Kevwood's mods - The Vantage build thread
 

I thought I would have been starting this a lot sooner but unfortunately there were several delays along the way, all were resolved. I now have most everything to get started so I'll start posting up pics and progress. This was originally going to be a four phase project, we'll see how that plays out. I am building the car to be a daily driver (lucky to be able to do that here in Dubai 365 days a year) and be competitive on the track (YAS F1 & Dubai Autodrome roadcourses), so this is pretty much another project like the CLK was before it.

Phase 1 is performance, I'm quite interested to see the results.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...3ce1a46d18.jpg

Velocity AP headers (ceramic coated inside and out), 200 cell metal core cats, lightweight flywheel and clutch, ECU tune, high flow air filters, two piece brake rotors and catch can. Additionally, I also bought the Aston Martin Power Upgrade, the manifold and valved airboxes are shown. Not shown are the brake pads and mid section exhaust with x-pipe (on its way).

Phase 2 is aero/exterior, I didn't want to upgrade/facelift the bumpers or sideskirts to a newer design, so I decided to just enhance what the car already came with.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...121EA37105.jpg

V Collection side splitters, sidestrakes, black exhaust tips, grille, diffuser, front splitter and diveplanes. Not shown are the black lug nuts and carbon fiber center caps (on the way).

I must say that the quality of the Velocity AP and V Collection parts seems to be outstanding, if everything fits and works as well as it looks I'm going to be one happy camper.

I plan on dropping the car off at Aston Martin tomorrow so they can get working on the AM Power Upgrade and rear view camera (another upgrade I purchased from them), then it will be going to a few other shops for additional work as AM Dubai will not install any parts that are not OEM and purchased through them.

I will update this thread from time to time, there will be lot's of pictures and dyno runs ( I did a baseline).

Attachment 500009

Cool build! Are you keeping the stock muffler? Can't wait to see the dyno results as I may go a similar route.

Boy oh boy. I thought that I had done some work on my 2007. I tip my hat to you sir that's quite an undertaking. Is your car a manual transmission?
Ron

Awesome!! Cannot wait to see the before & after dyno charts!

Lots of great quality components. You should save a lot of labor costs too by installing everything at once instead of little by little. Make sure the shop you use gives you a discount rate for the install.

Yes, stock back box is staying in for now until I hear what the exhaust sounds like with the headers, cats and x-pipe. If it isn't ridiculous then I will be changing out the muffler as well. I've got 22 pulled now and I love the sound as is.

Hopefully it will all be completed and on the track in a few weeks, the weather here is finally starting to cool, it was only 31*C this morning at 8am. I've got all the shops lined up and spent quite a bit of time researching them as well as talking to the owners/staff so I feel pretty good about the project.

No, I have the ASM, it was actually what I was looking for since it's going to be used 95% as a daily (and there is a lot of traffic here in Dubai) and only 5% on the track. All my previous cars were manual and although this ASM doesn't directly replace it, it's just fine for what I need.

Thanks, that makes two of us. In the end it will be interesting to see how this Vantage stacks up against my Kleemann CLK on the track. in the 1/4 the CLK will kill it but on the track I think the Vantage may edge it out after all is said and done. We'll see.

The shops here (including AM Dubai) have been very reasonable with me in regards to pricing which is great considering I have to use 4 separate companies.

*Activate Beast Mode*

Please take pictures along the way. That stuff is like porn to some of us. :)

No issues there, I always document my builds. This is the first build that I'm not actually doing most of the work myself, so I'm asking the shops to snap lots of pics for me along the way.

Can't wait to see this thing put together!

I've got my lotion ready!

Wow this looks fun. Can't wait to see the finished product. Just landed a 2013 Aston Vantage project myself. Getting the suspension and wheel setup going first and then working on the detail work next.

Love the color btw.


-Vin

Sorry I just had to fix that.

It's a religious holiday here (Eid part 2, The Return of Eid) so the car will be going in on Saturday morning to AM for the AM Power Upgrade, rear view camera, door struts, modified fuel door hinge assembly and a host of other small things. Then it goes to another shop for the clutch & flywheel and to have all the exhaust components (including headers installed) so hopefully the mid section will be here in time. After that the aero/exterior parts will be added and then finally in for the brakes.

I could have been bolting on all the V Collection exterior parts but I want all the performance upgrades to be done first.