SBstar
15+ Year Contributor
- 3,038
- 125
- Jan 1, 2004
-
Jackson,
Michigan
February 2009
I had been dsmless since August of 2008 and really didn't have the funds for a new project. A friend called me up and asked if I wanted a 1990 TSI AWD, of course I said yes, but there wasn't money for such a thing. Then he dropped the good news, it was just a shell and it was free.
Had a friend load up his trailer and we journeyed to Ohio to pick up the new shell.
I was living in an apartment at the time and had no place to work on the car, another friend offerred his garage for me to use. Fortunately he understood this wasn't going to be a short stay as I collected parts. This is essentially what I started out with.
Fortunately I had quite a few parts left over from my previous dsms. I also have a good amount of friends in the dsm community who blessed me with free and discounted parts.
There were alot of setbacks, from an oil pump stuffed with some kind of white lithium greese from the previous owner causing a no oil pressure issues, a broken fuel line from the sending unit, an auto rear end instead of a manual, a n/t engine harness, and that's not to mention trying to source every bolt, nut, washer, spacer, etc. to make a running car out of a shell. But, it all started coming together. BTW, the motor was a stock longblock that I nabbed for 300 bucks, most expensive part of the build, including that freshly built transmission which was built with all the goodies. Talk about good friends.
June 2009
The car finally came home under it's own power. The car bucked at 4500 rpms due to a faulty ecu, boost leaked like crazy, had a honda civic radiator which overheated, and ran on an open downpipe. But, it ran!
October 2009
I ended up with a borrowed ecu, megan racing catback, and did a whole lot of boost leak fixing over those last few months. I did get to take it to the 2009 DSM/Evo Shootout, first time taking a DSM. I was finally confident in taking the car to the track for the first time. Unfortunately the Talon would begin it's long line of track breakage! I set a tentative goal of hitting 13's, which I accomplished on the first run while missing 4th gear. This was on 14 psi with the 14b.
Mod List at the Time:
14b w/7cm ported hotside
SBR 1st gen Cast manifold, ported heavily
2.5" O2 housing
3" Punishment DP, 3" test pipe, 3" Megan Racing Catback
Hacked 1g maf
Hard intake pipe w/K&N filter
Unknown fuel pump (Later replaced w/Walbro 255hp)
Built trans w/welded center diff, double syncro's etc.
ACT 2600 (old style)
ARP's
1.811 60ft
8.238 1/8 ET
86.20 1/8 mph
13.614 1/4 ET
93.37 1/4 mph
I missed 4th on the 2nd pass as well, unfortunately the bucking from the missed gear caused an interesting failure. I had made the unfortunate decision of running a mechanical oil pressure gauge. The line broke spraying oil all over the track and spinning a bearing in my bottom end.
This is the engine bay after my track visit, it's humerous how everything looks fine on the surface when a motor has internal issues.
Same buddy who drove his pickup and trailer down to Ohio offered to help me rebuild the engine. I decided on ITM 2g pistons, 1g rods w/arps, and all new gaskets/bearings.
As from the beginning funds were very tight and putting this thing back together took alot of time and patience.
Mid April 2010
Finally brought the car home again and started the break-in process. We discovered a nasty hole/crack in my SBR manifold I had been given so we swapped in a 2g manifold during the engine rebuild process.
June 2010
Got the car back to the track after the break-in process, changes included the rebuilt engine, DSMLink V2.5 and a 2g maf. Boost at 15 psi.
60ft' 1.8039
1/8th ET 8.3505
1/8th MPH 83.48
1/4 ET 13.1192
1/4 MPH 104.53
Both this run and the one last year was on 93 octane fuel. Two days after the 13.1 I decided to add some 110 to the tank, turn up the boost, and go to an Import showdown at US-131 Dragstrip. I did not best my time despite turning the boost up to 18psi. Reason being? I could not shift the car into 2nd the entire day. Absolutely refused to go into 2nd gear. Still took 3rd in the Forced Induction Sport Class, best of 13.3 with 7 cars in the class and being the closest to stock there!
The shifting issue was puzzling at first, I knew I had an awesome trans, and it wasn't grinding, it was almost as if I couldn't pull the shifter back far enough to get it to engage 2nd. Finally discovered one of my shift cables had bent. A new set was ordered.
July 2010
Installed an AEM Wideband, FIC 1050cc injectors, and E-85 fuel! And got a freebie Carbon Fiber hood.
