Excellent Major Service by T&R Automotive

Thanks, THoang. BTW, I will ping you today, 1-August-2011, to talk to you about aerial shots for the FOG Rally. I have a helo locked down, shutting down the Golden Gate Bridge, and having a Presidential CHP Escort over the GGB for the FOG Rally, and your name popped up.

Yes, Pimpinon -- I really dig the new LED lights TAForza installed for me -- one of my favorite additions I've done to the car. BTW, what do you think of the 288 GTO? It has twin Japanese Turbochargers (IHI). ;-)

Believe me, if Ferrari provided LED light upgrades for my car, I would have purchased it from them; since, they don't, I researched the Internet and FChat and found the product that works.

Unfortunately, the LEDs don't have the same lumen punch as the Audi R8s because the LEDs are forced to point up toward the sky due the the F430's tracks in the headlight components; but, they still look kick-ass, especially compared to the original Ferrari 1.5 watt light bulb.

Troomi: I was at TAForza's at the time of your car's stay -- she looks and sounds awesome.

Chrigel: +1 regarding the great customer service TAForza performs in addition to being a skilled technician. I was there at the time of your car's stay. I saw the updates, and they all look great. Your black rims got me thinking of painting my rims black. Did you get the same side mirros as I did? The ones that are convex eliminating blind spots for the F-430.

 

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Yes, Pimpinon -- I really dig the new LED lights TAForza installed for me -- one of my favorite additions I've done to the car. BTW, what do you think of the 288 GTO? It has twin Japanese Turbochargers (IHI). ;-)

Believe me, if Ferrari provided LED light upgrades for my car, I would have purchased it from them; since, they don't, I researched the Internet and FChat and found the product that works.

Unfortunately, the LEDs don't have the same lumen punch as the Audi R8s because the LEDs are forced to point up toward the sky due the the F430's tracks in the headlight components; but, they still look kick-ass, especially compared to the original Ferrari 1.5 watt light bulb.



Just a bit skeptical that's all. Enjoy it.

 

I can't imagine adding more to my car after I execute the following FINAL three additions:

1) Red LED F-1 Flashing Brake Light
(I know that the F-1 rear light is actually called a RAIN LIGHT, but for my use, I call it a BRAKE LIGHT because TAForza sets it up where, at the application of the brake, the F-1 light will rapidly flash; hence, the the reason I call the RAIN LIGHT the F-1 Brake Light.

Presently, I have it on my car, and it looks slick, but TAForza is working on building a larger, square, LED F-1 Flashing Brake Light for me.)

2) Yellow Front-End Tow Hook (The last time I was on the track was 2010; I really am not a track guy, but I just really love the look of the hook.)

3) Engine Bay Display Light (TAForza and I have been working on this feature -- for the Coupe', it really works and looks great -- the spyder will have installation challenges, but TAForza will work it out for me.)

When I'm complete with these installations, I will post pictures.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso Faustino

 

One thing's for sure ASFJr, you really love that F430. I can't wait to see it again with all the new upgrades.

 

Hi, Butcher.

We missed you last night, 4-August-2011. I hope you will make the FOG event tomorrow. It would be great to catch up with you.

I was the same way with my 328GTS. TAForza did a lot of cool updates to that car. Talk, soon.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso Faustino
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Great looking 430 Spider, Alfonso.
A big thanks to Tony who restored the air-intake of my GTB and providing some cleaning tips. She won Platinum Award, thanks Alfie for taking the picture.
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Tony

Thanks for taking care of my wife's Maserati. I'll eventually get there for my car.

 

Congratulations, 308GTS79, on taking the Platinum! She's a beautiful 328, and I'm really happy for you! See you at the FOGRally.com event. Beautiful shot of you and your girl taking the victory walk!

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso Faustino

 

The pictures, below, show the final updates to my F430 Spyder (Saphira). I'm done with updates, and it's time for her to spend some time in my paddock. She may as well be TAForza's car -- she spends more time with him and staying the night at his paddock than mine. ;-)

In this set of pics, TAForza installed a tow hook eyelet; engine-bay LED lights for displaying the engine at night when parked at a restaurant; and, the engine bay light switch.
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Looks great ASF,

Cant wait to see Saphira in person. We missed you in Monterey/Carmel.

 

You are very welcome.

 

Nice work Tony.

I was inspecting the 308 and noticed a split CV boot, going to have to take care of that before the ride!

 

That's a fun project. Change both while you are at it. Tape your knuckles beforehand and have your cuss jar nearby.

 

Been there done that. Except I didnt do both sides. That CV joint grease is nuclear stuff.

On the plus side, the parts are super cheap as the joint and boot is the same as a 930 Turbo.
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That's why you're doing the other side now.

 

thank you for your keen insight.

