The 14b Drag Race Discussion Thread

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Thats a great writeup Nathan. Looks very clean to. Mine didnt quite turnout so nice. I mounted mine to the outside and the lexan cover where the lower trim is and the spot for the mirror.

Definitely a great write up, I have yet to make mine! For some reason I couldn't post on the thread...

Thanks guys! I had never seen how anyone else had done it, just alway heard to rivet it. I figured this way out it and seems like a nice clean way to do it. Plus it contours it just like the stock window. It's a tech article so I think comments or replies are blocked to prevent it from becoming a discussion like the normal threads.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Anyone ever weighed the rear quarter glass?

 

[1qkfwd]

Anyone ever weighed the rear quarter glass?

I have some out that I can get a weight for. They are not very heavy. On my awd Im probably going to leave them in because they are a pain in the arse to lexan because of the double curve those windows have.

Thanks guys! I had never seen how anyone else had done it, just alway heard to rivet it. I figured this way out it and seems like a nice clean way to do it. Plus it contours it just like the stock window. It's a tech article so I think comments or replies are blocked to prevent it from becoming a discussion like the normal threads.

Ill try to get a pic of mine up close so you can see how awesome of a job you did on yours. Promise not to laugh tho.

 

[YZFR1]

How's it goin? Hey, at least you're enjoying your car alot more than many of us here can!

Hey man, it's going alright. Have my own issues but nothing a running DSM can't fix

I think it would've been awesome to have a dedicated track car it's just too much of a baggage for right now. Truck, trailer, more parking space.. etc. A nice gutted fwd Colt would've been great though!

 

[91stocker]

Thanks guys! I had never seen how anyone else had done it, just alway heard to rivet it. I figured this way out it and seems like a nice clean way to do it. Plus it contours it just like the stock window. It's a tech article so I think comments or replies are blocked to prevent it from becoming a discussion like the normal threads.

Yea wow, that turned out really well. Ever get an estimate for the total weight loss from the glass?

 

[Phil1320]

Hey man, it's going alright. Have my own issues but nothing a running DSM can't fix

I think it would've been awesome to have a dedicated track car it's just too much of a baggage for right now. Truck, trailer, more parking space.. etc. A nice gutted fwd Colt would've been great though!

I like that attitude

It can be tough to have a dedicated track car, it took me two years after I decided to get a trailer. Agreed! I'd love a Mirage or Colt! Someday maybe...

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Ill try to get a pic of mine up close so you can see how awesome of a job you did on yours. Promise not to laugh tho.

I'd like to see it!

Yea wow, that turned out really well. Ever get an estimate for the total weight loss from the glass?

According to my scale each door glass was 8.2 lbs. I didn't weigh the Lexan window but I'd guess maybe 2 lbs, it's VERY light!

 

[Phil1320]

I'd like to see it!


According to my scale each door glass was 8.2 lbs. I didn't weigh the Lexan window but I'd guess maybe 2 lbs, it's VERY light!

I guess a trip to Depot or Lowe's is in order! Again, real nice work man!

 

[1SloEvo]

Nate, you are right on with the weight. My scale showed both driver and passenger door windows weighing in at 16.5lb. My entire sheet of Lexan to make both windows is 6lb...so that's 5lb off each side...actually a few more ounces since you won't use the entire half once you trim it to fit the shape of the door. Going to read the write-up now Nate. Thanks for posting it up!

 

[Phil1320]

I'm just gonna jump in here and say that it's awesome to see many of you guys lightening your cars. If you're game to do it, and, have the time, there's alot of free ET.

It is a necessary evil.

I also want to say that after I went to the 1998 DSM Shootout, I really didn't have any desire to go back. Here's why:

Dave Buschur totally shunned ''gutted out tin cans.'' He made that known right in the class descriptions, and elsewhere. So, at that point my car was by no means gutted, just rear decklid, rear seats, and the rear carpet support structure and panels were out. However, I was forced to put all that back in the car in order to even run in 'his' event. And, to boot, I ended up in a bracket class anyway. There should have been a stock turbo class way back then.

In a nutshell, I started reducing weight pretty early on, and it just kept on going.

I viewed Dave as controlling, so basically didn't go back to the shootout until 2004, where I didn't even bring my Talon.

And, so now, there's a class that lightened cars can enter, finally.

Why? BECAUSE LIGHTENING CARS IS PART OF ALL RACING WHERE DOOR SLAMMERS COMPETE!

 

[SBstar]

"add lightness" - Lotus founder

Love it! Not that I could ever afford a lotus, so I'll just lighten my car.

Nate! Awesome write-up man, I'm finding it hard to have excuses not to do it now.

 

[Phil1320]

"add lightness" - Lotus founder

Love it! Not that I could ever afford a lotus, so I'll just lighten my car.

Nate! Awesome write-up man, I'm finding it hard to have excuses not to do it now.

One of my best friends bought an Elise the first year they were available. He ended up supercharging it and I think it was good for about 220 RWHP. This thing was such a blast to drive....total racecar feel. It was similar to my Cayman, only quicker, with much less heft.

 

[1SloEvo]

Interested to see the response from the guy LEADING the way on the 14b attempts. I posted up basically asking him how he thinks he is leading the way and saying that everything he is doing is in response to what all the guys in here (not myself, but those of you who have actually been running your 14b with tons of success and experience) had told him about weight removal.

In respect to the build, I think he is on the right track, but he still is a really cocky guy claiming he is walking his own path and will set an AWD record that will never be touched. Although my car is converted to FWD, I still use this as motivation to ensure I give myself and my build the best chance to run as fast as possible!

