SM S14: Hacking more of my car together

[AceInHole]

Getting deep into the pre-season rush, since my first race is on the 22nd (Feb). Just thought I'd post some updates of what's going on in my garage.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/DSC_6362.jpg


If you look closely, you'll notice how horribly deformed the radiator core support is. That would be because the car was backed into or rear ended a truck. Either way, it's not pretty. You can really tell how bad it is in the following pics:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/DSC_6053.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/DSC_6052.jpg

The core support for the Panda was marginally better, so while I had everything apart, I figured I'd splice the good in for the bad. The bad part is that the headlight and hood latch brackets were cut on the Panda to fit the radiator in per SCCA SM rules (can't cut more than 1lb off, so no bumper support notching). It ended up being a bit more work than necessary, but the end result is much better than when I bought the car:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6528.jpg

You can still tell where I spliced it in. I'll probably grind it down a bit more, but at the moment, I just need to get the car started.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6529.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6530.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6531.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6532.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6534.jpg

On the inside, I finally finished wiring in the E-Manage Ultimate. McMaster sells some nice woven wrap-around wire sleeving. I highly recommend. The downside is anything longer than 3ft. you have to use the meshy braided sleeving (which I think Carl has on his car).

ID Bundle Dia. Range Wall Thick. 3-ft. Lengths Each
3 / 16 ............ 1 / 16 to 3 / 16 ..................... 0.024 ........ 2649K41 . . . . $3.95
5 / 16 ............ 3 / 16 to 5 / 16 ..................... 0.024 ........ 2649K42 . . . . 4.98
1 / 2 ............ 5 / 16 to 1 / 2 ..................... 0.024 ........ 2649K43 . . . . 6.24
3 / 4 ............1 / 2 to 3 / 4 .....................0.024 ........ 2649K44 . . . . 8.80
1 ............ 3 / 4 to 1 ..................... 0.024 ........ 2649K45 . . . . 10.98
1 1 / 2 ............1 to 1 3 / 4 ..................... 0.024 ........ 2649K46 . . . . 13.65


Anyways, my new FMIC is getting chopped in half to fit with the stock core and bumper supports, making a 28x7x3" 10-row core. Hopefully I'll get it today and be able to start the car up this weekend! The rest of the engine setup should be plug and play:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6536.jpg

-PJ

[spool_sample]

Getting deep into the pre-season rush, since my first race is on the 22nd (Feb).

Lucky bastard! Let us know how it goes.

Car looks like it's starting to shape up, though. Hopefully it can match the badass-ness of the old one. :D

[AceInHole]

Finished off a bit more of the engine harness:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6546.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6547.jpg

I'm loving this woven loom crap. Definitely going to have to get more of it, although I think I should've run the spiral bundling wrap on the larger part of the harness.

[a_ahmed]

yesss ur back :P Looking forward to this hehe

[AceInHole]

More hacking, but on the other car. Getting ready to have it picked up by the junkyard :(

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/IMG_0595.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/IMG_0596.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/IMG_0597.jpg

It still had a full tank of gas since we hadn't made it all that far from home before we were hit last year.

Just have to cut the roof off to splice into the new car in order to delete the fugly ass aftermarket sunroof. I'm still not sure why I bought the new car other than it was $800.

Anyways, almost there... just some crazy fab work untill I can reap the benefits of having a racecar.

[2Fass240us]

YourNeighborsArePissed.com

[a_ahmed]

hey i dont mind if u mail me the s14 front spindles/wheelbearings/etc... lol.. i kind of want them hehe :)

[ckcadavona]

Are you going to the National event in Cecil, GA? It'll be my first national event. Looks like your cutting it pretty close. Hope everything goes well.

[AceInHole]

YourNeighborsArePissed.com
As long as they're not throwing rocks at my cars.... so far everyone that's stopped by has been pretty cool. I've lived on this street all my life (except for the stint in an apartment before getting a full-time job), so I know most of the neighbors, and they're used to me building **** from when I was 5 :P

I've gotta find a condo/ townhouse with a big enough garage that I can hide projects like this :)

hey i dont mind if u mail me the s14 front spindles/wheelbearings/etc... lol.. i kind of want them hehe :)

The driver's side wheel bearing was toast, and fell apart when I took it off. I'm not sure if I can even salvage the spindle....

