Lettuce Build Thread, Fast Cars and Fast Women: Stage 2 and Beyond

**lettuce** · 04-12-2016 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Lambda13

I'd be hard pressed to find anyone with more unwanted law enforcement interactions than myself. Just saying lol

Did you lose your license for 5 years because you are officially regarded by the state of Massachusetts as a 'Habitual Traffic Offender'?

**Lambda13** · 04-12-2016 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Did you lose your license for 5 years because you are officially regarded by the state of Massachusetts as a 'Habitual Traffic Offender'?

I think you are missing a large section of "unwanted interactions with law enforcement." We'll start with have you ever been in the back seat of a police car. And end with more than once?

**blbroo** · 04-12-2016 08:02 AM

I'm out of this tournament in round one.

**ryanhmusic** · 04-12-2016 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

I'm out of this tournament in round one.

lololololol unless you count role-playing, I'm out too.

**lettuce** · 04-12-2016 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Lambda13

I think you are missing a large section of "unwanted interactions with law enforcement." We'll start with have you ever been in the back seat of a police car. And end with more than once?

Since this is a public forum and I don't feel the need to turn this into a pissing match with you, I'll just reiterate what I said in that I'm not the same person I was 10 years ago and don't need any excuses to go back down that path or even anywhere near it.

FYI a criminal record is nothing to brag about or be proud of.

**Lambda13** · 04-12-2016 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Since this is a public forum and I don't feel the need to turn this into a pissing match with you, I'll just reiterate what I said in that I'm not the same person I was 10 years ago and don't need any excuses to go back down that path or even anywhere near it.

FYI a criminal record is nothing to brag about or be proud of.

No record here! No pissing match either. Not too mention this public forum is hardly a court of law. I could be lying and have a squeaky clean driving record. Either way wasn't trying to say I'm better than you because I have dealt with police more than you, if that could really be a thing, or something to be proud of... Anyhow I only said I don't run a front plate and you volunteered the rest.

For the most part I don't think anyone is the same person they were 10 years ago, thank fucking god (internalizing that lol).

Ps car is starting to look pretty damn good. Get that bitch lowered!

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**Fastbke170** · 04-12-2016 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

I gotta say, I don't know how I feel about the new grille. I'm sure it'd look great without the front plate but it's a requirement here in good ol' MA. Not a fan of the tow hook option so I think I'm gonna give it a week and if it hasn't grown on me I'm gonna switch back.

Also I think it might look better without the emblem. Thoughts?

Ever think of using this quattro emblem in red at the base of the grill ? Quattro Mounting Emblem Logo Badge Mark Car Front Bumper Grills Grille Lower Mesh Trim For Audi A4L A5 A6 A7 RS5 RS6 RS7 RS Q3
http://s.aliexpress.com/qqiaIbma
(from AliExpress Android)

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**bakedziti** · 04-12-2016 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

I gotta say, I don't know how I feel about the new grille. I'm sure it'd look great without the front plate but it's a requirement here in good ol' MA. Not a fan of the tow hook option so I think I'm gonna give it a week and if it hasn't grown on me I'm gonna switch back.

Also I think it might look better without the emblem. Thoughts?

Just move the plate down. I didn't like it when it was mounted that high on mine, so now i have a just the first bottom row of comb between my ugly yellow plate and the bumper. Just my $0.02

**lettuce** · 04-12-2016 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Lambda13

No record here! No pissing match either. Not too mention this public forum is hardly a court of law. I could be lying and have a squeaky clean driving record. Either way wasn't trying to say I'm better than you because I have dealt with police more than you, if that could really be a thing, or something to be proud of... Anyhow I only said I don't run a front plate and you volunteered the rest.

For the most part I don't think anyone is the same person they were 10 years ago, thank fucking god (internalizing that lol).

Ps car is starting to look pretty damn good. Get that bitch lowered!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

No worries man. The car is half-lowered right now. Really dreading doing the fronts and I don't think I'll be able to get both sides done in an evening after work so I'm probably going to save them for Friday. I have plenty of things I need to get done besides that so I'm chipping away at some of the smaller stuff on the list until then.

Originally Posted by Fastbke170

Ever think of using this quattro emblem in red at the base of the grill ? Quattro Mounting Emblem Logo Badge Mark Car Front Bumper Grills Grille Lower Mesh Trim For Audi A4L A5 A6 A7 RS5 RS6 RS7 RS Q3
http://s.aliexpress.com/qqiaIbma
(from AliExpress Android)

Sent from my SM-G925P using Tapatalk

Well I put my name in the hat for one of the RS6-style grilles in that feeler thread, which has the sectioned-off lower portion with the big quattro logo in there. So if that goes through then I'll probably swap it out, but for now this'll do just fine I think.

