Preseason updates? Show us what you're doing!

[mavisky]

Deep down, you know you want it. Give in and come and get the thing.

- Jtoby

I do have a weak spot for 97-98 talons.

 

[Slow old poop]

The Eclipse came down off the jack stands, onto four wheels, and rolled out of the garage for the first time since November. We FINALLY got the rebuilt StopTechs from Supercar Engineering, complete with a 5mm spacer to widen the calipers to accommodate superwide 328x35 mm StopTech rotors. This is probably the biggest, fattest rotor possible to install on a DSM with 17-in wheels!

I got the rotors cryo treated last week, so if I crack THESE muthas, I dunno what to do. As some of you might remember, I've cracked three StopTech rotors so far because their standard rotors are too fragile for our heavy AWD DSMs.

We also were able to check clearances with the 245/40-17 Hoosiers on 9-in. Cobra SVT wheels, and everything fits. They stick out of the fenders by about an inch and a half, but they don't hit anywhere.

Over the winter, we replaced all the intercooler hoses and double-clamped all the joints with T-bolt clamps, and I picked up a few psi. With no other changes, it's now running at a solid 20 psi.

Other winter mods include a new Dejon pipe from the MAF to the turbo, widening the roll cage (so people can ride with me without bending their necks!), new Kirkey passenger seat, gutting the doors (in anticipation of welding in door bars), and removal of some extraneous insulation, brackets, supports and other stuff to get the weight down.

Because it took so freaking long to get the calipers so we could get the car back on its wheels, we haven't had a chance to weigh it or get it dynoed, so I don't have the foggiest idea of what NASA class we'll be in. If I had to guess, I'd say 3100 lb and 345 hp, but we'll see.

On April 7, we'll run a test n' tune track day (http://www.findtheline.com/eventreg/) at MidAmerica Motorplex (MAM) near Omaha to make sure everything is working OK, and then our first NASA event is at Iowa Speedway in late April. Several of the top cars in NASA Midwest will probably be at MAM, including Orr Motorsports, Damien dela Huerta's RX-7, and assorted others, so I'll be able to compare how the Eclipse runs against some of the top dogs. I don't see a single DSM registered except for me. I had hoped some of the DSMs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri would show up ($150 track days are hard to find these days), but none have registered.

Too bad--with only 50 cars in three classes, you get all the laps you can stand! Most other track events have 200 cars in five classes, so you get maybe 4 20 minute sessions per day. At this event, it's possible to get one run an hour, or 7 in a day, for 140 minutes of track time!

After MAM, we'll weigh and dyno it, to find out my class. If all else fails--approved AWD dynos are a long tow away from here--we'll show up at Iowa Speedway and run wherever they put us.

 

[lethal_vr4]

We FINALLY got the rebuilt StopTechs from Supercar Engineering, complete with a 5mm spacer to widen the calipers to accommodate superwide 328x35 mm StopTech rotors

Rich I belive your caliper spacer is 15mm. My Brembo spacer is 5mm.

 

[Slow old poop]

Rich I belive your caliper spacer is 15mm. My Brembo spacer is 5mm.

You are probably right. We should have measured it. It is pretty thick.

 

[Evan K.]

An STi.

- Jtoby

Geez, and I thought I went to the dark side.

http://gotbluemilk.com/web070327/sm(mitsu)/imagepages/image15.html

 

[eclipse2via]

Geez, and I thought I went to the dark side.

http://gotbluemilk.com/web070327/sm(mitsu)/imagepages/image15.html

Beware the fourth gear made of glass!

 

[Evan K.]

Beware the fourth gear made of glass!

No MR for me! IX SE ftw. I was there when Early's tranny went pop :O

 

[eclipse2via]

Sweet! I totally missed the no Vortex generator and wheel color. I prefer the MR wheels, no amount of brake dust makes them look dirty FTW.

Are you going to track or DD it?

 

[Evan K.]

DD/back up track car. Will probably let the 1g go at some point as I don't need 4 cars. The problem is I like the 1g

 

[Ludachris]

I take it you're a loyal member of our EVOtuners.net site as well, hey Evan?

And yes, I witnessed a 4th gear incident with my buddy's Evo at the track too.

 

[Evan K.]

I will be i just have to register over there. I thought my registration might be universal but found out otherwise

 

[90talonfwd]

im gettin my tranny rebiult, both front cvjoints replaced, new battery, new interior, new exhaust, new clutch, im gettin ready for summer rippen

 

[underradar92]

My AGX's & cheap-o Matrix coilovers are gone.

