BRAND NEW Year!!! Welcome 2009

Dear all ,

It's been a turbulent 2008 for me , am good it's all gone right now. A brand new chapter will start , a brand new life will begin.

I am fortunate enough to have the people in my life , the things that i was blessed with , my career and definitely the support that I've always gotten from my friends.

I would like to say thanks a million for everything that ever happened in 2008 that build me to be who I am today. Lucky to say it turn me into a more open minded , considerate and thoughtful person. That's how a person grow to be better.

Nothing much is new except a NYE celebration at the beach side , calm breeze and then DENSE FOG. There wasn't any fireworks celebration with the attack in the GAZA strip .

or else it could have been like this



I hope all of you have a great brand new year 2009! God bless always.

As all of you have known me as a car enthusiast , I love to do a lot of DIY work. Partly because I cannot afford expensive tuner shops back then =). Until it cultivated me into an anal retentive guy who really need to make sure whoever that works on my car does it right.

This blog was dedicated to my DIY journey and my passion to my old RX7 back in university days in kansas that I would like to thank my friend Eric , Kevin , Sam , Jun for helping me out when I do not have a car to go classes and groceries shopping.

http://dreamorchestra.blogspot.com/

Update on the STi

Well a long time has passed , caused by work , travel and lots of personal activities in Dubai and back home in Kuala Lumpur.

The STi is no longer stock and new specs is as below , Protuned by Team Fruity Banana Calvin

Engine:

K&N Typhoon air suction kit
STi Genome cat-back exhaust
Invidia Catless 3" downpipe
Beat rush pitch fork mount
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
NGK 1 step colder plugs
Thermotec exhaust thermal wrap
SPT radiator shroud


Suspension:

Whiteline ALK
ENDLESS SSS brake pads
H&R spacers
BF Goodridge SS lines
Motul RBF600 fluid
Perrin master cylinder support

Interior

DEFI BF series gauges ( Water temp , Boost , Oil Temp , Oil Press)
TAKATA seat harness
Carbon Fiber Centre meter gauge mount
PROFEC B Spec II
HKS TT
MOMO limited floor mats

Exterior

GANADOR side mirror
V-limited front lip
Perrin wing stiffies


As y'all can see this STi will always be in a work in progress to perfection.

Some pictures of the "closet goodies"



Hehe he , just toying with the DEFI water temp , now it can monitor my laptop's coolant *laugh*

Subaru Technica International

My New Project car is finally here , albeit that the Z is gone. ( Of course she will be missed with all the sideways no traction action).

Where now comes a totally different car I've ever owned , a car with supreme traction all wheel drive and a turbocharged engine that will make sure you stay in your seats .

The Subaru WRX STi , first of it's kind in my collection because it's the 1st 4 door car I've ever owned.

Now a little run down on the technical aspects of it for the techie's out there

model	WRX and TR sedan	WRX wagon	Limited sedan, wagon	STI, STI Limited sedan
Engine	2.5L boxer DOHC, 4 cylinder, 16 valves Active Valve System Turbocharged Hood scoop air intake with Intercooler Block and heads, Aluminum alloy. open deck design, with cast iron cylinder liners Sequential multi-port fuel injection Bore: 99.5x79mm, 3.92x3.11 Redline 7000 rpm			2.5L boxer DOHC 4cylinder, 16 valve Turbocharged, high-boost, IHI Brand Air-Intake Hood scoop with Water-Sprayed intercooler: manually operated hood-scoop water spray provides additional cooling to the intercooler, use distilled water, do not overfill if freezing is possible. Drive-by-wire throttle Aluminum alloy pistons Cast iron cylinder liners Reinforced "semi-closed deck" alloy block Forged high-carbon steel connecting rods Resin composite intake manifold Electronic Drive by Wire throttle Bore: 99.5 x 79mm, 3.92 x 3.11" Redline 7000rpm Tach to 9000rpm
Horsepower/Torque	230hp@5,600rpm, Torque: ft lbs 235@3600pm			293hp@6000 rpm, 290ft torque@4400rpm
Compression: (turbo)	8.4 +/- .2, Maximum boost 11.6 PSI			8.2, Maximum Boost 14.5psi
Valves	AVCS (Active Valve Control System) variable valve timing optimizes engine volumetric efficiency through the rev band			AVCS (Active Valve Control System) variable valve timing optimizes engine volumetric efficiency through the rev band
Tune up specs*	Direct ignition Iridium spark plugs, #NGK ILFR6B Firing order 1-3-2-4 ignition timing at idle- 17* +/- 10*/700 idle rpm at park- 700 +/- 100			Direct Ignition Iridium spark plugs, #NGK IFLR6B Firing order 1-3-2-4 ignition timing at idle 17*+/- 10 idle rpm at park: 700 +/- 100
Fuel	91 octane minimum, 15.9 USG			91 octane minimum, 15.9 USG- High octane is important!
Generator, battery	12V, 75A. Battery: manual: 48ah; automatic: 52ah			12V, 90A. Battery 48ah
Emissions:	50 state LEV II (low emission vehicle)			50 state LEV II (low emission vehicle)
Axle Differentials: manual	viscous locking center differential Limited Slip rear			Center: DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) varies front/rear power split, 6 manual levels or auto mode, w/ indicator light. Up to 41% front / 59% rear power split. Front:"Helical" Limited-slip front axle Rear: Mechanical Limited-slip rear axle
Power steering oil cooler	na			S
Manual Transmission (auto is below)	5 speed (MT5)			6 speed manual with transmission cooler

