I like driving.

[mikerbike]

Hello, I came here to learn things. I've been a visitor here for a while. My name is Mike, I have a pair of '91 240SX. I started out autocrossing, but got tired of waiting around. Now I do the drift thing a lot, but I see myself as a car enthusiast more than a drifter. I do stretch tires. I do have broken body kits. I have a collection of Hotwheels. I spraypaint stuff.:(

Anyway, I would like to get into timed stuff again, but more than autocross. There's not enough water in that pond anymore. I am planning to do some autocross events with my smell-good this year, and some entry level track days this year for me. I joined because I have questions. Downforce and brake cooling are currently on my mind.

Pics and specs?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/mikerbike/240SX/PIC-0270.jpg
Black '91 240SX Fastback

Suspension stuff:
-Megan track series coilovers
-Godspeed RUCA and toe rods
-Megan Front strut tower brace
-Wicked Tuning tension rods

Engine stuff:
-Blacktop engine, completely factory stock.
-Spektre air filter
-light flywheel, Forgot the brand
-RPS pressure plate with stock clutch disk.
-Greddy Profec Spec-B boost gauge
-Homemade 'high-mount' intercooler setup
-TurboXS BOV
-Megan outlet elbow and downpipe
-BoneZ 3" catalytic converter
-Blitz 3" exhaust
-Stock clutch fan and shroud


Other stuff:
-Purple spray-painted Grant steering wheel
-Quick-release hub
-Welded Diff
-B12 seatbelts
-MOMO T-Bucket left seat
-Sparco Spring Jr. right seat
-Innovative Garage Shift knob
-Razo turbo timer
-A bunch of dumb body kits
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/mikerbike/240SX/PIC-0555.jpg
White '91 240SX Fastback

Suspension stuff:
-Megan track series coilovers
-Godspeed RUCA and toe rods
-generic taiwanese tension rods

Engine stuff:
-Goldtop KA24 engine
-Spektre air filter
-RPS clutch (stage 3 I think)
-Koyo radiator
-Stock clutch fan and shroud.(I don't like overheating.)
-cams swapped sides

Other stuff:
-Personal Steering wheel from a '75 Triumph
-NRG Quick-release hub
-Welded Diff
-B13 Seats on S13 rails
-Expensive side skirts, in pieces, FG'd and ZT'd together
-Custom 'splitter' vent things, currently going nowhere.

Shared between both cars:
2x 17x9 +12 Rota P45R
6x 17x9.5 +12 Rota P45R
2x 18x9.5 +15 Rota P45R
4x 17x9.5 +12 Rota Grid

See what I mean? \/ Yes, I really did.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/mikerbike/240SX/2010-12-24140031.jpg And I'd like to make a real splitter that goes under those.

[mikerbike]

Here's some stuff I was looking at. I found this first on another forum, but saw his build here too.
http://nissanroadracing.com/showpost.php?p=41109&postcount=123

Anyway, the drawing of the front splitter..
http://200sx.kicks-ass.net/shogun/img4d01ce9a777b3.jpg
Is the splitter more effective with an air dam, stopping the incoming air? I was going to meet the back of the splitter to the front of the frame rail cross bar, so the air going over the top would be fed into my radiator.

[Matt93SE]

aero sounds neat, but for your first few (dozen) events, I would suggest going the other way. You're going to screw up and go off course and when you do, you start replacing aero parts.

Plus it really doesn't make much difference in your lap times until you've got a lot more than 150hp. I was working on aero on my S14 race car and started talking to a local shop. He said unless you're running on a car with no straights and long high speed corners, you're only going to go slower with aero on the car. He then pulled out his stopwatch and proved it to me. With a wing on the back of his GTL Miata, he was 3 sec slower per lap than without because of the added drag on the straights.

[Def]

aero sounds neat, but for your first few (dozen) events, I would suggest going the other way. You're going to screw up and go off course and when you do, you start replacing aero parts.

Plus it really doesn't make much difference in your lap times until you've got a lot more than 150hp. I was working on aero on my S14 race car and started talking to a local shop. He said unless you're running on a car with no straights and long high speed corners, you're only going to go slower with aero on the car. He then pulled out his stopwatch and proved it to me. With a wing on the back of his GTL Miata, he was 3 sec slower per lap than without because of the added drag on the straights.

