Getting Ready? - 2012 edition

[roundel]

Ohh, and what are you going to do about axles?

2-stage launch control?

[Hunter]

Ordered a much larger t4 turbo system.   

Hoping for 450hp and 600 tq

I hope the gods of forced induction strike you down with painful amounts of lag! 

Ohh, and what are you going to do about axles?

There will be no lag.  It'll be at full boost by 2500 rpm. The turbo is actually kind of small for the engine.  I've never broken an axle.  They're 31 spline mosers.  I'll break the block, drive shaft, or trans before I break those.

[trailzmp]

is this going on your honda

[dyingwish]

is this going on your honda

Nope, it's going on the only car to have less panache that a tarted-up econobox!

[trailzmp]

 

[Handy Man]

is this going on your honda

...drive shaft...

[Handy Man]

I finally started swapping everything over to the new (read: straight) subframe... everything was going well until I found one of the control arm bolts is bent and wont come out despite beating on it with a BFH. Time to bring out the torch and the angle grinder and get angry! 

[Foximus]

Since there actually is a competitive SMF class down here in SC/NC, I bit the bullet and am in the process of picking up some Pedders springs (hopefully!) to replace my eibachs.  Also bought a set of aluminum control arms off the SS/TC cobalt, but with delrin front bushings and spherical rears.  Should be a lot nicer then the Poly mounts Im on now.  Still hunting down cheap tires and a rotated trans mount to help wheel hop.....

Next after this might be trying to save the $1200 for a limited Slip diff.....

[DarkHelmet]

I got the new street tires mounted on the front and hopefully will get it to a local place for inspection in the next couple weeks.

Need to get the lower control arms fixed ( arms are pushing thru the bushings ) so I'm going thru trying to find options. I have read that the uppers are not re-buildable, but the lower ones apparently are... so we'll see.

[metalsaber]

Splitter won't do you any good unless your over 48mph.  I'm also not sure dzuz fasteners have enough strength to hold it up.  Could you stand on it once fastened?

Yeah, it will be purely cosmetic, looks nice at car shows, haha.  I'll probably just take it off and on for autox events.  It's a really thin one anyway, 1/4" thick with a rounded edge.  It will barely stick out past the sport front bumper piece I have on the car.

Go big or go home.



BTW, I'm laying claim to the fastest former STU now SM car in the PGH area until you prove me otherwise, so bring it goat boy. 

Seriously, hope you make it to a few events this year. 

Go away.  We don't want you in SM.   





 

[Handy Man]

Got the rear subframe and rear suspension back in the car. The power plant frame that connects the diff to the tranny was a bitch and a half. I swear the devil himself designed that thing.

That leaves:
-New brake lines, pads & rotors
-Wing
-Change the tranny fluid
-Replace the gouged tire
-Repair the splitter
-Try to pop the dents out of the body
-Get an alignment

Ohh, and figure out what I'm going to pull the thing around with 

[mike l]

i bought the unlimited 5-year alignment from NTB.  It was like $250 for 5-years, but it is literally unlimited.  You could go out after every race and have it realigned.  You can modify suspension and then have it realigned.  You can try a few different tire/wheel setups and have it realigned.  You can specify the camber/caster/toe settings (you don't have to use the 'standard' factory specs - they will set it at whatever you want) and then change it again, and again, and again.  You can do whatever the hell you want to the car, and then take it and get it realigned.  I've already had them do it 3 times - when i first bought it, after new ball joints, and after new wheels/tires (usually like $80 a pop) and I haven't even had the car for a year yet . . . if you don't have access to alignment equipment so you can do it for free, or have a buddy that will do it for basically nothing, imho it's well worth the money if you plan on doing any suspension improvements or want to try different settings to fine tune your car . . .

[SilverWagonRX]

Which NTB are you using?

[roundel]

Go away.  We don't want you in SM.   

 

You misunderstand, I've got no current plans to run SM.  The DSP car is not the former STU car...  Neither under prepped former STU car would be anywhere near competitive in SM - hence the very specific details of the good natured ribbing, which was really an attempt just to get Dan to show up at an event or two and unleash that monster.

[mike l]

Which NTB are you using?

at the mall in robinson township

[DarkHelmet]

Firestone has something similar but they didn't want to even align my car saying they couldn't get it on their rack.

[stevers]

Here's my experience using NTB/Firestone..... don't do it.  I asked for -3.0 deg camber once, they gave me -3.6.  They (firestone) pulled the car off the rack with the spring rubbing the tire.  Carved a groove right in a brand new $200+ tire.     Won't ever have another firestone, NTB, goodyear type shop do another CUSTOM type alignment for me every again.  I'd rather do it myself and know it's done more carefully.  Plus if you ask for -3.0 camber, they are going to give you a big range in between there and I'd rather take the time to get it "exact".

[marka]

Howdy,

Its all about who's actually doing it.  The local NTB was great the last time I got my car aligned there, letting me sit in the car, watch the machine, pick custom #'s, etc.  Couldn't have been better.  That's got zero to do with NTB and everything to do with the tech (and a little with his boss).

Mark

[rrobb]

Nah, it's just a pain to get that one sleeve out the first time. It sould go back together fine and every time you do it now it'll be easy. Seriously, second time is easy. I didn't believe that when someone told me, but it's true.

For the tranny fluid, make sure you go with GL-4. NOT GL-4/5. NOT GL-5. GL-4 only. Redline MTL or MT-90, or even better half and half work great, but if you want the bomb, go with the Ford Motorsport Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid. Just buy 2 quarts of whatever you decide to use, and for god sake make sure you get the fill plug out before you take the drain plug out( ).

Got the rear subframe and rear suspension back in the car. The power plant frame that connects the diff to the tranny was a bitch and a half. I swear the devil himself designed that thing.

That leaves:
-New brake lines, pads & rotors
-Wing
-Change the tranny fluid
-Replace the gouged tire
-Repair the splitter
-Try to pop the dents out of the body
-Get an alignment

Ohh, and figure out what I'm going to pull the thing around with 

[DarkHelmet]

Howdy,

Its all about who's actually doing it.  The local NTB was great the last time I got my car aligned there, letting me sit in the car, watch the machine, pick custom #'s, etc.  Couldn't have been better.  That's got zero to do with NTB and everything to do with the tech (and a little with his boss).

Mark

+1 on that. WHile I'm not thrilled about the price , the Mr. Tire by me does a great job on the car. They gave me a printout of what everything was set at and it's worked well. Will I go back.....? Dunno. Ever since Mr. Tire bought Import/Export, they prices and service overall aren't as good.

I'll be looking for somewhere else to get it done, and I think I have found a place. We'll see in a couple weeks when I have them inspect the car.