Project Vanessa Update

Well, I was forced to abandon my Borla headers due to another 2 week extension of their arrival time. For the record, the people at Summit Racing were very cool about canceling my order... totally not their fault that Borla couldn't deliver. But I digress.

A phone call later, the people at Maryland Speed (same place I got my axle-back exhaust from) were kind enough to give me an absurdly good deal on a set of Kooks 1 3/4" long tube headers and catless X-pipe, with free same-day shipping to boot. Can't beat that deal. The Kooks are en route to the mad scientists at the previously mentioned coating shop... along with a new set of wheels. More on those another day.

Happily, it looks like she'll be finished before I'm stateside again.

Peace

Modding the Vette.

What, you thought I was just going to leave her stock? Not a chance.

With my additional pay and no bar tabs to spend it on, I figured now would be the perfect time to make some improvements. They are as follows:

The centerpiece is a pair of Borla long-tube headers, flowing into a matching catless X-pipe. I'm having the headers ceramic coated by an acclaimed shop local to my mother's house. For the uninformed, ceramic coating greatly improves performance by reducing heat soak, thereby increasing scavenging and flow. It also keeps the surrounding parts cooler.

Those will mate up to a Borla ATAK rear section for maximum flow and the optimal noise level (holyfuck) and improved acoustics. Suck it, neighbors!

This will all be managed by a custom dyno tune, again done by a well-known local shop. I'm expecting 500-ish HP at the crank, or around 440 at the rear wheels. Torque gains will be substantial as well.

Additional mods include an MGW short-throw shifter, a fresh set of tires and some cosmetic stuff that will remain undisclosed until I can provide photos.

To say that I'm excited would be analogous to calling the ocean wet. It's going to be glorious.

Heroes, Inspirational Figures, etcetera.

As the years roll by, we continue to hear about the passing of the heroes and idols of the 20th century. Today's news told of Neil Armstrong's death at age 82, and the world is an emptier place without him.

This prompts me to ask: who will take their places? Who do we, as a society, have that can serve as honest, no-bullshit inspirational figures - people who we'd want our kids to idolize?

Our political leaders surely are not the answer, and if you disagree please do us all a favor and swan-dive into a running wood chipper immediately upon finishing  this sentence (or at your earliest convenience). NASA is a gaunt, starved shadow of its former glory, and offers us no heroes. Popular culture consists (with few exceptions) of talentless, soulless corporate puppets producing meaningless feel-good noise as fast as you Top 40-consuming sheep will waste your money buying it. No dice there, either.

So what's to be done? Our military is certainly admirable for a variety of reasons, but I wouldn't want my offspring (spawn?) dying in some shitty desert hellhole for no clear reason.

I haven't thought all the way through this yet, but I suspect we're fucked in this regard.

From the Middle East, with indifference,

Jack

Still kickin'

Well, it's been awhile since I've been on here... sorry. I do have excuses and good ones at that (shitty internet with limited access, crappy computers, not enough time, laziness, distracted by Afghan midgets, etc.), but still.

Anyway. Not much to report, and certainly nothing that can or should be posted in a public place such as this. Let's just say I'm looking forward to going home.

In general terms, this country is beautiful - scenic mountains, high plains, expansive deserts, etc. Without its political problems, it'd be a kickass place for some ski resorts, maybe some ranching and hunting operations; it's a lot like the American West in that regard. My current location is actually almost a dead ringer for North Park, CO, except there are wild camels in place of Pronghorns.

Want my theory as to why everything's so fucked up? Too bad, you're getting it anyway. The problem with this country is the lack of alcohol.

Let's be honest here. A modern society runs on alcohol. It is the catalyst which enables us to unwind, to communicate, to function as normal humans. When alcohol was banned in the US, what happened? Think about it.

Wish I had time for more... biscuits and gravy are calling my name from the midnight chow line.

Will follow up later. Deuces.