He's wrong.

Downforce doesn't necessarily equal tons of drag. In fact, lots of things you do to generate downforce can actually REDUCE drag at the same time. Just depends on if you can do those things.

But a nice moderately sized splitter and a trimmed down wing will definitely drop lap times even though your max speed on the straights will drop slightly.

When you add downforce and go slower, I think that's more a sign that someone was driving a car below its limits, and is still driving below its limits therefore the extra corner exit speed was never utilized.

[Matt93SE]

It all depends on track configuration. long straights with short, tight corners= little or no gain.
short straights with high speed sweepers= aero gain.

the guy was Luis Rivera. he's built cars professionally for 30+ years. Many of his GT builds are sitting up front at Runoffs. His son (Tony Rivera) builds the Brass Monkey GT-Rs.
No offense, but I'll believe people with 30+ years of real-world racing experience compared to theory. Your theory is sound and I agree with you, however, I've seen the stopwatch and his race results. He's not playing around with the numbers or sandbagging to make a point. If he says not to mess with aero on a car under 200hp, then I'll listen to his advice.

that said, no.. airdams done properly and the PROPER size wing don't add a ton of drag. but a 6' wide wing on a 240 is not the proper size.

[Def]

Well, my own findings agree with theory, so I'll go with that. The amount of drag increase at 100 mph that a mild aero setup provides is very minimal. In a race where maybe that means you're getting owned at the end of a straight, yes, I can see wanting as low a drag configuration as possible.

I can't imagine a track that's exactly like what you described, as you start getting some benefit from mild aero as low as 50-60 mph, and that's not a very fast corner at all. Maybe Eagles Canyon, but I'd think any bit you lose on the straight would be gained under braking vs. the non-aero cars. Even a track like MSR-C sees quite a bit of benefit from aero downforce.

BTW - I would say a proper sized wing is around 6' on most door slammers. You get less drag by having to work a wider span wing not near as hard as working a narrower wing harder and are usually dealing with some degree of flow separation for a reasonable level of downforce.


And no offense to your "builder guy," but most "car builders" know less than dick about aerodynamics. Being a skilled fabricator does not make someone an expert on all the engineering that goes into making various parts of the car perform better.

[mikerbike]

Alright, brake upgrades/cooling it is..

Although I never needed it for grassroots drifting, I've read a lot about brake upgrades, mostly Z32. However, the track days I am planning to attend are just four 20-minute sessions, passing only on the straights, and seemingly filled with mostly cars on the same level as mine.

I'm not going out to be competitive, so I made myself a game plan to get my stock brakes to last the whole 20 minutes each session. Ducting is my first priority. Like I said, I have a few body kits, but I only put bumpers on one of my cars, not the car I had planned to use at these events. This leads me to these two questions.

Will my piggy bumper provide enough airflow? I have an FC oil cooler but I'm still figuring where to mount it. I have the 'nostrils' cut out of the bumper, but I was wanting to put the cooler right in the front mouth of the bumper. It's not too late to get a smaller oil cooler. My reason for the FC cooler is for the thermostat, and availability. Suggestions?

Is brake cooling ductwork worth the trouble? I have no brake upgrades, at all. But I made those ricer vents on my piggy bumper for brake cooling. I am well aware of brake fade with these brakes, so I'm not really worried about a surprise brake failure. I guess this is a silly question, since it's probably less than $50 away from being complete. But I'm still interested in suggestions about it.

[Def]

Do yourself a favor and save up some pennies for one of my Wilwood kits. I'll be selling them again soon.

Pads are larger (but also cheaper!!!), rotors are larger, calipers are more suited for track duty (no dust boots to burn away), and they're lighter than Z32 fronts by around 20 lbs to top it off. You really can't beat it given the low buy in, and really low consumable cost (in comparison).

If you do around 8-12 track days a year (which isn't that much), you'll probably pay for the kit in around 1.5-2 yrs vs. Z32 just in consumable cost savings.

