Toph6888 Posted May 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Spent the weekend with some friends at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan with Autointerests. On Saturday we ran the normal clockwise direction, and on Sunday we ran the counterclockwise direction. I am not sure if I was just more comfortable with the car on Sunday, but the course felt a lot faster and smoother the second day. Overall the car did very well. It responded well, found its neutral point quickly through the switchbacks, and didn't step out or anything unless I asked it to around maybe corner 2 the first day. Tires and brakes were good, but I think I will need a bigger tire in the future to push the car faster (currently on 255 in the front and back). The Hawk HPS pads did feel like they were getting towards the end of their ability towards the end of each session. Engine was amazing, pretty much ran the entire course in 3rd gear unless I wanted to really stretch its legs on the straights when I would touch 4th. Survived both days of racing and the 300+mile one way driving there and back. It even got 26mpg on the way to and back from the track fully loaded with crap. Can't wait for my next even at Mid Ohio on June 12th. Before the June event at midohio I plan to put on at least an oil cooler as I was reaching 240*F by mid session, and would like to keep that down to 200-220*F if possible. Also would like to get a track set of rotors/pads (probably Hawk HP+ for now while I learn the car more and get the pads to last through the session) and then finally a general brake ducting kit to help cool the front brakes off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKilbourne Posted May 30, 2017 Report Share Posted May 30, 2017 Awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Looks fun, I'll be at mid Ohio with Audi club in July. Hope to do 2 more weekends as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted June 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2017 Video from running with Akron SCCA club up at Dragway 42 this weekend. Parents live up by Akron, so it was good to see them for the weekend then race. First time they have been in the car since the v8 swap. The course at dragway 42 is a lot of fun. About twice as wide as what circleville is, and a lot of pavement able to be used for the autocross. I would suggest heading up at some point to check it out. The dragstrip looks awesome too. This is the run I came closest to spinning out and aimed right at the corner workers around 46-48 seconds(one of my faster runs, but I still nipped one cone, bah!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Looking good! I'm going to go see the Akron boys this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted June 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Event at Mid ohio yesterday went pretty well. It was really hot out, and in the afternoon the cars were definitley getting taxed. Before the track day I put in a new oil cooler and a thermostat controller (Both Earl's Brand, pretty nice pieces). At gingerman, around 70-75*F ambient, my oil temps were around 240-250*F on the track (damn you dual overhead cams!). Yesterday at Mid ohio, 90*F ambient, my oil temps were 210-220*F. So that cooler was well worth its $500 for the cooler, thermostat, lines and fittings. My coolant temps were around 195-210*F, so looks like all my cooling systems were able to survive the day pretty well. My friend and I finally got a clean run session during the last session of the day, once I get the video from him I will update it. We don't have a nice lap timer, but going from the video it looks like we were running around 1:55.xx average with one or a couple laps around 1:53.xx. We are still pretty new to this (only 3-4 track days under our belts), so we are hoping these times aren't too bad. Our street tires (both using RS3 tires) were getting pretty hot and the track was getting pretty slick by the end of the day, especially the keyhole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99StockGT Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Good for you for getting it out there and running it after all this work! Most, myself included, spend tons of hours and money building up a project then never have the time/money/motivation to really get out there and enjoy is. She looked great at Circleville a couple weeks ago, keep enjoying it and pushing for more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted June 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Heres a quick video my buddy stitched together that was behind. He has an RSX and the camera is cheap so its really loud/droney. Still, I'm the silver car in front of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 Last weekend we went up to Pitt Race with Autointerests just for a saturday event. They were calling for rain, but it ended up sprinkling just a bit in the morning during tech and then was clear and sunny the rest of the day. We ran the full track, and it was a blast with that mustang. Thanks to the coyote and the gearing in the car I was able to still run the entire course in 4th gear, something my instructor said he had never seen before haha. There were definitely some points where I could see myself reaching down to third through some sections, but it was never needed and with it being my first time to the track I just wanted to get really clean line over the course of they day. The car either seemed to be more responsive