Reliability testing my parts...sort of
Reliability testing my parts...sort of
Okay, so this past weekend I went on a road trip from SoCal (LA 626 area) to NorCal (SF 510 Area) which added up to over an 800 mi stint and this is my report on the whole trip and how my modfications held up.
My first concern was whether or not my engine would be too stressed from the 6 hour drive up to norcal. I didn't want to get stranded hundreds of miles from home when the Fit's engine decides that its had enough of my abuse. This initially caused me to drive like a grandma, cruising mostly in the slower lanes. "Initially" only lasted 30 min. My patience wore thin and my consciousness began to creep away from me and I decided it was time to wail on the supercharger. 5 hours later in SF, I calculated that my average gas mileage was roughly 27 mpg. Not bad for an average speed of 90 with occasional sprints to 110-115. No audible or visible complains from the engine compartment, so all smiles there
On the trip back, the speedometer spent most of its time in the "lose your license" area and I managed 20mpg on the way back. w00t!
No complaints from the drivetrain either (LSD, Clutch, Flywheel). Didn't really put the J's Racing LSD to work with the road completely straight, but I must have shifted over 2000 times on the trip up and the Exedy clutch felt like a clutch should while the Fidanza Flywheel helped me zip up to and pass through traffic that didn't agree with my desired speed. They are all very nice compliments to the supercharger, aiding in putting the power to the ground more efficiently.
My last trip up to NorCal was on T1R Bmax coilovers. They were fairly comfortable around SF's horrible streets but on the way back suffered some mechanical problems (still don't know the cause, so I'm not going to blame the product). This time I'm riding on Skunk2 Pro full coilovers and they held up well against the abuse of uneven pavement. However, my girlfriend and I were getting out teeth knocked out by the constant bumpy-ness. Skunk2 = great on the track/canyon but bad if you live in NorCal (no such problems present on streets that were taken care of better).
I have a Sparco Speed non-reclineable bucket seat this time around and was surprised at how comfortable the ride was. There's plenty of padding and plenty of hold from the seat. The position was great and gave a commanding view of my surroundings. I had an older modle of the Sparco before and I must say this is a huge improvement in all aspects.
The DC2-R brakes from Fastbrakes were as good as ever, shedding triple digit speeds repeatedly without any difficulty. I'm running Hawk HPS pads and plain 11" rotors (the kit comes with slotted and dimpled rotors). If you do a lot of hard driving, i definitely recommend this upgrade, it'll pay for itself with its longevity. A quick story about my experience with the Fit's brakes: At 10k mi, I had already went through two sets of OEM brake pads AND rotors. The first set was at roughly 5k. It was so early in the Fit's life that the dealer thought it was a defect and replaced pads and rotors (rotors had blisters on them and could not be saved) under waranty. Second time was around 9k I didn't want to push my luck with the dealer and decided to look to the aftermarket for a solution. The DC2-R kit lasted till 30k before I needed to replace pads and the rotors just needed to be resurfaced. Good stuff
.
So yes, here's a summary:
Kraftwerks Supercharger = Did great, engine and supercharger held up well. 27 mpg with 80-90mph. 20mpg with Go-Straight-To-Jail speeds.
Exedy Clutch/Fidanza 7lb Flywheel/J's Racing 1.5way LSD= Held up great. Excelent suppliments to the supercharger, providing extra oomph while while aiding in obtaining and maintaining traction.
Sparco Speed= Great starter bucket. Lots of comfort, Lots of Grip. Although, for the money I'd probably rather have gotten Buddy Club's because its more suited for smaller people like me. The Sparco seemed more tailored to the American market...*ahem*
Skunk2 Pro full Coilovers = Survived the durability test, but not something for those who faint of heart. I blame the streets, though. If you're just looking for a drop while maintaining comfort, I'd suggest just getting springs. These may be too much for those just looking for looks.
Integra Type R 11" brake kit from Fastbrakes.com = Get them. Now.
