Sandy

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

99ECLIPSEGSXDSM submitted a new DSM Profile :

Sandy


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[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

For the longest time I was having a hard time taking my First AWD DSM (Betty) back to autocross even tho I still had the itch, the car is too clean to beat on it constantly the way I would to stay competitive. I started randomly searching for other vehicles to race in and I jus kept coming back to a DSM. I was on this site one night in December and found a 95 eagle talon AWD for sale that the previous owner actually autocrossed and had a decent setup going. Fully built 2.3 stroker motor, built trans, decent suspension and a non sunroof car. I messaged him and it took awhile for a response but I got one and within a few hours I had plans that weekend to go look at it 7 hours away in New Jersey. I grabbed my nephew and my little Ford Focus DD and off we went. When we got there it was raining and right on the atlantic coast. Took it for a test drive right next to the ocean and it was a blast even tho the clutch was slipping a little. Drove it back, out it on his lift to look underneath and I was surprised how little rust there is. As we were looking we were BSing about hurricane Sandy because it came right through that area and how devastating it was. I paid the guy and BABIED the car back to PA. We drove at 60-65 mph all the way back and at mile 471 of 472 the clutc let go. Pushed the car off the side of the road because it was super late at this point and pulled it to my mechanic the next day. The car sat until he had time to work on it because I did spring it on him. As he pulled the tranny out we placed the clutch disks (PTT twin disk) and replaced all the fluids in the drivetrain. I got it back last weekend and parked it after I registered it really quick. Waiting on the weather to warm up and salt be off the road before I do much more. Right now it has a fp green which I believe is a little too big for autocross even with the stroker so I will be downsizing and putting that turbo on Betty. I built a twin scroll 20g setup I’m gonna try on this car with a bumper exit exhaust. He also gave me a Sabelt racing seat so I have to install that as well. I have a Sparco r325 wheel on its way and will post pics when that’s finally here. This car will be fun and is most likely going to be put in prepared class because the back half of the interior is stripped. I’ll post more pictures as soon as I can! Can’t wait to be racing again!

 

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

My racing wheel came in and I instantly installed it! I really love the feel this thing give me compared to stock. Now my hand doesn’t hit my legs as I’m trying to turn.

With work being so busy and working overtime like crazy I didn’t have the time I needed to make a custom side exit like I wanted to so I bought a used side exit. Once I get more time I’ll switch up to the twin scroll setup and modify this pipe when I do.

I took the car over to a friends house who has a nice garage where we would both attack the car when I had off. First we jacked the car up and raised the suspension as high as we could. These are tien basics and it wasn’t fun. They have no locking nut on the bottom to help spin the coil over so we had to rip everything all the way out and raise it that way. I also ordered a planted seat bracket and here I am modifying the side seat bracket to get the seat to sit properly.

After the seat was bolted in, it was time for the exhaust. It was my first time mounting and cutting a hole for a side exit. I’ll be putting a plate over this to make it look better.

Next up was the wheels and tires. I decided to go with 17x9.5” +20 MST Suzuka’s and I’m happy I did. It gives it a really nice look in my opinion. Surprisingly lite even with 275 tires on them.

I know it’s not the best picture ^

I really do think that if I can find a way to add some camber to the rear this would be a very good setup with very little poke. These tires are 275/40/17 Falken Azenis. As much as I wanted something like an RE71, the max size the come in a 17” wheel is a 255 and I bought the Falkens before Christmas when they were $500 shipped to the door so I can’t complain. Now we still have a few more things to do. I need to take the rest of the exhaust off, bleed the brakes still, adjust the throw on the clutch because sometimes it will lock me out of 3rd which never happened before the clutch job, and just recheck the suspension to make sure I didnt miss a thing. We have a test and tune on the 4th of May and the first event is the 5th so we are gonna see what this FP green and stroker setup will do. If I’m not impressed I’m gonna put a evo3 hot side on my EVO X 20g and run that the remainder of the season. This is my friends son, he didn’t want to get out of the car once we put the seat in it.

 

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

A few quick videos of Sandy’s new setup

 

[llxkevinxll]

What is your clearence on the inboard side with the 275s? I am shocked by how little they stick out of the fenders.

 

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

What is your clearence on the inboard side with the 275s? I am shocked by how little they stick out of the fenders.

If you had a 97-99 rear knuckle you’d probably be able to get away with a +25 instead of a +20.

 

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

Worked on Sandy a little more today. Got to my friends house and jacked the car back up. We bled the breaks and the rears went great. There was a little air in the lines but it all came out quickly. The fronts did not bleed so easily. Pretty sure I need 4 all new bleeders because nothing would come out. Then I bled the clutch and there was some NASTY fluid in there which was probably still the factory fluid. We retightened all the suspension parts to triple check our work and then ripped the rest of the hanging exhaust off. We slapped the wheels on the car and took her for a ten minute drive. The breaks are better but still need work because of the bleeders, is still having a small problem getting into 3rd from time to time but it’s WAY better. I’ll be adjusting the throw under the dash this weekend. I still need to BLT the car because there’s a break up in the higher RPMs but I will say this car is SOOOO much fun to drive on the streets. With my seat and wheel in the car feels a lot better. As much fun as I had driving Betty at events I was never able to fully learn the car because I was always sliding around and bracing myself. Now I don’t move at all and feel one with the car. The 275s feel really good as we went around some corners but not crazy. The sound of the side exit is phenomenal as you can talk when cruising but once you hit the loud pedal it gets crazy! I’m loving this car a little too much I think as I am getting super excited for race season to start. More than I ever did in Betty! This weekend I’ll be putting my side exit plate on for the bumper I made and adjusting the clutch. Also want to add a front lip and install a small surprise if I can get it to work.

 

[99ECLIPSEGSXDSM]

BLT is done and the only leak I found was coming from the BOV gasket and I already have something here to swap it out with. I also found out that the injectors are 650 instead of the 850s I was told so I bought a set of 1220 cc injectors from boosting which should be here later today. Took it down the road and back and it still broke up under heavy boost so I turn the boost down for now till I get another set of plugs to try. I adjusted the clutch throw at the pedal and there’s no change. Friend suggested we adjust the shifter (Megan racing short shifter) to see it that helps. Problem is now I can’t get it to go in reverse. I moved it back to the previous adjustments and it still will not go into reverse. I’m gonna try a few things in the morning and hope it works because tomorrow is a test and tune and Sunday is the first points event of the year. If I miss them I’ll live but was really hoping to make the event.