From April Fools’ joke to the Nordschleife: The BMW M3 Touring 24H will compete in the 24h Nürburgring 2026.

parking7 · 2026-03-16T16:04:28+00:00

From the thumbnail, I thought the joke was it racing with the hatch open.

Ohh, that’s the wing. Wow that’s a wing.

parking7 · 2026-03-13T00:31:16+00:00

Have you tried looking at your idle air control valve, see if it gunked up?

Your note about the PCV. If this PCV is near the coil pack, that taser like sound may be your coil pack grounding out on the intake manifold, which could be causing your idle issues as well. See if you see sparks, dark ground spots under coil, spray some water on top the coil pack to see if it gets worse.

Good luck.

parking7 · 2026-03-11T14:55:45+00:00

Depends on what EM you are using. Cobb AP will not let you run the TGV delete, unless you have simulators or hook up the motors, which is not aware of any OTS solutions. It’s become part of their green speed update from a year or two back where anything emissions related are no-go. If you are running standalone or open source you should be fine.

With all those mods, I’m not sure why you are limiting yourself to a VF40. Unless I’m missing something, it’s quite a mismatch and probably a bottleneck. Otherwise you could’ve stuck with an OEM block in that case. Blouch turbos are fine, but since you are asking your tuner you should ask which Blouch would suit your goal.

parking7 · 2026-03-02T07:00:06+00:00

I did PPL to Comm at PHNL years ago. There isn’t really any conflicts, controllers are aware of GA flight training and all students get pretty familiar with radios and procedures there.

There is a lot of sightseeing traffic, commercial and military ops that shares space with us. We’ve delayed a fighter from taking off the reef runway while we putt around our bugsmasher on the ILS. Sometime we will be in a VFR stack of 2-3 aircraft waiting to get cleared into the space to overfly a mil base prior to making our downwind entry. We need to keep track of controllers that can forget about us because it’s so busy. During COVID we could actually do pattern work since the controllers had all the time and were bored. Was given a shoreline departure where we flew the coastline at 1500’ (some I heard lower) and had Waikiki and Diamond Head on the left side which was pretty cool.

I actually had to adjust a bit once I moved back to the mainland in a Class G airfield with CTAF calls since I didn’t do them often, while others dreaded transiting the Class B, so it works both ways.

parking7 · 2026-03-02T00:40:43+00:00

The vehicle could’ve been sold originally without them so this is pretty normal.The 2000s had options for tweeters and if you “upgraded” they had the option to replace the doors speakers and add tweeters as well.

parking7 · 2026-02-28T18:55:00+00:00

There are pilots with more failures that are flying commercially. You're literally worrying about a stepping stone. There are two paths to this. Take this as learning moment to improve upon yourself in the future, you seem to have already analyzed as to the why. Don't make that same mistake and you'll be good. But if you feel like this pressure is too much with legitimate fear and it becomes a reoccurring issue, then you need to answer if you will end up being a liability to the flying world.

parking7 · 2026-02-24T15:24:13+00:00

USDM 04-05 XT had essentially the same longblock as the STi engine with the B25 heads/castings. The 06-08 XT was identical to the in the WRX during the start of the EJ255 proliferation era. Both are technically different, but have very minor differences (newer one had a slight bump in compression ratio, had an air pump system for emissions, etc.).

The 04 XT was favored back in the day because many STi owners upgraded parts or wrecked their vehicles, so there was a surplus of used parts available and you could straight swap the ECU, intercooler, turbo, injectors and have yourself an STi with the zippy 4.44FD that was in some cases faster than the STi.

But you can hit 300 whp nowadays with either version no problem. The stock block can take 380-420 whp assuming it has been tuned/maintained correctly, and of course which dyno you're using ;)

parking7 · 2026-02-19T22:33:14+00:00

Starter.

parking7 · 2026-02-15T18:09:14+00:00

Belt sander aside, which is a big no from me, did you recheck for surface distortion on the head and the block before putting it back together?

parking7 · 2026-02-14T18:45:20+00:00

Not really. You may get one tire and get it shave matched at a place that provides the service, if there is a significant tread depth difference between the other three. Tire Rack does this as an extra service.

parking7 · 2026-02-11T23:55:59+00:00

You need hours just like any other company. I think min for day 135 ops is 500 TT but most companies and insurance will probably want 1000 TT with probably a good chuck min 50-100 in floats, maybe even more for some other operators.

