Search found 1513 matches

by MadBill
Fri Jun 08, 2018 6:15 pm
Forum: Wheels & Tires
Topic: 205 65 R16's on 2007 vibe?
Replies: 11
Views: 7076

Re: 205 65 R16's on 2007 vibe?

Hi guys. Have I missed anything? It's been ~ 10 years... :lol: Still got the Vibe and the big boots but didn't get them on last summer as a repaint went terribly wrong. Turns out it''s hard to get paint to stick to bare used magnesium. Plan 'A' is hunting down some aircraft primer. Plan 'B' is to gl...
by MadBill
Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:44 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: Yellow Vibe Sighting
Replies: 21
Views: 4954

EDIT

Still have those too; about time for new rubber though, and refinishing..Oops! I though you meant my wheels as per 'Big Boots' thread; they are also 10" Corvette Dymags.
by MadBill
Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:31 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: Yellow Vibe Sighting
Replies: 21
Views: 4954

(Speaking of Resurrection, not dead, just gone from the site for a few years.) I still have my Arctic '03, bought in that colour specifically to repaint yellow, but deterred by the cost and by the appearance of the Focus wagon in that colour.The paint is looking a little shabby now, (soft paint bein...
by MadBill
Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:39 pm
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Re: (cq358)

Wow, I wasn't even sixty when I got my '03; I'll be 68 next month...
by MadBill
Sat May 01, 2010 1:47 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Hey, I've been driving Buicks since I was 33! (and an '03 vibe since I was 59...) (o:b
by MadBill
Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:44 pm
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Hey, it's great to be remembered!The 275/40 x 17" Flintstones are wearing like granite (!), but starting to show a few cracks at ~ 60,000 km. Just put them back on yesterday. Lost one of the 'floater' wheel centers though, have to get another built...
by MadBill
Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:45 pm
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

"You can sell a young man's car to an old man, but you cannot sell an old man's car to a young man." -Bunkie Knudsen of Pontiac, circa 1956.(66 and counting, with dual stainless megs on my '03...)
by MadBill
Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:24 pm
Forum: Humor
Topic: Prison vs Work
Replies: 12
Views: 3140

Re: (cptnsolo77)

Doing great, Arcs!Glad to see there's still a few familar names active on the site!Haven't been playing with my Vibe much of late, here's the toy I've been working on. (that's me on the right, if it's been too long to recall... -MB

Attached files
by MadBill
Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:15 am
Forum: Humor
Topic: Prison vs Work
Replies: 12
Views: 3140

Wow, haven't checked in on the site for years, and when I finlly do, there's a post from me just above!"The endless weekend", aka retirement, is still going great, (as is "Big Boots", my '03 with the 275/40 x 17" tires) working on other poeple's race cars and generally enjoy...
by MadBill
Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:48 pm
Forum: Wheels & Tires
Topic: Goodyear Assurance TripleTred - opinion?
Replies: 10
Views: 4404

Re: (13Vibe03)

Holy old post, Batman!However: We have TTs on my wife's Park Avenue, and I think they are about as good in the snow as the Dunlops Wintersports on my vibe!
by MadBill
Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:59 pm
Forum: Handling, Suspension, & Brakes
Topic: Project (Way Too) Big Boots Resurfaces!
Replies: 24
Views: 6742

Re: (vibolista)

Holy lost post, Batman!It's been more than a while, and I haven't been too active on the Forum of late, but Big Boots is still humming along [or perhaps I should say rumbling. The Firehawks continue to wear like iron (over 60,000 summer klicks and showing little sign of it)] but they are getting kin...
by MadBill
Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:40 am
Forum: Handling, Suspension, & Brakes
Topic: Brake fluid flush
Replies: 27
Views: 5961

Re: (djb383)

Years back, brake systems were not well sealed against moisture (and the drum brakes were great for boiling the fluid) and changing fluid regularly was an important safety consideration. Now we have rubber diaphragms isolating the fluid from humidity in the air , so corrosion and lowered boiling poi...
by MadBill
Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:11 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Re: (K-NINE)

Hey, that's right: "Above average." At last! Never happened all through school or my career...
by MadBill
Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:28 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Re: (nygiantzz1)

