500 Abarth » Photos

Summer’s Here! Well, Tires Are

Jasey Michelle — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 03:22:46 +0000

This March is actually turning out to be quite nice! A stint of unseasonably warm weather has caused me to throw caution to the wind, and do away with the winter wheels and tires for the season. Hopefully I don’t regret this decision in a couple weeks.

Since the stock Pirelli’s were nearly slicks after 20k, a new set of rubber was in order. I opted for a set of 205/45ZR-16 BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2‘s.

Just so you know, you can fit 8 tires into a 500! Fortunately, I didn’t have to drive far in the configuration (the tire shop was just up the road), since visibility to the right and rear was pretty much zero. I needed to have the stock tires dismounted from the factory wheels, and the new tires mounted up.

Why didn’t I just swap over the wheels in advance, so I would only have needed to take the new tires to the shop? Because I don’t trust any shop to put Fiona on a lift, nor lay a socket on her lug bolts, that’s why! I swapped the wheels over myself as soon as I return home Then found some corners in need of carving.

Gotta love these deliveries from tirerack.com

Groovy!

Tread for days

205/45ZR-16 BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2

Cleaning up the factory wheels

Loaded to the gills! 8 tires and 4 wheels in there

So much room to spare

Buckle up!

Not the most talkative passenger

Over the top

Nothing to see here, officer

Let’s swap!

It’s go time!

Ugh, Winter Sucks

Jasey Michelle — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 03:57:55 +0000

Is it spring yet!? Pretty please!?

Such filth!

Sorta clean, for the next 5 minutes

No Mo Snow!

Re-Tired (and Wheeled)

Jasey Michelle — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 02:21:29 +0000

After last year’s beyond terrible winter performance from the stock Pirelli P7’s, I knew I wanted some true snow tires before the flakes came down this year. For ease of swapping over from Summer to Winter, I opted to have the 195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 tires mounted on a separate set of silver 16×7 MSW Type 25 wheels.

To complete the winter trim, I also installed the R3T skidplate to help protect things, since the car is sitting even lower than last winter. I’m sure this all means it’s never going to snow ever again. Thank me later.

195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3

195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 on MSW Type 25 Wheels

R3T Skid Plate Underside

R3T Skid Plate Top

R3T Skid Plate Installed

Winter wheels & tires

Winter Trim. Waiting for the snow

Intake it to the Extreme

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 04:07:58 +0000

Colder air = better air, no matter how you slice it. Getting cool air into the intake becomes even more of a challenge when you have a turbo heating the air as it’s compressed (remedied by the intercooler), as well as heating the engine bay while it’s doing its job (solved by intake placement).

ATM came up with an innovate design that places the filter down in the bumper, where cool air is readily available, and then requires just a short, direct run to get to the turbo. The only thing in the way of this design (after the stock intercoolers are removed, and replaced with their front mount unit) is the windshield washer reservoir. So, add a simple remote-mount tank and bracket, and we’re ready to rock & roll!

K&N Filter with venturi

ATM Intake Tubing

Remote Reservoir & Bracket Kit

Remote Washer Reservoir

Remote Washer Reservoir & Filler Neck

Intake placement from the front

Intake Installed

Intake Installed Close-Up

Apex Washer reservoir installed

Washer reservoir filler hose routing

Washer Reservoir filler

Final Installation

First Anniversary

Jasey Michelle — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 19:35:23 +0000

Today it’s been exactly 1 year and 14,500 miles since Fi came home. Made a quick stop back to the same location where I took photos her first night home. Here’s the comparison shots. Much better sky last year; much better car this year.

Cobblestoned

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 31 May 2014 04:07:49 +0000

Just a few updated shots of Fi showing how she sits as of tonight

I’ve Been Hit! :(

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 00:36:21 +0000

Sad, sad day. Only 2 months and 3,800 miles on the clock, and the Abarth gets nailed.

Long story short, the other driver admitted 100% fault, and less than 24 hours later, I had an $1,800 check from his insurance company. Damage mostly contained to the rear quarter panel, with some scratching on the ground effects and bumper.

As of today, she’s already in primer. Should be finished before Thanksgiving.

Short Shiftin

Jasey Michelle — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 00:03:52 +0000

Even though the stock shifter is pretty decent, and the height is perfect for me, the throw between the gears is way to long and sloppy.

