Cuore

<3

Went for a routine checkup.. Blood, urine, X-rays, everything.. Heart's X-ray came out good, everything in order as expected.. Got myself new spark plugs all-round.. No need for an oil change for the next 15 000 km..

Because health is wealth;

WorkLog - 23/10/2011

Engine out..!!

free end

drive end

a more colourful side of the job...

Because... long live the ICE;

Strings of Thought

Think deeply critically.


Sometimes, the answer might be more obvious and 'in-your-face' than you really think.


People can and will lie, for reasons only they themselves would fully know. It's how you deal with this that matters.


Sometimes, the answer is far more perplexing as you would have thought, but still worth all the expanded effort.


Because by the age of 60, a person would've told an average of 88 000 lies.. choose your lies carefully;

Different Angles, Different Curves

Utmost detail on comfort

Your car's headrest too hard? Getting neck-cramps from highway drives? Maybe it's that lovely ponytail of yours that's in the way..!!

While other car manufacturers are stressing on 'serious' matters regarding their latest offerings, like performance, handling, design, and passenger comfort and safety, U.S luxury brand Buick is taking it a step further than the rest, by highlighting the contours of their headrests...

Claims that the headrests in the new Buick Verano are "positioned to accommodate ponytails without compromising postural comfort" would be met with applauds and sighs of relief from everyone who wears a ponytail, regardless black, brown, red, blonde, or under a soft silk scarf, men who are lucky enough to score a fictional blonde with a ponytail, or even men who are man enough to sport ponytails in the first place.  

And did we mention that the Buick Verano also has a windshield and a steering wheel..? and that it comes with brakes to avoid unnecessary collisions as standard?

2012 Buick Ponytail

People of the world, can't you see and comprehend that this is the perfect car for you, and that we should all sport ponytails because they are just so darn adorable?? And the build quality and prestige of the Verano are just a garage-sale giveaway to what this car can offer for the well-being of your ponytail... This is the only car in the world to stand up to the oppression that has so long loomed among the ponytailers of the world.  Well, at 24 000 U.S dollars, I'd certainly say that this is a done-deal bargain.

ummm...

err...

hmmmmmmm... :)

The Buick Verano is, without a doubt, a steal compared to this contraption... What you see here is a hand-made bra, that will set you back a cool 2.5 million dollars, for all the stones, gems, and diamonds you could ever want stuck on your, ummm, assets... Sure, you can definitely afford this, if you don't have a ponytail... but then again, why didn't you sport a ponytail in the first place..? That, is a question for all of us to ponder upon... Besides, aren't your assets good enough, just the way they are? 2.5 million..? Naaa, you're certainly worth more than that... ;)

Do the sensible thing, would you...?  Instead of feeding your ego with a heavy undergarment, get a Buick Verano, and save a few million or so in your pocket... That's one more different angle for the Verano's selling point for you... This is a message for all you Wall Street big shots out there, from your good friends at Occupy Wall Street... Just so you know, we've been grudging on you since the 1930s... :)

Because, this is me, spreading sarcasm and joy, and maybe even some inspiration, to the world...

Because maybe, this piece of writing, like Occupy Wall Street, is going nowhere at all with my free time, but at least I smiled when writing it;

Bella Macchina

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept, from every desirable angle. Rolling art.

I'm an engineering student, and the tendency to spend a reasonable amount of time with a scientific calculator, is inevitable. And what do I have stuck on the back of the good ol' calculator..? An Alfa Romeo, of course... stuck on there since 2009.. and will be absolutely perfect parked beside a quicksilver 911 in the climate-controlled garage... :)

You see, it's on the 'cars to own before I die' list... No matter how many times I update the list, I'll never cancel off the Alfa and the 911.. God-willing, if it's not too much to ask... :)

Because I think I have some petrol running in my veins..

WorkLog - 19/10/2011

intake manifold out-can see the intake valves

drive shafts ordered 2 days ago arrived yesterday...

classic...

star-of-david screwdriver... or, professionally, torx.

Because, well, you know how it goes...

Tuesdays...

ahahaha... ahaha... haaaaa...

Because... those eyes...

Typical Tuesdays

Tuesday, in German, is Dienstag.. but that's not the point...

This is... 

Well, not much of a point, but I love clever pieces of advertising as much as the other guy does... the world is a better place to be in because of wit and sense of humour. And for that, I am forever thankful...

For the Porsche nuts, http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/rennsport-reunion-iv-350-porsches-take-to-the-track/

Because... umm.. heute ist Dienstag...

Cars, Yachts, Mobility

There's been an interest in automotive-inspired yachts lately in the design circles...

Corvette powerboat

Even more compelling than the car it's based on

This used to be a Gallardo...

The Voyage

Sheer sailing pleasure.

Where there is development, there is demand... of course, what's not to like about fast, modern, and sleek seaworthy machines. Chances are, if you can afford the Bugatti or the Aston, you probably have some extra 2 million or so to spend on the Bugatti or Aston yacht, right? Or is it the other way round? Doesn't matter, because the money is yours to spend. You've earned it. Just don't forget to save another million for charity..