And decided it was time to hit that 12....alas not to be.
DSM/EVO Shootout 2010!
Got a 4 bolt rear swapped into the talon after having wrecked the old 3 bolt rear. I also added an Extrude Honed 1g Intake manifold I stole from a seller here on DSMTuners, thanks again, can't remember the name. Decided to go all out at the shootout and run the car. I wasn't sure what to expect, all I wanted was a 12.999. Here's an excerpt from my thread on another forum with what happened.
I was very very happy!
September 2010
I added a set of Toyo Proxes 4 to the car to replace whatever those old worn out things were on the 2g gst wheels I had picked up. I hit the track and promptly snapped 2 universal joints on my driveshaft on the first launch.
I installed a "new" used driveshaft and hit the track again a few days later. I had ordered an fmic kit but it arrived damaged in the box so I had to stay on the smic.
There was a pretty good showing for the test-n-tune but I decided to make the first run a warm-up instead of an all out pass. I lowered the launch rpm to 4750 and didn't get on the 2 step until the first yellow lit up so I didn't build more then a psi or two off the line. Ended up with a 1.999 60 ft. But, apparently the weather (around 65 degrees) along with the new tune made for some new power as I passed the traps, 12.471 @ 112.33!
Unfortunately as I let off the gas I felt a terrible vibration. Diving under the car after picking up my timeslip I saw that I ruined another universal joint on this driveshaft. I limped the car home in fwd mode once again and settled on looking forward to 2011.
October 2010
FWD mode FTL! I drove the car around for a while in fwd mode (welded diff) which was quite interesting. I'm really not sure how you fwd guys do it, wheel spin and hop like crazy. I got my ETS street/strip FMIC kit installed (don't worry I fixed the bov circulation). Also forgot to mention I got the front fenders painted before the shootout.
December 2010
Found a nice cozy winter storage home for the talon.
I was busy over that winter/spring into June, I stripped out over 100 lbs. for weight reduction. I installed a set of custom rear subframe/mustache brace bushings, a rear toe eliminator kit, maximal performance rear camber bars and a set of Megan Racing Coilovers.
April 2011
11's in 2011 was the mantra, oh yeah, track was supposed to open in April...weird. But of course the car isn't usually ready for racing until July/August anyways.
July 2011
Got the project "buttoned up" and to the track again, unfortunately my laptop died and I was forced to do 4700 rpm launches instead of 5500. I managed a best of 12.83 @ 109 with a 1.9 60'.
Soon after the track visit my T-case locked up while cruising. Turned out the "new" borrowed driveshaft allowed my T-case to leak which cracked it right up the side once it heated up from lack of fluid. I tried another replacement yolk and seal but even after putting in a replacement T-case it leaked. I constantly would fill the driveshaft up from then through the rest of the season.
August 2011
Time for another track visit!
Pass number 1 netted a new personal best 60 foot of 1.67. I'll live with that on street tires all day! The new suspension stuff is obviously helping. I'm sure with some more practice I can cut some low 1.6's at least. Unfortunately I missed 2nd gear (seems to be a driver mod issue on my first pass every time).
Second/Last pass I calmed down and concentrated on hitting the 1-2 shift. Cut a 1.68 60 foot and got her into 2nd gear. Shifted her on through and rode out 4th through the traps. Grabbed my timeslip at the booth and just wanted to smile!
12.25 @ 111.9!!!
BTW, I hate T&T nights, 2-3 passes most of the time, on a good night 4-5. Those were my only two runs that night before they closed up, track was packed and lots of breakage/cleanups!
DSM/Evo Shootout 2011!
After that track visit I was noticed that I could "hear" my bov while driving down the track at WOT, it wasn't the pshht, more like a steady wooshing. I pulled it off and crushed it. Put it back on the car and boost jumped from 21 psi up to 25 psi! No other changes, turned it back down to 21 and headed for the shootout. Also of note, the weight w/driver was 2740ish throughout 2011.
Took my 14b talon to the dsm/evo shootout in Norwalk hoping for a new best.
I got there exactly at 9 and headed for the lines hoping for a pass or two while it was cool out. Hit the line and headed for the lights. The car hooked up instantly, track was very sticky! If I'd been better with the clutch the track was perfect for some great passes, alas I need a better driver mod. Cut a 1.7 60 ft. But when I grabbed the timeslip I was still ecstatic. 12.091 @ 113.92!
