Now I know it is not even June yet and the end of the year seems so far away but for me its probably going to be cutting it close to getting the car ready to go for another stint in the Grand Bayou Race Series. With the 2007 - 2008 series behind (2nd overall in my class in my rookie year), its time to turn our heads to the upcoming series which will begin on October 3rd - 5th this year. We have come to the conclusion that 184.1 to the wheels just is no where near enough power to be competetive this season. So I called around and sent out ALLOT of E-Mails to guys that have either raced DSMs or work on them daily. Too many people to name so I won't even go there. We settled on a setup that will consist of an EVO III 'Big' 16G Turbo, Dejon Big SMIC, Eagle Rods, Forged ITM Pistons (.020 over), ARPs all the way through, BC Valves, Springs & Retainers, FP Race Manifold and a new wideband. We are looking at trying to produce around 300 whp and maybe a little more. With the car now being at its lightest with everything taken out that has nothing to do with the car running gone. 300 whp should be a nice powerplant for the car.

I want to take some time also here in the begining to thank some of the companies and people that make all of this possible. Luda (Chris) here on DSMTuners for giving me the opportunity to share in my racing experiences with all the DSM commnunity. Everyone at Red Line Oil for coming on board as a sponsor late last year and all year this series. Marti Ruiz at VIP Garage for always getting me the parts I need to make sure this thing stops on the track Which is always a big plus. Its not always about going fast, its allot of times about being able to stop fast too. Jimmy Barnes and Danny at Fighters Garage here locally in Pensacola. Always making sure that the car is in top running order for my each round of the series. They are also doing the engine build for the new motor this series. Thanks guys. And last and certainly not least....Everyone on this discussion board for all of your kind words, encouragment and messages throughout my rookie season and beyond. It was always nice to get the E-Mails, PMs and resposnses to all my write-ups last series. A very HUGE THANK YOU to everyone on DSMTuners.com. DSMers are the VERY best !!!

Now on with the show. I went up to Fighters Garge today to see Jimmy and the boys had gotten the rest of the "junk" out that no longer has a need in the car and also the motor had been pulled. I did a survey of what all I could do in the meantime and its just some minor repair work to the front of the car where in a practice session I got a little too close to a BMW and we bumped around a bit. Theres about a 10 inch tear in the front bumper so I am either going to do some light fiberglass work or do the old zip tie stich up job on it. We'll see about that this weekend. Other than that its just some phone calls to be made to try and secure some more funding as well as some roll cage peices for this season. Like I said, we are looking to get around 300 + whp out of the new engine so hopefully that will take us from running 1:28 laptimes down around the 1:24 and under relm for this season. Some more suspension work to be done depending on how much the labor on the engine build will cost. But we will see on that a little later in June when thet get closer to being finished with it. Then the break in process most likely on the dyno and we will see what we can come up with. Hopefully it will be running and tuned up before July rolls around so I can hit Road Atlanta once and get in 2 maybe 3 testing sessions at No Problem Raceway before the series kicks off in October. But until then, here a few pics from todays trip to the shop.

Great thread man. You going with a evo 3 set up. This makes me wonder if going with a 30r would be a little too big for our california tracks

Two questions:
1)

tsiboosted said:

BC Valves, Springs & Retainers

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Are you just adding these so you can rev a little higher? Or are there some cams in the works too?

2) Are you jumping up a class? I remember reading one of your event posts and that you were too fast for the class you were in on your stock turbo.

chavez408 said:

Great thread man. You going with a evo 3 set up. This makes me wonder if going with a 30r would be a little too big for our california tracks

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Thanks chavez. Yeah, it seems to be the general thoughts that this; EVO III setup, would be the best for road racing for me. Along with the Dejon SDMIC. I have never raced on any of the tracks in Cali. yet so I could not comment on the 30R setup for you man sorry.

BoostFrenzy said:

Two questions:

1)Are you just adding these so you can rev a little higher? Or are there some cams in the works too?

2) Are you jumping up a class? I remember reading one of your event posts and that you were too fast for the class you were in on your stock turbo.