Originally Posted by bakedziti

Just move the plate down. I didn't like it when it was mounted that high on mine, so now i have a just the first bottom row of comb between my ugly yellow plate and the bumper. Just my $0.02

I solved all my problems this morning before work. I had thought of doing what you did but didn't want to block off that much of my turbo radiator. Even having the plate hanging an inch below the crash bar was bothering me. So I did this before I left this morning:

Honestly this is perfect for me. Well, as perfect as it's going to get while having to run a front plate. The tow hook option I always thought messed with the front bumper's lines too much and made it even more in-your-face than usual do to its unconventional and awkward placement. This is at somewhat least tucked away.

Plus with my new meth lines and nozzle showing from behind the driver's side fog grille I felt that the passenger side fog area was pretty lacking. At least now It sort of evens it out.

**AUDIMAN33** · 04-12-2016 04:22 PM

That plate does look better mounted like that esp with the plate frame still on the plate.

**Fastbke170** · 04-12-2016 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by AUDIMAN33

That plate does look better mounted like that esp with the plate frame still on the plate.

Some dude on A5 section taped huge magnets behind his bumper cover and used to have removable option anytime he needed.

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**blbroo** · 04-12-2016 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by lettuce

No worries man. The car is half-lowered right now. Really dreading doing the fronts and I don't think I'll be able to get both sides done in an evening after work so I'm probably going to save them for Friday. I have plenty of things I need to get done besides that so I'm chipping away at some of the smaller stuff on the list until then.

Well I put my name in the hat for one of the RS6-style grilles in that feeler thread, which has the sectioned-off lower portion with the big quattro logo in there. So if that goes through then I'll probably swap it out, but for now this'll do just fine I think.

I solved all my problems this morning before work. I had thought of doing what you did but didn't want to block off that much of my turbo radiator. Even having the plate hanging an inch below the crash bar was bothering me. So I did this before I left this morning:

Honestly this is perfect for me. Well, as perfect as it's going to get while having to run a front plate. The tow hook option I always thought messed with the front bumper's lines too much and made it even more in-your-face than usual do to its unconventional and awkward placement. This is at somewhat least tucked away.

Plus with my new meth lines and nozzle showing from behind the driver's side fog grille I felt that the passenger side fog area was pretty lacking. At least now It sort of evens it out.

Dang! The TR8 looks perfectly massive back there!

**lettuce** · 04-12-2016 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by blbroo

Dang! The TR8 looks perfectly massive back there!

It sure does. The new grille really puts it right out in the open, and it contrasts so nicely with the satin black crash bar and gloss black grille. It's been bothering me more and more lately though that it's just ever so slightly mounted off-center. I'll probably never fix it but it's a tad annoying.

And after adjusting the plate mounting location and seeing it outside the garage I'm really falling in love with the new look. No way I'm ever going back.

**Project Quattro** · 04-13-2016 04:16 AM

You don't have to blur your license plate in pictures, bro:

http://jalopnik.com/why-do-we-always...net-1691298199

Sent from the Pedal Responce boardroom

**lettuce** · 04-13-2016 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by Project Quattro

You don't have to blur your license plate in pictures, bro:

http://jalopnik.com/why-do-we-always...net-1691298199

Sent from the Pedal Responce boardroom

I don't have to do a lot of the things that I do.

**Project Quattro** · 04-13-2016 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

I don't have to do a lot of the things that I do.

**bakedziti** · 04-13-2016 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Seeing your TR8 makes me realize why you had the plate mounted higher. Not generally a big fan of off center mounting, but this looks nice!

**shaunm82** · 04-13-2016 07:40 AM

I like it! Looks great with the plate on the fog light, great idea sir!

I'm not sure if my FMIC looks so pronounced through my grill like that~

**lettuce** · 04-13-2016 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by bakedziti

Seeing your TR8 makes me realize why you had the plate mounted higher. Not generally a big fan of off center mounting, but this looks nice!

Originally Posted by shaunm82

I like it! Looks great with the plate on the fog light, great idea sir!

I'm not sure if my FMIC looks so pronounced through my grill like that~

Thanks guys. I think it looks as pronounced as it does because I have the front of the TR8 mounted flush with the front of the crash bar. It's practically touching the bumper/grille.

**blbroo** · 04-13-2016 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Thanks guys. I think it looks as pronounced as it does because I have the front of the TR8 mounted flush with the front of the crash bar. It's practically touching the bumper/grille.

I want to move my mounting location now.

**shaunm82** · 04-13-2016 08:31 AM

Haha, right!

I think it looks great in that location.

**Fastbke170** · 04-13-2016 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

It sure does. The new grille really puts it right out in the open, and it contrasts so nicely with the satin black crash bar and gloss black grille. It's been bothering me more and more lately though that it's just ever so slightly mounted off-center. I'll probably never fix it but it's a tad annoying.

And after adjusting the plate mounting location and seeing it outside the garage I'm really falling in love with the new look. No way I'm ever going back.