For a comparison, I was getting about 6 days out of a set of Z32 Hawk DTC-60s, and now even going faster with better tires I'm getting probably 12+ days out of a set of Wilwood DTC-60s. Not to mention they're about $40-50 cheaper than the Z32 pads. So to do 12-14 days you're looking at $135ish vs. ~$350 just in brake pads. Not to mention Z32 front caliper dust boots won't last more than about 2-3 weekends at most.



For brake cooling all you really need are something simple like the SPL tension rod deflectors to scoop up air and funnel it into the center of the rotor. I actually feel like these overcool things on colder days. There isn't much space to run ducting on our cars with the tension rod/sway bar and all that stuff in the way up front.

[mikerbike]

Link to your Willwood stuff? Will they fit in 17" wheels? Definitely noted.

I had always wondered about replacement pads for aftermarket brakes. Say, one kit gets discontinued, how long will the pads be available.

[Matt93SE]

Wilwood superlite calipers have been a standard race caliper for a decade or three, and will be around for at least another decade.
For now, stock rotors and calipers with good pads will be fine. rotors won't last long, but hawk Blues will hold up to the temps you will get the car to on track. buy cheap rotors and throw them away after a couple track days. that's your cheapest option to start with.

once you start getting faster, step up to one of Def's wilwood kits.

[mikerbike]

Canards..
Do they work on the end of a wing?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/mikerbike/240SX/2011-02-05182741.jpg

I was browsing the internet and found this girl who made that out of a piece of trailer fender. Then she signed up for a road racing forum and they told her to not worry about downforce yes, as she was going to go on the track with her low-powered car. As the story goes, she made mounts for it, and put it on once, but it was just too damn ugly, so now it sits in her garage.

[Matt93SE]

will they work? maybe. depends on what you're trying to do. more downforce? a little bit. are they efficient? not nearly as efficient as a properly designed wing.

[mikerbike]

After skipping out on the open track day on May 15th, (I prioritized. Drift events are cheaper.) I am paid up and all ready for the open track day this Sunday, June 5th. The event host, Lapbattle.com, is holding a drift event at one of the paddocks on Saturday, alongside the time attack stuff happening on the track, and then the open track day on Sunday. They gave a package deal for the drifter dorks for Drifting and open track, so I did that. I think I'm the only drifter who did.

I'm using my turbo car for the drift event, and my KA car for the track. There were a few reasons for that, one of which is not really ?applicable? anymore.

First (and not valid anymore), all 14 of my wheels are the same width and offset. And I run pretty close to the same camber settings on both cars. The KA car fell into my lap with some jiggity-jacked up rear quarters. I did my best to make them even and smooth, and the result was about an 18mm pull. This means, when i take off all those slip-on spacers (gots to be fliggity-flush), I can fit more tire on the rear of that car. This no longer matters because: I had a set of 245/40/17 & 265/35/18s I planned to use, but someone offered to buy them and I was a little short on money. So I dug through my stack of tires and found the most grippy stuff I had. I ended up with 225/45/17 Continental Procontact3 for the front, and 235/40/18 Continental ExtremeContact DWS for the rear.

Next, cooling. The KA car has a Koyo radiator, and I made some ducting for the bumper 'mouth' to feed the radiator. I'm not a fluid dynamics major, but I'm pretty sure I did it correctly.

Lastly, I still use stock brakes. No need for anything special in that department for drifting. The turbo car will obviously get to higher speeds between braking, so I feel I won't have to hold back as much with the KA car.

If anyone cares, here's a video of me at a new private track here in Utah. Super skinny and tight. Lots of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpQvxANxNvs

[mikerbike]

Oh crap. I forgot about the new bumper on the white car. I had a conversation with someone who knows more about aero than I do, and he told me those retarded vent things on the bottom of my pignose bumper were.. retarded. I'm a ricer. Deal with it.

Anyway, so I traded my factory bumpers away for more rice kits and ended up with a Nismo front bumper. It's probably a copy, but it's much more sturdy than any of my other body kit stuff.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225584_10150242111047223_555067222_8642354_1927359 _n.jpg
I made the radiator ducting in this bumper. So, yeah.. that's awkward.

Lastly, is 'lastly' a real word?

[Tower240sx]

I consider it an acceptable use of letters strung together, yes

[Def]

What vents are on the bottom of a pignose bumper?

