Preseason updates? Show us what you're doing!

[Evan K.]

A sandwich adapter puts the oil filter really close to the downpipe on a DSM. Bigger the the pipe the closer it comes. I've gone back to a 2.5" O2 eliminator DP for that reason.

I have to agree. I am going to be making a heat shield to put back on my downpipe as is with the 2.5" O2 I have. One melted timing cover is enough.

 

[Ludachris]

I really don't like the sandwich oil cooler to be honest. I've had troubles with the filter coming loose and I've always been paranoid about over-tightening it. I think the external oil cooler is the way to go on a DSM, but that's just me.

 

[4G63FLA]

I really don't like the sandwich oil cooler to be honest. I've had troubles with the filter coming loose and I've always been paranoid about over-tightening it. I think the external oil cooler is the way to go on a DSM, but that's just me.

I agree with you there Chris. I know one of the upcoming mods I am going to do after some internal work is an external oil cooler. I have heard some bad stories with the "sandwich" style.

~Eddie

 

[Evan K.]

I consider an external oil cooler a MUST on a road racing DSM. My oil gets cooked with the oil "warmer" that came stock.

 

[speedy13]

Just bought an AFPR, SAFC, and will be getting 750's before the end of summer. If my clutch craps out I will be slapping in a Spec stage 2 and maybe a RRE lightened flywheel. I would also like to get a SP rear sway bar. I will be attending my first auto X this month. As far as vehicle setup, what do you guys recomend? I have a basic bolt on dsm with AGX on sportline springs. I will be running 225-45-17 street tires and have hawk hps pads with the oem 2 piston upgrade. What setting do you guys recomend for the agx's? how many psi should I run on my tires? I run 40 psi on the street. I feel like such a sheep. Any tips are apreciated.

 

[4G63FLA]

I consider an external oil cooler a MUST on a road racing DSM. My oil gets cooked with the oil "warmer" that came stock.

Oil "warmer" Thats pretty good Evan.

~Eddie

 

[Ludachris]

Just bought an AFPR, SAFC, and will be getting 750's before the end of summer. If my clutch craps out I will be slapping in a Spec stage 2 and maybe a RRE lightened flywheel. I would also like to get a SP rear sway bar. I will be attending my first auto X this month. As far as vehicle setup, what do you guys recomend? I have a basic bolt on dsm with AGX on sportline springs. I will be running 225-45-17 street tires and have hawk hps pads with the oem 2 piston upgrade. What setting do you guys recomend for the agx's? how many psi should I run on my tires? I run 40 psi on the street. I feel like such a sheep. Any tips are apreciated.

I'd start out with the softest settings on the AGX's and the tire manufacturer suggested tire pressures. Check your pressures after each run and maybe let out a couple pounds. I was running -1.8 camber in the front on my street setup before and it worked pretty well for autocross. Might want to play with different alignment specs before your next autocross to see the difference.

This is your first autocross, don't be so worried about tweaking the settings. Just get some experience and tighten up the loose nut behind the wheel Eventually you're going to find that the Sportlines make your car look cool but perform worse than the Prokits. It's too low.

 

[eclipsh]

Just bought an AFPR, SAFC, and will be getting 750's before the end of summer. If my clutch craps out I will be slapping in a Spec stage 2 and maybe a RRE lightened flywheel. I would also like to get a SP rear sway bar. I will be attending my first auto X this month. As far as vehicle setup, what do you guys recomend? I have a basic bolt on dsm with AGX on sportline springs. I will be running 225-45-17 street tires and have hawk hps pads with the oem 2 piston upgrade. What setting do you guys recomend for the agx's? how many psi should I run on my tires? I run 40 psi on the street. I feel like such a sheep. Any tips are apreciated.

If you haven't upgraded any other suspension parts besides springs and struts, 4 up front and 6 in the rear worked well for me. On my 245/45/17 tires 38psi front, 33 rear. If it is your first Auto-X just set the struts and tire pressure and leave them alone all day. You'll have enough to deal with just learning the sport! Everything else should be just fine. It doesn't take much to get started on Auto X.

 

[RusherRacing]

Just bought an AFPR, SAFC, and will be getting 750's before the end of summer. If my clutch craps out I will be slapping in a Spec stage 2 and maybe a RRE lightened flywheel. I would also like to get a SP rear sway bar. I will be attending my first auto X this month. As far as vehicle setup, what do you guys recomend? I have a basic bolt on dsm with AGX on sportline springs. I will be running 225-45-17 street tires and have hawk hps pads with the oem 2 piston upgrade. What setting do you guys recomend for the agx's? how many psi should I run on my tires? I run 40 psi on the street. I feel like such a sheep. Any tips are apreciated.

1. HAVE FUN
Its your first day don't worry about your time. That will come over time once you gain experience and knowlege.
2. Team up with someone that is knowledgable about racing an AWD spend the day with that person. Ride with them when possible. When your with them don't watch the course watch the driver, and see what they do one sections of the course. Let them set your tires, leave the suspension alone.
3. Walk the course, walk it again and again and guess what again.
4. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Your first time it doesn't matter what you drive or how your car is set up. Trust me don't worry about that for now. AutoX is 90% driver 10% car. Trust me when I started AutoXing I got schooled every week by an Oldsmobile Alero.

 

[4G63FLA]

Could not agree more. 1st event. Have FUN !!!! Try and walk the course as MUCH as you can before they tell you to come in and get ready. Walk it with someone who has been doing AutoX for a while and never be afraid to ask questions. Be sure to let sknow how it goes. But again, HAVE FUN !!!!

