[V8] G60 brake conversion

[Roger M. Woodbury]

I haven't followed this thread too closely, but since I have owned a '90 and
a '93 V8, and lust for another; and now own a '91 20Valve Avant with UFO's,
I have some comments to make.

The G60's in the '93 V8 were a tad weak at best.  I would say that they were
barely adequate for "normal" driving, and for here in rural Maine, they were
sufficient to the point that I would not consider the expense of replacing
them.  However, had I been driving in heavy traffic like so many listers, I
think that the expense of big brakes would be well worth it, if keeping the
car was the objective.  

Now, with regard to UFO's, the 200 20Valve Avant, (now officially designated
the "beater project"), has relatively new UFO's.  The stopping power of the
car on dry pavement is prodigious at least, and in the wet, the only
limitation is the tire contact patch and tire itself.  I doubt that I have
ever driven a car with better "standard" brakes, and would say that the
UFO's are as good as the brakes in my Porsche 928S4.  

Yes, I get some pulsing, although I did the brake trueing procedure (two
dramatic panic stops in from 80+ miles per hour), and most of the pulsing
goes away.  I think it safe to say that the biggest difficulty with UFOs are
high density traffic, where the brakes get used a lot without getting really
hot.  I think brake material probably accumulates on the discs, which is
what most of the pulsing is, and the high speed panic stop cures the
problem...provided you can find a place to do the high speed stuff without
getting arrested.

I have been thinking about the "next" V8, more and more.  There are a couple
of concerns that I have as the roads in this neighborhood...rural
Maine...aren't smooth divided highway, but are rural, and rough.  Going to
big wheels and thinner tires will complicate the ride characteristics of the
car considerably, once beyond 16" wheels, I would think.  Fifty series tires
on the V8 for me?  I don't think so.

I am not sure what it would take, but when this car comes along, I might
consider changing the existing brakes to UFO's, depending on how difficult
and expensive it would be, vis a vis using something like a BIRA set up.

Roger

P.S.  But then, I am also going through having another BMW motorcycle.  You
see, this time of year, I see all these fine folks who are touring up the
Maine coast to Acadia and beyond on their gizzie new BMW touring bikes.  I
haven't owned a motorcycle since my '83 BMW was totaled in 1991, but the
itch comes across me about the middle of July each year, when the tourers
arrive.  The price of really nice looking 2000-2003 BMW touring bikes
approsimates the price of the next V8....

Maybe I'll just lie down for a while.  It is going to snow here before too
long anyway....