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BoostFrenzy -

1) Just to have the ability to rev a but higher 1st and formost and if some funding inqueries come through, then yes, cams too. But we will have to waqit and see on that one.

2) Not jumping classes, just moving up in my class. The way the bracket Sports Touring class works is no different than drag bracket racing. You have to stay within a certain time frame or you "break out". Same thing here with us on the road circuit. My bracket (Blue) had to stay over 1:30 or risk breaking out and getting docked a lap. I did it a few times but never in the feature race where they would take a lap and perhaps cost you the race. My fastest lap at No Problem is a 1:28, so I am hoping to be in the "fastest" bracket (Red) and go no faster than 1:23. Should be able to be in the 1:26 - 1:24 range after the enigne is ready to go. I hope this clears it up a little bit for you

lookin good eddie!

I'm a firm believer in the Evo III setup for road racing..I get a nice pull off the corners with little lag. And so far it has been very reliable. And apparently you can boost the hell out of it though I have no experience with this. There may be a better setup out there bit I wouldn't go any bigger unless you were allowed to install anti-lag.
As a reference I Mustang dyno at 205 whp with 12 lbs of boost on a 16G with a stock bottom end, tired stock top end and open exhaust.

Oh and start early as you can on the pre-race stuff...the season ALWAYS comes way too fast!

i agree, the evoIII 16g is an awesome turbo. There really is not much for DBB 50 trim road race turbos anymore. FP had their FP2455 that spooled nearly like stock but flowed like 42lbs or something. But FP has not made that turbo for a long time, not sure why either, i'd love to pickup one of those turbo's.

tsiboosted said:

Not jumping classes, just moving up in my class. The way the bracket Sports Touring class works is no different than drag bracket racing

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Brackets right right right. That's what I forgot. Been a while since I read one of your event posts. Good luck with the funding hunt man

Dave532 said:

I'm a firm believer in the Evo III setup for road racing..I get a nice pull off the corners with little lag. And so far it has been very reliable. And apparently you can boost the hell out of it though I have no experience with this. There may be a better setup out there bit I wouldn't go any bigger unless you were allowed to install anti-lag.
As a reference I Mustang dyno at 205 whp with 12 lbs of boost on a 16G with a stock bottom end, tired stock top end and open exhaust.

Oh and start early as you can on the pre-race stuff...the season ALWAYS comes way too fast!

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You are SOOOO right on the season coming fast Dave. It seems to me like I just ran the last round and now I am getting ready for another season. But as much as I researched the EVO III setup I believe it will be the best setup for what I am trying to acomplish.

Also, its not just all about the car getting setup and ready for next series. Its getting the pit equipment ready, the trailer, the hauler, all the tools, air compressors, air tools, hotels, fuel cans, hoses, power cords, etc. etc. There is ALOT that goes into the season and each race before I even think about the car. But I'm sure you know exactly where I am coming from. I usually put in about 10 - 15 hours of work the week before an event just getting everything but the car ready for the event. Making sure I have hotel reservations, mechanics money, food, drinks, all pit equipment ready....Many things go into getting ready and fully prepared for a race weekend I think people over look. Its not all just about the car and you. But it is ALL worth it !!!

talonTSIDriver said:

i agree, the evoIII 16g is an awesome turbo. There really is not much for DBB 50 trim road race turbos anymore. FP had their FP2455 that spooled nearly like stock but flowed like 42lbs or something. But FP has not made that turbo for a long time, not sure why either, i'd love to pickup one of those turbo's.

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I'm not sure either why FP doesnt offer that turbo anymore. Maybe a supply and demand issue Not sure.