Ok spill the beans..you used zip ties right? Valve spring compressor style

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**lettuce** · 04-13-2016 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Fastbke170

Ok spill the beans..you used zip ties right? Valve spring compressor style

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Haha, the IC is bolted, but yes the plate mount that the plate itself is bolted to is essentially held on by zip ties.

Hopefully this holds a little better than my valve spring contraption.

**Allowencer** · 04-13-2016 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Fastbke170

Valve spring compressor style

LOL - ouch that's a good blow though

/highfive

**Fastbke170** · 04-13-2016 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Haha, the IC is bolted, but yes the plate mount that the plate itself is bolted to is essentially held on by zip ties.

Hopefully this holds a little better than my valve spring contraption.

Innovation is painful sometimes, point is you did it yourself and it eventually worked.

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**lettuce** · 04-13-2016 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Allowencer

LOL - ouch that's a good blow though

/highfive

At least my car runs.

**Allowencer** · 04-13-2016 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by lettuce

At least my car runs.

Better swap out that timing tensioner before it doesn't

lol

**A4 Centaur** · 04-14-2016 06:01 AM

^Keep it clean guys! Haha!

Where have the fast women gone?

**Lambda13** · 04-14-2016 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by A4 Centaur

^Keep it clean guys! Haha!

Where have the fast women gone?

Implies there were any to begin with.

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 10:27 AM

Three down, one to go.

The knuckle bolt for the front upper control arms was not coming out, so I unbolted them from the rear of the upper strut tower frame instead. Thanks to George for the tip that these need to be retorqued down at ride height to avoid destroying the bushings prematurely. Just finished up the passenger side and about to start on the other.

All the DIYs have you unbolting the control arms from the knuckle without touching the rear mount. So from what George tells me, if you're not retorquing these after dropping your car, isn't that bad? Since your car is now an inch or two lower? Seems like these should be loosed and then retightened any time you're altering the ride height. So I'm thinking that not only is doing it this way much easier, but also better in the long run.

**blbroo** · 04-16-2016 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by lettuce

Three down, one to go.

The knuckle bolt for the front upper control arms was not coming out, so I unbolted them from the rear of the upper strut tower frame instead. Thanks to George for the tip that these need to be retorqued down at ride height to avoid destroying the bushings prematurely. Just finished up the passenger side and about to start on the other.

All the DIYs have you unbolting the control arms from the knuckle without touching the rear mount. So from what George tells me, if you're not retorquing these after dropping your car, isn't that bad? Since your car is now an inch or two lower? Seems like these should be loosed and then retightened any time you're altering the ride height. So I'm thinking that not only is doing it this way much easier, but also better in the long run.

What is next? Exhaust?

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

What is next? Exhaust?

I don't think I'll ever do exhaust on this car, I love the way it sounds now. I still have to install my Brembos but then after that I don't know. Definitely a nice FBSW but other than that I think it'll be pretty much done. Which is honestly fine by me because I'm getting pretty fucking fed up with working on this thing.

Also I've been mulling over the idea of getting an S4 trunk lid. I really like the bigger spoilers built into those, so if I can find one already painted black out of a crashed-up parts car for the right price then I'd like to do that.

**blbroo** · 04-16-2016 12:09 PM

I'm going to quote this post in a few months when you do an exhaust mod.

I bet it goes the way of "sleeper look"

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by blbroo

I'm going to quote this post in a few months when you do an exhaust mod.

I bet it goes the way of "sleeper look"

Quoth the Lettuce, no exhaust.

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 06:30 PM

Done! Shit's awesome.

Also replaced my cam bridge thing. Haven't taken it on the highway yet to see if it fixes that oil pressure problem but methinks it will. Otherwise I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 06:39 PM

Also since I was curious I weighed these new wheels and my old wheels. They're basically the same weight. I was hoping the new ones would come in under my stock setup, but they are about an inch taller and an inch wider, and the stock tires were missing quite a bit of tread.

Here's to hoping the BBK upgrade gives me enough weight savings to make up for it. I mean, not that I'd notice a pound and a half difference anyway, but it's the principle of the matter.

**A4 Centaur** · 04-16-2016 07:06 PM

Yea, VMR's aren't exactly light. Going with flow formed or forged is the way to go.

Car is looking great! Glad to see you are on the road to fixing the oil issues too.

Where are the fast women?

**lettuce** · 04-16-2016 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by A4 Centaur

Yea, VMR's aren't exactly light. Going with flow formed or forged is the way to go.

Car is looking great! Glad to see you are on the road to fixing the oil issues too.

Where are the fast women?

They're actually Avant Garde M310s. Basically the same exact wheel as the VMR V710s, but I read that they're apparently a tad lighter and stronger due to being low pressure cast vs gravity cast. They were the same price so I went with these.