DB9 turned up to 11? Bamford Rose work starts tomorrow.
Discussion
OK, minor stuff for the next week, but I am taking the car there for my new 20" DBS wheels to be fitted (and painted while I'm on holiday), the RSC spacers to be removed (and sold - anyone?) and the geometry to be reset to what the team think best with the new changes. Also a service and detailed discussion on workscope, costs and timings.
Currently I have a Quicksilver backbox and 200cpi catalysts - it sounds great but noise testing at Goodwood gave 113dB (at 4700rpm), pretty loud for normal life and it's a car I want to do 10k/yr in including the odd trackday on the classical circuits (Goodwood again, Spa, Monza, Le Mans etc). The car has also been mapped to 97/98RON fuel with Rick's custom map which sharpens it up no end. The plan is to have a variable noise system that I can drop to below 100dB, maybe even 98dB with variable baffles and valves. We'll see!
The next few weeks/months at Bamford Rose is the full-fat engine conversion like Pommehogster's, but for the V12. This will then apply to the DB9s, DBS' and the V12Vs but mine will be the first to have the work done in roughly 2 stages. First stage is the BR full manifolds, exhaust and catalyst kit, second stage is the engine out and replacement of pistons, cams, heads, conrods, valves, spings, if it moves and if it doesn't, it gets upgraded. Also a full induction system. I suppose a third stage is the adapative damping as installed in PommeHogsters 'Jessica' and that will be installed when the guys have time, or if the system is ready, it can go straight on! I will effectively have contol over my suspension firmness and my exhaust noise which will be nice. Power... Well I can control that with my right foot!
But I thought I'd start an official thread and will cross-post to sixspeedonline as the colonials therein have expressed an interest as well. I hope there will be no objections to Mike helping with the technical jargon - if you've met me, you'll understand why. I'm not doing this for commercial gain, I'm a paying customer and this work is a big deal for the Aston community.
Personally, the though of driving to Le Mans this year with an extra 100bhp and more grip to match is rather exciting...
Currently I have a Quicksilver backbox and 200cpi catalysts - it sounds great but noise testing at Goodwood gave 113dB (at 4700rpm), pretty loud for normal life and it's a car I want to do 10k/yr in including the odd trackday on the classical circuits (Goodwood again, Spa, Monza, Le Mans etc). The car has also been mapped to 97/98RON fuel with Rick's custom map which sharpens it up no end. The plan is to have a variable noise system that I can drop to below 100dB, maybe even 98dB with variable baffles and valves. We'll see!
The next few weeks/months at Bamford Rose is the full-fat engine conversion like Pommehogster's, but for the V12. This will then apply to the DB9s, DBS' and the V12Vs but mine will be the first to have the work done in roughly 2 stages. First stage is the BR full manifolds, exhaust and catalyst kit, second stage is the engine out and replacement of pistons, cams, heads, conrods, valves, spings, if it moves and if it doesn't, it gets upgraded. Also a full induction system. I suppose a third stage is the adapative damping as installed in PommeHogsters 'Jessica' and that will be installed when the guys have time, or if the system is ready, it can go straight on! I will effectively have contol over my suspension firmness and my exhaust noise which will be nice. Power... Well I can control that with my right foot!
But I thought I'd start an official thread and will cross-post to sixspeedonline as the colonials therein have expressed an interest as well. I hope there will be no objections to Mike helping with the technical jargon - if you've met me, you'll understand why. I'm not doing this for commercial gain, I'm a paying customer and this work is a big deal for the Aston community.
Personally, the though of driving to Le Mans this year with an extra 100bhp and more grip to match is rather exciting...
Rex Racer said:
Great news Yeti. Can't wait to hear the results, and glad you've stepped up to be the test case for many of these V12 mods. Good luck with these projects.
Thanks 
It's a dirty job and all that... The more time I spend with my car, the more I realise there is nothing on earth that I would swap it for, other than perhaps a brand new DBS to my spec - which is what, £150k with discounts? Gallardo and F430 ragtops are intriguing but they're not 'me'. What else is there, that falls into my price bracket, or will in the next 5-10 years? Nothing. I have possibly reached car Nirvana once it has more power than I know what to do with... and an interior unlike anyone else's!
yeti said:
JaseB said:
Sounds nice, what does the induction mod involve? That must 'improve' the sound a fair bit too?!
I *think* it is based on the Vanquish S system? As to sound... no-one has done it yet, but I have high hopes!Neil1300R said:
please ensure that it doesn't quiten your car down! Could now recognise your car blindfold, awesome sound.
I want to hear it in it's full glory at the upcoming Northern meet 
What sort of figures are you expecting for power/torque when combined with all your other mods? Is this the final mod too, or are you still looking to extract more power from it?
EBruce said:
Yeti-which Quicksilver backbox do you have? I am installing RSC 200 cell cats with my Quicksilver supersport backbox
Pretty much the same set up as me, though my cats were from elsewhere. 113dB at 4700rpm here you come if on a V12. V8, don't know but Burntout probably has that setup? mikey k said:
I really like what you have been doing to your DB9.
