DYNO RESULTS OF MY CUSTOM HEADER!

I spent this evening using the power of the interwebs to remotely dyno tune the car that has my custom header. This was the first time I had done this. It was exciting and annoying at the same time. I couldn't see everything in exactly real time, but, it was a huge step up from just getting a datalog file sent via email. I could see where the engine was in the timing and fuel maps in semi-real-time. This was a huge help to get my brain wrapped around what needed to be changed. At the end of the evening, we ended up extracting over 10WHP on an already potent package that had been tuned via feedback and datalog. Given my familiarity with this engine, the final timing curve was only off from my guess by at most 2* at WOT.

Here is what I can say about the engine:
It is a DOHC D-series. It has my custom header on it. (See THIS LINK for more info, and also search around for more pics of the thing and design theory.) I tuned it. The engine has more power to gain, especially if it is revved higher. The engine is extremely easy to tune with no stupid peaks, no issues. The AFRs are extremely consistent and it pulls very cleanly through the RPM.

Rather than focus on the numbers, look at how darned flat the torque curve is and how close to linear the power curve is:

YES it is a crappy copy. No, I can't an won't post more of the chart. 

The scaling of the torque curve is also wrong, due to an issue with the dyno coming out of sync with the RPM. The dyno computer thought the car was revving to 9200RPM when the team was doing pulls from 2500-7500ish RPM.

Also, this was done on a Dyno Dynamics dynamometer. I mention that for the people who know about them. Those that don't and obsess about numbers, you can make fun of the WHP, but I will take this as a huge validation of the general design of my own headers. I will take feedback from this team and improve on what I can do and make things better than before. 

I have been smiling with this success the whole evening, eager to share the results with people who have known about this project, and now I share with you!

Tool Review 1: Permatex SaferScraper

Tool designation: Saferscraper
Manufacturer: Permatex
Product website: Permatex SaferScraper
How I found the product: Browsing the "sticky goop" aisle at a local Pep Boys.
Amazon reviews: Amazon SaferScraper Reviews
Amazon Price: $7.35 (at the time this article is being written)
Price I paid: $3.99+tax
What you get: One blue plastic holder and two double-sided, orange plastic razor blades tie-wrapped to a cardboard backer.

Overview: The Saferscraper is a plastic razor blade and handle/holder. Instead of relying on normal and possibly dangerous razor blades, the Saferscraper aims to provide the same basic functionality while greatly increasing the margin of safety for the operator and the items being scraped. 

Product photos:

After a good bit of use scraping off old gasket and gook from a valve cover:

 Today's test:

 Leftover paper gasket and who knows how many years worth of not having a decent air filter:

Time to get working!

After scraping:

Closeup:

Why did I buy this?

For $4 and change, I figured I would take a chance. I've used a LOT of razor blade to clean up a lot of different gasketing materials and various engine gunk off sealing surfaces. I have injured myself doing so, and also caused cuts and gouges in surfaces. In some cases, when I had to be particularly careful, I have resorted to blunter metal objects or various plastic bits to finish scraping, and while those work, they usually lack leverage or still indent flat surfaces. I figured these plastic razor blades could improve on the makeshift scrapers that I have used, and it would be worth it to make sure sealing surfaces, well, seal.

How does it work?

I would say that the SaferScraper worked surprisingly well for most things. I didn't have to worry about tearing up the surfaces I was scraping or cutting myself. In that regard, this tool works VERY well. It excelled at dealing with gunky, gooey stuff and actually was very good on curved or not exactly flat surfaces. However, it is not a complete replacement for your typical razor scraper when it comes to really, really hard-baked on stuff. When it comes to things like that, I can recommend very fine fiber pads soaked in WD40 (some examples) to finish taking off the hard stuff, as long as you don't remove the base material.

Competitive Products:

There are plenty of competitive products on the market that end up being much better values. Here are a few examples:
Automotive Plastic Razor Holder (w/25 double sides blades)

Scraperite Plastice Razor Blades - 25 Multi Pack

Or if you already have a razor blade holder, here are some bulk blade options:

Plastic Razor Scraper Blades - 100 Pack

Scraperite Plastic Razor Blades - 25

Would I recommend this tool?

