Modification Journal / 2006 M Coupe / Interlagos Blue / #207 of 1815

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

What did you do with your Status seats?

Just used them for test fitting. They fit very well, even better than the Sparcos I am running now.

I did end up going with Status 6-point harnesses. They are FIA approved and all black (no bright logos like most). The are a great balance between funtion and form. The look great in our cars

[KevinM]

Wow, really coming together!

[mshanno1]

What are the plans to put something in place of the center air vents and head unit?

[Finnegan]

Wow Chris, all I can say is wow. This has always been an amazing project, and just keeps getting more jaw-dropping as time goes by.

[VinnieAces]

DIY for seats if you have time one day?

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by KevinM

Wow, really coming together!

thanks. slow but sure

Originally Posted by mshanno1

What are the plans to put something in place of the center air vents and head unit?

I have been working on a gauge pod. It is about 90 percent done. The finish you see in the pics bellow is just a primer

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Wow Chris, all I can say is wow. This has always been an amazing project, and just keeps getting more jaw-dropping as time goes by.

Thanks, it means a lot. Sometimes I seems like I am in over my head, but then the smallest bit of progress gets me going again

Originally Posted by VinnieAces

DIY for seats if you have time one day?

It will be a while, but for you... no problem. If you end up doing something before I get to it let me know and I will cram to get one done


Gauge Pod and Harness Progress. Gauge pod finsish is just a primer, not the final satin that will match the finish of the vents

[VinnieAces]

Originally Posted by crfine88

It will be a while, but for you... no problem. If you end up doing something before I get to it let me know and I will cram to get one done

[/B]

Thanks! No rush tho Chris, I won't be able to snag a pair until later this summer probably (focusing on forced induction to be my next big mod)

car looks absolutely awesome and that guage pod rocks

[ZStig]

that harness looks legit

Did you have the Status Ring seats or the Hockenheim seats? The Hockenheim looks like a smaller bolster

[davesz4mc]

I am interested in seeing what was deleted along with removing the wall behind the drivers seats. Where does the battery end up what features did you lose or relocate? I went throuth the thread but did not see anything.

[nmulax]

I see you were busy the rest of the weekend… hopefully you got some of the work on the new room done too!
It was great catching up with you two; and it won't be so long till I'm in town again!

The car looks absolutely incredible. Every mod is thought-out and executed in the best way possible. I'm blown away by all the new things you come up with (and ideas you have for the future)! This M Coupé really should be an inspiration for everyone on the forum!

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by VinnieAces

Thanks! No rush tho Chris, I won't be able to snag a pair until later this summer probably (focusing on forced induction to be my next big mod)

car looks absolutely awesome and that guage pod rocks

I like the sound of that, FI is a blast
Thank you on the car stuff too, the gauge pod is almost done

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

that harness looks legit

Did you have the Status Ring seats or the Hockenheim seats? The Hockenheim looks like a smaller bolster

I ran the Ring GT. It's bigger than the Ring. I prefer the high thigh bolsters, but the Hockenheim is easier to get in and out while still offer good support.

Originally Posted by davesz4mc

I am interested in seeing what was deleted along with removing the wall behind the drivers seats. Where does the battery end up what features did you lose or relocate? I went throuth the thread but did not see anything.

You didn't miss it, this thread is a little behind it terms of write-ups.
The bulkhead I removed supported the stereo amp, the dvd navigation unit, the integrated phone unit, 2 speakers, two subs and the seatbelts. I removed the entire Nav/stereo system from the car because I wasn't 100% happy with the performance of the nav or the stereo and it was a big weight savings. In the future I plan to build a removable stereo unit. For nave I am happy with using my iPone.

As for the battery, it was mounted int he same OEM location. I went to a lighter (21lb instead of 45lb) bettery and custom mount. I modified the mount to line up with and use the factory hardwar locations.
SEE PHOTOS:

Originally Posted by nmulax

I see you were busy the rest of the weekend… hopefully you got some of the work on the new room done too!
It was great catching up with you two; and it won't be so long till I'm in town again!

The car looks absolutely incredible. Every mod is thought-out and executed in the best way possible. I'm blown away by all the new things you come up with (and ideas you have for the future)! This M Coupé really should be an inspiration for everyone on the forum!

We enjoyed catching up for sure! Thanks for the kind words on the build; I'm glad you like the direction I am taking it.

The nursery got it's fare share of my attention too. Working on the car was my reward for working on the dry-wall

See you next time you are in town.

[davesz4mc]

So I assume that you did not drive it without belts and that the new harness points tie back into the cage.

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by davesz4mc

So I assume that you did not drive it without belts and that the new harness points tie back into the cage.

Yes, the harness ties into 4 points on the car body under and behind the seat for the sub and lap belts; The harness also ties into two points on the cage for the shoulder belts

[davesz4mc]

Would of thought so but had to ask.

Did you buy or have a tubing notcher for the roll cadge? I will back read when the internet is back up at work =-). Chromalloy?