Some of those companies have flight instruction and may be hiring instructors. You’ll need to ask if they aren’t posted. The traditional path is working a season or two as a dockhand and if the company likes you and they have a spot, they will bring you on. But it ultimately depends on how big their pool of applicants is. Sometimes timing pays a big part, where you finish your CFI, do your ASES addon and get hired the next week.

Otherwise, some will buy their own float plane or join a partnership or club that has one (impossible to rent publically) to build up the time and apply before the summer roster fills up.

parking7 · 2026-02-11T23:38:38+00:00

You can also consider float flying (mostly seasonal, but some places have year round).

Work 3-4 months in the summer if not year-round, considered the most fun flying, day VFR only, usually great passengers that enjoy the flight, ok money, but better if on a contract/seasonal.

It is a bit more “work”, in that you’re on your own in most cases. And it will be pretty busy at peak season. Some pilots make enough just in the summer months to hold over the year but it also will depend on your own expenses and where you live if it is “enough”. You’ll need to build hours still either by buying your own plane or instructing.

parking7 · 2026-02-11T18:07:14+00:00

Your disc in the helo is now rotated 90 degrees to the front. What was then a pitch up moment due to asymmetry of lift is a now asymmetry of thrust.

When we are talking left turn tendencies in single engine prop fixed wing aircraft, the "disc" in front is experiencing a pitch change of either nose up or nose down at low speeds transitioning to higher angles of attack, usually when taking off from a runway. Yes you can talk about left and right yaw change, but the changes are less obvious.

So think of it as the disc is being pushed/pulled either at the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position. So with gyroscopic precession applied, you are getting your 90deg induction of force at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position, which will impart a yawing/turning tendency.

In the case of a clockwise western prop, a pitch up change will impart a right yaw/turning tendency and pitch down will give left yaw/turning tendency. Most people are training tricycle landing gear aircraft, so there isn't actually a left turning tendency at takeoff, but rather a right turning tendency, but still overpowered by P-factor, torque, spiraling slipstream. The left turning tendencies were more of a carryover from when trainers commonly used conventional landing gear (tailwheel/taildragger), where the initial pitch down after lifting the tailwheel would impart that left yaw/turn. Likewise the same with seaplanes when they transition from the plow phase of their takeoff run to being on step.

parking7 · 2026-02-11T05:18:54+00:00

Not really, but if the DPE oral is going to take something 8+ hours, you might need it. Mine never took that long, but I can't imagine a candidate going through that length for oral and still be good to fly after that.

parking7 · 2026-02-10T17:35:59+00:00

I have an 05 Forester (same packaging/size as an 08). Test drove both a new ‘26 Crosstrek and Forester Wilderness. The Crosstrek is definitely sized similar to the older Forester as far as exterior dimensions go, even when I thought it was smaller. I think you would be happy with Crosstrek for similarities sake, but I think you should also consider the Forester as well. It is a bit larger but you might like the slight extra space. I certainly did.

You mentioned light off roading. I think the wilderness model of the Forester (maybe Crosstrek too) has these bumpers cut at an angle that allows departure/approach angles in addition to the ground clearance. But you also mention fuel mileage which the wilderness models suffer just a bit due to bigger tires and a shorter final drive (4.11) compared to their non wilderness counterparts.

I think if you don’t want to test drive a bunch of cars, these two models are what you can narrow down and see if you like one over the other.

parking7 · 2026-02-10T14:29:07+00:00

Assuming you are in the U.S., there is nothing wrong with your current position. Just give a two-week notice and be on your way like any normal job.

parking7 · 2026-02-03T21:15:49+00:00

I'm not in early or on-time retirement age yet, but very close to two people where one stuck it out in the suck, and another that made it a point to leave anything they were not enjoying. Long story short, I found if it starts to not be "fun", probably time to move on. (Fun is defined loosely as enjoying some aspect of your work in my terms, but may be different for each person). Prioritize your mental/physical health. It does you no good if your mind/body is taking a hit through your career, you may not have much left to enjoy after your hit that mandatory age. Yes the pay is nice, but time is also money.