Had a couple issues and we finally got lined up for the first qualifying round. Tried to hit the launch better but the tires broke loose and I managed another 1.7 sixty. But I hit the new personal best of 12.050 @ 113.36. Timeslip breakdown
1.708 60 ft.
7.709 1/8th ET
89.49 1/8th mph
12.050 1/4th ET
113.36 1/4 MPH
Then it started to rain
Fortunately it cleared up and I got three more passes in, but between the track prep going away and it heating up I couldn't get the timeslips down. The runs went down like this:
12.132 @ 112.82 (Launched about sideways from the wheels spinning, shows a 1.67 60ft though)
12.8 @ 111.83 (Didn't lift foot all the way off clutch enabling NLTS off the launch! OOPS!)
12.139 @ 112.72 (Once again spinning hard, but a 1.69 60 ft anyways)
http://youtu.be/eXnsJpU1ES0
I was pretty excited, got a little ahead of myself and predicted 11's at my home track with some cooler weather.
September 2011
No 11's for 2011
I was looking for any last little edge and decided to shim the wastegate to see if it could hold a little more boost. I never noticed a drop off at higher rpm, but wasn't really watching the boost gauge anyways. I shimmed it a little too much and overboosted for all of about 1 second...it was enough. Personally I still think the engine should have survived, only that piston failed which caused the rod to go through the block, everything else looked perfect. ITM pistons aren't known for being great...lesson learned.
I replaced a bent valve and threw in a spare stock 1g 6 bolt block and had nothing but knock issues with it. The car was put in storage and wasn't pulled back out until.
August 2012
Pulled the head and did a thorough check over and discovered the other intake valve was bent ever so slightly. I had 115 psi compression in that cylinder and had been blaming it on the old stock block. Yes you can have a bent valve and still have compression! Replaced it and drove the car to the 20th Annual DSM/Evo shootout. Got bit by the racing bug bad again. This last week I started tuning again and got a good baseline on the car for a track visit. I'm hoping to have track results again soon. I'm setting the only 2012 goals as getting back under 12.5. Hoping everything stays together!
I had been dsmless since August of 2008 and really didn't have the funds for a new project. A friend called me up and asked if I wanted a 1990 TSI AWD, of course I said yes, but there wasn't money for such a thing. Then he dropped the good news, it was just a shell and it was free.
Had a friend load up his trailer and we journeyed to Ohio to pick up the new shell.
I was living in an apartment at the time and had no place to work on the car, another friend offerred his garage for me to use. Fortunately he understood this wasn't going to be a short stay as I collected parts. This is essentially what I started out with.
Fortunately I had quite a few parts left over from my previous dsms. I also have a good amount of friends in the dsm community who blessed me with free and discounted parts.
There were alot of setbacks, from an oil pump stuffed with some kind of white lithium greese from the previous owner causing a no oil pressure issues, a broken fuel line from the sending unit, an auto rear end instead of a manual, a n/t engine harness, and that's not to mention trying to source every bolt, nut, washer, spacer, etc. to make a running car out of a shell. But, it all started coming together. BTW, the motor was a stock longblock that I nabbed for 300 bucks, most expensive part of the build, including that freshly built transmission which was built with all the goodies. Talk about good friends.
June 2009
The car finally came home under it's own power. The car bucked at 4500 rpms due to a faulty ecu, boost leaked like crazy, had a honda civic radiator which overheated, and ran on an open downpipe. But, it ran!
October 2009
I ended up with a borrowed ecu, megan racing catback, and did a whole lot of boost leak fixing over those last few months. I did get to take it to the 2009 DSM/Evo Shootout, first time taking a DSM. I was finally confident in taking the car to the track for the first time. Unfortunately the Talon would begin it's long line of track breakage! I set a tentative goal of hitting 13's, which I accomplished on the first run while missing 4th gear. This was on 14 psi with the 14b.
Mod List at the Time:
14b w/7cm ported hotside
SBR 1st gen Cast manifold, ported heavily
2.5" O2 housing
3" Punishment DP, 3" test pipe, 3" Megan Racing Catback
Hacked 1g maf
Hard intake pipe w/K&N filter
Unknown fuel pump (Later replaced w/Walbro 255hp)
Built trans w/welded center diff, double syncro's etc.