 

Sorry to hear that. Take care of it sooner than later so that the grease does not go all over the place and you end up cleaning it for hours. Let me know if you need help.

 

Butcher, I am so disappointed I missed the FOG gang that week and weekend. I had to go to LA for a table-read and wardrobe fitting for a movie, of which, I am a supporting actor. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend at the Wrap Party.

Ha! Thanks, 4RE886 -- now, if I can only hit a 126 MPH tennis serve like you...then, I would be not only the "best tastefully accessorized [vehicle] in the country," but also a helluva a tennis player.

 

One of my favorite movies is Ghost Rider with Nicholas Cage. I love the line in the movie, "I feel like my skull's on fire, but I'm good...oh -- and, thanks for the water."

I also love the way his motor-bike comes to life in the presense of evil; hence, I wanted to get that same ghostly feeling with Saphira during my night sorties.

So, in comes TAForza, and the following pics are the results. One of the challenges is, as much as I love fog lamps on my cars, fog lamps, to me, just don't fit the F-430s; hence, TAForza came up with the glow.

The other thing I wanted is to show that energy is always going on with Saphira even though she is parked. During the day, that's not a problem; but, at night, when it's dark, the energy is not as strong; so, the lights we selected were LEDs.

I can leave the LEDs as long as 6 hours without killing her battery. This is more than enough time for my evening restaurant visits for my feeding time.

I park her in front, leave her LEDs on, while I feed on the flesh of animals. Pedestrians dig it; the restaurant digs it; and, I dig it.

Now, I'm done -- no more updates -- just learning the best way to drive her.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso Faustino
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I realize I mentioned I would not make anymore modifications to my F430 (Call-sign: Saphira), but I noticed a visual discomfort with Saphira's rear end; so, I asked TAForza to care of it.

Problem: At a distance from Saphira's 6, she apprears to have a big gap between the inner exhaust pipes. The reason is her difusser is painted black by the factory. To me, the visual gap make her 6 looks high and not balanced, and it bugs me whenever I walk behind her.

Solution: TAForza painted my difusser red.

Now, several pilotis told me there's just too much red going on back there. True, but I like it better than the visual illusion of a gap. I love that the red difusser makes her rear end look lower, and eliminates that visual gap.

I don't think it's too much red -- I believe she looks a lot better.

Also, I decided to upgrade my F-1 Brake Light to the real and actual F-1 rain-light used by the F-1 cars. (In F-1, it's called a rain-light and is only used by the F-1 cars in foul weather, and the light constantly blinks regardless if the F-1 pilotis applies his or her brakes, but since it is an F-1 light, and TAForza wired it to my brakes, I call it an F-1 brake-light.)

TAForza called the Ferrari Factory, Porsche Factory, and a bunch of other F-1 car companies, but no F-1 factory would sell him the F-1 rain light.

Until he contacted the McClaren F-1 team. They sold him the light shown in the pic below. It cost me around $1790 for the light; but, TAForza is working with McClaren to get a cost reduction on the lights, since he is interested in buying a bulk of them.

(I'm impatient and didn't want to sit around during TAForza's price reduction negotiations with McClaren -- so, I authorized TAForza to order me one and pay their price: $1790.)

BTW, you can't see it in the pic, but when I apply my brakes, the F-1 light has a fast blink, and it keeps the civilians off my 6 when I'm ready to stop. The LEDs are extremely intense, and really pops, so the civilian drivers on my 6 get a nice little visual jolt that snaps and alerts them -- at least, that was my experience when I drove behind TAForza, who has the same light as me.


I believe I am done with all my modifications to Saphira.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso Faustino
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Alfonso, your car looks great! I was considering adding a diffiser to my car and painting it red. The painted diffiser looks like it came that way originally. I saw your car because my car was there for Tony to diagnoise a check engine problem and install a new battery.

I had the opportunity to look at the lights in the challenge grill area and engine compartment at night, a nice upgrade.

After talking to Tony, I figured out if you think of it, he can build it. He is very creative.

My 360 has blind spots and Tony pointed out an upgraded mirror that's a must for every 360 and 430. With the mirrors, there are no blind spots. I can't wait to add a few upgrades to my car. I can't say enough about Tony, he looks at ways to save the customer money, works on all exotics and is a true profectionist and at a great price. No wonder Tony has a large following. Once you go to T & R you will be hooked!

 

I got a flat tire last weekend while on a drive, I called Tony of T&R for help, and reached him in Vegas. "no problem" he said, Tony remotely directed his T&R staff to come pick up my wheel with the flat, took it back to T&R, put on his back up Pirelli Rosso tire for his personal F430 on my wheel, delivered the wheel back to me, so that I could drive the car home safely. Tony is awesome! Thank you!