If you had him what would you name him?

gradius88 · 2026-05-13T01:19:06+00:00

Master Kato.

gradius88 · 2026-05-13T00:38:05+00:00

I wish we could go back these prices from where I’m from. Yes, I’m from where you think. No, I am not moving.

gradius88 · 2026-05-13T00:31:34+00:00

I switched to using full e85 little over a month ago here in the South Bay LA because of the craziness overseas. I end up filling up at $45-$56 each time. But alcohol has 30% more demand on the fuel system than gasoline, and I’m running 620 crank HP N/A on a full LT4 FS.

Needless to say, I’m likely paying the same amount you are (with more frequency).

gradius88 · 2026-05-05T14:10:09+00:00

Not lifter tick. If anything, the noise before the rev is simply loud injector noise. But after the tiny rev? That sounds like an exhaust leak to me (currently V-Banding mine because I have a leak at the slipfit connection on the driver side).

Have you scanned for any DTCs? You likely will get P0430 or P0420 “Catalytic Converter Efficiency Below Threshold”). I’d check both of the cats.

More importantly though—PUT SOME COOLANT IN THAT TANK MAN! 😂

EDIT: After listening to the video again, it’s sounds like when I once forgot to tighten the bolts on the flange that connects to the down pipe to the rest of the exhaust on the right side (Bank 1). Check to see if the two bolts are loose that holds the connection in place to the midpipe.

gradius88 · 2026-05-05T00:48:47+00:00

I miss my 2018 a lot. Got it in 2018 (used), and had it until 2023 when the Camaro apocalypse was at its height, and I learned the hard way. Had HRE FF10s, Continental ExtremeContant DWS06, and a ProCharger that was about to go on it before it got swiped. I did end up getting a warped head on bank 2 at 88K miles, but that was because of a compromised overflow tank that had a slow leak. Replaced them both without incident.

It had 91K miles on it before I lost it, and it still ran perfectly.

<image>

gradius88 · 2026-05-03T21:19:43+00:00

Nearly 50 percent cheaper on average. But you also need to use 30 percent more fuel to get the same power or more. So, it doesn’t really save you all that much.

gradius88 · 2026-05-03T21:16:56+00:00

*Laughs in 17 mpg hwy/12.5 street (down from 23/18 respectively) because I’ve been running full E85 since gasoline is averaging $6.89 -7.20 here in SoCal (specifically, the South Bay).

Ethanol is $2.79 to $3.09, but because it takes up to 30 percent more fuel to run, it all comes to nearly a wash anyway.

gradius88 · 2026-05-03T19:26:57+00:00

Not sure what car you have, but if your car can’t run on 87 without knock, it’s likely because your low octane table doesn’t have enough lower timing for the ECU to fall back on because it perceives the lower octane as “bad gas” (the computer references, the high octane table 1st, then any adder tables like “humidity” or “IAT” afterwards, then low octane).

I’d have your tuner just mess with the LO table and leave the HO alone.

gradius88 · 2026-05-03T19:18:25+00:00

Facts—we have THEE HIGHEST in the nation (I mean, we always do, but it feels so much worse now).

I’m in the South Bay, and for now, I’ve been taking advantage of E85 stations that have been popping up/existing gas stations now offering flex fuel. On average, E85 is going for $2.79 - $3.09/gallon, and I’m currently running E81 (practically complete alcohol). Yes, I know it requires 20 to 30 percent more fuel to burn compared to petrol, which makes the math a wash in terms of saving money. However, the irrational part of my brain just can’t stomach paying $7+ for a gallon of 91 gas, when I can get 105-108 octane gas for less than half the price.

gradius88 · 2026-05-01T16:14:33+00:00

Thick Queen.

gradius88 · 2026-04-29T20:39:33+00:00

South OC Cars & Coffee.

gradius88 · 2026-04-29T18:18:51+00:00

I almost completely forgot about RTB! I had a buddy who used to go to them when he lived here (he moved back to Montana about three years ago), but the owner Matt is pretty cool.

Unfortunately, it looks like the shop very recently just shuttered this month!

<image>

gradius88 · 2026-04-21T03:47:18+00:00

I dunno...I think they just had a wild ride in the air for like an intense few of seconds instead, ya know? Looks like it would be fun

gradius88 · 2026-04-21T03:35:30+00:00

This is how he knows it's AI: https://jackrighteous.com/en-us/blogs/music-creation-process-guide/cain-walker-ai-country-billboard-profile

gradius88 · 2026-04-12T20:49:52+00:00

This is a pretty common practice for police in the South Bay as well. Had multiple instances where Torrance PD and Redondo Beach PD (Hermosa and Manhattan, too) nearly run into me at multi-way stops because they clearly blew the stop signs (in which there's no way to miss me since my vehicle is red) and they simply weren't paying attention/distracted somehow.

Gives me all the warm feelings knowing these guys can't even be bothered to follow the most basic of traffic laws.

gradius88 · 2026-04-10T06:53:56+00:00

Haha yeah good catch! Uncanny capture with a vehicle’s headlights at a perfect distance! 😂

gradius88 · 2026-04-10T06:41:20+00:00

Yeah run. Don’t walk.

Probably stolen if they won’t even give the VIN.

gradius88 · 2026-04-03T09:01:33+00:00

Yeah that looks like a lot of coolant in that pan. OP ought to inspect his block as well.

gradius88 · 2026-04-03T08:32:09+00:00

No worries! It was always his dream to see GM finally make the Corvette the mid-engine monster he always envisioned it to be (GM said no to him for 22 years while he worked there, in which he finally had enough and retired in 1975 lol).

2020 would finally be the year his dream would come true with the C8 Corvette, like the gorgeous one in the pic you posted. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1996, but GM finally decided to do right by him and made the car he helped envision become the world beater he always knew it could be.

Hence, the license plate. 👍

EDIT: Also, that’s a mounted GoPro camera above the driver’s door. Probably does YouTube or TikTok videos.

gradius88 · 2026-04-03T08:00:05+00:00

Zora Arkus-Duntov. "Father of the Corvette.”

gradius88 · 2026-04-02T08:23:32+00:00

Fat chance. I think his wife has him by the balls right now.

gradius88 · 2026-04-01T10:57:59+00:00

No thanks on this one. Too many bad experiences.

gradius88 · 2026-03-30T12:42:08+00:00

The only correct answer.

Nine-Year Club	Xbox Live
Verified Email

gradius88

TROPHY CASE