[KA240SX808]

^I think he's talking about this:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/mikerbike/240SX/2010-12-24140031.jpg

Looks like a cut up Zenki Lip

[sil8y]

Looks like its off a Miata. ...my vote is fail. (At least that's nicer than retarded) ....keep up the good work.

[mikerbike]

I consider it an acceptable use of letters strung together, yes
I don't know what that means. (EDIT: Now I know what you're talking about.)

And the 'vents' are chuki S13 turn signal holes. I cut apart a Chuki bumper to make them. Now they're gone.

So, I went to the open track day. There were 8 or 9 cars. It was a blast. Hard to compare it to drifting though. I didn't run a transponder, but during the first session, they hand-timed me. I ran a 1:57. In comparison, they told me the Spec Miatas were running around 1:40. I know I was faster at the end of the day as I started using more consistent lines and memorized the track. I noticed some brake fade after about 6 laps, but I didn't use my brakes much anyway. Actually, only at the end of the two long straights and a few quick stabs through some of the turns. No cooling issues to report, but once, I thought *maybe* I heard it ping. It was probably just my diamond plate floorboard rubbing on the ground.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248257_10150261991472223_555067222_8832587_1802601 _n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/255056_10150261991927223_555067222_8832597_1022081 _n.jpg

My smell-good brought her WRX. It was her first open track day too. She ran 2:08 during the first session. They slacked hard bringing out the results for the rest of the sessions. One of her radiator fans rubbed a tiny hole in her radiator hose. I came in early from the second session and took some nerdy pics.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/253996_10150261992737223_555067222_8832612_2098235 _n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247004_10150261993037223_555067222_8832617_1301438 _n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/252818_10150262001982223_555067222_8832715_936605_ n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/246908_10150261992222223_555067222_8832602_4310853 _n.jpg

[mikerbike]

SWEET! Someone got a picture of me.
http://ec.cdn.cincopa.com/Lap+Battle+Sunday-5.jpg?o=4&id=0&res=1548&h=czbe4p2tad1lwqnj40g3hx3egl3io1tt&cdn=ec&p=y&pid=117233&ph=vgp1h5j13n4hc2uxjzvg0iyz521i3xxj&d=AsDA7AwGdEAAxPfqAIu3kzB&as=mp3

Here's the rest, although they're not as cool as me.:p
http://camautomag.com/mmp-lap-battle/

[Def]

Is that positive camber up front?

[mikerbike]

No. It's just less negative than the rear. I should have played with front tire pressure and camber more. But it was really really fun how it was. Really fun.

Here's one from the day before.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/5801426228_0f4730fe01_b.jpg

[mikerbike]

Next track weekend is July 16&17th. I've made 4 changes so far in the name of lap times.

1. Rear tires. Found a pair of 245/45/17 Yoko ES100. I've never use them, but some idiot told me they are grippy.

2. Front tire pressure. I think I had 35 psi last time. I am going to start at 28 psi this time. I felt like I had very good turn-in, but mid-corner front traction was lacking.

3. Front caster. Before, I adjusted the tension rod so the tire I was using before (smaller diameter) barely didn't hit the firewall. I was reluctant to add caster via tension rod because it reduces trailing wheel angle (ackerman) at full lock. Since I had so much fun last time, I am okay with making this car less driftable for better traction. I'm rambling. Anyway, I don't know what the caster is now, but the 225/45/17s (up 18mm diameter from the 205/45/17 I used before) have about 3/4" from the firewall pinch weld at any angle.

4. Front Camber. I added as much negative camber as possible by tweaking the spindle mount. Then moved the upper pillowball in 1/8". I might buy a laser thermometer before the track day to see if I need to make more adjustments.

I'd like to get my oil cooler plumbed before this event. I also have a PS cooler I nabbed from a '95 mustang. That's definitely going on.

That's all for now.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267966_10150276773642223_555067222_8989230_4210280 _n.jpg

[mikerbike]

Should these 245/45/17s feel like "driving on marshmallows"? <-I think DEF said that about 275/40/17s once on Zilvia. They feel terrible at 30psi. "Wishy-washy". <-I think Jason Bourne said that about Run Lola Run's Mini in a spy thriller film.

[josh18_2k]

are they ****ty tires? then yes. ****ty tires have soft sidewalls for comfort. ergo, marshmallow. and yah, es100's suck. i dont care what anyone says. a 125whp FC shouldnt spin 245s in 2nd...