My first concern was whether or not my engine would be too stressed from the 6 hour drive up to norcal. I didn't want to get stranded hundreds of miles from home when the Fit's engine decides that its had enough of my abuse. This initially caused me to drive like a grandma, cruising mostly in the slower lanes. "Initially" only lasted 30 min. My patience wore thin and my consciousness began to creep away from me and I decided it was time to wail on the supercharger. 5 hours later in SF, I calculated that my average gas mileage was roughly 27 mpg. Not bad for an average speed of 90 with occasional sprints to 110-115. No audible or visible complains from the engine compartment, so all smiles there
On the trip back, the speedometer spent most of its time in the "lose your license" area and I managed 20mpg on the way back. w00t! No complaints from the drivetrain either (LSD, Clutch, Flywheel). Didn't really put the J's Racing LSD to work with the road completely straight, but I must have shifted over 2000 times on the trip up and the Exedy clutch felt like a clutch should while the Fidanza Flywheel helped me zip up to and pass through traffic that didn't agree with my desired speed. They are all very nice compliments to the supercharger, aiding in putting the power to the ground more efficiently.
My last trip up to NorCal was on T1R Bmax coilovers. They were fairly comfortable around SF's horrible streets but on the way back suffered some mechanical problems (still don't know the cause, so I'm not going to blame the product). This time I'm riding on Skunk2 Pro full coilovers and they held up well against the abuse of uneven pavement. However, my girlfriend and I were getting out teeth knocked out by the constant bumpy-ness. Skunk2 = great on the track/canyon but bad if you live in NorCal (no such problems present on streets that were taken care of better).
I have a Sparco Speed non-reclineable bucket seat this time around and was surprised at how comfortable the ride was. There's plenty of padding and plenty of hold from the seat. The position was great and gave a commanding view of my surroundings. I had an older modle of the Sparco before and I must say this is a huge improvement in all aspects.
The DC2-R brakes from Fastbrakes were as good as ever, shedding triple digit speeds repeatedly without any difficulty. I'm running Hawk HPS pads and plain 11" rotors (the kit comes with slotted and dimpled rotors). If you do a lot of hard driving, i definitely recommend this upgrade, it'll pay for itself with its longevity. A quick story about my experience with the Fit's brakes: At 10k mi, I had already went through two sets of OEM brake pads AND rotors. The first set was at roughly 5k. It was so early in the Fit's life that the dealer thought it was a defect and replaced pads and rotors (rotors had blisters on them and could not be saved) under waranty. Second time was around 9k I didn't want to push my luck with the dealer and decided to look to the aftermarket for a solution. The DC2-R kit lasted till 30k before I needed to replace pads and the rotors just needed to be resurfaced. Good stuff
.So yes, here's a summary:
Kraftwerks Supercharger = Did great, engine and supercharger held up well. 27 mpg with 80-90mph. 20mpg with Go-Straight-To-Jail speeds.
Exedy Clutch/Fidanza 7lb Flywheel/J's Racing 1.5way LSD= Held up great. Excelent suppliments to the supercharger, providing extra oomph while while aiding in obtaining and maintaining traction.
Sparco Speed= Great starter bucket. Lots of comfort, Lots of Grip. Although, for the money I'd probably rather have gotten Buddy Club's because its more suited for smaller people like me. The Sparco seemed more tailored to the American market...*ahem*
Skunk2 Pro full Coilovers = Survived the durability test, but not something for those who faint of heart. I blame the streets, though. If you're just looking for a drop while maintaining comfort, I'd suggest just getting springs. These may be too much for those just looking for looks.
Integra Type R 11" brake kit from Fastbrakes.com = Get them. Now.
Last edited by gotfitted; Aug 25, 2008 at 03:14 PM.
yea, damn near all of the 580 and 880 is crap, too. And if you have any sort of stiff suspension, wear a neck brace if you head down to the Fisherman's warf.
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