Quote, originally posted by nygiantzz1 »OK, now I feel old, I turned 42 in July. YOU feel old? I'll give you old: My son turns 42 in January!
by MadBill
Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:43 am
Forum: Maintenance Bay
Topic: Passenger compartment air filter maintenance
Replies: 59
Views: 30875

Re: Passenger compartment air filter maintenance (joatmon)

Been ages since I've been on the site. Good thing I'm still on copy for old threads; I'm way overdue for a new filter, in my '03, especially since I've only vacuumed it, not replaced it!
by MadBill
Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:52 pm
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: How many miles on your Vibes?
Replies: 1043
Views: 1411157

No new tweaks; in fact I haven't even got the control cable plumbed in to my dual exhaust cutout yet. On the other hand, the 275/40 X 17" Firehawks are wearing like iron: 78,000 km and going strong!
by MadBill
Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:33 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: How many miles on your Vibes?
Replies: 1043
Views: 1411157

Re: (ArcsVibe)

Hey Arcs: Good to know there are still some familiar names on board! I haven't been on the forum for quite a while..
by MadBill
Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:13 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: What would You Have GM Change on Future Vibes?
Replies: 209
Views: 39738

Re: What would You Have GM Change on Future Vibes? (vibebuilder)

Quote, originally posted by vibebuilder »..I believe there are just as many idiots in Japan as there are in the US... As many idiots, but 99% fewer lawyers. Everyone's gotta eat. Edit; Hey, I just realized, I started this thread, back in Dec. '02! How time flies!
by MadBill
Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:48 am
Forum: Maintenance Bay
Topic: Valve Adjustments?
Replies: 74
Views: 37607

Re: Valve Adjustments? (joatmon)

Ha! I used to cut 'n paste my replies into an e-mail, spellcheck them, then move them back, but my lastest bows-er update (IE 7.0, I think) has an on-screen spiel cheque sew know eye all weighs get it wright..
by MadBill
Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:47 am
Forum: Maintenance Bay
Topic: Valve Adjustments?
Replies: 74
Views: 37607

Re: Valve Adjustments? (djb383)

An excellent couple of posts on the subject!Allow me to provide an anecdote which speaks to djb's explanation of lash change with time:My previous vehicle was an '87 Pontiac Firefly (Metro/ Suzuki Swift clone) with a single cam 8 valve rocker arm set up. It was recommended that valve be adjusted at ...
by MadBill
Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:20 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: How many miles on your Vibes?
Replies: 1043
Views: 1411157

Re: (RedFire2K)

Haven't been on the site much for a while, good to still see some familiar names!A mere 76,000 km.; four years old last month. (Retirement does cut down the commuting mileage..)
by MadBill
Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:54 am
Forum: Wheels & Tires
Topic: Check your Tire Pressures!
Replies: 43
Views: 23102

Re: (joatmon)

With temperatures dropping, it's usually good to go a couple of pounds high, in anticipation...
by MadBill
Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:15 am
Forum: Tech Info & Do-It-Yourself Info
Topic: Head light bulb change, how?
Replies: 36
Views: 37598

Re: Head light bulb change, how? (lmhansen)

I haven't checked, but there should be lots of comments on Silverstars if you do a search, most grumbling about their short life. Strangely, my original pair both winked out in ~9 months, but the under-warranty replacements are still soldiering on after a further 2 -1/2 years.As far as light output,...
by MadBill
Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:51 pm
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Energy Suspension Polyurethane Motor Mounts
Replies: 38
Views: 12075

Re: (Sunny)

"A couple of months", Sunny? Aren't you the eternal optomist, living as you do, 100 km. North of anywhwere... (Although it was Southern Ontario and Northern NY that got up to two feet of snow yesterday... )
by MadBill
Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:38 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Energy Suspension Polyurethane Motor Mounts
Replies: 38
Views: 12075

Happy (post) Birthday, Sunny! (o:b
by MadBill
Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:15 pm
Forum: Wheels & Tires
Topic: Aftermarket Wheel Gallery
Replies: 99
Views: 86933

Re: (SuperSpeedWagon)