Because two thirds of our planet is water;

WorkLog - 10/10/2011

Whoa, Monday blues.. :) a Waja came in today with a, ummmmm, suspension issue.. :)

had to change the hydraulic shock absorbers of both front wheels.. tough job..

next was a radiator replacement for an S80... new radiator smells good.. made in Poland.. not cheap..

Because you can't open your own workshop, if you don't even know what a Kenari is;

WorkLog - 8/10/2011

It's a Saturday... Serviced a car's radiator, replaced it's water pump, fixed another car's drive shaft... things are becoming routine fast, and observation is turning more into a chore... but the joy is still there.. :)

Ignition coil

You see?? almost every single car!!
dah expired pon.. :D

Lesson of the day; the importance of cooperation and collaboration... I mean, everywhere you look, every component is made in a different country... the air filter cover is made in France, the air hose is made in Germany, water pump-Japan... Oil seals-France... Gearbox-Japan... Glass-Germany... Engine, chassis, &body-of course, Sweden... and if you're patriotic enough, your fuel should be from Malaysia... :)

You see, you can't do everything yourself... not only is it time-consuming; it's also effort-intensive... 

Dividing the work lightens the load... and everybody wins...

Because there is no I in TEAM;

Standalone Unit

They sure don't have this @ Ah Guan's.. :) This beast makes the four and five-pots at the shop look tame and timid.. :)

The size of this thing.. and the sound.. pure mechanical adrenaline.. and the thing's glowing PURPLE..!!! :O The exhaust headers are glowing purple... dunno whether it's some sort of blackbody radiation, or whether the heat generated is having an effect on this guy's camera...

whatever it is, this V10 is one internal combustion hell.. :)

Because engineering can be theoretically boring, but practically enthralling;

Strings of Thought

Indeed, arrogance, lust, and hatred, are the worst of diseases for the soul... And laziness is not far behind...


kerana berjayanya sesuatu bangsa itu adalah kerana akhlaknya...

WorkLog - 6/10/2011

Yesterday was a Thursday, and nothing much ever happens on a Thursday... U ever get the feeling, sorta like, 'hey, It's already Thursday, we're nearing the end of the week already, just one more lousy day to go thru, and the weekend's all yours, baby...! yepp, ahhhhhh, just gonna put my feet on the table, and ease up for Saturday..   !! What a malaise mentality...

At least that's what it feels like, anyway... only two cars came in... and just for oil changes... and one had a leaking coolant pump... not much to learn... Sunday's the best, though... jam-packed full of activity...

Can't help but notice that 80% or something of the cars that come in here have a golf club membership sticker on their windscreen *yawn*

Airbag out.

Is playing golf really that important for your work slash social image..? 

I skipped Wednesday.. woke up extra-late.. Wensday is my favourite day of the whole week.. maybe I'll skip Wensday and come in on Saturdays... yeah... that would fill up the weekend, conveniently avoiding malaise mentality...

Because I am against a malaise mentality;

Lazy Evenings...

Pretty ordinary evening... What better way to take my mind off a few things, relax after a tiring day, than to get some fresh air? Took the bike out for a spin 'round the neighbourhood... nice weather; grey and cool... just the way I like it... 

whizzed past my old school, and found the gate open, so whattheheck? 

It was rather pleasant... It's been 10 years, you know, since I last stepped foot into this place... God, where has all the time gone? 

the memories... it all suddenly came back... it was an unplanned personal moment of reflection, upon who I am, where it all began... where I am heading now... It was surreal... 

Awesome sunset by the field..

1999...

dah ada pondok pak gad.. :)

dulu ada sukaneka kat sini...

cikgu Zarina used to park her scooter back here...

the old parking spot...

still standing... dulu dalam kolam tu ada tortoise... :)

God, standard 1... ~

Used to run around these blocks all recess.. :D

Dulu dok main tiang ngan Alia kat sni.. :D

Bilik guru... tak berubah...

the good 'ol V-stairs...

Makmal komputer yang tak sempat rasa,
sebab pindah skolah, sebab result terok, sebab main banyak..
haha :D

Assembly ground...

Bila nak siap nii...??

Suddenly my mind took me back to when I was in Form 4, back in Kolej, during the Centenary Celebrations... Dr. M dropped by, and while he was touring the in-class exhibitions, I was fortunate enough to be near him at that moment, and I overheard him saying to Dr. Hasmah... "This used to be my class, you know.." And I was all like.. "holy shit, this was his class, back then.. where he used to sit and read and learn..." his classroom... 

I could imagine how all the old memories flood our minds, when we revisit our yesterdays... only when we accept our past, can we embrace our future...

and, God knows, someday, a long time from now, I'll be the one, walking by my old classroom, saying to that special someone beside me, "this used to be my class, you know.." .. 