BoostFrenzy said:

Brackets right right right. That's what I forgot. Been a while since I read one of your event posts. Good luck with the funding hunt man

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No big deal man. It has been almost 3 months since I wrote a race report up on the series. Thanks for the thumbs up on funding as well....I need ALL the help I can get

Ok, got some update pics of the car and engine work from the shop last night. Started breaking down the engine so they are getting into it now. They got most of everything pulled off the engine and opened it up to start pulling the internals and see what we need to swend off to the machine shop if anything. Coming along right on schedule. But I'm sure that may change when they start to put this thing back together. Not too much to see but here are a few progress pictures for you.

tsiboosted

Then the break in process most likely on the dyno and we will see what we can come up with. Hopefully it will be running and tuned up before July rolls around so I can hit Road Atlanta once and get in 2 maybe 3 testing sessions at No Problem Raceway before the series kicks off in October. But until then, here a few pics from todays trip to the shop


Please let us know what you run around Road Atlanta? That track is not to far away from where I am going to be moving back to (my home state) and I would like to have a time from a fellow DSMer to compare.

RipperXX said:

tsiboosted

Then the break in process most likely on the dyno and we will see what we can come up with. Hopefully it will be running and tuned up before July rolls around so I can hit Road Atlanta once and get in 2 maybe 3 testing sessions at No Problem Raceway before the series kicks off in October. But until then, here a few pics from todays trip to the shop


Please let us know what you run around Road Atlanta? That track is not to far away from where I am going to be moving back to (my home state) and I would like to have a time from a fellow DSMer to compare.

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Yeah no big deal man. I can look around in my logbooks and try to find some older times on the old setup. I dont know if that would help you any but I think it was around the 2:15 mark if I remember correctly. I would have to look those up. But if I get the chance to head up there I will have someone with a watch

Alright so another progress report here. They got the head off and most everything else (except tranny) in preperation to send off to the machine shop. Local race shop Coastal Machine Shop will be doing the rebuild on the short block. Heat tank everything they can and build the motor for me. Should be around a 3-4 day process they said from the day they get it from my garage.

Going to bore it out anywhere from 0.10 - .030 depending on what they see. The cylinder walls looked good when they pulled the head so I wouldnt imagine much work will need to be done. Just freshen up the cylinder walls, new bearings and she will be ready go go back together Built. Of course, things could change once the machine shop sees the block for themselves. But I dont see much changing in what will be happening to the block. It looked better than I actually thought it would for being an almost all stock internal engine after a full race series on it. Snapped a few pics this afternoon when I stopped by the shop.

New update from the machine shop today. Cylinder walls in the block were much better than they originally thought before seeing them. Talked to them today and they just hoaned the block putting the cross hatch back in the cylinder walls. Ordered my new ACL Tri-Metal Main & Rod Race Bearings today and gasket kit as well. Should be here on Monday or Tuesday. So now hopefully the engine can be all done and built by the middle of next week. Then back to the shop to put the tranny back on it and back into the car.

The build is right on time (knock on wood) right now as I planned. Nothing has come up as of yet. It has gone realitivly smooth all the way around. So with nothing huge arising in the build or putting it back in, we should be ready to tune and test by the end of June 1st part of July

tsiboosted said:

New update from the machine shop today. Cylinder walls in the block were much better than they originally thought before seeing them. Talked to them today and they just hoaned the block putting the cross hatch back in the cylinder walls. Ordered my new ACL Tri-Metal Main & Rod Race Bearings today and gasket kit as well. Should be here on Monday or Tuesday. So now hopefully the engine can be all done and built by the middle of next week. Then back to the shop to put the tranny back on it and back into the car.

The build is right on time (knock on wood) right now as I planned. Nothing has come up as of yet. It has gone realitivly smooth all the way around. So with nothing huge arising in the build or putting it back in, we should be ready to tune and test by the end of June 1st part of July

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good to hear eddie, hopefully everything goes together smooth and you wont have any hick-ups.

talonTSIDriver said:

good to hear eddie, hopefully everything goes together smooth and you wont have any hick-ups.

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Thanks Andy, and thanks for the input earlier as well. Keeping my fingers crossed here for no hick-ups.

