Winter 07/08 Projects and Plans?

[Slow old poop]

Why the change?

Because the two years I spent campaigning my Eclipse was the most frustrating thing I ever did in my life. It was always a screaming fast sumbitch and a legitimate contender for a national title, but we spent two years sorting it out. We brought it home dead on the trailer nearly every weekend, usually with some little dipshit problem. If we didn't have to fix it so much, I could have tuned the suspension better, put aero on it, and spent more time trying to go faster. Instead, we spent all our time diagnosing and fixing problems.

I am reasonably sure that the car is debugged and sorted now. It's ready for somebody to drive to a national title. It just won't be me. Maybe the new owner.

Instead, I will be going to the tracks to have fun for a change. Racing, especially when you are in contention, is not fun.

That revelation first came to me the night that Mike the Mechanic and I pulled the transmission in the mud at the track in a driving rainstorm on Saturday night, using flashlights for illumination. It was reinforced when we towed all the way to Hastings, Nebraska, but never got on the track because of loose flywheel bolts. We pulled the transmission that day, too (out and in, in three hours). At least it wasn't raining, and we weren't in the mud this time.

No, racing is not fun. It is frustrating, time consuming, painfully expensive, and sometimes heart breaking, especially when you know that you COULDA won...if, if, if.

I hope to Pete that somebody does drive that car to a national title. The car deserves it.

 

[tsiboosted]

^^^^ I have to agree on some of the points but not all Rich. Racing sometimes is not fun when things are not going the way you want them or expect them to. Car issues, driver issues, crew issues etc. Sorry to hear you had all of those issues to keep you from actually competing for a title. I have not been racing DSMs as long as you have for sure, but I have been racing for a few years and have had my fair share of long weekends of getting the car ready, only to get to the track and turn a few laps if any because of something small we over looked. Never deterred me enough to get out of the sport and to keep me from reaching my goals. Not trying to put words in your mouth or trying to say what happened to me or you was different by any means. I would NEVER do that.

Going out to track days and racing competetivley is a NIGHT AND DAY difference. More time preparing the car. More money into the car. More time away from family. More money into the car More time away from work. More money into the car...you get the point I think about the money. More things to think about heading to the track, while at the track, in the hotels, in the car on the grid, in the car on the start. Need to finish here, cant let this guy pass me. Take it easy, push it etc. etc. etc. Save the tires, brakes, push the tires, brakes. WHATEVER !!! It is grueling, it is hard and it is VERY time consuming. A lot of times, I dont think people understand how much time and money goes into getting a race car and team ready to go before the race. Its almost an extra full time job, well it is an extra full time job really. And if you are lucky enough to have sponsors or even win some money at it, well thats just adds more fuel to the fire. Gotta win for the sponsors. Gotta finish here for a bigger check. Cant blowout here, sponsors are in the paddock/stands. Welcome to racing right Rich? I personally LOVE IT !!!!

But, good bye for you to racing for a while man. As I said before, sorry to see you hang up the boots and suit. Maybe one day the bug will bite again and we will see you back out on the track. I hope so anyway. We need more DSMers like you at the tracks.

I am ALWAYS trying to lure more DSMers to the track to experience road racing their machines. Once they do it, hopefully they will be hooked and we can see more guys on here at the tracks around the country.

 

[Slow old poop]

Well said.

As you pointed out (you said "Money in the car" in every other sentence), money is a very key issue. When I discovered that I could run with the Big Boys, but I had to buy a set of $1200 275/17 Hoosiers every other event to remain competitive with Z06es and Evos, that was the final nail in the coffin for me.

If I had a sponsor, I would be back racing in a New York Minute. I'd buy my Eclpse back and go for the championship.

It's not that I don't love racing. I just can't afford to run at the top no more.

 

[tsiboosted]

Well said.

As you pointed out (you said "Money in the car" in every other sentence), money is a very key issue. When I discovered that I could run with the Big Boys, but I had to buy a set of $1200 275/17 Hoosiers every other event to remain competitive with Z06es and Evos, that was the final nail in the coffin for me.

If I had a sponsor, I would be back racing in a New York Minute. I'd buy my Eclpse back and go for the championship.

It's not that I don't love racing. I just can't afford to run at the top no more.

Totally understandable to me man. I hope I did not scare people away from road racing with that statement about the money issue. But if you want to be competetive on a big stage and run with the top dogs, it does cost some money to do so. I just ordered tires this week and that is $1,000 plus, gone right there.