Are you going to the National event in Cecil, GA? It'll be my first national event. Looks like your cutting it pretty close. Hope everything goes well.
Yup. We came in 1st/ 4th last year. Hoping to better that with a 1st/ 2nd this year. Another friend is going down with his Civic (a repeat National Championship trophy winner) so it should be interesting, as he has around 10 years of development in his car vs my car currently not even running :P

Hoping to have everything up and running by mid-week this week. I've got a lot of welding to do before starting it up, though.

[ecugrad]

Just have to cut the roof off to splice into the new car in order to delete the fugly ass aftermarket sunroof. I'm still not sure why I bought the new car other than it was $800.


Could you PLEASE take some pics as you do this. I too have a ****ty aftermarket sunroof and want to try to splice a new roof in at some point.

You would be my hero! :D

[AceInHole]

My plan of attack for the sunroof delete is to splice in a stock roof panel cut from the other car, then glue/ weld in the frame peice (which i think is just to add material so the roof doesn't resonate).

I'm planning on making some flange peices so that I'll be able to keep the roof panel flush with the existing roof, then throw some tack welds in for added security. Everything will be bonded together (window weld most likely) to seal it from the elements, and then I'll fill the crack with epoxy and smooth it before adding paint and primer.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/sunroof.jpg

I'll try to remember to snag some pics at each step... but I'm focused more on getting it done so that I can tackle other projects that need to be done before heading out to GA.

[ecugrad]

Hmmm interesting, I would have figured you would take the entire roof off the old car to put on the new car.

SUPPOSEDLY, its not that hard to do

http://www.courtesyparts.com/betasite/images/s14/s14_730-1.gif

Drill out a few spot welds and the roof pops off.

Here is a Honda roof re-skin.

http://www.performanceforum.com/wesvann/honda/roof/roof.html

[AceInHole]

the edges of the roof are sealed into the window frames and pillars. It'd be cleaner to do the entire roof, but it would take too long for my current time constraints. down the road I might redo it with a new panel.... but I'm betting I'll have a new car by then.

[2Fass240us]

Interesting, I wonder if Ryan's diagram applies to the S13. The only guy I know who's done it successfully cut the skin off (not sure how much, but certainly not what Ryan posted), had it welded, etc.

My aluminum panel w/rivets and silicone looks like crap compared to the "right way." :D

[ecugrad]

IMy aluminum panel w/rivets and silicone looks like crap compared to the "right way." :D

Post a pic of your setup Andy.

[a_ahmed]

I was wondering what is wrong with cutting out a piece of metal and welding it in place where you cut out the sunroof?

[2Fass240us]

http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/463.jpg
http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/464.jpg
http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/466.jpg
http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/467.jpg
http://www.mysportscar.com/andy/FA/468.jpg

I don't have access to a daylight picture right now, but can get one tonight if needed.

-Andy

[ecugrad]

Looks better than I was told it did.

I am assuming that is Aluminum

[AceInHole]

That looks so much easier.... I'd really like to keep it as factory looking as possible, though. SM rules allow a sunroof delete panel of any material, but I'm not sure if it applies to aftermarket sunroofs. To be sure, I'm going the safer route.

[2Fass240us]

Looks better than I was told it did.
Who told you otherwise? Me? Or VK? :D

I am assuming that is Aluminum
Yes: Alloy 5086, .063" Thick

That looks so much easier.... I'd really like to keep it as factory looking as possible, though. SM rules allow a sunroof delete panel of any material, but I'm not sure if it applies to aftermarket sunroofs. To be sure, I'm going the safer route.
If you have the capacity, do it the way you talked about. IMO it will look better.

[AceInHole]

Ideally I'd skin the entire roof, which would end up shaving a few ounces compared to what I have planned. It might be something to tackle next winter when I'll have more time to remove the glass and such.

[AceInHole]

Cutting things is what I like to do:

Step 1: cut in one direction
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2243717399_35e918fd5b.jpg

Step 2: cut in another direction
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2243718625_6d62887402.jpg

Step 3: enjoy the airy feeling of having a targa top
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2244512406_74f7532292.jpg


Up and coming: splicing it into the red car.

