Preseason updates? Show us what you're doing!

[Ludachris]

It's been kind of quiet lately and I wanted to find out what everyones' doing to get their car ready for the upcoming season. I'm still waiting on my new (smaller) turbo setup to come in. I'm also trying to sell a lot of parts to be able to buy parts (springs, camber plates, lightweight pieces, front fascia, etc). I'll post some pics of the stuff soon to show my progress.

Let's see your progress! And tell us what you're looking to compete in this year.

 

[Pro3racer]

SAFC, AFPR, Prokit springs, strut bars, new FMIC piping, EGT gauge, Grand Am Wheels, New brakes, New headlights....

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/PointDSM/IMG_0214.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/PointDSM/IMG_0211.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/PointDSM/IMG_0212.jpg

 

[eclipse2via]

In this thread of plans for the off season: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showpost.php?p=151035847&postcount=6

I was going to:

1. return the car to stock for biannual smog due in Dec. I swear on everything this is absolutely the last time I'm going to do this. I'll probably need a new TB to pass so I'll get rid of my worst boost leak as well. No

2. Install new LSD rear end, it is in my car port now. No

3. get rid of my ABS unit. No

4. Get a cage finally. No

5. If I land a financial windfall then I'm going to get AEM EMS and dyno tuned. No




My home expansion project ran afoul and I lost even my pitiful car port, and all off street parking. So I got squat done. Brake pads and R compounds are the limit of my improvements this winter. My car is parked 25 miles from my house so at least I don't have to look at its neglect everyday.

 

[Slow old poop]

The Eclipse has been sitting on jackstands since November.

We got the roll cage modified so that a passenger can ride along without having to #### his head to the side. (Be careful of those bolt-in roll cages. Sometimes they are a "universal" cage that doesn't always fit. Mine is a Kirk bolt in cage, and it didn't fit on the passenger side. It cost nearly as much to fix it as it would have cost to have an all-new cage fabbed for the car)

We got the passenger Kirkey seat in this weekend.
We pulled the intercooler and pressure-tested it.
Checked the timing belt--it's OK.

I am still waiting for my modded Stoptechs. I'm getting a 1/4-in. spacer fabbed for them so we can accommodate a thicker rotor. With luck, I won't crack any more rotors. Another word to the wise: Stoptechs for DSMs only work on FWD cars. The narrow rotors are not strong enough for heavier AWD cars (well, not mine, at any rate--I've cracked three Stoptech rotors)

When the modded StopTechs finally get here, we'll mount them up, make sure the Cobra SVT wheels clear OK, then mount up the 245/45 Hoosiers, and take it somewhere to get weighed, and trailer it over to AMS for a dyno run. Then, I'll finally know what NASA class I'll be in next season. It looks like TTA/PTA, but it might be TTU/PTU, depending on how much hp it makes. I'm guessing around 345, but who knows?

I'm getting ready to order a new set of shoulder harnesses. The old ones are circa 2003, so they are no longer legal. I waited until now, to make sure I got a 2007 label (they are only good for two years, so I didn't want a 2006 label)

I have a DSMLink ready to go in, but haven't been able to find a 1990 ECU with a PROM. I found one, but lost out on the bidding. If I can't find one, we'll have to dyno it with the Apexi. I know I can mod a 91-93 ECU, but that will be a last resort.

I ordered a Bell helmet, and it showed up about 10 sizes too small.
I ordered new intercooler hoses, and they showed up a 1/4 inch too big.

It's been bitterly cold of late, which slows down the work. Last night, it was -10F.

Plans are to at least get the car weighed, dynoed and ready to run the first TT in April. Before I can run PT, I have to take the NASA driver school and probably run a TT or two, so I have more time to put in all the race-required stuff, like window netting, power cutoff switch, etc. If the good lord's willing and the creeks don't rise, we'll be running PT by June.

