Another n00b saying hi!!!
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 62
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From: Ewing, NJ
Another n00b saying hi!!!
Hi everyone!!!
First off let me introduce myself. My name is Jeff I am 36, married and I am originally from Baltimore but living up here in NJ now in the West Trenton area right at the NJ/PA line. I am new to this forum and Chryslers in general but not new to racing or hotrodding cars or even UBB forums for that matter, I am actually a mod on www.c5forum.com. I have racing and working on cars since I was a kid. My current hot rod that is actually getting traded in on the Crossfire is a 2003 Z06 that has a hair over 500HP now that I have tinkered with it. Custom ground cam and tuning, intake, exhaust, yadda yadda. Before that was a 1999 Supercharged GTP that was putting out about 350HP did all the good stuff to that one too. To be honest, I am tired and bored with the Vette and have started to dislike the ride somewhat even though it is a great car. I mean how do you talk about a car that you love but have grown to dislike some annoyances with it without making the whole car sound bad, when it really isnft? I guess I am more bored with it and the whole racer thing has just passed me by at this point. I guess the turning point was when I finally got a Jeep last year. I always wanted a CJ when I was growing up and now that I have the Wrangler I have found my true calling, the outdoors and four wheeling. To me itfs much more fun than spending a day at the track, not that I donft enjoy that, just not every weekend now, maybe once or twice a year. I just want a cool car that is nice to ride in, still sporty for those times I do want to push it and can take it out somewhere with the wife or even just let her drive it by herself.
Anyway back on track. I have always liked the Crossfirefs looks since day one. I love the whole art deco thing and this car to me just screams art deco and I love it!!! Well I finally took a test drive in one two days ago, since we started getting serious about trading the Vette in on something a little more comfortable. We both loved it. I canft tell you how much better the interior is than the Vette and how much more comfortable it is just to be in the car in general. There isnft anything about the car that I can say that I donft like after the test drive, well other than the apparent lack of HP, but that is compared to a car with over twice the HP. But from what I have been reading, there are mods to bump it up a little. I do like the auto stick however I am curious as to how an auto gets better MPG than a stick.
I am looking at actually picking one up in the next week or so and have decided not to wait for the SRT-6 and want a coupe. I liked the 04 just as it was.
I do have a few questions that have come up when doing some reading here and from past experiences tweaking cars.
I think that is it for now. I hope I didnft upset anyone with the typical noob questions. I will definitely read more as time allows!
First off let me introduce myself. My name is Jeff I am 36, married and I am originally from Baltimore but living up here in NJ now in the West Trenton area right at the NJ/PA line. I am new to this forum and Chryslers in general but not new to racing or hotrodding cars or even UBB forums for that matter, I am actually a mod on www.c5forum.com. I have racing and working on cars since I was a kid. My current hot rod that is actually getting traded in on the Crossfire is a 2003 Z06 that has a hair over 500HP now that I have tinkered with it. Custom ground cam and tuning, intake, exhaust, yadda yadda. Before that was a 1999 Supercharged GTP that was putting out about 350HP did all the good stuff to that one too. To be honest, I am tired and bored with the Vette and have started to dislike the ride somewhat even though it is a great car. I mean how do you talk about a car that you love but have grown to dislike some annoyances with it without making the whole car sound bad, when it really isnft? I guess I am more bored with it and the whole racer thing has just passed me by at this point. I guess the turning point was when I finally got a Jeep last year. I always wanted a CJ when I was growing up and now that I have the Wrangler I have found my true calling, the outdoors and four wheeling. To me itfs much more fun than spending a day at the track, not that I donft enjoy that, just not every weekend now, maybe once or twice a year. I just want a cool car that is nice to ride in, still sporty for those times I do want to push it and can take it out somewhere with the wife or even just let her drive it by herself.