ACT 2600 (old style)
ARP's
1.811 60ft
8.238 1/8 ET
86.20 1/8 mph
13.614 1/4 ET
93.37 1/4 mph
I missed 4th on the 2nd pass as well, unfortunately the bucking from the missed gear caused an interesting failure. I had made the unfortunate decision of running a mechanical oil pressure gauge. The line broke spraying oil all over the track and spinning a bearing in my bottom end.
This is the engine bay after my track visit, it's humerous how everything looks fine on the surface when a motor has internal issues.
Same buddy who drove his pickup and trailer down to Ohio offered to help me rebuild the engine. I decided on ITM 2g pistons, 1g rods w/arps, and all new gaskets/bearings.
As from the beginning funds were very tight and putting this thing back together took alot of time and patience.
Mid April 2010
Finally brought the car home again and started the break-in process. We discovered a nasty hole/crack in my SBR manifold I had been given so we swapped in a 2g manifold during the engine rebuild process.
June 2010
Got the car back to the track after the break-in process, changes included the rebuilt engine, DSMLink V2.5 and a 2g maf. Boost at 15 psi.
60ft' 1.8039
1/8th ET 8.3505
1/8th MPH 83.48
1/4 ET 13.1192
1/4 MPH 104.53
Both this run and the one last year was on 93 octane fuel. Two days after the 13.1 I decided to add some 110 to the tank, turn up the boost, and go to an Import showdown at US-131 Dragstrip. I did not best my time despite turning the boost up to 18psi. Reason being? I could not shift the car into 2nd the entire day. Absolutely refused to go into 2nd gear. Still took 3rd in the Forced Induction Sport Class, best of 13.3 with 7 cars in the class and being the closest to stock there!
The shifting issue was puzzling at first, I knew I had an awesome trans, and it wasn't grinding, it was almost as if I couldn't pull the shifter back far enough to get it to engage 2nd. Finally discovered one of my shift cables had bent. A new set was ordered.
July 2010
Installed an AEM Wideband, FIC 1050cc injectors, and E-85 fuel! And got a freebie Carbon Fiber hood.
And decided it was time to hit that 12....alas not to be.
DSM/EVO Shootout 2010!
Got a 4 bolt rear swapped into the talon after having wrecked the old 3 bolt rear. I also added an Extrude Honed 1g Intake manifold I stole from a seller here on DSMTuners, thanks again, can't remember the name. Decided to go all out at the shootout and run the car. I wasn't sure what to expect, all I wanted was a 12.999. Here's an excerpt from my thread on another forum with what happened.
I was very very happy!
September 2010
I added a set of Toyo Proxes 4 to the car to replace whatever those old worn out things were on the 2g gst wheels I had picked up. I hit the track and promptly snapped 2 universal joints on my driveshaft on the first launch.
I installed a "new" used driveshaft and hit the track again a few days later. I had ordered an fmic kit but it arrived damaged in the box so I had to stay on the smic.
There was a pretty good showing for the test-n-tune but I decided to make the first run a warm-up instead of an all out pass. I lowered the launch rpm to 4750 and didn't get on the 2 step until the first yellow lit up so I didn't build more then a psi or two off the line. Ended up with a 1.999 60 ft. But, apparently the weather (around 65 degrees) along with the new tune made for some new power as I passed the traps, 12.471 @ 112.33!
Unfortunately as I let off the gas I felt a terrible vibration. Diving under the car after picking up my timeslip I saw that I ruined another universal joint on this driveshaft. I limped the car home in fwd mode once again and settled on looking forward to 2011.
October 2010
FWD mode FTL! I drove the car around for a while in fwd mode (welded diff) which was quite interesting. I'm really not sure how you fwd guys do it, wheel spin and hop like crazy. I got my ETS street/strip FMIC kit installed (don't worry I fixed the bov circulation). Also forgot to mention I got the front fenders painted before the shootout.
December 2010
Found a nice cozy winter storage home for the talon.
I was busy over that winter/spring into June, I stripped out over 100 lbs. for weight reduction. I installed a set of custom rear subframe/mustache brace bushings, a rear toe eliminator kit, maximal performance rear camber bars and a set of Megan Racing Coilovers.
April 2011
11's in 2011 was the mantra, oh yeah, track was supposed to open in April...weird. But of course the car isn't usually ready for racing until July/August anyways.