to the track, or I'm just finally get comforable pushing it through the corners more. My friend with his bolt on RSX normally eats me in the corners, and this time he couldn't shake me when he was in front and I walked away from him pretty easily through the twisties when I was in front. I definitely need tires and brake pads bad. The 255 RS3's just aren't cutting it, the HPS pads are pretty much toast about halfway through a session, and my autox alignment I think is hurting the car on track (-3* camber in front and 1/16th toe OUT is not helping with my braking). I'm pretty much engine braking around 600ft, hard braking at 400ft, where my friend with his RSX and DTC 60 track pads is staying in it and slamming the brakes at 200ft. If I could get braking like that I would be able to cut the lap times down quite a bit. Today I actually put in my new GForce 6 point harnesses that I got for my birthday. Didnt get a chance to before pitt race. I also have HP+ pads and new rotors to go on the car before we go try Nelson Ledges in August, then Mid Ohio again in September. I decided to ask for the latch style to save half the cost over the camlock harnesses and to get a general idea of how the harnesses will go. For the couple times a year I will be using them they should suffice for now until I decide to pay the cash for a HANS device and go full cage/rip out the interior (which i've been thinking about more and more now that I ahve the miata for autox lol). The submarine harnesses are currently wrapping around the front of the seat since I don't currently have a submarine slot. I am ordering a kit to put in a slot and then will reroute the submarine harnesses back behind where the driver/passenger would sit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 I love this car. You've done well. Definitely need more meat on it this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted July 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 (edited) I love this car. You've done well. Definitely need more meat on it this year. Thanks, I really appreciate it. STill not as fast as that Viper on R888R's though haha. So this past weekend we had the third points event at BMC. Finally was a nice forecast, so I decided to bring the 245/45R17 BFG R1S Slicks with me. I bought these used off another CR member, but this was the first time I finally got to use them, and HOLY CRAP do they stick. Completely different car at circleville. For BMC I ended up second in A class (essentially unlimited non miatas) with my 46.414s time and I only lost to a Ford Formula car in my class lol. Average best time for the course was 50.193s. I finished 5th overall, losing to the formula car, two miatas on slicks, and one ND miata on RE71R's. I figure thats pretty good for my car with a good 1000-1200lbs (and around 200-300+HP lol) on those cars and it being a go cart track. Still some understeering problems around the hairpins, but the car seems to be lifiting the front inner wheel, so I think the sway bar is too big for the circleville track. I'll try the stock sway bar first and see if that alleviates the problem. If not, then stiffer springs up front. It doesn't roll a ton, but the bar is lifting it enough to where I'm losing contact patch. Last year I was having the same issue with the brakes where it would lock the brake on the inside every turn, so ultimatly the car is unweighting that wheel enough to cause loss of traction. Will probably try the R1S Tires at Mid Ohio in September for a couple sessions to see how they feel, but next year I will probably only go to a 100TW tire (R888R or NT01 probably) to try to make the tires last the whole track day season next year. Edited July 11, 2017 by Toph6888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted August 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 Went to nelson ledges this weekend with autointerests group to see how the track was. Overall the surface is pretty good. Coming into turn 12 at speed it can get a lil dicey with the "evenness" of the pavement, but overall not too bad. I can actually go full throttle around the oak tree turn, which is a blast in this car. That banking works really well. They have started working on the berming and the tough transition from pavement to grass. They laid down some rough packed pavement as a transition zone, but its still not what I would call overly faith inspiring. Still, it was a fun day on a new to me, very fast track. Back straight I was up to about 125 before I needed to start braking into 11 for my comfort, probably could have gone a bit faster with better tires/brakes. I took times on my phone with Harry's lap timer and best of my third session was 1:25.5, which I thought was pretty decent. Last lap of my last session I was able to get lower to 1:22.5 on HPS brake pads and RS3 tires that are too small for my car (cue excuses!). I think with some more track time there to really dial in teh carosel (I was terrible at it) and I could find some more time. In a couple weeks I will be at mid ohio and will try out my slicks to see how much of an improvement I get with them, as well as some HP+ brake pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 not bad, I don't remember the exact times, but I think I was a 1:18 on 340 tw tires. Looking forward to your mid ohio times. Slicks were a huge jump in speed for me, cut 5.5 seconds off mid ohio LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 In a couple weeks I will be at mid