[2Fass240us]

That's an electric grinder, right, fitted with a cutoff wheel? I ask because the mini cutoff wheel / compressor combo I have won't cut chit. I did my roof at my dad's shop, but keep the car at the house now. A few months back I bought a body saw, which works really well for stuff like that.

Is that you doing the cutting? It's ironic that the stop sign is in the background considering you aren't using a face shield...you might want to buy one if you use the cutoff wheel often.

[AceInHole]

Yup. 4.5" wheel, electric grinder.

I have a face mask somewhere..... need to find it or get a new one :P

[ecugrad]

That's an electric grinder, right, fitted with a cutoff wheel? I ask because the mini cutoff wheel / compressor combo I have won't cut chit.

I'm drifting more and more towards electric tools. A Pneumatic mini cutoff is worthless most of the time. Even the cheap electrics have tons more torque and you never have to stop to let the electrical outlet "catch up".

Another fun metal cutting tool is a skill saw with a fiberglass disk. You can do some fine cutting with it. Blades are stronger and last longer too!

[veilside180sx]

I like to mix mine up. Sawzall, 4" grinder, pneumatic...they all have their place.

For most cutting the electric certainly win out, but when it comes to impacts...I'll keep my pneumatic.

[AceInHole]

More updates:

My plan of attack involves flanging the hole to support the insert as I tack weld it in place. It should help everything stay flush.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/sunroof.jpg

I'm hoping my cuts are straighter this time:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6613.jpg


Popping the sunroof trim out:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6618.jpg

Sunroof out:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6622.jpg

Old roof overlayed and aligned from the bottom:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6626.jpg

Trimmed sections from the overlayed roof used for flanges, currently bonding:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6636.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6635.jpg

When it's done it'll give me a nice platform to place the insert onto:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6634.jpg


And I even took the time to find my mask:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6619.jpg


Should have it looking more like a roof tonight or tomorrow.

[2Fass240us]

Sweetness. I look forward to more piktarz.

[AceInHole]

I'm looking forward to driving this thing....

[McCoy]

Looks like the end result will be alot better than what I did for my sentra.

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/500/medium/sunroof_filler_installed_05.jpg

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/500/medium/sunroof_filler_installed_04.jpg

Mine was mostly done for much needed head room. With the sunroof in I was hitting even with the Evo seat pad removed and it lowered as far as it would go :(

[AceInHole]

More progress:

I was going to weld a bit tonight but I forgot that my friend was going to pick up the L16 for his 510. I went with him, and I was EXTREMELY glad I did. It turned out the motor he bought was at http://www.automotiverestorations.com , which is a high end restoration place. It was the cleanest garage I've ever seen... and hopefully I'll return there for a tour of the place.

On to the pics:
Here's the mock up of the panel in place. It's not perfect, as the side flanges aren't glued in yet, but there's a SLIGHT distortion that I'll have to bang out when all is said and done.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6640.jpg

A bit closer and you can see why I went with the flanges. The roof panels are flush, and grinding some of the burrs shows how it lines up nearly perfectly:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6641.jpg

Even closer and you can see how I'll have to fill in a slight gap with some welds:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6638.jpg


All in all, I'm making decent progress. Hopefully I'll have enough done to be able to move on to the next major project, so that I'll be able to drive the car even if it's not 100% complete on body work. Tomorrow should be some welding and wiring.

[2Fass240us]

Damn, you're good.

[ecugrad]

Damn, you're good.

X eleventy billion!!! :eek:

[AceInHole]

Thanks for the comments!

Angle grinder has moved up to favorite tool, narrowly defeating the welder and BFH. Sawzall is falling way behind.....

Anyways, tonight's plan is to glue the roof in place before grinding the edges for welding. I figure the glue should help constrain the roof while I'm spot welding it and reduce the warpage. From there I should be able to fill in the seam with small welds between the spot welds until it's all one peice. After that, grind it all down and hammer it till it's flat. Once that's done, I'll throw some body filler on it to get rid of any tiny imperfections.

I'm hoping I can do all that by Sunday, along with getting my engine started, as my intercooler should be ready on Saturday.

[turtl631]

Thanks for the comments!

Angle grinder has moved up to favorite tool, narrowly defeating the welder and BFH. Sawzall is falling way behind.....