July 2011
Got the project "buttoned up" and to the track again, unfortunately my laptop died and I was forced to do 4700 rpm launches instead of 5500. I managed a best of 12.83 @ 109 with a 1.9 60'.
Soon after the track visit my T-case locked up while cruising. Turned out the "new" borrowed driveshaft allowed my T-case to leak which cracked it right up the side once it heated up from lack of fluid. I tried another replacement yolk and seal but even after putting in a replacement T-case it leaked. I constantly would fill the driveshaft up from then through the rest of the season.
August 2011
Time for another track visit!
Pass number 1 netted a new personal best 60 foot of 1.67. I'll live with that on street tires all day! The new suspension stuff is obviously helping. I'm sure with some more practice I can cut some low 1.6's at least. Unfortunately I missed 2nd gear (seems to be a driver mod issue on my first pass every time).
Second/Last pass I calmed down and concentrated on hitting the 1-2 shift. Cut a 1.68 60 foot and got her into 2nd gear. Shifted her on through and rode out 4th through the traps. Grabbed my timeslip at the booth and just wanted to smile!
12.25 @ 111.9!!!
BTW, I hate T&T nights, 2-3 passes most of the time, on a good night 4-5. Those were my only two runs that night before they closed up, track was packed and lots of breakage/cleanups!
DSM/Evo Shootout 2011!
After that track visit I was noticed that I could "hear" my bov while driving down the track at WOT, it wasn't the pshht, more like a steady wooshing. I pulled it off and crushed it. Put it back on the car and boost jumped from 21 psi up to 25 psi! No other changes, turned it back down to 21 and headed for the shootout. Also of note, the weight w/driver was 2740ish throughout 2011.
Took my 14b talon to the dsm/evo shootout in Norwalk hoping for a new best.
I got there exactly at 9 and headed for the lines hoping for a pass or two while it was cool out. Hit the line and headed for the lights. The car hooked up instantly, track was very sticky! If I'd been better with the clutch the track was perfect for some great passes, alas I need a better driver mod. Cut a 1.7 60 ft. But when I grabbed the timeslip I was still ecstatic. 12.091 @ 113.92!
Had a couple issues and we finally got lined up for the first qualifying round. Tried to hit the launch better but the tires broke loose and I managed another 1.7 sixty. But I hit the new personal best of 12.050 @ 113.36. Timeslip breakdown
1.708 60 ft.
7.709 1/8th ET
89.49 1/8th mph
12.050 1/4th ET
113.36 1/4 MPH
Then it started to rain
Fortunately it cleared up and I got three more passes in, but between the track prep going away and it heating up I couldn't get the timeslips down. The runs went down like this:
12.132 @ 112.82 (Launched about sideways from the wheels spinning, shows a 1.67 60ft though)
12.8 @ 111.83 (Didn't lift foot all the way off clutch enabling NLTS off the launch! OOPS!)
12.139 @ 112.72 (Once again spinning hard, but a 1.69 60 ft anyways)
http://youtu.be/eXnsJpU1ES0
I was pretty excited, got a little ahead of myself and predicted 11's at my home track with some cooler weather.
September 2011
No 11's for 2011
I was looking for any last little edge and decided to shim the wastegate to see if it could hold a little more boost. I never noticed a drop off at higher rpm, but wasn't really watching the boost gauge anyways. I shimmed it a little too much and overboosted for all of about 1 second...it was enough. Personally I still think the engine should have survived, only that piston failed which caused the rod to go through the block, everything else looked perfect. ITM pistons aren't known for being great...lesson learned.
I replaced a bent valve and threw in a spare stock 1g 6 bolt block and had nothing but knock issues with it. The car was put in storage and wasn't pulled back out until.
August 2012
Pulled the head and did a thorough check over and discovered the other intake valve was bent ever so slightly. I had 115 psi compression in that cylinder and had been blaming it on the old stock block. Yes you can have a bent valve and still have compression! Replaced it and drove the car to the 20th Annual DSM/Evo shootout. Got bit by the racing bug bad again. This last week I started tuning again and got a good baseline on the car for a track visit. I'm hoping to have track results again soon. I'm setting the only 2012 goals as getting back under 12.5. Hoping everything stays together!
Last edited by a moderator:
Looking forward to more progress! 
Let's just say it was built well and I got it directly from the builder which is why I won't offer names. I am truly blessed with great friends though! 
You gotta be catching up.
. Helical gears still but with dog engagement.