Anyway back on track. I have always liked the Crossfirefs looks since day one. I love the whole art deco thing and this car to me just screams art deco and I love it!!! Well I finally took a test drive in one two days ago, since we started getting serious about trading the Vette in on something a little more comfortable. We both loved it. I canft tell you how much better the interior is than the Vette and how much more comfortable it is just to be in the car in general. There isnft anything about the car that I can say that I donft like after the test drive, well other than the apparent lack of HP, but that is compared to a car with over twice the HP. But from what I have been reading, there are mods to bump it up a little. I do like the auto stick however I am curious as to how an auto gets better MPG than a stick.
I am looking at actually picking one up in the next week or so and have decided not to wait for the SRT-6 and want a coupe. I liked the 04 just as it was.
I do have a few questions that have come up when doing some reading here and from past experiences tweaking cars.
I think that is it for now. I hope I didnft upset anyone with the typical noob questions. I will definitely read more as time allows!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 867
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From: Rochester, Michigan - Oakland University
Welcome Jeff!!! 
Nice modded Vette!!! I checked the site out and such and I'm not a huge fan of Vettes but damn thats some power!!!
1. I know this will probably open a can of worms, but which aftermarket ECU, PCM whatever itfs referred to as here, is the one that will offer the most back for the buck. I would rather keep my OEM one but if sending mine out will net me a better program, I am not averse to doing that.
Upsolute seems to have the best representation on here... they have been in the market for awhile and everyone elses chips went in smooth other then mine... but that is to be blamed on the installer not the company... so what I recommend is calling Rene down at Upsolute tell him what your looking for and where you live... he can recommend you directly to someone in your area or you can fly it out to him airmail
2. Do any of the programs firm up the shifts to make the car shift faster? That is one thing I donft necessarily like with the auto stick, the shifts seemed a bit lazy.
Hum.. lazy I'm confused... it was designed to hold RPM in the trans box kinda like a fake clutch ... this isnt like any Autostick ive layed my hands on and I love the autostick idea and I've tested a lot... never have I felt something so strong compared to an manual... but the Xfire is very young and I know of no programs that can do this yet... unless you get some custom work done from a company... just look up stats for the SLK 320 ... its the exact same car
3. If I did get a manual, are their any aftermarket shifters for them and if so, are they noisy and excessively stiff like I have found in the ones for the Vette?
No aftermarket anything for the Crossfire yet... maybe Renntech could look at it and do some stuff for ya though... they are pricing by they offer some great upgrades!
4. What about air boxes? Do they exist for the car? If so which one seems to be the favorite?
LOL... we got universal K&N Filters ... we all seem to like those but the boxes themselves... nothing ... hey if your good at this stuff start making things so i can buy them off you :lol:
5. Does anyone have a site that actually lists all the possible mods and which ones are the more common ones? Sort of like an FAQ and even possibly a how to section? I am not new to working on cars and donft mind getting dirty. But I like to know what I am getting into before starting a project.
I can give you a list...
http://www.crossfiretuning.de/
http://www.crossfireshop.com/
http://www.upsolute.com/
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
Wheew... other then that... there are a few different brake pad companies of course... um... you can change your stereo... you can remove the Xfire logo on the back like most of us hum...
http://www.startech.de/
That site is sweet too bad no one knows how to order the things from them...
Thats about it bro... like I said... the SLK320 is the same thing... if you do any custom work for it let us know most of us would be glad to help out or join in... something... it just gets boring out here so we bicker about James cuz he's a hater...
6. Is there anyone else from up around this way? Do you guys have get togethers or cruises or anything? We used to get together at least once a month with a bunch of local guys and do something.
Man... Fu** NJ... LOL j/k... hum... just go a search for memberlist NJ is pretty popular and there are a ton of East Coasters... so im sure you could gather some people if you organize it! just post in the meetings tab!!! Welcome again here Jeff! you'll love the Crossfire!!!!
Nice modded Vette!!! I checked the site out and such and I'm not a huge fan of Vettes but damn thats some power!!! 1. I know this will probably open a can of worms, but which aftermarket ECU, PCM whatever itfs referred to as here, is the one that will offer the most back for the buck. I would rather keep my OEM one but if sending mine out will net me a better program, I am not averse to doing that.