Because I can achieve anything I set my mind to;

Volvo 245 2JZ by Björck

That must've been one hell of a shocked M5 owner..



Because even bricks can fly;

WorkLog - 4/10/2011

Ordinary day, nothing special. Although, typically, there is much to be done. Followed the progress of three cars today. One S70 and another 850 wagon needed a timing-belt and oil seal changes. The 850's situation was a mess; the oil seals behind the timing-belt gears had exhausted, and oil burst out between the gears, messing up the engine covers and timing-belt. It was really a sight not worth seeing..

A Mitsubishi Triton came in in the middle of the day, needing engine oil and oil filter replacement. Fairly easy job.

Two-tier air-cond..!!

this was very, very, very dirty.

A Vios also came in.. Got to see the underside of the Toyota. It's interesting to observe that the front-wheel-drive Toyota's underbody layout is, safe to say, 99% similar to the Volvo S70's underbody layout, of which I saw yesterday. I can easily recognise the transverse layout of the engine, the auto gearbox mounted to the left of the engine, the drive shafts connecting the gearbox to the front wheels.. These cars, apart from being two different marques, are nearly a decade apart, and yet there is little difference between the layout of the important mechanical bits.. Automotive technology seems not to have changed much over the years, and practicality, feasibility, and efficiency will always determine the design and advancement of any technology..

Because I get to play with other people's cars;

WorkLog - 3/10/2011

Should've started the WorkLog yesterday.. but then again, yesterday was kinda tiring.. Yes, I am now working in a top-secret automotive facility, which is located somewhere in Mergong, Kedah.. :)

I guess it's safe to say that transmission seems to be the trend of the week.. Yesterday I helped put together an old, longitudinally-mounted, 4-speed ZF automatic gearbox.. pretty decent unit.. ZF is an automotive drivetrain supplier based in Germany.. Learnt a new word along the way.. Getriebe is German for transmission.. and ZF Getriebe GmbH has their facilities in a place called Saarbrücken in Germany, where the particular gearbox unit handled yesterday was made..

After putting the unit together, we mounted and installed the gearbox to an old Volvo 940.. It's kinda, surreal, you know, having a look and feel of what makes a typical car run, after reading and wondering a lot for all these years.. you can't learn everything from a book..  Seeing and understanding is everything.. Even a simple gear-change requires hours upon hours of scrutinizing and assembling behind-the-scenes, and people often take the everyday, mundane, routine tasks for granted.. but when the crisp receipt with the just amount of zeros is handed over, they start to have a better sense of 'appreciation'.. :)

Came into shop in the morning today finding the 940 running good.. work and sweat duly paid-off.. :)

Today another car came in with a gearbox situation.. The coolant tank cracked, and, real-life-problem as it stands, coolant water got into the gearbox.. Took out the gearbox, which required roughly two hours of wrench-turning and sweat. It's a four-speed transversely mounted unit this time, and it's used to power the front wheels, as opposed to yesterday's longitudinally mounted ZF used to spin the rear wheels. And it's also a smaller unit, made by AISIN AW of Japan.. Not a very famous company, but I found out that AISIN makes the Toyota Prius' tranmission, which is pretty hype.. This relatively unknown establishment is on the Fortune Global 500 list (take that PETRONAS.. ) .. quite impressive..

Relatively unknown powerhouse

To take the front-wheel drive gearbox out of this unfortunate S70, we had to take the front wheels out and also disassemble the drive shafts connecting the gearbox to the front wheels. Long story short, a longitudinally-mounted 'box is easier to handle than a transverse 'box..

Torque-converter and everything

Drive shafts. Yeah.

I guess that's enough rambling for now. Sorry for wasting your time, but my hands are dirty, and I'm loving my mundanely-interesting job. I could live like this for three months. :)

Because you can't put a paycheck on experience;  

The Future of Motorsports

I will forever be captivated and awed by motor-racing... Formula 1 particularly. It's the level of sophistication involved that captivates; the technology, the strategy, the commitment... Just finished watching the Singapore race in the living room.. good race.. it's been quite a while since the last time, kicking back, having the TV all to yourself, and enjoying a Grand Prix from the comfort of the living room.. :) One less reason for me to miss Torontoronoh.. :D Hmmmm... I wonder how my second sem. finals results would be like.. :D Eagerly waiting.. :)

Anyways, I can't help but imagine what Formula 1 would be like, 10, 15 years from now.. As consumer industry moves towards a greener and cleaner future, so must motorsports, and the technological aspect of motorsports holds an exciting and promising future for me.. :)

Porsche is an excellent example. Their hybrid technology is already seeing action in racing, and they are highly committed to perfecting their hybrid tech.. The good thing is what they learn from the development of their latest racing technology is directly applied to the road cars; the Cayenne Hybrid and Panamera Hybrid are now available at a Porsche showroom near you, and a 911 Hybrid or even electric (watch out, Tesla) isn't too far away..

Because technology is expanding rapidly everywhere, and catching-up equally rapidly is advantageous;