I'd rather have your car than a DBS
Thanks! Coming in at 2/3 cost to have it bespoke is worth it to me as well. Would never find another manual in my colour and I prefer the DB9s appearance. It's a win-win! I'd rather have your car than a DBS
As to costs... That's one for BR. Burntout, have a look through Pommehogsters thread though I suspect a visit to BR would be more fruitful.
Anyway - I'd better go!!
Very interesting and very productive day with Mike and the team!
Checked my DBS wheels and one needs a refurb, the others are OK and are going to be painted this week while I'm on the mountains. The guys foresee no problems with fouling as my wheels are currently on spacers so the stance will be pretty much the same - we may even end up spacing the front wheels out another 5mm or so, I'm leaving it in their capable hands. Pommehogster is having my old Sports Pack wheels, easy job as his car is up there anyway! I'll collect in just over a week anyway, car is having a small service and 140 point check before the warranty is up.
The 'Plan' refined:
Stage 1: February. Induction is the Aston Power Upgrade for the airbox, feeding back into a custom inlet manifold. Engine remains untouched for now. Custom exhaust manifolds, 2 x cats (compared to the 6 we currently have) much bigger pipework and then into a standard DB9 backbox so that I can have valving again (11kg gain offset by losing 4 x cats). The reason for this is that the new system will be so loud I am going to need to be able to baffle it off on demand so my Quicksilver SuperSports has to go (offers by PM please, Feb availability). It'll be on a switch - not like the current AM Fuse 22 system, but one where you can choose to baffle it through the whole rev range or leave it open at your discretion. At the same time as this, I am having the full adaptive damping system which will have the car on a switch swapping between firmer-than-sports-pack and softer-than-sports-pack. Mike drove my car today and said it's currently softer than SP so that's all fine by me. Output is expected to be 520bhp and torque will stay the same - the DB9 is optimised for torque so changing the inlets for more power would lower the torque, but the exhaust gives it back.
Stage 2: May/June. Engine comes out and gets fettled. From memory, starting at the bottom; modified lowered sump eliminating the crankshaft turning in the oil. Bottom end stays the same. Steel conrods, forged pistons, high lift valves and bigger exhaust valves. Reprofiled camshafts and the piece de resistance, the reprofiled heads based on the Vanquish S design, this is where the magic happens. Clutch, gearbox, ancilliaries stay the same, all are more than strong enough. End result is expected to be a whopping and genuine 570bhp with torque still the same as the DB9 which is hugely torquey as owners know! The delivery and throttle response will be incredbile with the free flowing system, car will be a missile. The new wider wheels were absolutely the righ decision, I will need the grip and intend to do a 3 day driving course at Millbrook to learn to handle the car properly.
Mike drove it today and emphatically stated it to be 'not a pipe and slippers' car. Just what I wanted to hear
Checked my DBS wheels and one needs a refurb, the others are OK and are going to be painted this week while I'm on the mountains. The guys foresee no problems with fouling as my wheels are currently on spacers so the stance will be pretty much the same - we may even end up spacing the front wheels out another 5mm or so, I'm leaving it in their capable hands. Pommehogster is having my old Sports Pack wheels, easy job as his car is up there anyway! I'll collect in just over a week anyway, car is having a small service and 140 point check before the warranty is up.
The 'Plan' refined:
Stage 1: February. Induction is the Aston Power Upgrade for the airbox, feeding back into a custom inlet manifold. Engine remains untouched for now. Custom exhaust manifolds, 2 x cats (compared to the 6 we currently have) much bigger pipework and then into a standard DB9 backbox so that I can have valving again (11kg gain offset by losing 4 x cats). The reason for this is that the new system will be so loud I am going to need to be able to baffle it off on demand so my Quicksilver SuperSports has to go (offers by PM please, Feb availability). It'll be on a switch - not like the current AM Fuse 22 system, but one where you can choose to baffle it through the whole rev range or leave it open at your discretion. At the same time as this, I am having the full adaptive damping system which will have the car on a switch swapping between firmer-than-sports-pack and softer-than-sports-pack. Mike drove my car today and said it's currently softer than SP so that's all fine by me. Output is expected to be 520bhp and torque will stay the same - the DB9 is optimised for torque so changing the inlets for more power would lower the torque, but the exhaust gives it back.
Stage 2: May/June. Engine comes out and gets fettled. From memory, starting at the bottom; modified lowered sump eliminating the crankshaft turning in the oil. Bottom end stays the same. Steel conrods, forged pistons, high lift valves and bigger exhaust valves. Reprofiled camshafts and the piece de resistance, the reprofiled heads based on the Vanquish S design, this is where the magic happens. Clutch, gearbox, ancilliaries stay the same, all are more than strong enough. End result is expected to be a whopping and genuine 570bhp with torque still the same as the DB9 which is hugely torquey as owners know! The delivery and throttle response will be incredbile with the free flowing system, car will be a missile. The new wider wheels were absolutely the righ decision, I will need the grip and intend to do a 3 day driving course at Millbrook to learn to handle the car properly.
Mike drove it today and emphatically stated it to be 'not a pipe and slippers' car. Just what I wanted to hear
yeti said:
Very interesting and very productive day with Mike and the team!
