Topic: What did you do to your Kappa today!

[Uranium-238]

Upgrading to better shocks/springs will really help with the whole nosediving issue. I've got Koni shocks and the GXP ZOK springs on my car and while the nose still moves a bit it's not nearly as pronounced.

[Critterman]

G

You are going to drive 5 qts of Mobil 1 to work?  How on earth are you going to do that?

GJ

Good catch, and I won't even counter with something like very carefully.  Instead I will say that my fingers got ahead of my brain and left out one the fact that it referred to BIXABLE my cherrist KAPPA ride.

[Critterman]

Oh, and when I came out to my car today it looked like someone had painted little pink flowers all over it. Cherry blossoms falling off a tree made for a cool effect. I shed most of them on the way to work, like a trail of little flowers!




Jim

Make sure you get them all off, a little moisture followed by the sun will leave a stain on a light colored car.

[Critterman]

Took the Kappa to a locally-well known area called Hocking Hills.  Nice road but there were so much slow traffic (read motorcycles) it was difficult to develop triple-digit speed.  Managed a couple bursts, but that was it.  It didn't have the instant reaction of my LS6/7 or my M3's throttle response but once the turbo was on boil, it had no problem gaining speed.  It reminded me why I gave up turbocharged 4-cyl engines about 8 years ago and went for V8s.

The Kappa handled nicely but I felt there was something substantial missing, maybe a set of Koni and a pair of big sway bars would bring in better feel.  It nose-dived during braking and lifted its nose during acceleration a bit too much.  It also rocked front to back when I wasn't too smooth with gear changes.  It felt too compliant.

Downshifting was a bit tricky since during a throttle blip the engine speed didn't respond as quickly as the others; as the result RPM got hung up and the car jerked.  Tried to find the right combination of amount of throttle jabs and time delay but I didn't get enough practice.  Exhaust was very quiet; maybe that's part of the reason why I couldn't upshift smoothly.  Wind noise with top down robbed the exhaust noise.

The ergonomics was ok.  It didn't have the large blind spot of the CTS-V when trying to look around a corner (i.e. the area between the A-pillar and rear view mirror).  I have learned to memorize ahead of time with the CTS-V but with the Kappa I could wait until I was almost on top of the apex.  I still need to find a better driving position as I got fatigued a bit quicker.  I probably looked pretty dorky too trying to rest my elbow on the window sill

It was a nice test drive session, as I got quite a bit of insights of the car.  My wife agreed that it needed to be stiffer and louder.  The problem will be deciding what part the next budget goes to

Have you done anything to stiffen it up?  Hard to keep everyone's mods in my head.  If not - then probeam, backbone for a start.

[Critterman]

Critterman.

The GM tonneau cover I installed does allow me to unzip the driver section while keeping the passenger side covered.  The driver side unzips and rolls under the passenger side and has straps to keep it rolled up under the passenger side.  I am hoping to try it out tomorrow on our HOT Monday.

If I remember correctly there is a stick for lack of a better word that goes from one side of the dash to the other (a frame to a frame maybe) to hold the front in place.   It unzippes between the windshield and steering wheel, and behind the seat.  You then roll all that up into the straps between you and the other seat.

Doesn't it block the air vents to the windshield?  Also, I would be worried about the front lifting under speed with  only the stick holding it in place.

Please don't get me wrong DRM I'm not slamming you for getting one, because I would love to have one, but I just don't like the design.  I would rather have it have snaps all the way around, and zip down the middle, then I could just put the open piece behind the seat and not worry about it flying in my face.

I am probably full of it, have been before, and will be again, so please let me know what you found out about the way it holds in place.

Thanks, John.

[DRM]

If I remember correctly there is a stick for lack of a better word that goes from one side of the dash to the other (a frame to a frame maybe) to hold the front in place.   It unzippes between the windshield and steering wheel, and behind the seat.  You then roll all that up into the straps between you and the other seat.

Doesn't it block the air vents to the windshield?  Also, I would be worried about the front lifting under speed with  only the stick holding it in place.

Please don't get me wrong DRM I'm not slamming you for getting one, because I would love to have one, but I just don't like the design.  I would rather have it have snaps all the way around, and zip down the middle, then I could just put the open piece behind the seat and not worry about it flying in my face.

I am probably full of it, have been before, and will be again, so please let me know what you found out about the way it holds in place.

Thanks, John.

Hey John...Trust me, I know you are not slamming me.  I find the knowledge of this forum and the generosity of those willing to share it, invaluable.

You are correct that there is a rod that holds the front of the cover in the dash, but there is also a clip that attaches to the middle of the rod and clips the rod to the middle of the windshield air vent.  This keeps the front from lifting.  The windshield vent does not get covered either.  There is a gap that leaves the vent exposed.

I drove into work with the cover on today and love it.  I would like to be able to raise the passenger side window while driving if needed, but I understand that this is just the nature of a tonneau cover (at least that is how I understand it).  No issue with the cover flapping around either, it stayed put.

Derek

[elff]

 

This sounds very Speed Racer-ish, which is a good thing.  I like speed racer.

[DRM]

This sounds very Speed Racer-ish, which is a good thing.  I like speed racer.

If you mean my post above, I just added some pics.

[Gentleman Jack]

If you mean my post above, I just added some pics.

I've never seen chrome mirror caps before?  Did you add those or did your come that way?  VERY shiny.  As for the tonneau err... toungeow, er..   passenger compartment cover, it looks really neat!  I hope to see on in person.  Though it's not something I would need, it is really cool.  Is it weather proof?  I don't imagine it holds up in a hurricane, but will it keep a light drizzle out? or does the water just pool up in the center and then ?