~Eddie

 

[speedy13]

thanks for the tips guys,. Did I say sportlines, I meant sprint springs, if it makes any difference. their probably the same isht. I will be going with a buddy who is driving a stock impreza RS. He's been doing it for a couple of years now. I'll be riding with him, and he'll probably coach me through the course as well. I can't wait. My 8 month pregnant wife actually thought she was gonna ride shotgun. Ha. That's all I need, she can't even stand the stock BOV. anyways, going off topic. thanks again for the tips, I'll keep you guys updated.

 

[underradar92]

I may just as well just go make the plates right away. Pic's on the way!

Kinda like this...

 

[onegeenewbie]

I have to agree. I am going to be making a heat shield to put back on my downpipe as is with the 2.5" O2 I have. One melted timing cover is enough.

Would putting some exhaust heat wrap on the DP be good enough for keeping the temps down?

 

[underradar92]

Would putting some exhaust heat wrap on the DP be good enough for keeping the temps down?

Can't hurt however, I'm noticing that the people who seem to have extreme temp issues also seem to have a front mount intercooler/preheater.

 

[Ludachris]

Kinda like this...

Nice Jim! I was under the car yesterday looking at how I might fab something up very similar to that. Nice work!

What did you use for the tubing part? What size diameter is it? More pics please!

 

[4G63FLA]

Chris - When you are running your car at an event, what temp is your oil getting to? I noticed mine this past weekend got a little hot I thought. At one point is well into the 215 - 220 degree area. My coolant temp however never gets above 210. I did notice when I use Water Wetter / Water combo in the radiator instead of coolant/water mixture, the temp stays around 195 - 200 degrees. About 15 degrees cooler. All I have is the stock oil cooler which doesnt seem to be doing anything at all really. Just curious to what yours or anyone elses gets to.

~Eddie

 

[Evan K.]

Can't hurt however, I'm noticing that the people who seem to have extreme temp issues also seem to have a front mount intercooler/preheater.

I am wrapping my downpipe just to be safe. I am uncomfortable with the proximity of the downpipe to the oil pan. There is a good amount of space but I want to cut down on heat transfer to my oil as much as possible. One trick i was told by the guys at RRE is to soak your header wrap in water for about an hour. Once soaked pull it tight as you wrap. Then when it dries it shrinks and tightens even more. That way it shouldn't loosen on you over time as much.

 

[underradar92]

Nice Jim! I was under the car yesterday looking at how I might fab something up very similar to that. Nice work!

What did you use for the tubing part? What size diameter is it? More pics please!

The tubing is a thinwall aluminium, .040 I think, 2" o.d, slightly squished at the outlets. The mounting tabs are .090, bent and then pressed to mate with the tubes. The plates are .04 also, I milled a ring at work, and sheared it in half, and let our welder at 'em. They look better in the pic than they really are, the plates didn't want to be welded to the tubes, so I ended up patching the boogers with JB Weld.

 

[eclipse2via]

I still see 260*F pre oil cooler with 100*f+ ambient during trackdays. Which is down significantly from the 270*F+ I initially saw after my new engine, IC, and turbo went in. I've done a lot to get the temps down wrapping DP(a little help), wrap the oil filter(not a noticeable improvement), put DEI reflective cloth on the oil pan(worthless as it melts off in one trackday), various ducting attempts(most effective). Next I'll try an electric fan directly on the cooler and then it's try a bigger bumper cover.

All my Blackstone oil reports show nice new engine results, thankfully.

 

[4G63FLA]

I still see 260*F pre oil cooler with 100*f+ ambient during trackdays. Which is down significantly from the 270*F+ I initially saw after my new engine, IC, and turbo went in. I've done a lot to get the temps down wrapping DP(a little help), wrap the oil filter(not a noticeable improvement), put DEI reflective cloth on the oil pan(worthless as it melts off in one trackday), various ducting attempts(most effective). Next I'll try an electric fan directly on the cooler and then it's try a bigger bumper cover.

All my Blackstone oil reports show nice new engine results, thankfully.

What weight oil are you running? 30 wt, 40 wt? Just curious. I have been running either Mobil1 30wt or Red Line 30 wt.

~Eddie

 

[WHite97RS]

well, did the first BRR SCCA AutoX this past Sunday. Only got the brake inspection done, and have some Rota Boosts that should be here this week, and running 235/45s. But I didn't do to well, running on some pretty bald 215/50 Yoko AVS es100s, had the fastest time of any of the cars in SM and SM2 on street tires, which was only like 5 people, everyone else was on R comps. But hey, my 2nd AutoX ever and I am having a blast, and learning every time what I am doing right and wrong.

Atleast i look good doing it oh and notice the front body roll, yea I def didn't realize my front illuminas were set on 2, i was a dumb a$$ and didn't check them before going out.

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[4G63FLA]

Nice job in SM man. Thats the beauty of AutoX. You can go out everytime and learn something new. Well with any racing for that matter. When is your next event?

Oh yeah, how do you like those Illuminas on your 2G?

~Eddie

 

[asian312]

White 2gb FTW! (<--excuse the geek speach)

Looking good! Dont worry on the suspension goof, it happens. Hell I think the last 2-3 events I forgot to turn up the Konis on my first session. Always ends up with my instructor asking, "Is this the same car we drove in the first session."

 

[WHite97RS]

i like the illuminas, i really have nothing to compare them to though, i have never owned a car with any suspension work at all. Next event w/ BRR SCCA should be April 22nd. But im gonna try and squeeze in some NASA events in between.

 

[4G63FLA]

i like the illuminas, i really have nothing to compare them to though, i have never owned a car with any suspension work at all. Next event w/ BRR SCCA should be April 22nd. But im gonna try and squeeze in some NASA events in between.

Thanks man. Good luck in your next event. Keep us posted on how you do at them.

~Eddie