Truth, I love the angle grinder. Best $20 I've spent at harbor freight :p I get a surprising amount of work done with my $20 angle grinder and $80 pepboys cordless impact wrench. I'm not a huge sawzall fan, but they are nice for certain applications.

[veilside180sx]

The sawzall is fabulous...when you just want to cut crap up and don't care how it comes out=)

[2Fass240us]

Anyways, tonight's plan is to glue the roof in place before grinding the edges for welding. I figure the glue should help constrain the roof while I'm spot welding it and reduce the warpage. From there I should be able to fill in the seam with small welds between the spot welds until it's all one peice. After that, grind it all down and hammer it till it's flat. Once that's done, I'll throw some body filler on it to get rid of any tiny imperfections.
Will spot-welding really produce enough heat to necessitate the glue? I'd think if you took it slow and spaced your spot welds out, then "filled in the gaps," that you you'd be able to skip the glue. But admittedly, I don't know much about the process.

The sawzall is fabulous...when you just want to cut crap up and don't care how it comes out=)
Agreed. It was an absolute necessity for removing subframe bushings.

The cutoff tool (or in your case, angle grinder with a cutoff wheel) is probably my most favorite part too. Between that and a dremel (same task, smaller work), I have accomplished nearly all of my weight reduction. The body saw has appeared on the list recently though, and shot its way almost to the top.

[AceInHole]

I doubt spot welding will really distort things much, but the more it does, the more bodywork that'll have to be done later. The most important part of the glue is to act as my "clamp", since holding 2 peices of sheet metal perfectly in line with each other would just be a pain in the ass otherwise.

Previously, I was planning on riveting the flange in so I could drill it out and fill in the holes later. I figured glue would be a better bet, though, since I'll have more material constrained, and less overall welding and filling to do.

[2Fass240us]

I doubt spot welding will really distort things much, but the more it does, the more bodywork that'll have to be done later. The most important part of the glue is to act as my "clamp", since holding 2 peices of sheet metal perfectly in line with each other would just be a pain in the ass otherwise.

Previously, I was planning on riveting the flange in so I could drill it out and fill in the holes later. I figured glue would be a better bet, though, since I'll have more material constrained, and less overall welding and filling to do.
You're fab-smart, like such as Jesse G. James.

[AceInHole]

I'm just hoping I don't mess my car up :P

[AceInHole]

Welded it early.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6659.jpg


I got some buckling. Here's the rear:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6658.jpg

And the front:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6657.jpg

Hundreds of spot welds ground down:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/Rebirth/DSC_6661.jpg




Conclusion:
I wish I used panel bond and rivets. Rivet holes are easier to fill..... I'll get by with this for a while once I hammer and body fill, but it really has me wanting to reskin the entire roof. Who knows, maybe by then I'll have another S14.... since if I'm reskinning the roof, that'd be the perfect opportunity to drop a cage in :P

I'll have more stuff up tonight after some hammering, and hopefully be applying body filler to sand over tomorrow morning. After that is paint.....

[2Fass240us]

Sorry it didn't turn out to your liking. I keep forgetting how thin the metal is, and how hard it'd be to weld properly.

[a_ahmed]

congratz on progress... thumbs up...

[AceInHole]

I'm really hoping I can bang out a lot of it. Otherwise I'll just say screw it and fill it with body filler and redo it next winter. It'll be a lot better if I redo it from the spot welds and pillers, but at least there's a ton of roofs on car-part.com. Lesson learned, I guess.

It also probably didn't help that the glue didn't properly cure in my barely heated garage. While welding I had a few small glue fires that will probably give me cancer at some point.

[2Fass240us]

It also probably didn't help that the glue didn't properly cure in my barely heated garage. While welding I had a few small glue fires that will probably give me cancer at some point.
Don't sweat it, you're going to get it anyways.

[a_ahmed]

^positive thinking LOL :P w00t :D

[Your Mom]

wow. i hate my sunroof but i don't think i have enough balls to do that. props to you

[2Fass240us]

i hate my sunroof but i don't think i have enough balls to do that.
Of course you don't have the b4lls, you're a woman.

[jmauld]

I'm drifting more and more towards electric tools. A Pneumatic mini cutoff is worthless most of the time. Even the cheap electrics have tons more torque and you never have to stop to let the electrical outlet "catch up".

