Spark plug change, Evo

Got my new spark plugs in! Suppose to come pre-gaped for the Evo at .020-.022. Well as you can see that wasn't the case. So I got the pleasure of de-gaping them. If you couldn't tell that was sarcasm and it totally sucked!

Those are the old ones, look a little rough and gaped horribly, oops.

With the new ones in I'm still getting false knock but it cured the sputtering in the higher rpms.

NHL All-Star weekend 2011

Friday Travis, Lauren, Mary and I headed to Raleigh North Caroline for the 2011 NHL All-Star game. We had more fun then I can express! Jason and Erinn hooked us up once again! Here is the journey in pictures.

Our hotel, about a 5 minute walk from the downtown festivities (fan fair).

Found a little place called Remedy Diner for earlier lunch/breakfast.

Took in the fan fair.

Found an AMAZING Irish Pub called Tri Na Nog. They had Strongbow on tap so we had to stop in. Met a really cool lawyer there, gave him a card, hope he calls. :)

Back in our room about to head back to the Sheraton for a few drinks with Erinn and Jason then catch the bus to the stadium.

All of our ticket. Skills competition, the game and both NHL VIP parties.

Mascots were everywhere!

Danny Briere hitting the ice

Right behind our seats was the set for the NHL show. On the right is one of my all time favs, Jeremy Roenick! That's Kevin Weekes with him.

Jumping around a bit. Jason brought some guys he had met in Chicago at the alumni wine release party. Very interesting guys, very smart and hilarious. We all gathered in front of the area where the show was and I mentioned I loved Roenick and had his shirt jersey and all. Well, Bob (one of the guys from Chicago) says, "We are having dinner with him tonight he is a close friend, come on." Motioning me over. Bob and David start cutting up with Roenick with me standing there. Bob introduces me! Told him I was a fan, shook and they went on with there discussion over some of his old hockey gear, including me in the conversation. It was the highlight of the trip for me.

Our room on the 9th floor.

Us in front of the RBC Center heading to the pre-game party.

At the party and it was INSANE. A huge selection of food and drinks.

Cool ice sculptures everywhere

L and T enjoying themselves!

Clay Aiken sang the national anthem, and did a very good job.

Mary and I with Tommy Hawk, he likes Mary hehe

Harvey of the Calgary Flames

Us with Jason and Erinn right before they left.

Tied up 6 all in the 2nd.

Game over :(

The game was very exciting! 11-10 with team Lidstrom stealing it, which is the team I was pulling for. Team Staal had a quick 4-0 led in the first but Team Lidstrom came on strong. It was a very entertaining game, those guys are so fun to watch, graceful. Got to see an All-Star game first as well. Ovechkin chucked his stick at the puck on a break away caused by his turnover. That's a no no and led to the first ever plenty shot in the ALG.

Overall it was a great time, meet some awesome people and got to hang out in a cool city. Look forward to next time!

My new office!

Tennessee river out the far right window!

Evo Update

Had to order some spark plugs. Mellon thinks they are the problem causing the false knock and sputtering in the higher RPMs. Said its usually a good idea to change them every 6 months. I have had mine 1.5 years, oops. Should be here this week!

Evo wheels update

Got an email yesterday that the shipper has requested a Delivery Intercept for the package. Delivery to an alternate address was requested. So I emailed them and it turns out another person ordered a set with different tires and his were sent to me and mine to him. Oops. Ohwell, it actually works out for me as the wheels were set to arrive on Friday and I will be on my way to Raleigh for the weekend. I was going to have to enlist someone to come move them into the house. Now they are set to arrive on Tuesday, Feb 1st.

Girl Talk and DJ Slink show

If you'll recall I was rocking an album by Girl Talk a while back. This one. Well he came to Knoxville lastnight! It sold out pretty quickly but that's a good thing! They made their quota, promoters are happy and the the artist gets their moneys. I didn't have a ticket so I went with another angle. If everyone is paid and you know someone who can get in, you're golden. Ben, Allison, Jason F and I slid right in. Best part was, we didn't have to wait in line in the cold.
It was on.

Girl Talk went on at 10 so we showed up around 9:45. He start with his first track on the new album, great mix. His stage presence is pretty awesome and his lights are digital board were great.

We moved upstairs about 40 minutes into his set to a VIP room for one of Allison's friends birthday parties.

Since it was a Monday night GT was only on for an hour and a half. Kinda lame but ohwell. I'd of been a little upset if I paid 27$ for a ticket.

