My trip to PT Tuning today

[Mike-in-Orange]

Just got back from PT Tuning to have a situation with my recently installed BTG cat/back dual exhaust looked at (have a look at my post under General Turbo Discussions) and I got to pick Maier and Zev's brains about performance, handling, etc. I even got a chance to drive the red panel conversion Cruiser they have (you may have seen this on their website). This baby is lowered, has 18" wheels with low profile tires, and a supercharger! Fun? Uh, yeah! Handles? Like a GoKart! There was no body roll at all on this baby, and Maier even urged me to jump on it on a two lane freeway on-ramp. His words, spoken rather matter-of-factly; "Go ahead and pass these guys". That maneuver actually entailed accelerating hard while making a right/left/right lane change to get around the other cars, all while blasting up a right hand curving on-ramp! The Cruiser didn't blink and I don't think I stopped smiling for a couple hours.

Very nice guys, Maier and Zev. Zev even told me what to watch for and what to expect when I install my new strut tower brace this weekend. I couldn't recommend someone more highly than I do these guys.

[IRPT]

Sounds like fun, I've always heard good things about PT Tuning!

[Rolo]

Neat!

Well told, too.

I was surprised at how much of a difference the strut tower brace made; I have to "re-learn" how the car handles. Did they happen to mention if it changes the balance to oversteer? I get that feeling, along with images of my spinning out.


"But sir, your are a bloody mess!"
"Forget about me! Tend to the PT first!"

[Mike-in-Orange]

quote:Rolo Posted - 01/29/2004 : 5:59:25 PM
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Did they happen to mention if it changes the balance to oversteer?

Rolo, no they didn't specifically mention it, but the car felt amazingly neutral to me. Granted, I didn't push it hard, but it felt so completely different to my car that I was totally stunned! I have to think that the weight distribution would still induce understeer, but the mods certainly reduce the majority of it. The list of differences between it and mine were pretty complete; springs, shocks, tire width and aspect ratio, ride height, strut tower brace. So while I wouldn't mind if my car cornered like this one, I'd probably be happy meeting it halfway even!

I get the feeling that a stock Cruiser will exhibit a fair amount of trailing throttle oversteer if you get in too deep (haven't really pushed mine that hard yet). Back in '84 I got one of the first Omni GLH (no turbos 'til '85) and that bugger wanted to swap ends real quick if you backed off the gas in a hard corner. I don't think the heavily modded Cruiser I drove today would be that quick to bite you though. Pretty impressive all around.

[Basset Hound]

I deal with PT Tuning whenever they have what I want. You can't beat their service. Like Mike said, Maier is a super guy. He's been driving that supercharged Cruiser since the beginning. [8D]

[dbraveman]

hey mike...great mods and great looking website of yours....nicely done. is that a free website? i mean,for you?

man, i can't wait for a few nice days and be able to take a few pics of my gt

[Mike-in-Orange]

quote:dbraveman Posted - 01/30/2004 : 12:01:01 AM
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hey mike...great mods and great looking website of yours....nicely done. is that a free website? i mean,for you?

Thanks for the kind words. As for the website, I own the domain name www.formulagrafix.com and use it as my side business website, so it was just a simple matter of throwing together a few more pages in a different directory and blah blah blah I've got my own Cruiser section.

[nhrapt]

I've bought a few things from pt-tuning, always a good fair price, and quick delivery, plus updates on sale stuff,good people![^]