Checked my DBS wheels and one needs a refurb, the others are OK and are going to be painted this week while I'm on the mountains. The guys foresee no problems with fouling as my wheels are currently on spacers so the stance will be pretty much the same - we may even end up spacing the front wheels out another 5mm or so, I'm leaving it in their capable hands. Pommehogster is having my old Sports Pack wheels, easy job as his car is up there anyway! I'll collect in just over a week anyway, car is having a small service and 140 point check before the warranty is up.
The 'Plan' refined:
Stage 1: February. Induction is the Aston Power Upgrade for the airbox, feeding back into a custom inlet manifold. Engine remains untouched for now. Custom exhaust manifolds, 2 x cats (compared to the 6 we currently have) much bigger pipework and then into a standard DB9 backbox so that I can have valving again (11kg gain offset by losing 4 x cats). The reason for this is that the new system will be so loud I am going to need to be able to baffle it off on demand so my Quicksilver SuperSports has to go (offers by PM please, Feb availability). It'll be on a switch - not like the current AM Fuse 22 system, but one where you can choose to baffle it through the whole rev range or leave it open at your discretion. At the same time as this, I am having the full adaptive damping system which will have the car on a switch swapping between firmer-than-sports-pack and softer-than-sports-pack. Mike drove my car today and said it's currently softer than SP so that's all fine by me. Output is expected to be 520bhp and torque will stay the same - the DB9 is optimised for torque so changing the inlets for more power would lower the torque, but the exhaust gives it back.
Stage 2: May/June. Engine comes out and gets fettled. From memory, starting at the bottom; modified lowered sump eliminating the crankshaft turning in the oil. Bottom end stays the same. Steel conrods, forged pistons, high lift valves and bigger exhaust valves. Reprofiled camshafts and the piece de resistance, the reprofiled heads based on the Vanquish S design, this is where the magic happens. Clutch, gearbox, ancilliaries stay the same, all are more than strong enough. End result is expected to be a whopping and genuine 570bhp with torque still the same as the DB9 which is hugely torquey as owners know! The delivery and throttle response will be incredbile with the free flowing system, car will be a missile. The new wider wheels were absolutely the righ decision, I will need the grip and intend to do a 3 day driving course at Millbrook to learn to handle the car properly.
Mike drove it today and emphatically stated it to be 'not a pipe and slippers' car. Just what I wanted to hear
Sounds awsom!!! its got me thinking about what to do under the bonnet now... Checked my DBS wheels and one needs a refurb, the others are OK and are going to be painted this week while I'm on the mountains. The guys foresee no problems with fouling as my wheels are currently on spacers so the stance will be pretty much the same - we may even end up spacing the front wheels out another 5mm or so, I'm leaving it in their capable hands. Pommehogster is having my old Sports Pack wheels, easy job as his car is up there anyway! I'll collect in just over a week anyway, car is having a small service and 140 point check before the warranty is up.
The 'Plan' refined:
Stage 1: February. Induction is the Aston Power Upgrade for the airbox, feeding back into a custom inlet manifold. Engine remains untouched for now. Custom exhaust manifolds, 2 x cats (compared to the 6 we currently have) much bigger pipework and then into a standard DB9 backbox so that I can have valving again (11kg gain offset by losing 4 x cats). The reason for this is that the new system will be so loud I am going to need to be able to baffle it off on demand so my Quicksilver SuperSports has to go (offers by PM please, Feb availability). It'll be on a switch - not like the current AM Fuse 22 system, but one where you can choose to baffle it through the whole rev range or leave it open at your discretion. At the same time as this, I am having the full adaptive damping system which will have the car on a switch swapping between firmer-than-sports-pack and softer-than-sports-pack. Mike drove my car today and said it's currently softer than SP so that's all fine by me. Output is expected to be 520bhp and torque will stay the same - the DB9 is optimised for torque so changing the inlets for more power would lower the torque, but the exhaust gives it back.
Stage 2: May/June. Engine comes out and gets fettled. From memory, starting at the bottom; modified lowered sump eliminating the crankshaft turning in the oil. Bottom end stays the same. Steel conrods, forged pistons, high lift valves and bigger exhaust valves. Reprofiled camshafts and the piece de resistance, the reprofiled heads based on the Vanquish S design, this is where the magic happens. Clutch, gearbox, ancilliaries stay the same, all are more than strong enough. End result is expected to be a whopping and genuine 570bhp with torque still the same as the DB9 which is hugely torquey as owners know! The delivery and throttle response will be incredbile with the free flowing system, car will be a missile. The new wider wheels were absolutely the righ decision, I will need the grip and intend to do a 3 day driving course at Millbrook to learn to handle the car properly.
Mike drove it today and emphatically stated it to be 'not a pipe and slippers' car. Just what I wanted to hear
Like you I would rather keep my car as opposed to stepping out of it into a V12V or DBS etc, so some serious money (but considerabley less than the V12V option) to increase power...
Spring/summer time me thinks... Look forward to seeing some pics with the new wheels on... What colour are they painting them? or are they being refurbed back to new??
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