Another fun metal cutting tool is a skill saw with a fiberglass disk. You can do some fine cutting with it. Blades are stronger and last longer too!

I think the electric tools are the way to go in a home garage. Screw having a large compressor. You always have electricity available, and you don't have to wait for the tank to fill.

Now, if you're in a shop that has compressed air available all of the time and drop lines all over the place, that's a different story.

[AceInHole]

Updates!

I hammered out the roof a bit, but probably not as much as I should have before attempting to fill it in. Here, you can see the splooge of white that is the sunroof delete panel, which goes to gray primer then to bondo, then gray and somewhat red:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6664.jpg

I used way too much bondo. The entire garage is bondo dust. But, after leaning in on it too hard numerous times, no cracks! So, I'm guessing the layer isn't much thicker than 1/16th, which is good.

I'm getting somewhat of a roofline:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6668.jpg

So, while that was being done (by Jenna, because artsy craftsy panel work is best finished by the girls), I went to work on the rest of the car. The tranny is all bolted up and wired in, and the exhaust is bolted in and ready to go. While I was at it, I pulled the O2 housing (or had my friend Paul do it, actually) to tap a fitting in for the crankcase evac.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6684.jpg

Fits perfectly where the EGR used to go:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6683.jpg

I'm hoping I got the angle and depth right, as I did it right at the bend. The crap instructions specify depth per illustration, which does not specify depth other than not at the surface. I went about 1/4 to 1/2" in depending on how you measure it, and it should be about 45deg from the surface where it was drilled. **** me if it doesn't draw vacuum. Ebay O2 housings to the rescue.

Next up I mocked up the intercooler. Note to all: use a heavy ass drill with multiple handles when using a 3.5" hole saw through the battery tray. When that sucker snags it kicks!
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6669.jpg

With the cold pipe in I was able to get the IC positioned. Did one bracket but had to call it quits after that.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6679.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6672.jpg


So, hopefully in the next couple days it'll get its first taste of life being force fed!
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6670.jpg

[Def]

I thought about doing an exhaust crankcase evac setup, but figured it could be bad news on the track if I ever got some blowby going(fire, excessive smoke etc). Plus I have a wideband at the end of my downpipe, and I imagine it would not like oil vapors hitting it all the time.

[AceInHole]

The catch can will hopefully take care of most of the oil, and luckily my O2 is close to the turbo (or unluckily?). I've contemplated using an electric pump, but this setup was too cheap not to try.

[AceInHole]

Holy crap is this time consuming.... got back last night at like 7pm due to snowy traffic, and only got around 3 - 4 hours of work done. It's starting to look like an engine, though.

The first thing to do was run all my wires through the firewall for gauges, accessory sensors, and a vacuum line for the ProfecB and boost gauge. I ended up snapping the lower AC line for use of the grommet and precut hole:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6699.jpg

I'm using 2 9-wire component cables, one for the ECU side, one for the dash side. I'm also contemplating splicing my boost solenoid and wideband A/F plugs into this harness for less overall clutter.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6707.jpg

Also worked on the positioning for my oil and vacuum manifolds. I'm running aluminum distribution blocks for each, with extra ports for future expansion (oil temp, misc vacuum fittings). I probably could've gone with a 3 port block for the vacuum manifold:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6701.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6706.jpg

Just have to run sleeves over some of the lines, and bracket some stuff down to keep things from breaking. Hoping to start it up tonight:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/DSC_6693.jpg

[2Fass240us]

Sweet...thanks again for the progress pix.

I'm usually too schizo during the "hurry up and get it running before an event" phase.

[turtl631]

Not that it's a big issue now, but will readings from a distro block for oil temp be worth a damn? I'd think it would read a lot cooler than what the engine sees, especially if there's no flow through the block, since the heat would just travel via conduction then.

[AceInHole]

There should be a constant flow through the block itself since it's feeding the turbo, and the temp sensor would be along that line of flow. Without adding a filter sandwich plate or filter relocation, I'm not really sure where else to put it. Eventually if I add an oil cooler I'll shove one there, but really I think the turbo's feed line should see enough oil flow to read properly.

Anyways, I seem to have lost or tossed my oil catch can.... I saw a bunch of guys use air compressor filters, though. I'm debating giving that a shot as I definitely want some sort of seperator on the EVAC line. Anyone run something like that before?