Ok, a new update on the engine build. Went by the machine shop and they needed to see me anyway. The thrust wachers I orderd for the3 engine were not the correct ones. Now I know the date of my build and I knew which thrust washers to order. The only ones they offer for my year of car. They did not fit. So I just got off the phone with the local DSM dealer and the "correct" ones, I am hoping fingers crossed will be here in Wednesday. It stinks becasue if they would have fit, the engine would be done and could go back and get the rest of the build done. So now it is looking more like the end of next week before it will be done. But if that is the biggest thing to happen, it wouldnt be all that bad.

tsiboosted said:

Ok, a new update on the engine build. Went by the machine shop and they needed to see me anyway. The thrust wachers I orderd for the3 engine were not the correct ones. Now I know the date of my build and I knew which thrust washers to order. The only ones they offer for my year of car. They did not fit. So I just got off the phone with the local DSM dealer and the "correct" ones, I am hoping fingers crossed will be here in Wednesday. It stinks becasue if they would have fit, the engine would be done and could go back and get the rest of the build done. So now it is looking more like the end of next week before it will be done. But if that is the biggest thing to happen, it wouldnt be all that bad.

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I am surprised they could not go by the VIN or engine code on the block to figure what bearings were needed. oh well, like you said though, that problem is not really that big of a deal.

Good luck, show us some pics

talonTSIDriver said:

I am surprised they could not go by the VIN or engine code on the block to figure what bearings were needed. oh well, like you said though, that problem is not really that big of a deal.

Good luck, show us some pics

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They did, but the ACL thrust washers did not fit. It was not the bearings that did not fit, it was the thrust washers. But like I said, I orderd some OEM ones today from the Mitsu place and they will be here on Wednesday. And I will snap some pics that day and post them up. Engine is 95% built now, just need those thrust washers to complete it.

Here we go with another update. The bottom end is now complete and built. The garage picked it up from the machine shop this afternoon. The new OEM thrust washers fit in there perfectly and they completed the bottom end earlier today. Just a refresher of what went in. New Eagle Rods, ITM Pistons, ARP Main Studs, ACL Tri Metal Main Bearings, ACL Tri Metal Race Rod Bearing, New OEM Thrust Washers, Blocked rehoaned. Every thing that could got heat tanked before it went back together. With the bottom end now complete, the eninge can start to go back together and get ready to go back in the car.

Hopefully the engine will be back in the car by the middle of next week if everything goes smoothly and no hickups. Talking to the garage today when I went up there said it should be done no later than the week after the 4th of July. Then it will be time for everything to go back in the interior and get the car ready to be tuned up and headed to the track for a testing session early August. Here are a few shots of the bottom end all buttoned up and ready to go. Its getting closer

Sweet, so the 2:15 you mentioned was on a fairly stock setup? What kind of tires were you running last season?

RipperXX said:

Sweet, so the 2:15 you mentioned was on a fairly stock setup? What kind of tires were you running last season?

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Actually, the 2:15 was just a stab in the dark guess. I went back when I saw this post through my old log book and found the times. Most were in the 1:50 ranges, with the fastest being a 1:54 at Road Atlanta on nearly a stock setup with just all the bolt ons really. I was running Avon Tech R's and Hankook Ventus slicks there. I ran an RM anti roll bar in the rear and the factory front bar disconnected. I ran my AGX's all the way stiff in both front and rear. The car ran very welll actually even with a mostly stock setup.

Hopefully I can get into the PCA event in August at Road Atlanta and get a chance to see what the new motor and setup can do. I would like to be in the low 1:40's there. Maybe lower depending on the loose nut behind the wheel

looks like things are going good eddie!!!

From what I know 1:54 for that setup you listed is not bad at all. Why disconnect the front sway bar though?

talonTSIDriver said:

looks like things are going good eddie!!!

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Yeah for right now everything seems to be going good. Just that thrust washer issue earlier but that is it. If that had not happened, the engine would probably be back in the car.

RipperXX said:

From what I know 1:54 for that setup you listed is not bad at all. Why disconnect the front sway bar though?

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Yeah, those were pretty good times for that setup. Honestly, I took the front sway bar off to just try something different and that is when I turned the 1:54 so it was pretty much if aint broke dont fix it deal. The car was not bad at all with the front anti roll bar connected either. I think I just got comfortable with it off and got use to what the car would do without. Next time I go with the new setup, it will be connected. Most likely an RM bar as well to match the rear.