Neuspeed has a simple fix for this problem with an adapter that changes the the angle of the cable attachment, reducing the throw by 25%. It’s called the Neu-F Short Shift Adapter.

neu-F Abarth Pieces

neu-F Abarth Halves

neu-F Abarth adapter bolted together

neu-F Abarth adapter bolted together, showing slot for shifter arm

Popping open the console

Test fitting. Requires minor filing to the edges of the stock arm

neu-F Abarth Adapter mounted

neu-F Abarth Adapter Mounted

Cable re-installed

Finished product. Looks stock, but feels much better!

Down with the Darkness

Jasey Michelle — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:59:56 +0000

Dark alley’s are where it’s at!

Piddle

Dumpster driving

Yes, it fits

Mr. Clean

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 23:42:37 +0000

Spent the day getting the exterior ready and protected for winter. Yes, she’s going to be my winter car as well.

Washed, then clay-barred the exterior before applying two coats of Xzilon coating. It’s molecularly-bonded! Just like K.I.T.T.! Also applied Aquapel treatment to the glass after using their cleaner.

Clay, Quick Detailer, Xzilon & Aquapel

As clean as she can look in the dirty garage

Falling

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 04:18:05 +0000

Leaves, leaves everywhere.

Just a 500 and some leaves in the drive

Plated

Jasey Michelle — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:02:44 +0000

After my plates came in the mail, and I was tagged as “BUB 558″, it was most definitely time to submit the application for a personalized plate. In Iowa, it’s a $25 application process, then an additional $5/yr on top of your normal registration. The form allows you to make up to 5 choices, and they’ll choose the first one that isn’t already taken, and isn’t something scandalous.

My choices in order were:
1) ABARTH
2) 4B4RTH
3) 5OO
4) 5OOA
5) GRIGIO

After an arduous 3 weeks of uncertainly, the notice came in the mail. My plates were ready for pickup! “ABARTH” was already taken, so I was issued “4B4RTH”. Much better than “BUB”

4B4RTH Plate

Can’t Resist the Mods

Jasey Michelle — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 01:15:51 +0000

My other vehicles are far from stock. The ’94Z has a cammed 3400 engine swap with longtube headers for example. So, how long can I keep the Abarth stock? Apparently, 3 weeks.

Starting things off simple. Just a replacement intake pipe and the cool chrome fuel filler. Will try to hold off on anything else until after winter, but no promises!

Why did I just go for the replacement aluminum pipe, rather than a full cone intake system? The stock system draws in cool air from behind the headlight, and appears quite efficient, aside from the bit of a bottleneck in the piece I’ve replaced. The other aftermarket systems seem to lose this “ram air” advantage, and some route the intake pipe right over the turbo, causing a drastic increase in IAT (Intake Air Temperature).

Stock intake system

Intake pipe replaced

Chrome fuel filler waiting to be installed

Stock fuel filler cap

Chrome Fuel Filler Installed

New chrome fuel filler installed. Requires removal of inner fender liner to access the bolts to remove the stock filler door

Feelin’ Dirty

Jasey Michelle — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 03:03:09 +0000

I’ve owned Cavaliers since 1997. That’s my high school days! I still own two of them today. My 1992 Z24 was purchased in ’98 and my 1994 Z24 acquired in ’03. I used to run the biggest site on the net for the 2nd gen Cavaliers, v6z24.com, until selling the site in recent years.

I’ve continued to organize a yearly “bash” for members of the site together. This is the 11th annual event, and the first year that I’ll be attending sans-Cavalier. Unfortunately neither of my J-Body beasts were up for making the trip this year. Scandalous, I know.

Here’s the little Abarth nestled in amongst some bigger little cars.

With some Cavs

3 whole feet shorter than a Cavalier

Still the same width as a Cav

Ooh, Nova

KC Bound

Jasey Michelle — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:11:36 +0000

The Abarth’s first road trip comes the next day. It’s a Kansas City Chiefs are at home this Sunday, and I’m a photographer for all their games. Looks like rain today.

Forgot to take a photo of the ODO right after purchase. This is about 60 miles later

Threesome

Jasey Michelle — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 20:15:32 +0000

My toys… Here’s the threesome. The new 2013 Abarth with the ’94 Z24 and ’77 Kawasaki KZ900. Never mind the weeds…