Bugs Palace!

Couple little updates. Saturday Shannon, Alex, Kevin and I went to ImportFest in Toronto. Some really cool cars. Some really ugly ones too. The part that sucked about the whole thing was my camera wasn’t working. So, 5 hours at a huge car show, and not one – single – picture.  Yeah, I was pissed too.

Also, Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be the new home for Adam’s pool table. Turns out his brother doesn’t have room for it in his new  home, and Adams parents don’t have room anymore either. So until Adam or Pete find some room, the pool table will be in my basement getting used nearly every day.

Beetle update: 11 months of random evening and weekend wiring, the re-wiring of the beetle is complete. Today, Kevin came over and he and I spent several hours with some final cleanup of wiring, removal of the engine, and disconnecting/labeling of the wires which were to stay in the car while it goes to the body shop. Things are all working, and look good. Form AND function are in full swing here. Next up, off to Alex and Pauls place for paint and body work. Hopefully in the next a couple  months it will be back for final assembly. Any interest in the last day of wiring, HERE is some pics. Ok. Alot of pics.

Can’t let an entire month go by without posting nothing. This month has been fairly quiet.  Had several Thanksgiving dinners. Shannon put on a great meal at our place for her mothers side of the family. And a big thanks to Aunt Val/Uncle Brett and Shannons Dad and Cathy for the other two turkey dinners.

Last weekend Alex gave me a hand installing my new exhaust system onto the Cooper. Wow, what a difference. I ended up getting a Borla Sport exhaust system. Nice and throaty with a deep rumble, without being too loud or obnoxious. Not to mention the extra 10 or so HP. Nice kick in the pants. Now I can’t wait to get my reduction pulley on the supercharger. 15-20 hp has been fun with the intake and exhaust. the additional 25 from the pulley and ECU should be AWESOME.

Got home from work tonight and found Kevin in my garage finishing off a fuse holder for the beetle. It turned out excellent. From the inside of the car, it looks like its meant to be there. Quite happy with how it turned out. Nice and easy to add functions on as well.

I’ve been put on a couple more projects at work (in between getting bitched at for things taking longer then principals want).  People need to learn that there is only so many hours in a day. And I’m only willing to work so much extra time without pay.  Oh well. They can complain all they want. I know i’m doing as much as I can.  On the upside, I’ve been put on a project to create a new blog server (much like I’m running here). The neat thing is it allows for easier remote administration, and allows people to add comments. Pretty neat. So neat in fact, I may try and rebuild this page using the software. So if things go down here, or change drastically,  you will know why 🙂

Not a heck of a lot new going on now. Got the stereo installed into the Cooper. Looks and sounds great. Only thing I plan on changing is the sub box. The one I have sounds fine, but its too tight of a fit to pull in and out when I need space. Was funny seeing the entire MINI gutted out on the front lawn. Pictures of the install are HERE.

Had the windows tinted. Pictures coming soon. I just need some daylight and time to wash the car first. Watch here for updates.  Also picked up some of my new toys. Alta cold air intake, and Alta 15% supercharger reduction pulley have been received. Just waiting on the Borla cat back exhaust and Unichip ECU. Said and done, the MINI should be sitting around 200-210hp at the crank. Should make the little thing move pretty good. Add to that springs and sways next spring/summer and it should be a whole new car.

Work is crazy. I have been putting in a pile of extra hours trying to get things working in a timely fashion with minimal down time for the schools. Monday, I found out that I probably won’t be getting the overtime pay we were told we would be eligible for. Nor can I even claim for lieu. So I’m a bit pissed off at the situation. I’m loosing a lot of respect for the people who make the rules. It’s a shame, but they are basically forcing us to look at other jobs. Not that I want to leave my current job, but if things don’t turn around in the way they treat their people, I can assure you my extra efforts which I have put in since I started will come to a grinding halt. I don’t think they want to see what actually gets done in a 35 hour work week. We are always behind, and I normally work 40 or so hours.  Won’t they be in for a treat.