[Def]

Yea, just get one of those cheap inline filters from Harbor Freight for a stop gap measure. I got a bronze sintered filter from Lowes for like $8 for my compressor and it does a good job keeping the oil mist and most the water out of the line/tools.

[AceInHole]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/th_MVI_0643.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/CrunchTime/?action=view&current=MVI_0643.flv)

The RPMs start ramping when the cold pipe comes off at the TB. Forgot to put a clamp on there but the fitment wasn't perfect anyways, so I had to hack the battery tray hole a bit. I'll probably cut the cold pipe and add another coupler for more flexibility.

Other than that, wired in the MAP sensor and gave up on gauges untill I had power to test them. Still waiting for my drycell battery (comes Friday supposedly) and have to bleed brakes. After that it's body, interior, and alignment, and it'll be on the road.

Yay.

[Def]

MAP sensor - what EMS are you using?

[AceInHole]

Emanage Ultimate: the poor man's wannabe-standalone

[Def]

Argh - E-Manage is bleh. But how does that MAP setup work interfacing(fighting with?) the stock ECU?

If you can wire in an S13 ECU, I can help you out with a ROM tune that'll make it much much easier to get your setup dialed in with that thing. Or just ditch it all together...

[AceInHole]

I haven't messed with the MAP much, as I only had a few months to play with it before my white car was murdered. I have an AIT now, though, I just have to tap the manifold or cold pipe and I can try loading in a MAP based setup. I pretty much calculated it based off of the load map for the stock MAF, with 100% load being zero psi. At least, I think I've got the stock load map:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pZkpv-UbsNQwvTPxD-p5XRQ


Hopefully it won't screw with the short and long term fuel trims, which should mean the majority of my problems will be getting timing right. In the end, I'll probably buy an AEM EMS or something.

[AceInHole]

Blah. Ended up not getting enough done in time to bring the 240 to GA, so took my daily driver down to compete in F-Stock instead.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/Dazoe/2008%20SCCA%20Solo%20Event%20Pictures/Dixie%20National%20Tour/Saturday%205th%20Heat/IMG_0689.jpg

I ended up with laryngitis and a cold/ flu/ something on the way down. I think I only drove like 250 of the 1200 miles on the way down, so huge thanks to my co-driver Chris for being cool about that.

At the race, we got about 1 practice run each on Friday before a huge ass thunderstorm hit. The next day we ended up trying to figure out shock settings while taking our runs. In the end I think we just cranked the front up all the way on rebound and compression just to keep the rear biting. During this, I overdrove the crap out of the car and went off-course, made a safe run, then hit a bunch of cones. Somehow, this placed me in 5th, one spot out of "trophies" (top 1/3 of the class). The cool thing was I could hear the announcer every now and then commenting on my car, since it was the only non Mustang/ Shelby GT in FS.

The next day, we figured if we were going to get beaten by Mustangs, might as well be in one:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/Autocross/Dixie2008/_DSC2581.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/Autocross/Dixie2008/_DSC2590.jpg
Painters tape and cardboard... instant rice = the very definition of the Mustang (non-functional scoops are the bread and butter of that car). It got a lot of laughs and comments, and the announcer started calling my car a Shelby G35. Unfortunately, it didn't keep me from driving like crap, but since my co-driver drove worse than I did (no idea how, he's trophied at Nats the past couple years, and I was sick as hell) I ended up in the 4th spot, last in trophies.

Meanwhile, my other friend Chris, who races in SM, ended up having a bad Day 1 and lost to an Evo. I can't even begin to describe how much I hate Evos winning SM.
Chris' SM Cibic:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/Dazoe/2008%20SCCA%20Solo%20Event%20Pictures/Dixie%20National%20Tour/Saturday%205th%20Heat/IMG_0683.jpg

Other than that, I got to meet Orion, and another kid (I think his name was Carl?) in an S13.
Orion on course:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/Dazoe/2008%20SCCA%20Solo%20Event%20Pictures/Dixie%20National%20Tour/Saturday%205th%20Heat/IMG_0672.jpg

Overall, it was an enjoyable weekend.... but I'll be back next year to school Dixie on how much turbo 240's pwn SM.