It's not just the ride with the 19s, they are also really easy to ding on potholes with such short sidewalls. After checking out the look of a ton of wheels on my Vibe here: http://www.tirerack.com/ I concluded that 18s looked just right. (and then I used a set of 17s I had lying around...)
by MadBill
Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:20 pm
Forum: Handling, Suspension, & Brakes
Topic: Sway bars... Which one?
Replies: 17
Views: 2664

Re: Sway bars... Which one? (ZubenElGenubi)

A bigger bar provides more resistance to body roll no matter which end it is on, but it transfers more of the cornering load to the outside tire at its end, thus causing that tire to reach its friction limit sooner and start sliding.If you merely added a bigger front bar after the larger rear one wa...
by MadBill
Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:58 am
Forum: Handling, Suspension, & Brakes
Topic: Sway bars... Which one?
Replies: 17
Views: 2664

Re: Sway bars... Which one? (Sunny)

Quote, originally posted by Sunny » That's what I like to see, a knowledgable response. You remind me of MadBill, a old member who rarely shows up on GenVibe anymore. He's busy with a vintage corvette, beating the likes of Peter Klute of Dream Car Garage in the race at the Molson Indy in Toronto.Bu...
by MadBill
Sat May 20, 2006 9:08 pm
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Typical life of a hydraulic clutch? GT
Replies: 294
Views: 104738

No pun intended, Tro... (o:b (o:b
by MadBill
Sat May 20, 2006 11:26 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Typical life of a hydraulic clutch? GT
Replies: 294
Views: 104738

Hi Trocar! See what happens: You bow out for a year or so, and suddenly you're, over 13,000 posts behing Silver! (o:bHaven't been up to much with Big Boots, just rolling along. I've got over 40,000 klicks on those ancient cast-iron Firehawks and when I finally went to rotate them this spring for the...
by MadBill
Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:07 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: average age of vibe owners....
Replies: 338
Views: 78344

Re: (Houston)

Quote, originally posted by Houston »Come on, folks. You absolutely never hear an older person saying, for example, "I'm 63 and almost 64." Your talking like this indicates that you're not quite used to being adult. Grow up and get over it.Yeah, Grow up! (BTW, I just celebrated my 23¼Ã...
by MadBill
Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:41 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Typical life of a hydraulic clutch? GT
Replies: 294
Views: 104738

Re: (trocar)

Hi trocar!I though maybe you'd fallen off the planet. (of course, I haven't posted much recently either...)
by MadBill
Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:11 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Interesting sign...
Replies: 37
Views: 3548

Re: Interesting sign... (joatmon)

"No waiting..."
by MadBill
Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:26 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: gas mileage
Replies: 72
Views: 16665

Re: gas mileage (joatmon)

Winter driving has a BIG effect, 20% or more depending on how cold the climate. Mostly it's the added friction during the long warm up for the engine and drivetrain. Some of it is the colder air being fed to the engine (complicated story, details upon request) and some is the fact that we often let ...
by MadBill
Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:14 am
Forum: Wheels & Tires
Topic: Continental Tire problem
Replies: 41
Views: 11337

Re: (silverawd26)

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Yes you can! -Preferably without actually even bolting them onto your vehicle, assuming they won't just hand you the Contis..
by MadBill
Sat Jan 14, 2006 7:59 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Exhaust Cut-Out?
Replies: 4
Views: 986

Re: (VibeGriff)

Did I see the MadBill logo lighting up the skies of Gotham City? As Sunny says, I bypassed just the main muffler with my manual valve. It sounds not bad, a little louder than a full aftermarket system, but a bit harsh and raspy. I may swap the stock resonator for a glasspack of some sort. Read all a...
by MadBill
Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:40 am
Forum: Maintenance Bay
Topic: First Service w/unichip questions
Replies: 16
Views: 2546

Re: First Service w/unichip questions (DavidPIL)

Since it's not a warranty repair, I don't see that they'd care if you'd installed a blown nitro burning Hemi. (as long as they had a service manual for it)
by MadBill
Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:21 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Myth buster
Replies: 31
Views: 4213