No, I would not recommend this price, but only for pricing, not for performance. I will continue to use my SaferScraper, but I cannot recommend anyone purchase it. As you can see above, there are other options that are much better values. I can absolutely recommend the concept of the plastic razor blade as a safer scraping tool, and will certainly report on other uses, strengths or weaknesses I find with this tool and any similar tools I try in the future. I do not regret buying this tool at all, and I can live with the purchase price of $4, but would prefer to have gotten at least 5 blades instead of just the two, though 2 should be enough for nearly any single job.

Leave any questions or comments below and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Thanks for reading!

Personal Project Start: Project Lazarus

I don't even know where to start about what has happened today. Something amazing. Without getting into the long and sordid backstory with me waxing emotional and retarded, my CRX has been hibernating for well over 5 years. Today, it was set free from the confines which formerly held it and held it back from running on its own. It still has a long journey ahead of it, but today was the start of something new and fresh. I know many of you reading have never seen this before, so I will just admit right off the front:

1. My CRX is a mess.

2. I love my CRX.

3. Everyone who knows me and my car knows that it is . . . special to me and overall. heh

Anyway . . . 

Thanks to Steve for helping tow my car. He went out of his way to help me out. I had a great day overall. I was so excited I barely slept. I hardly ever have that happen to me! 

Both of my cars:

 I had taken off the front bumper cover a long time ago to tow it from Maine to Staten Island:

What interior?

Half the door cards. heh

Now intercooler to be fitted:

Can't really tell from this pic, but the front brakes are pretty much done from rust:

Score another point for rear drums! They work just fine:

The last time my CRX was registered and inspected. It's been a while . . .

Faze vac/boost gauge:

I know, I know, but it was cheap and works perfectly fine.

Not too many miles for a CRX:

 I do hope to put many more miles on it!

Rear view:

I'll have to replace this eventually: I don't even know when this happened.

Passenger side rocker is a mess:

I have OEM lower rocker panels to weld in some time. The top panels are super easy.

Twisted up front bumper cover:

Does anyone have any tips for straightening something like that out? I'm pretty clueless when it comes to some aspects of bodywork.

The omnipresent smiley face quickly sprayed onto the hood.

I will ALWAYS have a black hood and a smiley face on my CRX. Always.

Missing some things?

Most guys will not know WTF I was thinking, but I assure you there was a plan, which got thrown out through the window and then beaten and kicked under a bus and left for dead. I just hope you see some of the early creativity years of problem solving have cultivated into a much finer art supported by much better skills I have now:

Yes, that is a copper line for the coolant supply:

I don't like using braided stainless lines. Ever. I will eventually use some annealed stainless tube and bend it up properly, but until then, the copper and braided stuff will likely stay since it works just fine.

This radiator is trashed:

I think the sunroof needs adjustment:

The hatch struts are failing, though it isn't surprising. They hold sometimes:

My first intercooler:

Some of you may recall that I had it installed on the exterior of the car. Laugh all you want, it worked extremely well. I may reuse this thing since I can now weld aluminum and, quite frankly, it is made better even with the dent than the cheap eBay bar and plate thing I can also play with.

This 20' section of 1/0 gauge welding wire was coiled up in spare tire:

 I had completely forgotten about it. I'm going to use that to wire in the amp I have for my Legend, and be able to power a local power transfer station at the same time. LOL!

I know I will get made fun of, have my credibility and sanity questioned, but . . . I sat in my CRX today for the first time in two years. I sat in it, and memories came flooding back. The worn out seats are so comfortable. The seat placement was as perfect as I remember it. The horn button I fabbed together fit perfectly under my left thumb. The view front and rear is nearly unimpeded. It feels like freedom to sit in a CRX, especially when compared to the claustrophobic messes that are designed today.

Little by little and piece by piece, I will be working to restore and improve my CRX. I'll remember a lot. You will learn much if you choose to read my journey with this car. This car was the starting point of many things that made me the man I am today. I cannot and will not forget it. Maybe by the time it gets back on the road again you will see a glimpse of what I see and feel.