[mikerbike]

a 125whp FC shouldnt spin 245s in 2nd...
I had that same problem with my Highly modified KA (it has an air filter). Yes, they're ES100s. Oh well. I'll see if I can find something else before friday. I'm sure I have some 225/45s that are more grippy than these.

[icantdrift]

ES100's were never designed for this type of use, and add that to the fact that it hasn't been produced in several years so they are likely pretty well aged. Over time both Ozone and UV exposure tend to break down some of the chemicals in the rubber and they harden up. But again, even brand new fresh ES100's wouldn't be considered "grippy" by any of today's standards.

I'd suggest spending a couple bucks on a matching set of new tires for track events, even if it's something low-buck it'll help immensely in balancing your setup vs. trying to tune for mismatched rubber.

[Def]

ES100s do suck, but they don't chunk or anything for track usage like some modest street tires did at the time. But yea, they're old tires at this point.

They're also easy to overheat.

[mikerbike]

I know, I need to start spending money on tires. But I can't yet.

I mounted a pair of 225/45/17 Pirelli Euphoria. So far, so good.

Not a big deal, but I'm going to have matching wheels this weekend.

And, I'm probably going to use a friend's GoPro so you can watch and make fun of my terrible driving.

And, I messed with my front end a little. Lost a bit of "trailing wheel" angle for drifting :( but I think it will be better for mid corner front grip.

Oh... oh.. Also, I originally mounted those Continentals (on the front of the car I used for racing) for drift use on the rear, so I set them to 50psi. Then, when I decided to use them for fronts for grip, all I did was balance them. I think that's probably why I pushed a bit, mid corner. :o

[mikerbike]

Those continentals were effing terrible. First session, I used them on the rear, just to see.. so slick. I swapped them around again for the last session and got booted off for drifting. I'm only a little embarrased.

Moving on... I'm only 5 seconds off the slowest Spec Miata and 8 seconds off the fastest. I'd like to work uo to those times before I go turbo. Brakes and tires, maybe I'll run open header too. I still have a stock exhaust. And more practice.

[mikerbike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiJSynxuQio

[mikerbike]

As it turns out, the event host is really really really pissed at me. And maybe someone at the track. They're cancelling all the drift events. Really pissed. I sent him a text apologizing and he came up with some personal attacks, like a high school girl. I feel bad. He runs better lap times with a Yaris with cool tires. He told me.

[Def]

Dorifoing through one turn got events cancelled? Wha?

[mikerbike]

Nevermind. There was a bunch of stupid stuff happening at the drift event on Saturday. I guess he was talking to the race director about how we're good guys and should be given a second chance when he looked up and I was sliding around like an idiot.

[mikerbike]

I traded my factory exhaust manifold and intake tube for most of the rest of the parts I needed to finish my turbo setup on the KA. I just need charge piping now.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/284569_10150328473177223_555067222_9462608_3157733 _n.jpg

I'm skipping out on the August 21st track day for a drift event in Idaho.

[mikerbike]

Done.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205930_10150335696401136_690551135_9910052_1945432 _n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294394_10150335697111136_690551135_9910060_4826994 _n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281374_10150328407847223_555067222_9461889_7601421 _n.jpg
Now I'm going to need brakes and to install my oil cooler. Seems to run really well. I've only gone full throttle, high RPM once. It boosts 6 psi and feels like my SR at 7 psi.

[mikerbike]

I adjusted the TPS. Now, at 6psi, it pulls on my SR @11psi. Very linear power band. Much more mid range than the SR.
I took both to the drift event on august 21st. KA burned a bit of the head-manifold gasket on the #4 runner. I didn't change them when I installed the turbo. Oh well.

[mikerbike]

http://vimeo.com/28018783

[Matt93SE]

Not a drifter, but that's some pretty impressive driving. not a ton of angle, but at least smooth and consistent the entire way through. no way I could string together that many turns and not screw up at least once.

[mikerbike]

Thanks. I'm *almost* disappointed that the KA has such an easy powerband, compared to the SR.