I am lucky enough to have some sponsorship and it REALLY helps out a lot of things. Even if they are not just straight giving me parts, just discounts...EVERY little penny you can save adds up in the long run. As I am sure you WELL know.

Track day events, HPDE can still be done for a very good price and are A LOT of fun to do. It is when you get into the competetive side of racing and contending for championships that the money issue is the biggest.

 

[tsiboosted]

Well now....Back on topic.....

Went by the shop a little while ago and got some semi bad news. Exhaust Manifold has a small crack in it near the collector. Good news is their welder is great and he said he can fix it better than new no big deal. Gaskets going from turbo to mani shot, gaskets going from mani to block shot. Had extras though (thank goodness) so the car should be done sometime next week. 2 of the Hankook tires came in today and just waiting on the other 2. Everything looks to be in good order for now heading into Round #5 of the series in 2 weeks.

 

[talonTSIDriver]

Well now....Back on topic.....

Went by the shop a little while ago and got some semi bad news. Exhaust Manifold has a small crack in it near the collector. Good news is their welder is great and he said he can fix it better than new no big deal. Gaskets going from turbo to mani shot, gaskets going from mani to block shot. Had extras though (thank goodness) so the car should be done sometime next week. 2 of the Hankook tires came in today and just waiting on the other 2. Everything looks to be in good order for now heading into Round #5 of the series in 2 weeks.

Wow, I wish a shop would fix my car for me all the time.

 

[tsiboosted]

Wow, I wish a shop would fix my car for me all the time.

Yeah, it is. But you don't need a shop do you Andy? Come on now, you "know" what you are doing as I really don't.

On another note, actually just left the shop to check on the progress. Dropped off the new Hankook Azeni Slicks to be mounted and balanced. Got results of compression test just to confirm what we already thout. Cylinder #3 is lower than th others dry. Did a wet test and jumped way up. Rings are most likely done, but like I said, we already figured on that. Just need it to last 2 more rounds then the rebuild will begin.

All new 4 ply silicone couplers on. Trying to get rid of the boost leak there with the old Greddy ones. Should be good to go there. Basically just getting everything in good order for the final 2 rounds then sit down 1 day take everything down and start "the" list for the rebuild. Hoping to get around 280 to the wheels for next season. We'll see as it goes a long.

How is everything else going Andy?

Miss the crazy FLA girls at Seville yet ???

 

[mavisky]

I think you mean Hankook Ventus Slicks, not Azenis, as those would be Falken's.

Lucky sob and you're racing in January.

 

[talonTSIDriver]

Miss the crazy FLA girls at Seville yet ???

We're going back tomorrow night, wanna come?

Lucky sob and you're racing in January.

Ain't that some crap!!!

 

[tsiboosted]

I think you mean Hankook Ventus Slicks, not Azenis, as those would be Falken's.

Lucky sob and you're racing in January.

Yes, I was mistaken on those tires sorry. They are the Ventus slicks. And yes we are VERY lucky to race year round down here in the south.

We're going back tomorrow night, wanna come?


Ain't that some crap!!!

Wish I could but I cant man. Have some fun for me though.

And sorry to everyone where it is snowing and you cant race the cars. All I can say is Florida is a great state to live in Except for hurricanes.

 

[mavisky]

Got some work done tonight. Finished mounting up the new JNZ Tuning mirror block off plates and re-locating the mirrors to a better viewing angle.

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[wortdog]

I decided to go a bit crazy for my trackday car over the winter.

I lost my original twin sequential 16g car in a garage fire back in September(damn wiring in a friend's building). Surviving parts included my 2.3 stroker longblock, built transmission, twin disc clutch, AL radiator, Eprom ECU(seriously, it still works) and the brakes.

The twin turbo route was just too much of a pain in the rear, so I'm switching to a GT4088R and ditching the stock ECU + Ostrich + MAFT Gen2 in favor of an AEM unit. With the stock ECU I was fighting a lean tip in condition which was pretty obnoxious mid-corner. I also picked up a COP setup from ebay for kicks.

For the motor I've picked up a PE Kevlar timing belt, new belt timing pulleys, and am switching everything except the radiator lines over to AN.

Suspension wise, I'm leaning towards the Hotbits double adjustables if I can swing the $2500 for them, otherwise I may run some 'lesser' coil overs like the Megans for a while. Eventually I'll get around to getting Mitch some money for a set of the Team Dynamics wheels wrapped in Toyo RA-1 rubber. I may also give TCE a ring about some rear brakes to match my TT VR4 fronts.