I love what you have done to the car and wish I can do half as much in my car! I like the deletion of "the crap behind the seats" but the roll cadge or at least a rear strut brace would be needed for new belts 5-point min. And if you are doing belts and deleting that stuff why would you not do seats as well of course. I view weight reduction as a poor mans power adder to a certain extent. I was thinking some of that streached fiber cloth to refab smooth panels for the c-pillars to make it more factory looking and match up the carpet to finish it off you could not tell it came with anything there in the first place. Also, if you wanted to keep the nav, radio and phone you can make a case, battery side and just relocate it into that, mount each on a side and one side and top open for access, close it all off and poof tons more room and huge weight savings.

[Beedub]

the gauges looks AMAZING!!! what colour are you going to run the LEDS?? be warned these things are bright enough to light the complete interior!!! i run them in white LED mode flashing RED at my maximum values, i.e boost is set @ 7.5 psi so every time i get past that value it changes to red.....

you will never ever want to sell this car.... awesome

[ZStig]

I'd love to convert my oem sound system with navi to something minimal and aftermarket that sounds ALMOST as good, but weighs half as much. I'm gonna go do a lot of research and come back to you

I'm thinking some sort of miniature ipod only headunit, garmin navi unit, two 8" subs, two 6" midrange speakers, 2 tweeters, and a LTW or stripped down amp

[davesz4mc]

He can make a stereo box that sits in the rear cadge area with quick connects for track days. Headunit and speakers in it quick connect for power and front speakers...

Or just an amp and speakers then you can play your ipod straight into the amp. Smaller package super easy setup.

[nmulax]

Originally Posted by davesz4mc

He can make a stereo box that sits in the rear cadge area with quick connects for track days. Headunit and speakers in it quick connect for power and front speakers...

Or just an amp and speakers then you can play your ipod straight into the amp. Smaller package super easy setup.

This is along the lines of what he has in mind.

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by davesz4mc

Would of thought so but had to ask.

Did you buy or have a tubing notcher for the roll cadge? I will back read when the internet is back up at work =-). Chromalloy?

I love what you have done to the car and wish I can do half as much in my car! I like the deletion of "the crap behind the seats" but the roll cadge or at least a rear strut brace would be needed for new belts 5-point min. And if you are doing belts and deleting that stuff why would you not do seats as well of course. I view weight reduction as a poor mans power adder to a certain extent. I was thinking some of that streached fiber cloth to refab smooth panels for the c-pillars to make it more factory looking and match up the carpet to finish it off you could not tell it came with anything there in the first place. Also, if you wanted to keep the nav, radio and phone you can make a case, battery side and just relocate it into that, mount each on a side and one side and top open for access, close it all off and poof tons more room and huge weight savings.

Thanks man!

I designed the cage in AutoCAD and then had a local fabrication shop build it. Once they were finished, I pained the cage. The cage is built from 1.75 .095 DOM steel and wheights in at 38lbs +/-

Weight reduction is a huge plus, I removing the crap behind the seats was a very good feeling. It just seem like a bunch of un-needed lbs
I will be finishing the interior to look OEM inside. Nothing is finalized, but I will be using som combination of carpet, alcantara, and leather. I also have plans to install a removable stereo unit.

[ZStig]

Could you post the weights of the nav system components? I think you did before but I'm not sure... Its a big thread! I think you said its 60lbs total..

You gave me the idea of an LTW system, but mine's gonna be permanent

by the way, does the car feel like it picked up more torque in the low-end and mid-range since you dropped all that weight>?

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by Beedub

the gauges looks AMAZING!!! what colour are you going to run the LEDS?? be warned these things are bright enough to light the complete interior!!! i run them in white LED mode flashing RED at my maximum values, i.e boost is set @ 7.5 psi so every time i get past that value it changes to red.....

you will never ever want to sell this car.... awesome

Thanks Byron, it's almost done!

I am planning to install a secondary dimmer to mellow them out a bit; I hope it works. Like you I plan to run white to match the stock speedo/tach and then red for maximum values. If I can run a third color for min values, I will use Blue

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

I'd love to convert my oem sound system with navi to something minimal and aftermarket that sounds ALMOST as good, but weighs half as much. I'm gonna go do a lot of research and come back to you

I'm thinking some sort of miniature ipod only headunit, garmin navi unit, two 8" subs, two 6" midrange speakers, 2 tweeters, and a LTW or stripped down amp

This is a killer idea!!!

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

Could you post the weights of the nav system components? I think you did before but I'm not sure... Its a big thread! I think you said its 60lbs total..

You gave me the idea of an LTW system, but mine's gonna be permanent

by the way, does the car feel like it picked up more torque in the low-end and mid-range since you dropped all that weight>?

04.8 lbs-Harness
01.0 lbs-misc brackets
04.2 lbs-2 Kick panel Speakers
14.2 lbs-2 Rear subwoofers
00.2 lbs-GPS antenna
09.0 lbs-Amps/amp brackets
03.4 lbs-4 mid range speakers
00.2 lbs-2 tweeters
03.6 lbs-GPS/DVD drive
02.4 lbs-Pop-up display
02.6 lbs-Head unit

45.6 lbs total