Anyone tried the Falken RT-615K? I hear it's supposed to stand up the heat better. My road racer friends told me the old 615s got 'greasy' after a lap or two. I probably won't be able to afford any cool tires for the track days this year anyway, but I like window shopping.

[mikerbike]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/299504_10150342180702223_555067222_9602796_1137412 _n.jpg
Yeah, I brought my wheels into the hotel room.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/205969_10150342180787223_555067222_9602798_7695048 _n.jpg
Used that tow strap to lift them up one by one.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/312276_10150342180492223_555067222_9602791_8160839 _n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/307210_10150342180587223_555067222_9602793_2108691 _n.jpg
BFE shade stop.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/314751_10150269892022444_140690717443_7843748_5328 219_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/294570_10150269892197444_140690717443_7843754_2710 168_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/319075_10150269892467444_140690717443_7843760_4465 684_n.jpg

[mikerbike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgsqaZYSO9c

[mikerbike]

I got a pair of 285/30/18 Kumho V710s for the rear. I might have to add some camber to fit them and I don't have any front tires to match them with. A friend is sitting on a pair of 255/40/17 RT615s. I think he'll crack soon and sell them to me.

I also decided to mount my oil cooler on the back of the radiator, at the bottom, just in front of the fan. It's too big to fit behind one of the side vents, and I didn't want it between the intercooler and radiator. But..

After I put on this bumper, I made some simple ducting from the bottom of the bumper opening to the radiator support, and then coming up about 6" on the sides too. A few months later, when I installed the turbo stuff, I changed it a bit so the intercooler brackets held up the duct stuff. I only had to shave the side plates down about a quarter inch to fit the intercooler filling up most of the bumper opening. I intend to put more ducting on top too. I feel like the intercooler gets air rammed through it, and the radiator gets air drawn through by the fan, but the air in between probably isn't moving much. Even with complete ducting, if there is room around the oil cooler in the ductwork, the air will take the easy way around the cooler. That sounds right, right?

My puppy is so cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgsqaZYSO9c

[mikerbike]

Finally got that pair of RT615 in 255/40/17. And I also got a pair of 235/40/17 Michelin Pilot Sport for the front. I still haven't been able to buy oil cooler lines.

And, October 8-9th Lapbattle.com track event is being held on the full course at Miller Motorsports Park. I probably won't have enough extra money to participate though. :(

4.5 miles, 23 turns.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Miller_Motorsports_Park_-_Main_Course.svg/500px-Miller_Motorsports_Park_-_Main_Course.svg.png

I'm still going to try to make it, but probably won't. Argh.

[mikerbike]

Weirdest thing.. Some kid was selling an S15 turbo for $200. I didn't have but $6 to my name, so I went out to my garage and sent him a text with a bunch of random stuff I might be able to trade him. Ended up trading a mis-matched Raceon/AIT/VIS body kit for the turbo. Perfect condition. Lucky me.

Then, a friend needed a turbo to make the event this weekend, so I sold my T25 for $100 and he helped pull it off and install the T28 on my car. I turned the boost up to 8psi (down from 11 with the T25). Has a more linear powerband, much like my KA-T

And I sold a set of Rotas. So when I'm ready to buy more wheels, I think I'll get at least a pair with slightly higher offset so I can put wider rear tires on the SR car and take it to some track days too.

And, there's another open track day on the 29th. But I *probably* won't be able to afford it either.

[mikerbike]

Found a video with me in it. The camera is mounted on a SC Miata and that red MR2 is a turbo. This is when I was still NA. You can see me off in the distance, coming around turn 15 at about 0:59, then catching up hard between 18 & 19. I remember almost a whole lap where the MR2 guy was waving me by at corner exits, then taking off down the straight like normal so i couldn't catch him/pass. I don't think he was being a dick. I just think he thought I had something I didn't.:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JLO5Vr-Hx0

Then later, when we were looking at our lap times, I mentioned my ~110hp and stretched tires. :p

I'm pretty excited to get out there again next year.

[mikerbike]

And more drifting. I brought m white car this time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh8_Brcuk7U
Everything worked well until most of the day was over and I started getting some pre-turbo exhaust leakage. I limped back to my house with a friend from Nevada after he broke his diff and punctured the rear cover a bit. We took a bunch of city streets instead of the freeway, and by the time we got there, the exhaust leak was really bad and I could wiggle the turbo on the manifold.