Rich

 

[4G63FLA]

After the car sitting under a tarp for almost a full year, after someone thought they needed my parts more than I did, my TSi is back together with a few extra parts and some brand new parts to get her going. I have the frist event of the year coming up on February 11th. Solo II event in Dothan Alabama. This the Wiregrass Region of the SCCA. I will be participating in 10 of this Solo II events through out the year in this region. The SCCA Solo II events are a full year point series in whcih I will be competing in the ESP and XP calsses. The weekend of April 13th - 15th, I will be attending the PCA (Porsche Club of America) High Performance Drivers Education at Road Atlanta. With these events, I will be earning valuable experience points for next year to compete in the Grand Bayou Race Series in Central Louisiana at No Problem Raceway. This is a door to door race series that runs through out the year.

As for the car, I have gotten all the bolt ons they stole plus some new extras for this season. New Greddy ProFec B-Spec II dual boost guage, new 14b turbo, new suspension mods including a DG Industries Chassis Strengthening Bar, ARP Main Head Studs & Cometic Gasket. The TSi has been losing some weight as well. I have fully stripped the rear of the car from the from the back seats back. Coming up next will be Eagle Rods & Weiscom Pistons, HKS 272 Intake & Exhaust Cams w/Fidanza Cam Gears sometime in the early summer. Hopefully this will be a productive year for me and the car and look to improve the handeling and the power capabilities through out the year and setup for next year in some door to door racing.

~Eddie

 

[Slow old poop]

It's been bitterly cold of late, which slows down the work. Last night, it was -10F. Rich

We discovered one interesting thing that cold does for you: When you hammer on the floorboards, all the insulation and coatings come loose. In a matter of about 20 minutes, Mike the Mechanic whacked the floorboard with a hammer (not hard enough to leave dents, but hard enough to break the insulaton loose) and we got several pounds of crap out of the car. It looks all nekkid in there now, just like a real race car.

My car sits in an attached garage, where the temp gets down to the high 20s when it's 10 below outside. In normal cold weather, the garage usually stays above freezing, in the high 30s or low 40s. Someday, in my dreams, I want a heated, air-conditioned six-car garage with a lift and a floor drain! Oh, and an attached house, too.

Still 10 below this morning.

Rich/freezing my buns off

 

[4G63FLA]

I've been trying to get my TSi on a diet as well. Lost everything from the back seats back over the weekend. Got rid of all the rear window washer parts, arm, motor, piping etc. All the plastic panels. Spare tire, jack, tools. All and all, probably lost about 55-65 pounds. Re-taped all the wiring back down that comes to the tail lights and what not back there. Not too shabby for just a bunch of things I never use anyway. Next will be the back seats and all the insulation and padding as well as all the plastic paneling in the rear part of the cabin.

~Eddie

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

Well I am not much into the road race portion of it all yet but I stick to auto-x. To be honest it was not until I began reading all of the latest information and somewhat bio of Greg Collier that I made my decision to turn the Talon into a nice SM setup. I have run a few events in the Talon but it was never set-up for auto-x and I always had my a$$ handed to me as far as raw and indexed results go but I try to get as involved as much as I can in the running of an event. I stick to working the T&S portion of the race. Most of the last two seasons I have been co-driving my buddy's Miata in STS2/STT. He always picks on me about my DSM and how I should have sold it years ago.

Just recently my 14b bit the dust. I had made plans to build it into a nice drag set-up with a 50 trim until I thought it through and realized I enjoy turning the wheel more than just putting my foot to the floor. I down sized my plans and will be going with an Evo3 16g, FMIC, and all supporting fuel and logging mods. After she is running again, I will begin to invest what I can into the suspension, brakes, and nice sticky rubber. My goal for now is to be able to drive to the event, swap out tires, race and head back home. I am still getting money and parts together but as slow as that process is, it may be mid-season before it is on course again but it will be out there in the end. I will be sure to document the build up and post it up for those who are curious.