We headed of to the Ciderhouse, which is next door, for a Slink after show, show.

Girl Talk was in the middle of his encore when we got to Ciderhouse. Slink was rocking. Ben and Slink were being Mad Decent!

Slink was playing a dirty Debstep set, I really enjoyed it. I find it amazing the range of music I enjoy.

Moved off to the side to watch the madness. Slink closed it up with the Pursuit of Happiness, which is an amazing song no matter what genre it's played in, and another DJ took his place. It was close to 1am so we headed out. It was a great night and run into tons of friends. I need to do this more often.

3rd iPhones a charm... I hope

Finally went to apple to figure out what was up with my camera. They were out of camera repair kits so I got a new one. My 3rd iPhone 4!

Tuning the Evo

So I finally got my AEM UEGO reading in EvoScan. This means I can start logging the car and get my tune going. Mellon Tuning in Memphis is doing the job via email and I couldn't of found anyone better for the job. They have been great thus far. Answers emails quick and multiple times per day. After a email discussion with him and one of his employees I have all the plans for the car laid out. On to the tuning.

He sent me a new EcuFlash which I loaded.

First pull from 2500-3500 rpms. Had crazy knock.
2500-3800 rpms still getting knock
3000-4500 rpms Realize the knock is false. It would happen on one pull and not at all on another.
3000-6500 rpms Looks good. Still showing false knock but ready to move on.
3000-8000 rpms to the limiter. Finally! Got to open her up all the way. Feels great.

Next it's time to start turning up the boost. More to come!

NFL Division champ games

Went to cool beans for the games. Great folks and a great time once again. Too bad the pissbowl was the outcome.

Evo work, again.

Put new crush washers on the oil cooler feed and return lines for the oil filter housing to eliminate the oil leak. Didn't work so back to the drawing board. Change the oil for the first time since the build as well.

Icebears!

Went to the icebears game with Travis, Lauern, Chris, Steph. Had awesome seats as you can see. Great time and look forward to going again. Michael, Tyler, Jason and Jobe were there too, on the ice as well. Jimmy (Latitude 35 partner/owner) showed up too. We got the tickets from him.

Hookah bar

Went to the Mirage tonight with some folks. Strange but fun place. Had a great time and look forward to going back.

Wheels for the evo, part 2

If you'll recall I posted up about wanting a certain pair of wheels for the Evo. That was on Feb. 23rd 2010 Well with patience, time and situational advantage taking (I need tires bad!). I have reached the point where it's time to set operation wheel purchase into motion. Today around 12:45pm I place an order for Rota Grids in 18x9.5 +20 offset in matte bronze. The last pair they had in stock. After some research and questioning folks I decided on 255/35 Yokahama S Drive tires to wrap them in. The car will need to be slightly modified to accommodate these wheels. I will have to roll the fenders, possibly cut some fender will rubber and pull the fenders a tad. They are coming for WheelDude in CA. Super nice guys with great customer service.

Not my Evo but these are the exact wheels.

Some folks don't understand and some just don't care but to a car crazed man adding wheels to a car is like the sun coming up on a perfect morning, that point where da Vinci put the finishing touches on the mona lisa. It's indescribable... it's more than just wheels and tires. If you have never walked away for your car and turn to look at it mutliple times to just check it out one last time its hard to comprehended.

The countdown begins. They should hopefully ship out Friday and arrive here next Thursday or Friday.

Random stuffs

On ice tickets for the Ice Bears this weekend courtesy of Jimmy. Travis Lauren Mary and I are going. Looking forward to it!

Since I got my "leak free evo" back it has been slowly leaking oil and since the guy that built it apparently fell off the earth so I will be repairing it myself. These are 4 washers that we think need to be replaced. Hopefully doing that this weekend.

Working on a tune for the Evo and needed a way to log air/fuel ratios. The gauge leads to a serial port so I need a serial to USB converter. Well, apparently there is only a hand few that work and this one isn't one of them. Currently waiting on a new one to arrive. Should be here this week.

Can't really beat the Yellow Tail. Cheap and good, nough said.

New Evo parts!

Few parts I have recently added. Nothing big just a few stylish elements. Got a few for xmas.

S2000 antenna - xmas gift from Michael

Vinyl flat black emblem overlays

UK style carbon fiber rear emblem

ARC titanium shift knob - xmas gift from Mary