Upsolute seems to have the best representation on here... they have been in the market for awhile and everyone elses chips went in smooth other then mine... but that is to be blamed on the installer not the company... so what I recommend is calling Rene down at Upsolute tell him what your looking for and where you live... he can recommend you directly to someone in your area or you can fly it out to him airmail
2. Do any of the programs firm up the shifts to make the car shift faster? That is one thing I donft necessarily like with the auto stick, the shifts seemed a bit lazy.
Hum.. lazy I'm confused... it was designed to hold RPM in the trans box kinda like a fake clutch ... this isnt like any Autostick ive layed my hands on and I love the autostick idea and I've tested a lot... never have I felt something so strong compared to an manual... but the Xfire is very young and I know of no programs that can do this yet... unless you get some custom work done from a company... just look up stats for the SLK 320 ... its the exact same car
3. If I did get a manual, are their any aftermarket shifters for them and if so, are they noisy and excessively stiff like I have found in the ones for the Vette?
No aftermarket anything for the Crossfire yet... maybe Renntech could look at it and do some stuff for ya though... they are pricing by they offer some great upgrades!
4. What about air boxes? Do they exist for the car? If so which one seems to be the favorite?
LOL... we got universal K&N Filters ... we all seem to like those
but the boxes themselves... nothing ... hey if your good at this stuff start making things so i can buy them off you :lol:5. Does anyone have a site that actually lists all the possible mods and which ones are the more common ones? Sort of like an FAQ and even possibly a how to section? I am not new to working on cars and donft mind getting dirty. But I like to know what I am getting into before starting a project.
I can give you a list...
http://www.crossfiretuning.de/
http://www.crossfireshop.com/
http://www.upsolute.com/
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
Wheew... other then that... there are a few different brake pad companies of course... um... you can change your stereo... you can remove the Xfire logo on the back like most of us
hum... http://www.startech.de/
That site is sweet too bad no one knows how to order the things from them...
Thats about it bro... like I said... the SLK320 is the same thing... if you do any custom work for it let us know most of us would be glad to help out or join in... something... it just gets boring out here so we bicker about James cuz he's a hater...
6. Is there anyone else from up around this way? Do you guys have get togethers or cruises or anything? We used to get together at least once a month with a bunch of local guys and do something.
Man... Fu** NJ... LOL j/k... hum... just go a search for memberlist NJ is pretty popular and there are a ton of East Coasters... so im sure you could gather some people if you organize it! just post in the meetings tab!!!
Welcome again here Jeff! you'll love the Crossfire!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Welcome and hopefully you'll find this forum very informative, funny and helpful 
If you use the "search above, there's a lot of information to every question that you posted.
I'm just a little lazy to type them all in but you can start the ball rolling here
If you use the "search above, there's a lot of information to every question that you posted.
I'm just a little lazy to type them all in but you can start the ball rolling here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: West-central Connecticut
Hi...
...and welcome...
"2. Do any of the programs firm up the shifts to make the car shift faster? That is one thing I donft necessarily like with the auto stick, the shifts seemed a bit lazy."
My auto technician son attended a transmission training class this week... they covered the Xfire's automatic tranny...
My understanding is it is not an electronically controlled transmission...
...in my simple terms... it's a quite sophisticated mechanically/fluid controlled unit...
The only electronic piece is when the shifter is moved... it electronically trigger's somethin'... but that's about it...
It's an "all-Mercedes" unit in the Xfire... 1st used ~10 years ago...
He also says it looks like a top-notch transmission... quite a few valves... better clutches... etc...
...it's even used in a 1-ton truck that has a reputation of blowin' the tranny in this heavy-duty application...
A note to consider before messin' with the tranny... a new one costs about $6,000 + another $1,200 for the pressure plate(?)... labor not included...
Dave...
...and welcome...
