Archive for October, 2008

Lets spend some money

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Now that we know the car works, we need to start the ITA conversion.

Consistent with the rules, I do some searching and find the uber set up is too expensive. I opt for Megan Coil Overs from Underground Motor Sports. They come with camber adjustment for the front and are true coil overs. I figure for $800, they will work for now. Sure they may not last as long as the Koni set up, but at half the cost, I thought the track time I get with the rest of the money will would have better value.

I also bought a front Progress Sway bar from the same supplier I will find out later, I should have gotten the rear, but we all make mistakes. More on that later.
Out of the box
Installed, they look great
Front Coil installed

I also find out that the rear suspension beam will need to be bent to resolve the rear toe in issue. There is only one or two guys in the country that can do it, so I need to work that out, but that will have to wait.

After adjusting everything up, she is sitting low, lean and mean

Lowered

I also bought a camber gauge and do my own alignment. After lowering and setting the camber to 2.5 deg. the toe is perfect at 1/16th inch toe in (too spooky).

The next track day is scheduled..

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Lets see what it will do..

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

First thing I need is tires.  I received 9 wheels with the car, and found another in the trunk, so I have 10 rims to play with.  I decide to get some Falken Azenis RT-615’s.  This is a street performance tire, that will work well enough, last a while, and costs 1/3 of a true DOT race tire. 

I spent a day removing lot of pealing stickers and giving it a general clean up.  I change the oil, bleed the brakes installing DOT 5 fluid.  I install a race seat for the passenger side I bought off ebay for $145, and a set of 5 point belts.  I determine she is ready for the track.

I sign up for Scca’s PDX at Summit Point Raceway. This is an event where you can take your street car out and learn to drive fast.  I have done some other events like this so they put me in the more advanced group, with and instructor to make sure I am safe. 

On the first lap, the new tires still had a coating on them and it’s sliding all over the place.  After a few laps it calms down, and I start to push it a little.  It drives like I expect it would.  It understeers like no bodies business, and leans like a fat chick in a boat. 

The car does quite well, I am happy with the purchase, now it’s time to start the conversion to it’s current class, Improved Touring A (ITA).

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