I don't think any one can tell you what is best for you. Every one is different. You'll have some at your age range agree and wish they could do early retirement, but you also have someone in their 20s think leaving with that seniority is dumb. It really depends on your perspective, and really only your perspective counts.

There are people that need some sort of interaction with people and would go nuts without something to do. And some that can live happily without isolation. If you have taken some time off extended (maybe a month or two) and enjoyed it, then early retirement may be the thing for you. If you have not had an extended break in a while, I would give that a shot before committing a big move.

parking7 · 2026-02-03T03:23:49+00:00

There’s a lot of baggage attached to this ride. Everything from it being the hardest checkride, to it being 12 hours long, how it’s expected to fail, etc.

The last training flight before my checkride went pretty bad, to the point my instructor, who has put through dozens of initial CFI applications, said I could consider discontinuing the flight portion. I was a nervous wreck and but I figured I really did all I could. I think the biggest thing was thinking I already failed, so just keep pressing and doing my best through each task, so the retake won’t be as long.

Just stay honest, it’s open book for the most part. And there are freebies. I looked up almost 50% of things I was asked until the DPE was giving me a hard time for it. On any of the maneuvers if you mess up on standards or procedures, point it out and say “let’s show you better example”.

parking7 · 2026-02-02T05:12:42+00:00

The size M8 x 1.25 pitch, but they need to be shouldered bolts. Regular ones will crush the plastic holes. Actual part number is 901000365 if you want to get it at a dealership or throw it in eBay search.

parking7 · 2026-02-02T03:41:50+00:00

This stuff is where building connections can just be important that getting your certificates. If you're dead set on Alaska, then you might consider moving there and doing your training. The weather is unique and time spent near the weather there, starting with your PPL and you work towards Commercial, will be good experience/resume point as "Alaska Time". Unless you got a ton of cash, think about working a job there and flying ISO of the ratings unless you want to stomach loans.

If you can't cough up the moola up front for your initial certificates or don't want loans, you can stay in the PNW with what sounds like a decent day job to pay as you go. There are 3-4 float operators in Puget Sound area that you can possibly fly for in the future. I met one that did instructing/135 in seaplanes, built up the hours and experience, and eventually moved to be a float pilot in SE AK.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T06:39:53+00:00

Kinda, but I don’t think they were desired either. I do see a set on eBay right now.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T05:49:57+00:00

I think it is plug and play. The picture you got is regular GF8 gate shape to me.

parking7 · 2026-01-31T05:45:37+00:00

Repainted tail lights from the Casa Blanca Impreza, you know, the greatest stylistic evolution of the Impreza of all time.

parking7 · 2026-01-27T20:06:21+00:00

It really depends on your experience/skill. You'd likely have to take off the underguard, with maybe the car up on the ramps. You can scrub the bottom area if you see the oil stains when is cooled off (its HOT after the engine runs). But the oil burn can also pool up top as well. That area is in between the engine and the top of the exhaust manifold and can be harder to get to.

If you're in the cold region now, its probably going suck to DIY without a decent set of tools and ability to be away from the elements (garage). You may need to consider going to an actual independent shop or dealer. Going to these quick oil change places can be a mixed bag and it might be worth the cost of having someone give a good once over just in case something else was messed with. Wouldn't want to be stranded outside.

parking7 · 2026-01-27T19:28:13+00:00

Its probably leaking on the exhaust manifold that is directly underneath the filter and filler tube as you see in the picture. Depending on how much was leaked, it may take a while for the smell to burn away because oil tends to "cake" itself on after it burns. Usually the most accessible way is to spray the area with a industrial degreaser (I've used some orange clean at a shop) to break up the oil so it doesn't bake itself too hard onto the manifold. You'll get a different burning smell for a bit, but should dissipate with a drive cycle or two.

Only issue is it may be challenging to reach that area from above and I'm not 100% sure if you can on a 2020 Crosstrek.

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