Here's hoping these are an improvement.

 

[onegeenewbie]

My AGX's & cheap-o Matrix coilovers are gone.

Here's hoping these are an improvement.

Are those Ksports? Which ones are they?

Also, how did you like the matrix coilovers? (i assume they're a coilover conversion kit?) I'm trying to find a way to run hypercoils

 

[underradar92]

Are those Ksports? Which ones are they?

Also, how did you like the matrix coilovers? (i assume they're a coilover conversion kit?) I'm trying to find a way to run hypercoils

Ksport RR's with special ordered springs (no extra charge).
2.5" x 7"L Hypercoils will fit.

The Matrix's worked ok, but I didn't like, and therefore wouldn't recommend them because:

a) The threads are a rather loose fit.
b) All the extra length of the stock travel style struts. For unknown reasons (I had the damping set rather high?) they never overtraveled, making the springs unseat, but it concerned me none the less, as I didn't have zero-rate helpers.

 

[onegeenewbie]

Ksport RR's with special ordered springs (no extra charge).
2.5" x 7"L Hypercoils will fit.

The Matrix's worked ok, but I didn't like, and therefore wouldn't recommend them because:

a) The threads are a rather loose fit.
b) All the extra length of the stock travel style struts. For unknown reasons (I had the damping set rather high?) they never overtraveled, making the springs unseat, but it concerned me none the less, as I didn't have zero-rate helpers.

Thanks!, Let me know how you like the Ksports I'll be making a suspension purchase within the next few months, and Ksports are on the list because they're reasonably priced.

Good to know about the other setup.

Are DMS coilovers worth their money? I'm looking at set with 50mm in the front and 40mm in the rear.

 

[underradar92]

Are DMS coilovers worth their money? I'm looking at set with 50mm in the front and 40mm in the rear.

I have no experience with DMS, I can't even seem to find any to fit a DSM. Some 'Roo guys seem to like them. Have you looked at Hotbits?

If it were me looking to drop 4k+ on coilovers, I'd look at Penske, Ohlins, even Moton, but this is only opinion at this point.

My whole car isn't worth $4k+, at least it wasn't 'till this spring.

Probably still isn't.

 

[onegeenewbie]

Yea, that's my only concern is the price. Even the used set that I am looking at is 3300, with 12.5k/11.5k springs is still a lot of money. I can probably piece together a complete suspension package from dampers to spherical bearings for that amount of money. Oh well... I'll probably pass them up, but they're on specialstage.com if anybody else wants a nice suspension

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

Ludachris: This post is more for you. I remember you saying you wanted to see our cars with the fender flares.....I did some test mounting. I hope you like the pic. I have more but I'm lazy and don't want to resize them.

 

[mavisky]

What flares are those?

Send all that you have to resized or not to [email protected] if you would.

 

[JrCRXHF]

No MR for me! IX SE ftw. I was there when Early's tranny went pop :O

I have a MR and so far it has been fine

I bought it more for a daily driver not a track car ( i wanted the 10 year/100k war)

So i hope that i don't have a 4 gear problem

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

Ludachris: This post is more for you. I remember you saying you wanted to see our cars with the fender flares.....I did some test mounting. I hope you like the pic. I have more but I'm lazy and don't want to resize them.

NICE! now you just need wider wheels

 

[mavisky]

New suspension is 80% on the car, just waiting on the camber plates. It's amazing how good these cars can handle with a decent suspension setup. Never again will I tell someone that AGX's + Eibach Sportlines are a "competitive suspension".

Full write-up on the product, the install, and the performance once I get the plates in and get her to the first event, but I'll say that she's almost perfectly neutral on the streets right now with almost no camber at all. At 2.5 degrees and some caster she'll be biting apexes like Jaws.

 

[TheCrazyDSM'r]

NICE! now you just need wider wheels

I don't think I want to go much wider than the 255's I have on there now.
The rims are 17x9's I don't think I have much more room.

Mavisk I can't really send you the pictures.....once I get my welting and get everything mounted in a non test mount type deal I'll send you pictures. I promise.


Sucks I haven't heard from luda yet though.

 

[eclipsh]

I suspect Ludachris has a new baby that is keeping him away from the site. I know his wife was very close to popping.