GJ

[Sol Asylum]

I've never seen chrome mirror caps before?  Did you add those or did your come that way?  VERY shiny.  As for the tonneau err... toungeow, er..   passenger compartment cover, it looks really neat!  I hope to see on in person.  Though it's not something I would need, it is really cool.  Is it weather proof?  I don't imagine it holds up in a hurricane, but will it keep a light drizzle out? or does the water just pool up in the center and then ?

GJ

That was always my question with it too.  I have experience with these on British cars and on my TR3 it does as good a job as the top for weather tightness (which real isn't saying much).  However on my TR7 the designers tried to keep rain water from draining through the dash vents and so they added a flap that then sealed to the windshield frame which makes it totally impossible to try and drive with it in place.  I always wondered how the KAPPA one worked.

[Sol Asylum]

Kelu, I've been discussing this with Sol Asylum (several others have offered assistance too ). He is going to be helping me with that on mine at the mod meet. Maybe he'll let you watch

Shiny if Kelu is going to be your  (said in the most respectful way possible) then I can attempt to play the part of Critter and supervise Kelu doing the mod for you.

Did you ever find out what relay was used previously by others doing this mod?

[elff]

I dont use a relay.  I just tapped into the Brake Light, or go directly to a switch for Car Show stuff.
I am not sure if the people who also tap into the running lights use a relay, but I don't do that so it has not been necessary

[DRM]

I've never seen chrome mirror caps before?  Did you add those or did your come that way?  VERY shiny.  As for the tonneau err... toungeow, er..   passenger compartment cover, it looks really neat!  I hope to see on in person.  Though it's not something I would need, it is really cool.  Is it weather proof?  I don't imagine it holds up in a hurricane, but will it keep a light drizzle out? or does the water just pool up in the center and then ?

GJ

If I remember correctly, the chrome mirror covers were offered by Kappasphere in the past.  I actually bought them new from someone on the SF that decided not to install them.  I like some chrome...the snap covers that cover the snaps when the tonneau cover is removed are chrome as well.  I purchased the snap covers from a snap kit I pickedup at Walmart.

I would say that the cover is waterproof, the top side is canvas and the under is vinyl...so I'm guessing that the vinyl would make it waterproof.  I am one who does drive with the top down in the rain, so I'm sure I will be able to test it out.


I know you didn't ask, but as far as my purchase of the GM tonneau cover and GM windscreen...other than I really like them now (I used to be one of those who did not like them), I wanted to be able to purchase some of the orginal accessories that GM designed for our cars before they may be to hard to find.  I know some people like these accessories and some don't, but for me, they were designed for our cars and I wanted to have them for my car.

[Sol Asylum]

I thought that Shiny wanted to some how tie it into the back up lights so that it shuts off when in reverse.  Though maybe I am not remembering it correctly.

[POS VETT]

Upgrading to better shocks/springs will really help with the whole nosediving issue. I've got Koni shocks and the GXP ZOK springs on my car and while the nose still moves a bit it's not nearly as pronounced.

Good to know !

Have you done anything to stiffen it up?  Hard to keep everyone's mods in my head.  If not - then probeam, backbone for a start.

So far I've got the LV frame rail bar/brace.  More braces are in the plan; the post was to show my impressions when the car was driven somewhat hard when it was pretty close to stock.

[Critterman]

You coming to the mod meet?  If so can you bring it with you, I need to take another look, because the one I saw didn't look like you could drive with it.  But Like I said before, I have been wrong.

[DRM]

You coming to the mod meet?  If so can you bring it with you, I need to take another look, because the one I saw didn't look like you could drive with it.  But Like I said before, I have been wrong.

If you are talking about the tonneau cover, I am driving with it today.  Got up to 80 mph on 695 and no problems with the cover.  Maybe we can meet up somewhere local.

[Critterman]

Where in MD are you, north of Baltimore right?

[DRM]

Where in MD are you, north of Baltimore right?

Sent email.

[Buzzardt]

If you are talking about the tonneau cover, I am driving with it today.  Got up to 80 mph on 695 and no problems with the cover.  Maybe we can meet up somewhere local.

That answers the wonderment  on standing up to a Hurricane .
Category One Hurricane (Sustained winds 74-95 mph

[SHiNY]

Shiny if Kelu is going to be your   (said in the most respectful way possible) then I can attempt to play the part of Critter and supervise Kelu doing the mod for you.

Did you ever find out what relay was used previously by others doing this mod?

I like it! My  is at your disposal

Yes, I will forward you the PM if that's okay then you can tell me which one to purchase?

I dont use a relay.  I just tapped into the Brake Light, or go directly to a switch for Car Show stuff.
I am not sure if the people who also tap into the running lights use a relay, but I don't do that so it has not been necessary

I thought that Shiny wanted to some how tie it into the back up lights so that it shuts off when in reverse.  Though maybe I am not remembering it correctly.

You are completely correct, this might be something you may be interested in too Elff.

[elff]

I'm only interested in having it work when I press the brake pedal.
Or be on all the time.
but thanks

[Critterman]

Replied.DMR let set something up,   

Vett, you would be suprised how much firmer the car can become with a few mods.

[LatinVenom]

POS VETT,
You need the ProBeam and BackBone to tie the whole chassis together.
With just the LVKFCB the front end is the ONLY thing tie together.
Also as others have said Z0K sway bars and either the Z0K shocks/springs or Koni's or BC's. will make the suspension complete and the driving a great new experience.
Also an upgrade to the tires needs to be done.

[smartin]

Cruised around in the Solstice with my daughter, had brunch, got manis/pedis, finishing with a cruise out for dinner! Enjoying the weather TOPLESS!