I got a chance to look into it today. I could see some of the gasket was missing before I took the last remaining nut holding the turbo up.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/388643_10150484633772223_555067222_10380238_173480 7865_n.jpg
I don't know why I took this picture or why I'm posting it. Here's a turbo below a turbo manifold.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381000_10150484634522223_555067222_10380240_185934 7170_n.jpg
I just removed the gasket and installed the turbo again.

Also, don't know if anyone noticed it.. 1:28, I have manual windows. haha

[mikerbike]

Oh man.. How could I forget?.. I took the Sparco from the Right side of the black car and installed on the left side of the white car, using factory sliders, except with some head room.
Starting off, I had to cut off a bunch of welds holding parts of the B13 seats to my S13 slider. I didn't take any pics. Then i cut off everything I could that kept the seat from sitting on the slider adjustment bar spring thing on the right side. (the left side wasn't really an issue. Then welded some tabs and stuff. The right rear tab took a little more work, and I guess I was so excited to get it done that I forgot to take a picture.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/319068_10150351499322223_555067222_9686541_3329224 _n.jpg
Seems to sit about an inch higher than the Momo in the black car (judging with my shoulder against the door).
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/300843_10150351499532223_555067222_9686542_1422536 _n.jpg
Hard to tell in this pic, but my hand isn't touching the head liner.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/316973_10150351498992223_555067222_9686538_2210577 _n.jpg
Plenty of leg room too! haha
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/319213_10150351499147223_555067222_9686540_141781_ n.jpg

[mikerbike]

On my black car, I messed around with my rear subframe mounts and ended up raising the rear of the subframe ~10mm. This reduced my negative camber enough that I can no longer use 17x9.5 +12 with a 225/45. That's a pretty common size for me to acquire and I have a bunch that still need to be used.

So, I traded a set of four Rotas for a set of four 9" +35 and two 9" +20. This will allow me to run a wider tire and push the camber all the way to 0*.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/381860_10150521636557223_555067222_10491773_350415 027_n.jpg
That's a 17x9 +35 with a 245/35 and no spacers. Camber was ~1* before I messed with the subframe. (measured with a square on a possibly uneven garage floor)

[mikerbike]

I put the AZENIS on the rear of the white car. I was a tad worried they wouldn't fit. After I put them on the car and drove home, I jacked it up again to replace the rotors (see below) and noticed these are RT615K. I took them for a drive around the block. They're very slick at first. I didn't expect that.
255/40/17x9.5+12
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/399257_10150550772377223_555067222_10624347_179213 6366_n.jpg
Also found a cracked rotor. It's been cracked for at least 3 weeks, as I replaced the pads about 3 weeks ago and the noise started that very night.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/380901_10150550678617223_555067222_10623962_206190 6261_n.jpg

[Vehicle336]

You still selling both your cars?

[mikerbike]

Yes.

[Vehicle336]

So what's the plan? New ride and back to drifting/racing? Or are you going to be on a time-out for a bit?

[mikerbike]

Well, I don't want to sell either of them. I posted both for sale, but will only sell one. I want a truck and a cage so I can go to events out of state and compete.

It doesn't seem like there is much interest in either one, which is fine. I just probably won't be able to get a truck this year.
EDIT: All this talking makes me hungry.

..for pictures.
I honestly can not remember the last time I washed my cars or engine rooms.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/400959_10150550665117223_555067222_10623904_392698 745_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/375257_10150550669197223_555067222_10623925_112208 1465_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/406571_10150548158717223_555067222_10611323_318781 798_n.jpg
And our drift events have been very dusty!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/307883_274690449237334_100000891430666_790656_2038 758606_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/379645_10150424326648649_753293648_8641945_1131515 _n.jpg

[mikerbike]

