Author Topic: What did you do to your Kappa today!  (Read 1265387 times)

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Offline Sly Bob

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3275 on: April 11, 2011, 07:06:51 PM »
What did I do with my Kappa? Just dreamt about it her as it's she's still in storage. Won't be long now...

Edit: Can't believe I called her an "it"...  

Hope she doesn't read this.  :D
« Last Edit: April 11, 2011, 07:53:52 PM by Sly Bob »
Just trying to do my part...

Mods: Lose the chicklets, VentureShield, Dual horns, AfterShock spoiler, Weathershield cover, Lil Chromies, Red calipers with black Solstice stickers, Opel GT antenna and Solo GXP-RCD exhaust with a Solo hi-flow cat!

Offline SHiNY

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3276 on: April 11, 2011, 07:11:05 PM »
Got in and drove her with no specific destination in mind. Somehow ended up and Daddy & Mummy's house - it's always good to be home :)

Offline HAMMER DOWN

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3277 on: April 11, 2011, 07:47:06 PM »
Good to know !

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.

I started with the DDM Back-Bone (center). This stiffen up the chassis enough so you can feel the suspension work. Although better, still had under steer. Then I add the LVFBC and went from under steer to over steer. Do the rear being the only thing left unbraced. It gives up 1st. & start to flex & rotate causing the front to over steer. Last I add the DDM Pro-Beam (rear). The final key to this puzzle. The car feels Neutral for hard street driving. These mods was all done over time on the same set of tires. Which, now is time to get replaced.

Maybe my experience will help.

Mike
Here's to many rides with the top down, wind in your hair & the  hammer down.  :drag: :brnout: :drive:

Offline G8TR

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3278 on: April 11, 2011, 07:50:15 PM »
Dreamed of G8TR under it's cover while I'm in Savannah

Offline Buzzardt

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3279 on: April 11, 2011, 08:04:54 PM »
What did I do with my Kappa? Just dreamt about it her as it's she's still in storage. Won't be long now...

Edit: Can't believe I called her an "it"... 

Hope she doesn't read this.  :D
She reads English and French?

Offline Critterman

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3280 on: April 11, 2011, 08:09:18 PM »
Drove her, washed her cover, once a year job.
GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
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Offline Buzzardt

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3281 on: April 11, 2011, 08:18:38 PM »
Finished up polishing the bottom and cleaning the wheels. Now it is all clean and shiny again.
Smartin: I tried the Windex and it did a good job.

Offline duckSol

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3282 on: April 11, 2011, 09:17:37 PM »
Cruised around in the Solstice with my daughter, had brunch, got manis/pedis, finishing with a cruise out for dinner! Enjoying the weather TOPLESS! :D

Nice.

Went Hollywood, top down, XM 5 wide open!
Did errands one of which was to renew tags on SLY and the CUCV  :nuts:

Snagged a parking space across from the MECCA pool hall in front of the DeMille building  :D

Seriously, real places no  :kwh:
And picked up KUBOTA tractor parts  :gaah:
2012 Summer SOLSTICE In The Land Of SKY

Offline smartin

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3283 on: April 11, 2011, 09:22:57 PM »
Very cool. Glad you had a nice day. Tell your lovely wife hi for me. :)

Offline JimVonBaden

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3284 on: April 11, 2011, 09:42:46 PM »
Went to lunch with the top down and nearly called in sick the rest of the day. 85° and sunny for the fantastic ride home. This car is a joy to drive, especially with the top down, even at 80 mph! Nice and quiet, with just enough air to keep you cool!

Jim :cool:
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Offline MomsSol

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3285 on: April 12, 2011, 11:12:33 AM »
Summer shoes are on and Spring detailing getting finished today after being interrupted by Mother Nature's nastiness on Sunday!  Will be nice to be rid of all the Winter yuckiness and be back to the nice clean mirror-like finish!
Just here to help a friend! :thumbs:
True Lady Gearhead :)
We'll Miss You PONTIAC! :cryin:


Offline TomatoSoup

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3286 on: April 12, 2011, 11:38:58 AM »
Got in and drove her with no specific destination in mind. Somehow ended up and Daddy & Mummy's house - it's always good to be home :)
"Mummy"... ahhh, love it! <sigh>
"That is my theory, it is mine, and belongs to me and I own it, and what it is too." (Monty Python)

Offline Gentleman Jack

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3287 on: April 12, 2011, 12:42:15 PM »
Got in and drove her with no specific destination in mind. Somehow ended up and Daddy & Mummy's house - it's always good to be home :)

Sounds like you're still having some rough days.  Hoping it gets better for you soon.  Wandering home is always a good way to start straightening out the mind / heart.