Then comes the layman term of driving impression. 350z VS STi

350z

• Low and mid-range torque is marvelous with the 3.5 liter engine
• although it is a rwd , the TCS and VDC control are mediocre comparing it with other available system out there but it did save my friend's ride in the snow back in Wichita
• straight line acceleration is good for city driving but not on the drag lane
• Going to 200km/h without downshifting is easily attainable while cruising , all you have to do is stomp your foot pedal to the metal

STi

• Only makes you smile above 3500rpm
• Low end and mid range is just ok since it's a 2.5 liter engine only
• Once the boost comes in , it can be tricky to get a good line especially on slaloms.
• high potential for more horsepower
• Best added bonus is the ability to fetch your friends ( boatload of them =) )
• The amount of aerodynamics on this car is amazing , u get all this winglets etc even on the front bumper and side mirrors.
  

All this writing bores me , so let's have the picture do the talking.







The interior seats with the STi embroidery , really suck compared to the Evo Recaro seats.

The gauge clutsters are amazing since they operate on stepper motors , it gives you a cool welcome greeting like the DEFI BF series gauges.


The interior is not that great compared to the Z , and so is the radio ( but who needs them anyway when you're at the track ) . * Please ignore the plastic on the pedals as I've forgotten to pull them out when i took her out from the show room*

Here you can see the Stingray classic corvette sitting behind it. The best corvette ever made in my mind


Stock exhaust with the diffuser

What they say on Subaru?

Coming Soon ....

The awaiting.....

The New looks

Slammed and Ready to Roll. Pictures is worth a Thousand words so , here are a few teaser shots on how My 350z look like right now. More photoshoot to come this weekend


Picture with Ze Bucket

Emirates department Go-Kart Challenge

Since Dubai is quite boring after sometime , I'd like to share with all of you my experience in the Dubai Autodrome g0-kart circuit . It was a Emirates company event and the track lay-out is as pictured above. Very nice smooth tarmac and professional track management by the marshals.

Around 20 people turn up for the event and we had a back to back race of 4 races , which includes 1 qualifying and 3 race (~20 mins each race) . Pretty hardcore especially if you have a bad back like me.

Had quite a fun time , especially knowing one of our new joiners Sally from UK is a speed demon ( taking the perfect lines , and accelerating so well)

This is my shy shy S.V.P. son who came to see the race.

My SVP , his kart has some technical failure which the brake lines snapped and he went on full speed to hit the tire barriers. Thank god he is alright or it will be a disastrous event.

This is me getting my medal and trophy for the fastest lap driver.

The two speed demon , Sally and I .

The podium winners for the event =).

This was during briefing time pre-race on the safety rules and flag definitions

This was pre-race with everyone suited up and ready to go


This is Hasnain , Martin and Jo .

More random pix =).

It was a blast , first time ever i went karting in Dubai and hope to do it again when the weather cools down more.