 

[asian312]

Preseason?? Just wrapped up my first event for 2007. Write up w/ PICS on the way. Still in driving school, but loving every minute

As far as upgrades:
- new helmet with complementing gloves and shoes
- Porterfield R4-E pads
- 14B at 14psi

 

[4G63FLA]

I had made plans to build it into a nice drag set-up with a 50 trim until I thought it through and realized I enjoy turning the wheel more than just putting my foot to the floor. I.

Glad you came over from the "Dark" side Just kidding. I have never been into drag racing that much. LOVE road racing of any kind.

~Eddie

 

[mavisky]

- New mirrors are on the car, but still not 100% finished.

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- Re-hung the side exit exhaust so it doesn't rattle and gives me more ground clearance. The extra bend may cost me a hp or two, but it's also a tad quieter
- new 5 point camlock harnesses I'm trying to mount up
- front splitter supports are here finally so I may get around to building my ghetto chin splitter
- Install new tow hook on front of car (through bumper as normal, or jdm style through the hood off the strut tower? still deciding)

- also working on a brand new budget coilover setup that's not hit the market yet, but could be great, more info on this later

 

[4G63FLA]

- front splitter supports are here finally so I may get around to building my ghetto chin splitter

LoL....Funny...Ghetto Splitter. You have probably seen these before, but I stumbled across a universal splitter I saw some other cars running last time I was at Roebling Road in Georgia. Only $79.00

http://www.raceonusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2818

~Eddie

 

[eclipsh]

I'll still be running Solo2 this year. I'll probably stay in novice and see if I can't snag a few 1st place finishes. I missed 1st at the last event by a tenth last year

So far this winter I've just been trying to get my EPROM chip and fuel dialed in. I'll be adding an RPM switch for my cyclone intake shortly.

The big plans will have to wait until this spring when I graduate from college. I'll be replacing my power steering rack and all my suspension bushings. The rear end will be getting a full heim joint setup as will most of the front. The rest will be urethane or welded steel inserts with safety wiring.

The other big change will be in tires. I'm planning to switch from 245/45-17 Kumho AGX rubber to 245/40-17 SPTs.

Last but not least will be mocking up and building fiberglass widebody fenders for the front. My Evo wheels stick out a full inch even after flaring my stock fenders as much as I could. Then comes the aero kit and a paint job.

 

[mavisky]

LoL....Funny...Ghetto Splitter. You have probably seen these before, but I stumbled across a universal splitter I saw some other cars running last time I was at Roebling Road in Georgia. Only $79.00

http://www.raceonusa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2818

~Eddie

Everytime I find a cheaper way to build one, and get ready to do it, the boys at Race On drop the price of that thing.

Not sure my plywood + fiberglass splitter would be any cheaper than that, and certainly more work.

 

[4G63FLA]

Everytime I find a cheaper way to build one, and get ready to do it, the boys at Race On drop the price of that thing.

Not sure my plywood + fiberglass splitter would be any cheaper than that, and certainly more work.

They have been recently coming down on them haven't they? I have been watching them to see just how far they actually will come down. But $75.00 isnt really that bad for that thing. Like you said, might even be cheaper than the one you want to make and CERTAINLY allot less work in it for you. Always a plus.

~Eddie

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

Glad you came over from the "Dark" side Just kidding. I have never been into drag racing that much. LOVE road racing of any kind.

~Eddie

Haha, as my friend told me a couple of years back at my first event..."Just think of this as drag racing rehab." I have been hooked ever since

 

[4G63FLA]

Haha, as my friend told me a couple of years back at my first event..."Just think of this as drag racing rehab." I have been hooked ever since

NICE That should be on a shirt somewhere. Yeah, I love road racing of any kind really. Only monthly thing around here is AutoX (Solo Events). But we travel up to Roebling Road, Talladega and Road Atlanta through out the year. I will be posting some write-ups and pics of those events as I get back from them.

