[V8] Re: steel brake lines....

[Unka Bart]

Hi Roger et al,

> Probably not.  I'm not really keen about shifting for myself, 
> especially
> since the power band of this engine with automatic transmission is so
> smooth.

See below, about added "punch."

>  I might consider doing a bit of engine stuff, though.  I have
> wondered what might be available in the way of camshafts, and I also 
> have
> wondered what simple polishing of the intake runners might do, coupled
> with a "chip" in the ecu.

Talk to Keith, Mark Willoughby, pictured shaking my hand on the 
AudiConnection fun page, has a set of Sport Cams in his 4.2 5-speed, 
and it's ferocious!  (Delicious!)  He may have other mods, but frankly, 
you have to experience a 5-speed to believe the difference the tranny 
alone can make.  And as to "added punch," in my opinion, ACCELERATION, 
especially from a dead start, is where the most useful added punch 
comes in handy.  As you know, I've owned both options in the 3.6 world, 
and there's simply no comparison.  Dropping into 3rd to blow the doors 
off some left-lane hogging SUC (er, SUV) will make you throw rocks at a 
slush box.

Hell, since my $10K ticket back in '98, I keep my speed to the limit +4 
and have plenty of use for my 5-speed.  My wife makes me haul a gallon 
jug of vinegar along with me whenever I take the Gentleman's express 
out for a spin.  Even that doesn't erase that SEG, but it makes her 
feel like she at least tried...

>   At the end of the day, I would probably
> maintain the car as stock favoring reliability over any added "punch"
> which is not really usable in this non-Autobahn land of ours.

What I just said, amigo.  I doan need no steenkin' autobahn...

Yer kindly ol' (der, today's the 45th anniversary of my 21st Birthday) 
Unka Bart