So, I sold the 4 lug XXR 962s and bought a set and a pair of 5 lug 962s. I also sold the pair of white 16s and got a pair of rear N/A Z32 hubs. Then I drilled my factory rotors to 5 lug on the rear.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/403916_10150594188182223_555067222_10796797_473937 706_n.jpg
Also installed a subframe with the rack mounts moved forward just over an inch. I had to extend the steering shaft about an inch as well.
First I had to shrink the diameter of this length of steel tube.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/404422_10150594189657223_555067222_10796803_609669 293_n.jpg
Then I cut the shaft and jammed the two ends into the tube and welded it all together.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/396204_10150594188942223_555067222_10796800_440484 175_n.jpg
I haven't done an alignment yet, but I have the same amount of drift trailing wheel angle and I'm definitely toed out. The knuckles I shortened for this car don't have much ackerman reduction, but I still feel like my factory style tie rods are close to their maximum length.
Then I looked through my tire stacks and found the deepest tread tires I have and mounted them on the white car for daily driving. They're Continental ExtremeContact DWS with the S just barely disappearing and a bit of camber wear. Naturally, I had to run a bunch of slip-on spacers for hella stuff fitment.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/392191_10150584138367223_555067222_10768008_148975 9649_n.jpg

[mikerbike]

A buddy and I extended my FCAs 1.5". So far, I dig it. I had to borrow a pair of 17x7s for the front because the 17x9 +20 didn't fit with any reasonable camber.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/425727_10150636030442223_555067222_10909857_284604 493_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/430533_10150636031372223_1855459256_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/420108_10150636031852223_555067222_10909860_833484 724_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/420812_10150636032502223_555067222_10909862_198852 6215_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/426625_10150636032757223_555067222_10909863_187923 6418_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/427667_10150636033107223_555067222_10909865_612892 835_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/432348_10150636033537223_555067222_10909867_415518 423_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/418935_10150636034122223_555067222_10909869_205900 9960_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/419980_10150636418887223_555067222_10911213_232479 667_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/427409_10150636416432223_555067222_10911207_915546 474_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/419209_10150636417242223_555067222_10911210_173749 6338_n.jpg

[mikerbike]

So then, I got some skinny Volks and Photoshop'd my front hubs to 5 lug.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/422366_10150676084342223_555067222_11014224_135481 5943_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/425424_10150675726667223_555067222_11012684_761159 967_n.jpg
17x7.5 +33 and 17x8.5 +38.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/431705_10150703379132223_555067222_11108124_303610 528_n.jpg
And I got a baby-girl truck and a tow bar. Slightly less worry driving hard at events and stuff.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/429940_10150718349967223_555067222_11155327_194944 575_n.jpg
It mounts to the tow hooks and I just have the ball on the bumper so i need to mount it higher on the car so it doesn't lift the rear end of my truck under heavy braking (it does lift the rear of my truck under heavy braking.)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/427502_10150718352287223_555067222_11155329_159692 4029_n.jpg

Also, my lady friend bought a '92 coupe a while ago. It's just been sitting in her garage for a few months. She got a Silvia front end for it.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/420606_10150691679597223_1063812841_n.jpg
As stated earlier, I was sorta trying to sell one of my cars to get a truck or a 4dr E36 for daily duties. Well, the singlecam (dunno how it got into a '92) in her car is pretty dead so she's been wanting a twin cam turbo like mine, as it's incredibly smooth for daily driving. So we just decided I'll sell her the engine out of my white one. Probably the coilovers and some other suspension stuff too.

Good thing she ordered her CCWs dual drilled. 255/35/18x10 +35
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/252818_10150262001982223_555067222_8832715_936605_ n.jpg
The center bore matches the Subaru though. So we'll have to run some slip-ons to get the wheel outward of the Nissan hub. Frowneyfase. Maybe I can convince her to get them bored out to 66.1mm or so. ;)

Edit: I tried one on my car. I used 11mm spacers and it wasn't enough to clear the hub. And it didn't fit with her big tires anyway. We'll probably have to stretch some 225/40s on the rear because I don't think she wants to pull her fenders very far. And the front is gonna be a whole problem by itself. I told her she should get 1" skinner barrels for the front. We'll see.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/419463_10150729402767223_555067222_11191377_146663 3319_n.jpg

[mikerbike]

So I drilled some holes and cut some metal and welded some stuff to some stuff. Now i have the tow bar mounted about 12" from the ground.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/424475_10150734076107223_555067222_11203993_163918 4479_n.jpg
Seems the ball on my truck is pretty close to 24" from the ground. I'm taking the whole assembly to Idaho again next weekend. We'll see.