Plan for next winter will be a second set of injectors spraying methanol(while in 15+ psi boost) in tandem with the gasoline fuel system.

My victim is currently 100% bone stock down the BCS solenoid, paper filter, and stock exhaust. That should be quite a change. WTF

 

[TKW#13]

I just ordered Megan Racing 32-way adjustable coilovers. I am putting a 16g and evo 8 FMIC in at the end of Feb. I just put in a MOMO start seat and MOMO Trek sterring wheel. I put RT-615 235/40r18 on 18x8.5 Enkei NT-03 (red). First open track day is April 4th here locally @MMP.

 

[tsiboosted]

I just ordered Megan Racing 32-way adjustable coilovers. I am putting a 16g and evo 8 FMIC in at the end of Feb. I just put in a MOMO start seat and MOMO Trek sterring wheel. I put RT-615 235/40r18 on 18x8.5 Enkei NT-03 (red). First open track day is April 4th here locally @MMP.

Nice job on some new mods. Good luck at the track day in April. Keep us up to date on how that goes for you.

 

[mavisky]

Red NT-03's? I wanna see what that looks like really bad.

 

[WHite97RS]

-RM sways Installed
-Technafit Brake lines Sitting on a Shelf
-Hawk HPS Pads Sitting on a Shelf
-New Rotors Sitting on a shelf
-Symborski shift kit Installed

It was a good Christmas , now just waiting on some good weather, college apt parking lot isnt very ideal at the moment to install brakes, or I could be patient and install them when I go home to a heated garage.......NAHHH

New Check List.....
-New Tires
-Harnesses

 

[chavez408]

hey guys i need a front mount asap! any of you know a good vendor off ebay that is trust worthy?

 

[mavisky]

Why not support one of our site vendors instead of some random ebay company that won't do anything for our community in return?

 

[chavez408]

Oh man, I would! Believe I am the last one to purchase anything, anything from ebay. The thing is I am very low in cash and anything that I would possibly afford from our vendors would be punishment racing's mount, but if i can get something off ebay with the same quality but with much a lower price.. well that is great right NOW.
Money sucks...

 

[90laserRSfwd]

mod right or mod twice.....

 

[wolf20043]

Well, a day late as it is already january, but here is what has been done, and then what is to be done in the next week.
N/T with a brand new 4g63t red top JDM
AWD tranny with welded center diff with less than 20000 miles (for future AWD conversion)
ACT 2600
Evo III 16g
MBC
Full tune up
Autometer Phantom boost, oil pressure, and temp gauge
Apexi S-AFC with logger to tune


To come this week:
2.5" turbo back exhaust
560cc injectors
190 fuel pump
tires for the 18' rims just bought
At the moment, that is all I can recall, but will update as it all comes to me. Been a very busy winter.
Mike

 

[Ludachris]

Oh man, I would! Believe I am the last one to purchase anything, anything from ebay. The thing is I am very low in cash and anything that I would possibly afford from our vendors would be punishment racing's mount, but if i can get something off ebay with the same quality but with much a lower price.. well that is great right NOW.
Money sucks...

Cheaper than $459? I'd be leery of anything I found on ebay for cheaper than that. Check the Turbo Tech forum, there's bound to be discussions on ebay FMIC's in there.

 

[TKW#13]

Red NT-03's? I wanna see what that looks like really bad.

Here is a pic! I am also working on a bracket so that the Evo Brembo set up will work on Eclipse.

 

[tsiboosted]

mod right or mod twice.....

Good motto

 

[mavisky]

AWD tranny with welded center diff with less than 20000 miles (for future AWD conversion)
Mike

I'd highly highly suggest you do a little research on the fwd to awd conversion on a 1g. The general consensus from tuners and owners is that this is no where near worth the amount of custom fabrication and money involved.

The rear subframe is not at all similar to the awd's and even the front is different to a pretty good degree. If I remember right the center support that houses the front motor mount takes up the exact space in which the transfer case needs to be mounted. It's near on impossible and unless you're a top notch (and I truly mean top notch) fabricator you'd be much much better off buying an awd car to begin with. If you're dead set on wrapping the enormous amounts of time and money into this and think you have the skills to redo the entire engine, suspension and floorboard of your talon then go for it, but I'd contact RRE as they're the only people in the community who've ever done it and that was long long ago.