 

[Phil1320]

^^^^^

x2

 

[DJ23GSX]

Any of you guys running the chromoly front crossmember? I've been tossing around the idea of getting one with the laser cut k-members. My only gripe is the solid front motor mount. I daily drive my dsm a lot of the time and don't want to turn it into a rattle box. I already have poly mounts at both side locations (stock front and rear mounts) and I can just start to feel a tad bit of vibration at idle but honestly I really couldn't tolerate any more.

1g Chromoly Crossmember

 

[Phil1320]

Any of you guys running the chromoly front crossmember? I've been tossing around the idea of getting one with the laser cut k-members. My only gripe is the solid front motor mount. I daily drive my dsm a lot of the time and don't want to turn it into a rattle box. I already have poly mounts at both side locations (stock front and rear mounts) and I can just start to feel a tad bit of vibration at idle but honestly I really couldn't tolerate any more.

1g Chromoly Crossmember

I have one but have not had the car back together to give you any impressions. It is not the one you have linked to however.

 

[dsmornothing]

Being "cocky" is my motivation. It makes me work that much harder to back my ass up. I do agree weight reduction is a huge part. BUT I still say there is wayyyyy more to it. We will find out. Who knows maybe ill run 12's but I doubt it....

 

[Phil1320]

Phil is on a high horse to be exact. I used to respect what he did, now he is just making himself look bad.

IRONIC

 

[dsmornothing]

You were right I was wrong. There I said it. I'm not here to debate the best way to go about this. I'm here to share what my goals are and how I plan to achieve them. I expect some constructive criticism but we don't need to argue about it. I made a bold statement and now I have to back it. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[Phil1320]

You were right I was wrong. There I said it. I'm not here to debate the best way to go about this. I'm here to share what my goals are and how I plan to achieve them. I expect some constructive criticism but we don't need to argue about it. I made a bold statement and now I have to back it. Nothing more nothing less.

1. Joe Bucci 10.876 @ 123.83 FWD2. Justin Aichele 11.361 @ 121.58 FWD3. Nate Crisman 11.377 @ 116.63 AWD4. Phil Beers 11.497 @ 113.85 AWD5. David Womer 11.514 @ 118.13 AWD6. Shane Webster 11.541 @ 116.38 AWD7. Leon Reitman 11.642 @ 116.56 AWD8. Nick Carleton 11.767 @ 115.93 AWD9. Aaron Sadorf 11.76 @ 113.37 FWD10. Lucas English 11.7X @ XXX.X - I know he ran 11.7 and blew up his 14b AWD

Well then. While your preparing to back it, here's my bold statement:

The above list are 10 people that currently have a better set-up than you do.

For the record, we aren't 'attempting,' we've DONE.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Nate! Awesome write-up man, I'm finding it hard to have excuses not to do it now.

Thanks Shane! I think you guys are really going to like what I'm going to use to cover up the gapping hole in my door. How does lighter, cheaper, and better looking then sheet metal sound? Expect another write up soon.

Any of you guys running the chromoly front crossmember? I've been tossing around the idea of getting one with the laser cut k-members. My only gripe is the solid front motor mount. I daily drive my dsm a lot of the time and don't want to turn it into a rattle box. I already have poly mounts at both side locations (stock front and rear mounts) and I can just start to feel a tad bit of vibration at idle but honestly I really couldn't tolerate any more.

The front and rear mounts are the most important for drag racing and keeping the engine planted, I can't believe you are still on the stockers. I went from full Prothanes to just Prothanes on the sides and solid metal front and rears mounts and didn't notice any additional vibrations back when I was still on the street. I say go for it!

 

[DJ23GSX]

The front and rear mounts are the most important for drag racing and keeping the engine planted, I can't believe you are still on the stockers. I went from full Prothanes to just Prothanes on the sides and solid metal front and rears mounts and didn't notice any additional vibrations back when I was still on the street. I say go for it!

Don't get me wrong I'm no drag racer . I've finally gotten my car to a point where its track worthy now so I'm planning on hitting the strip atleast a few times this year. In the search for my latest dsm I drove a very solid and well built (modded) gvr4 and a 1g dsm with all 4 poly motor mounts and I couldn't stand the vibration at idle. I guess those experiences kind of scared me a bit haha. Eventually I will be going with some 272 cam's and I'm sure that would only amplify the vibrations. Not sure the 15-20lbs of weight reduction is worth it to me. Hell I drive around with about 60lbs or more of tools in the hatch of my dsm

 

[1qkfwd]

You drag race at all the front and rear mounts need to be replaced with something more solid.

 

[Phil1320]

Don't get me wrong I'm no drag racer . I've finally gotten my car to a point where its track worthy now so I'm planning on hitting the strip atleast a few times this year. In the search for my latest dsm I drove a very solid and well built (modded) gvr4 and a 1g dsm with all 4 poly motor mounts and I couldn't stand the vibration at idle. I guess those experiences kind of scared me a bit haha. Eventually I will be going with some 272 cam's and I'm sure that would only amplify the vibrations. Not sure the 15-20lbs of weight reduction is worth it to me. Hell I drive around with about 60lbs or more of tools in the hatch of my dsm

It's that fine line DJ. You gotta give, to get. Yes, some comfort is lost when going to poly mounts, but, what they do in return far outweighs that, IMHO of course.

 

[pneumo]

I found a good compromise between comfort and performance with a new OEM rear mount, new OEM drivers side mount, and prothane mounts on the trans and front mount.