BerettaFest 2010 Chicago Best Engineered Award

[quad4berettagtz]

...he had visions of me driving Cliff's car at Cayuga on the road course in '08... Axle = BOOM!! Too far from home to risk breaking it for him...

[Asylum]

Hey Folks!

Can we post any and all pics of GIRF'S car for all to see just what was the Most Deserving Car for this prestigious award for Chicago 2010.

The Mr Potato Head Award Legacy is just beginning B'Fester's!

There have only been TWO winners. Lil'Jon (and for God's sake we know what Pink looks like)

GIRF PICS!! Let's see 'em!

And how about a list of ALL the mods for the Great Unwashed who were not among the priviledged to be in the presence of "Mr Potato Head BerettaFest History" in the making?

[woody90gtz]

Pfffttt...I know that car probably almost as well as Gerff. His damn car is the reason I have so much fuggin money tied up in Berettas!



3400 with upgraded valves
5spd with EP limited slip
OBDII conversion
strut & shock braces
Eibachs & Bilsteins
Shogun 17x7 wheels
F-body brakes with C5 calipers
battery in trunk
2.25 exhaust with Borla turbo muffler & dual tips
modified Euro tails
PPG paint job
Leather shift knob
overhead console
2nd gear synchro issues...

What did I miss?

[woody90gtz]

And here's a pic of the other winner...

[heavywoody]

I was truly surprised about this award; a huge thanks to everyone that had a part in deciding this! I was really taken aback when I heard my name called for this one, as there are some other very well put together cars out there that in some respects I feel are better than mine.

And yes, I didn't go to the strip for fear of breaking my hybrid axles... since I don't have the funds right now to have backup replacements (or get them from the driveshaftshop), I opted not to race... as much as I really wanted to, I just didn't want to risk it. I'd rather race it down here at Z-Max where it at least is someplace close to my tools and can be towed relatively cheaply.

You seriously want a list? Sheesh... lemme see if I can remember everything. I used to have a file somewhere that had it all listed out and broken down by section, but I can't seem to find it.

Drivetrain:
3400 swap with P&P heads and intakes, stainless valves and stiffer springs (and now with TCE lifter springs lol)
Oil pan with oil return fitting TIG welded in place for future turbo project...
HM-282 5spd swap with EP Race LSD
Fidanza Flywheel
Clutchmasters Stage 3 clutch
Tranzgenic CAI
Borla Turbo muffler with 2.25" piping and Catco 12" cat
Full OBDII swap (including Alternator cooling duct, slim 96 fan, etc)
MRZ 5spd bracket (design requested by yours truly)
FFP UDP and driver side dogbone
SDI custom shortened passenger side dogbone
RK Sport Poly motor mount insert

Suspension:
Bilstien struts/shocks
Eibach Springs
Front/rear strut tower braces
30mm front swaybar
26mm rear swaybar
Polygraphite bushings for both swaybars, polygraphite control arm bushings, poly endlinks
Welded control arms
87-91 driver subframe and 92-93 passenger subframe (for horizontal bushings in control arms)

Brakes:
12" F-body front discs with C5 calipers (see writeup)
SS lines

Wheels/tires:
17x7 Enkei Shoguns with 225/45/17 Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec's (I LOVE THESE TIRES!)

Exterior:
Factory color resprayed in December 2003 (PPG), 3 coats House of Kolors clearcoat, coated with Zaino
Shaved door moldings
Euro-spec tail inserts with US spec reflector strip
LED 3rd brake light
Reflective Gold vinyl on "BERETTA" on rear filler panel
Blinders removed inside foglights
Power mirrors
20% tint

Interior:
New carpet/floormats
MRZ Flushmount for radio
Overhead console from a 87-90 car
Alpine CDA-7998 head unit
Alpine 5.25" front Type-R components with tweeters where mirror knobs used to be
Alpine 6x9" rear Type-R speakers
Alpine 12" Type-S sub
Alpine 2 channel amp for sub and 4 channel amp for cabin speakers (mounted in spare tire well)
New (in 2001) GTZ leather wrapped wheel
Leather shift knob with leather boot
Grand Am shift arm
Lotek 2-gauge pod with Autometer WBO2 and Ultralite II Boost gauge
White cluster LED's
Painted cupholders in dash (dark grey to match other dark grey plastics)
Battery relocated to trunk

I think that about sums it up lol...

[1988GTU]

Awesome award to a great long time veteran. DO NOT SELL YOUR CAR NOW!

[3X00-Modified]

...he had visions of me driving Cliff's car at Cayuga on the road course in '08... Axle = BOOM!! Too far from home to risk breaking it for him...

I've got the same hybrid setup... and I beat the crap out of it... Now you guys understand why I stuck with an auto

[Cliff8928]

The 5-speed part wasn't the issue. The passenger side axle being mysteriously about 1" too short was the issue.

[Asylum]

I have to admit I am quite happy with the way the voting went on this award.

And in the end, I am convinced the right car won.

Congrats Geoff. It is most certainly well deserved.

[quad4berettagtz]

The 5-speed part wasn't the issue. The passenger side axle being mysteriously about 1" too short was the issue.

That's for sure... We dropped the clutch HARD on that thing before we left for Charlotte, and plenty of times there. My only problem driving the car in '09 was getting it to hook up. It would benefit like mad from r-compound tires...

[diedemus]

what about the parking lot issue in detroit? lol

[Barry]

The 5-speed part wasn't the issue. The passenger side axle being mysteriously about 1" too short was the issue.

Elaborate on this?
I have found that store bought passenger side axles are always too short. But a quad 4 axle fits perfect for me

[Cliff8928]

what about the parking lot issue in detroit? lol

Same thing.. And the two or so axles before that.

The 5-speed part wasn't the issue. The passenger side axle being mysteriously about 1" too short was the issue.

Elaborate on this?
I have found that store bought passenger side axles are always too short. But a quad 4 axle fits perfect for me

I was originally using axles for a '91 Calais as well as the original ones. Never tried any for a different combo. The ones I have from the driveshaft shop are a bit longer.

[woody90gtz]

My DSS pass axle was perfect, and the driver was about 1" too long so it had to be shortened and sent back.

[Styluss]

I ran into this issue recently too. I took the car to a shop to have the passenger axle replaced, they got two different axels in and one was too long and the other was too short! I had to go to AutoZone and buy the axle for them. Even then, they were a little worried that it was not the right fit. But after a 1080 mile drive to Chi-town and a night at the track... I'd say that the axle works just fine

One of the first things I even said to Will was, "When is the Meanie coming out to play"?

Asylum, thank you for valuing my opinion on the Potato Head Award. It was nice to have my opinion considered in the voting.

As for pics of the winner's car??