ohio and will try out my slicks to see how much of an improvement I get with them, as well as some HP+ brake pads. Slicks are going to help for sure. Tirerack had the R1S on super sale on some sizes recently, but they're back to regularish pricing now. You can get take-off DHs pretty reasonably too when your R1S run out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Glad to see you're putting the car to good use. Please fix the sub belts properly as they're worthless going over the front of the seat. I wouldn't ride along as an instructor with them like that FYI. Also, go stronger than HP+ pads for Mid Ohio if you plan on driving it hard down the back straight at all. HP+ aren't going to cut it. DTC-30 at a minimum if you're sticking to Hawk. I'd recommend go HT-10 and only use them as track pads. A,so make sure your fluid is up to spec and fresh. Cool project and keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted April 23, 2018 Report Share Posted April 23, 2018 Okay, thread opened. Let's see the update sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Been a While. Updates from last summer: I took care of the seat harnesses pretty much a week or two after I had originally put them in. FYI, I never ran an event with them around the front of the seat and hadn't planned on keeping them that way. Anyways, I bought slots that fit through the seats and cut them out to fit. Then it got stored all winter. yay. Now onto more updates. New parts for 2018: 2018 GT Intake Manifold 87mm GT350 throttle body / JLT Air Intake Boundary Billet Oil Pump Gear / Timing Sprocket ATI Super Damper 4.56 Rear Gears T56 magnum close ratio with 0.50 6th gear OD (with my tire size and 4.56 i'll be at ~2100rpms at 75mph) Ford Racing Aluminum Flywheel Exedy Mach 400 stage 2 clutch 26 spline DSS driveshaft for 03/04 cobra Sparco Evo 3 fixed back seat 2018 manifold: higher RPM (typically peaks around 7200 instead of 6500-6700 that is current and can retain IMRC's for lower rpm torque. targetting 8000rpm redline with the billet opg, sprocket and ATI balancer) t56 magnum decided it would be easier to just pull everything out of the bottom to swap the trans and do the Oil pump gears and whatnot. Turns out the old T56 fits in a miata with the passenger seat removed. One of my biggest complaints on the car was the master cylinder moving, so I made a brace. Its two pieces of 1/4" steel. I doubt it will move now. We are up to this past week now. First track day is 5/14. I should really get it all together. swapping out oil pump gears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thats a lot of coin.... Back in the car as of this weekend New long arm shifter. Stock new edge ones are so far forward it was a pain with the harness, so once the wheel gets lowered down its about even wtih the steering wheel. Much easier to shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Impressive. 18 instead of GT350 IM due to cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Impressive. 18 instead of GT350 IM due to cost? yup. $250 shipped new for the 18 where the GT350 new is $1000ish. Even used the GT350's are quite a bit, most I have found range from $600-800. I don't really need a lot of power gain, I just want more RPM to go with the new rear gears so my overall top MPH in each gear doesnt change too much. Currently with 3.90s with a 25.6" wheel: 1st (2.66) 7000rpm = 52mph 2nd (1.78) 7000rpm = 77mph 3rd (1.30) 7000rpm = 105mph 4th (1.00) 7000rpm = 137mph With the 4.56's and a 25.6" wheel: 1st (2.66) 8000rpm = 50mph 2nd (1.78) 8000rpm = 75mph 3rd (1.30) 8000rpm = 103mph 4th (1.00) 8000rpm = 134mph The reason for the 4.56's is the t56 is a double OD transmission. The MT82 in the coyote cars are a single OD transmission. Putting a 4.56 in my car with my tire size is the same as the new mustangs with the mt82 and a 3.73 gear ratio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Good stuff. The 18 manifold also gives more tq vs the GT350, but gives up a bit on 7500rpm+. What event are you doing May 14? I'm doing 12/13 with NORPCA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Good stuff. The 18 manifold also gives more tq vs the GT350, but gives up a bit on 7500rpm+. What event are you doing May 14? I'm doing 12/13 with NORPCA. Yah. Looking forward to getting a dyno comparison of the two. Hoping to get with Brian in the next couple weeks. Autointerests has their first Mid Ohio day on the 14th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Yah. Looking forward to getting a dyno comparison of the two. Hoping to get with Brian in the next couple weeks. Autointerests has their first Mid Ohio day on the 14th. Cool, I'll be interested to see how he gets that combo. If you don't mind, let me know when you get it dyno'd, I wouldn't mind stopping by to watch for a bit, ask some questions. GT350 IM is on my list down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toph6888 Posted April 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 Cool, I'll be interested to see how he gets that combo. If you don't mind, let me know when you get it dyno'd, I wouldn't mind stopping by to watch for a bit, ask some questions. GT350 IM is on my list down the road. Will do. Initial talks with Brian are looking like second week of May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 I know you just got that seat but if you ever want to sell it let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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