improved shifting of the tune, the firmer rear suspension with the solid rear sway bar and beefier control arms, the brakes just shy of racing grade, the newly found torque and the raunchy exhaust… they all worked together in symphony. For a short fifteen minutes or so I felt like I was being entertained by a woman I didn’t deserve.
Sure, she shows her rougher side where not desired. Lower gas mileage, hard and purposeful shifts, more road feedback, brake pads that just have to let me know they are there from time to time, a torque converter with a twitch that lets me know when I’m wrong, and the what the hell were you thinking of? exhaust tone when trying to be more civilized. She’s pretty much let me know she’s not washing dishes or shaving her legs anymore, if you know what I mean.
Am I happy with my decisions? My face hurts from grinning so much. If you’ve never heard it, listen to Mean Streak by Deep Purple (a rock band – not an oil brand). That song says it all. I played it a few times on the way back to reality.
- JD
Got up early this morning to see a man about welding on the Magnaflows that have been sitting in the garage for a few days. I was initially pleased with the sound of her starting up and rolling off the lift, but then thought to myself maybe a bit too raunchy. The deed was non the less done, so I drove her home and tucked her in the garage while my wife ran off to do some errands.
I took off for a few hours by myself after the wife got back so I could get to know the MM again after the TC and muffler swap. The only experience I had so far with the TC was to check for the dreaded 2nd gear WOT hesitation. I decided to take the drive out to Hwy 5, a nice winding road between Leavenworth and the Lakeside Speedway. I’ve driven this stretch of road several times. Ten miles or so of rolling 45- and 55-mph two-lane blacktop with 35- and 25-mph curves molded from a Penthouse Playmate… a very nice touring exercise.
As I exited the interstate, the windows were up and the A/C was on full blast. I clicked off the stereo and O/D. I knew that the first run out was going to be a learning curve. The first thing I learned is that when I wanted for more out of a curve, the TC started to magically pull power off the engine in 3rd gear that wasn’t there before without a down shift to 2nd. I also learned how not to lift off the gas so fast as to cause the TC to bog a little while it locked up, at least I assume that was what it was doing. I also noticed what I think was the TC stalling around 3000 rpm under steady pedal.
The trip back was where I tried to pull it together. The comfort of the cockpit, the loping gears, the improved shifting of the tune, the firmer rear suspension with the solid rear sway bar and beefier control arms, the brakes just shy of racing grade, the newly found torque and the raunchy exhaust… they all worked together in symphony. For a short fifteen minutes or so I felt like I was being entertained by a woman I didn’t deserve.
Sure, she shows her rougher side where not desired. Lower gas mileage, hard and purposeful shifts, more road feedback, brake pads that just have to let me know they are there from time to time, a torque converter with a twitch that lets me know when I’m wrong, and the what the hell were you thinking of? exhaust tone when trying to be more civilized. She’s pretty much let me know she’s not washing dishes or shaving her legs anymore, if you know what I mean.
Am I happy with my decisions? My face hurts from grinning so much. If you’ve never heard it, listen to Mean Streak by Deep Purple (a rock band – not an oil brand). That song says it all. I played it a few times on the way back to reality.
- JD