~Eddie

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

I wish I had a budget to be able to travel around, haha. We have two very local auto-x clubs here and a third not too far away. I could pull 2 events per month and stay in state but it is hard when you co-drive someones car . All the more reason to work on the Talon

 

[4G63FLA]

I wish I had a budget to be able to travel around, haha. We have two very local auto-x clubs here and a third not too far away. I could pull 2 events per month and stay in state but it is hard when you co-drive someones car . All the more reason to work on the Talon

Yeah, I can understand codriving a car can make it difficult. Good luck on the Talon man.

~Eddie

 

[mavisky]

They have been recently coming down on them haven't they? I have been watching them to see just how far they actually will come down. But $75.00 isnt really that bad for that thing. Like you said, might even be cheaper than the one you want to make and CERTAINLY allot less work in it for you. Always a plus.

~Eddie

Yea, last I looked it was about $100 or so, so this changes everything.

 

[RusherRacing]

Yea, last I looked it was about $100 or so, so this changes everything.

Wow, I cracked my plywood one loading the car at my last event. i was planning on just having one punched out of 1/4" ABS here at work. But for that price for an FRP piece I think that has changed my mind.

 

[4G63FLA]

Wow, I cracked my plywood one loading the car at my last event. i was planning on just having one punched out of 1/4" ABS here at work. But for that price for an FRP piece I think that has changed my mind.

That really is an outstanding deal on the splitter. I'm glad I kept checking back and back to see how low they would actually get to you know? Ordering mine tomorrow.

~Eddie

 

[Caithness]

I'm going to put an Evo 3 16g on the car in the next month or two, not that the car needs more power for auto-x. I've got some angle iron to fabricate a battery mount so the car could FINALLY pass tech. The brakes are going to be fully upgraded with dual piston calipers, new rotors, new rear calipers, and either HP+ up front and metal masters in back or a full set of R4-S front and back. I'm getting some front camber bolts to dial out as much front negative camber as possible (hopefully -1.5 to -2.0 degrees) and a set of Hankook RS2 tires in 225/50/16. Then it's time to hit my first autocross in the car sometime in early summer. Yes, I know, drive the car before you upgrade it, but in my case the car won't be safe to drive on course until it has new brakes and new tires...

I'm also buying a Miata as a daily that I will probably end up auto-xing more than the DSM.

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

I'm going to put an Evo 3 16g on the car in the next month or two, not that the car needs more power for auto-x. I've got some angle iron to fabricate a battery mount so the car could FINALLY pass tech. The brakes are going to be fully upgraded with dual piston calipers, new rotors, new rear calipers, and either HP+ up front and metal masters in back or a full set of R4-S front and back. I'm getting some front camber bolts to dial out as much front negative camber as possible (hopefully -1.5 to -2.0 degrees) and a set of Hankook RS2 tires in 225/50/16. Then it's time to hit my first autocross in the car sometime in early summer. Yes, I know, drive the car before you upgrade it, but in my case the car won't be safe to drive on course until it has new brakes and new tires...

I'm also buying a Miata as a daily that I will probably end up auto-xing more than the DSM.

I was impressed by the Miata when I saw what 102hp could do in auto-x. I had the same idea and used metal bar stock to make a battery tie down. I used a long bolt for the side closest to the motor and used the strut bolt for the other side. Worked like a charm and no movement at all. And for what it's worth, I love my HP+ pads .

 

[Evan K.]

We got the passenger Kirkey seat in this weekend.

I am still waiting for my modded Stoptechs. I'm getting a 1/4-in. spacer fabbed for them so we can accommodate a thicker rotor. With luck, I won't crack any more rotors. Another word to the wise: Stoptechs for DSMs only work on FWD cars. The narrow rotors are not strong enough for heavier AWD cars (well, not mine, at any rate--I've cracked three Stoptech rotors)


Rich

Mmm love my Kirkey road race deluxe.

As far as the Stoptech's do you have picture's pf the carnage? I have noticed some pretty decent spider cracking on mine and I am FWD.