GJ
crap... I think I just sounded empathetic... damn.
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Offline SHiNY

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3288 on: April 12, 2011, 01:16:23 PM »

Offline SHiNY

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3289 on: April 12, 2011, 01:19:49 PM »
Sounds like you're still having some rough days.  Hoping it gets better for you soon.  Wandering home is always a good way to start straightening out the mind / heart.

GJ
crap... I think I just sounded empathetic... damn.

I am but everyone has their ups and downs. Just trying to remain stress free and focus on what's important. Which reminds me, whoever is doing stupid rain dances please stop. I'm really tired of this weather. I need to be TOPLESS!

Offline Critterman

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3290 on: April 12, 2011, 01:22:01 PM »
I agree you need to be topless, and I would be remiss if I didn't include:

 :ttiwwp:
GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline Gentleman Jack

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3291 on: April 12, 2011, 01:22:53 PM »
I am but everyone has their ups and downs. Just trying to remain stress free and focus on what's important. Which reminds me, whoever is doing stupid rain dances please stop. I'm really tired of this weather. I need to be TOPLESS!

You are welcome to come here an be topless.  Start driving now, pick up Reed, Dengle, Critter... whoever you want on your way and you'll be here by Thursday!  Sunny, 80^, beaches, mountain roads to get lost in....  Just sayin!  California isn't perfect (NP) but it sure has a nice up side!

GJ
Make the right choices now

Offline SHiNY

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3292 on: April 12, 2011, 01:27:44 PM »
You are welcome to come here an be topless.  Start driving now, pick up Reed, Dengle, Critter... whoever you want on your way and you'll be here by Thursday!  Sunny, 80^, beaches, mountain roads to get lost in....  Just sayin!  California isn't perfect (NP) but it sure has a nice up side!

GJ

As Critter and I both told you yesterday, it still applies today... you suck! I don't think the weather has hit 60 degrees here yet this year. It may have, but if it did it was raining  :cryin:

Offline Critterman

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3293 on: April 12, 2011, 01:30:51 PM »
A little silver lining to your dark cloud.  It has stopped raining here, sun is out birds are singing right at 60. 

It may clear by the time you go home.

You are right GJ sucks.
GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline dengel

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3294 on: April 12, 2011, 01:51:57 PM »
As Critter and I both told you yesterday, it still applies today... you suck! I don't think the weather has hit 60 degrees here yet this year. It may have, but if it did it was raining  :cryin:

What about yesterday?  It was 80 degrees in NJ and sunny for most of the day.  :yay: :drive: :yay:




Until the evening of course, when the thunderstorms rolled through pulling a cold front behind them, so that today it is 50 degrees and raining....   :banghead:


Offline snaponbob

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3295 on: April 12, 2011, 02:20:45 PM »
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 :D

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 :)


If this has already been mentioned  :sorry: . That said, invest in GXP/Z0K springs. Lowers the car and increases spring rate by 18-20%. At a GXP/Z0K REAR bar (only) and the handling will be transformed. While you are at it, contact DDM for a ProBeam. You will swear that somebody slid a different car under your butt. For another $600, you can add the Konis, and with them turned about 3/4 - 1 turn Firm, that will be icing on the cake.
Bob Buxbaum
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Offline SHiNY

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3296 on: April 12, 2011, 02:30:06 PM »
What about yesterday?  It was 80 degrees in NJ and sunny for most of the day.  :yay: :drive: :yay:

That was in NJ - I like in NY - stupid Long Island all we have here is 10 dead bodies!

Offline elff

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3297 on: April 12, 2011, 02:32:14 PM »
That's a good day isn't it?

Yesterday was amazing. 80 degrees on the drive home from work.

Today is still warm, but depressing overcast and raining like a MoFo.

Was nice putting the top down and feeling the breeze.

Offline Uranium-238

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3298 on: April 12, 2011, 02:43:17 PM »
Sadly good weather just means that I have to work late. Didn't get off till 7:30 yesterday, with the same in store for today unless it rains. On that note, bring on the rain!
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Offline smartin

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Re: What did you do to your Kappa today!
« Reply #3299 on: April 12, 2011, 02:58:23 PM »
Sadly good weather just means that I have to work late. Didn't get off till 7:30 yesterday, with the same in store for today unless it rains. On that note, bring on the rain!

Bummer. Hope you get a break in the work and a break in the weather.

I took the day off yesterday to enjoy the ONE forecast day of warm and sunny weather to enjoy it with my daughter.