It's caused by a phenomenon called Helmholtz resonance and the frequency can be predicted by... you guessed it: Another Equation! (with which Zube, Poopy and I will forbear from boring you all...)Now I R Pi-faced...
by MadBill
Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:24 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Myth buster
Replies: 31
Views: 4213

Re: Myth buster (joatmon)

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I saw a subsequent episode of myth busters, one where they responded to viewer compliants and retested a bunch of previously tested myths, the AC vs windows being one of them, and they determined that at higher speeds the AC was better, at lower speeds the windo...
by MadBill
Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:31 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Like a different car now.
Replies: 11
Views: 2191

Wow!That's some serious hobby, carl!Do you have, like, a little brother you can send up in it to take pix?
by MadBill
Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:42 am
Forum: Latest News
Topic: False horsepower ratings
Replies: 15
Views: 3932

Re: False horsepower ratings (angelkisses)

]!Quote, originally posted by angelkisses »I dont know how this could change, it is simple, horsepower is Torque times RPM over 5151. Do some companies use different methods or what.Err... Yes, actually! A surprising number of them, 100% to be exact, use (torque times RPM) divided by 5252[/B
by MadBill
Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:07 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Create backpressure and gain low end torque.
Replies: 24
Views: 5418

OK, so let's pound a potato into your tailpipe and then I'll race you... on foot! (o:b
by MadBill
Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:29 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Create backpressure and gain low end torque.
Replies: 24
Views: 5418

Re: Create backpressure and gain low end torque. (joatmon)

The story of backpressure helping power at any RPM is totally untrue. Backpressure is no better for your car than dragging the brakes. What is true is that oversize pipes, especially for the header, mean very low exhaust gas velocity at low speed, and this can lead to reversion, where the exhaust fl...
by MadBill
Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:33 am
Forum: Humor
Topic: Power of money
Replies: 9
Views: 1464

Re: Power of money (zionzr2)

Either way, he's got it covered.
by MadBill
Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:43 pm
Forum: Humor
Topic: Power of money
Replies: 9
Views: 1464

Re: Power of money (gargoyle)

Are you sure money's the attraction Charlie? Isn't there supposed to be a relationship between the size of a man's nose and....
by MadBill
Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:01 am
Forum: Pontiac, GM SPO, & TRD Accessories
Topic: Spoiler aerodynamics
Replies: 25
Views: 7081

Re: (drunkenvibe)

It's actually pretty easy to see if there's a substantial effect on drag. All you need is a stopwatch and an empty straight and level road. o After driving 10 miles or so to warm up tires, lubricants, etc., accelerate to the highest speed you find safe/legal, put it in neutral and time the interval ...
by MadBill
Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:45 am
Forum: Forced Induction
Topic: Ram Air/CAI
Replies: 32
Views: 10488

Re: Ram Air (djb383)

"Ram Air" is a great sounding concept, but the reality is the effect is negligible below about 100 MPH. (theoretically 1.2%, or ~2 HP for a 2ZZ, realistically a bit less) It goes up as the square of the speed, so at 140 it is a still modest 2.3% or ~4 HP. Of course any power gain is better...
by MadBill
Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:02 am
Forum: Engine & Transmission
Topic: Development of the 1ZZ-FE Engine
Replies: 16
Views: 2530

Re: (GMJAP)

Interesting that the version of the 1ZZ in this paper uses an "exhaust header" style intake manifold, as did the Oldsmobile Quad four in its early days...
by MadBill
Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:40 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: Three Automotive things I never understood
Replies: 21
Views: 2846

Re: (vibe-04)

Quote, originally posted by vibe-04 »Wow, we don't have a "gas Guzzler" tax here in Canada unless it is burried in the MSRP.... Err... In Ontario we do!(Note a car getting 6.1 L/100 KM, 46.8 MPIG or 38.8 MPUSG qualifies as a "Guzzler"! Tax grab, anyone?):Quote from: http://www.g...
by MadBill
Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:49 am
Forum: The Vibe Lounge
Topic: Three Automotive things I never understood
Replies: 21
Views: 2846

Re: Three Automotive things I never understood (4X4CHICHI)

I believe the manual transmission for the GTO costs $1,000 more than the auto! (coincidentally, the same as the gas guzzler tax for the auto...)