"2. Do any of the programs firm up the shifts to make the car shift faster? That is one thing I donft necessarily like with the auto stick, the shifts seemed a bit lazy."
My auto technician son attended a transmission training class this week... they covered the Xfire's automatic tranny...
My understanding is it is not an electronically controlled transmission...
...in my simple terms... it's a quite sophisticated mechanically/fluid controlled unit...
The only electronic piece is when the shifter is moved... it electronically trigger's somethin'... but that's about it...
It's an "all-Mercedes" unit in the Xfire... 1st used ~10 years ago...
He also says it looks like a top-notch transmission... quite a few valves... better clutches... etc...
...it's even used in a 1-ton truck that has a reputation of blowin' the tranny in this heavy-duty application...
A note to consider before messin' with the tranny... a new one costs about $6,000 + another $1,200 for the pressure plate(?)... labor not included...
Dave...
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 674
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From: Dallas, Tx
Welcome to the group. I just got back from lunch today, drove a Lingenfelter Twin Turbo Z06. Really nice car. Funny how traction control doesn't mean crap when you are making over 650 hp!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 62
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From: Ewing, NJ
Originally Posted by DFWSBR
Welcome to the group. I just got back from lunch today, drove a Lingenfelter Twin Turbo Z06. Really nice car. Funny how traction control doesn't mean crap when you are making over 650 hp!
LOL aint that the truth, most people think that more HP = faster car = easier to race. Its just the opposite!!!
Oh and BobaFettm... LOL that is exactly why I said I am not FROM here, I am FROM Baltimore, I just happen to LIVE in NJ now. Been trying to find a way to escape for about 7 years now. Looks like in the next year or so we will be making the jump (finally) across the river to PA.
What I meant about lazy shifts was not that it holds the RPMs, rather, when it actually shifts it seems to be a bit softer than what I am used to. And in what I am used to, soft shifts = slow shifts = slower 1/4 mile times.
Hahaha maybe I will look into some making some aftermarket stuff, heck I had a GTP back in the day when the only mods were a 9" K&N cone filter and a piece of PVC to hold it to the throttle body. And that does raise another question, when its said that you all have generic K&N filters, is that what you mean? I am assuming you have removed the air box and replaced it with cones? This was also something I did on the Vette but there was a specific filter called the Blackwing from Donaldson that was fitted for the Vette.
Thanks for the welcomes and I really look forward to reading and learning as much as I can about the car.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Hi Jeff,
welcome to the Forum...hope you don't miss the ponies too much ;-) But what the Xfire lacks in sheer power it makes up for in handling and in the attention department. Although the Z06 is no slouch in the handling department either....you don't get near the attention you do in a Xfire.
As far as the Airbox / KN filter goes...nope just TWO replacement filter elements installed in the original box.
Check the Technical Thread for more details.
welcome to the Forum...hope you don't miss the ponies too much ;-) But what the Xfire lacks in sheer power it makes up for in handling and in the attention department. Although the Z06 is no slouch in the handling department either....you don't get near the attention you do in a Xfire.
As far as the Airbox / KN filter goes...nope just TWO replacement filter elements installed in the original box.
Check the Technical Thread for more details.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
well, jeff. welcome to the forum. the best watering-hole for crossfires.
given your history, i'm going to be very interested in what you do with yours. i'm not really sure how much more power the car wants without increased traction and how do you do that? more rubber???
anyway, welcome. enjoy.
dan
given your history, i'm going to be very interested in what you do with yours. i'm not really sure how much more power the car wants without increased traction and how do you do that? more rubber???
anyway, welcome. enjoy.
dan
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 973
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From: NorthEast
Jeff
Don't know alot about cars but am currenty living in "God's Country", NJ. Hope you fine the crossfire your looking for and you'll fine the people and reading entertaining and informative. Hope to catch you on the road some day.
Don't know alot about cars but am currenty living in "God's Country", NJ. Hope you fine the crossfire your looking for and you'll fine the people and reading entertaining and informative. Hope to catch you on the road some day.
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