Home from work so I can post a few more. Wish I had a few more scenic ones, but I never understand the people who stop in the middle of an amazing mountain pass to take a photo - prefer to keep driving once in the rhythm!

The plan will be to have the engine and suspension work done before the Monte Carlo trip then test it on the Route Napoleon through France, an excellent series of very wide bends with plenty of overtaking opportunties and topped off with amazing scenery. There will be some very nice cars along (my ex-911 for start!) and some good friends with some fast cars to compare with. 550bhp and adaptive damping should see me having the most fun there

It's going to be a long winter...

 

Lovely ragtop and interior!

We will have to meet up when I go to the UK to sign off on my engine/interior work. Fancy a pint?

 

Sounds good to me - never knowingly turning down a drink!

 

I had determined that the ECU remap would not suit my purposes, as I will probably never hit the speed limit in the car, which is where the additional ponies come in to play. My interest was in the 25-85 mph range, where the mods add significant torque and horsepower. The easy stuff, such as Mike's cats, exhaust pipes and the intake and exhaust manifolds, are bolt-on's that give real value for money in both hp and torque across the whole power curve. The re-boring and new pistons, cam, etc. are icing on the cake, and maybe more than most will want to do. When I saw the before/after numbers of Jessica and the guy in Switzerland, it was really apparent that BR was on to something that was a game changer.

I take heat here for my comments on ECU remaps, but in fairness, we have not had alternatives before that you have in the UK, including ProDrive options, so I understand why many have taken advantage of what is available. It always seemed a bit silly to me that even ProDrive would not make their wares available in the States.

 

Interesting that nothing is available in the US, but then my work is being done by the engineers who designed the V8 and V12 engines for use in the Aston format and always knew what they were capable of; I guess they're only likely to be found in England! My ECU re-map is effective in making the car feel a little bit faster, although how much of that was down to the exhaust mods I had done at the same time, I'm not sure. Everything is a little more responsive, but it certainly isn't a big change. Like I said, it's just a feeling, although a good one.

I will be going for the full 'engine internals' modifications (go big or go home), cams, forged pistons, valves, springs and other thiongs I don't understand plus the full Bamford Rose manifolds-back system and induction - that's the easy, bolt on bit, everyone agrees there is huge scope around the manifolds and cats for improvement. Interestingly they are also accomodating my current QuikSilver backbox and my H&R springs into the set-up so that will save me a bit of money which is nice - hate to do things twice! It won't just be peaky power which no-one uses at 6500rpm, it'll always be there ready to be called on, in any speed or any gear.

I just posted on the 'Aston Power' thread that the cars don't need more power but this isn't necessarily true, especially if you have a 450 or 470bhp DB9. They have the same chassis as the DBS and the DBR9 racer and can handle plenty more power. My point was they don't need 650bhp peaking at 7500rpm that's just sucked up by a traction contol system, but that extra mid-range shove would always be welcome, whether passing trucks in the mountains quickly and safely or from a 40mph rolling start with a Ferrari 550 sat in the outside lane

Anyway, I'm supposed to be working!!

 

 

Hi Stuart, I think CRVETR was talking about internal engine mods - I know you guys supply cats and boxes and ECU remaps as Rick at DMS has them and recommends them.

I have your wheel spacers on my car as well which is the reason it has a such a great stance

 

Gotcha. Rick is starting to move quite a few sets of those - seem to be very popular in the UK with people who want more flush but are a little more reluctant to go to an aftermarket wheel.

 

They helped transform the car as far as I'm concerned, increased the scrub radius which weighted up the steering nicely and gave more options with geometry. And the stance looks goooood

The single biggest thing I have noticed on this forum is that so many cars have aftermarket wheels! On Pistonheads, you know as well as I do that people are crucified for even considering aftermarket wheels! I think the US just has far more options than the UK and a less judgemental crowd.

 

Glad to hear some more positive feedback!!! Yes, the UK is a different market. I lived there for 6 years (am a citizen) and there is still a lot of hangups about 'class'.... both going up the social spectrum and down it. Some people still think that putting aftermarket wheels on your car is for 'chavs' (god I hate that word) or something you only do to a Citroen Saxo. The truth is, it says more about the insecurities of the person reacting to it than it does about the person doing it. After all, we're talking about something pretty benign. I say, life is too short to worry about what everyone else thinks, if you like it, go with it. There's plenty of stuff out there that isn't to my taste, but I still say go for it if it makes you happy!!!

But the culture is certainly changing as well. I think more and more people in the UK are coming around to the idea that just because they see some 'badly' modified cars (IMHO of course !) that doesn't mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater. You can still mod your car without making it 'Footballer.'