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heavy85

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Posts posted by heavy85

    Survived my first track event!!

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    Cameron, Congrats on the first road course event... I'd recommend getting a brake upgrade. What suspension are you running?

     

    Mike

     

    240Z, sectioned struts, SA Konis, EMI camber plates, big n little bars, 225/250 springs, 'bump steer' spacers, offset bushings, front LCA pivot moved up 5/8". I know I need a brake upgrade but really debating where to go. I only run 15" rims but for my weight I dont really need anything too huge just dont like the added unsprung weight from the 4x4 conversion.

     

    Cameron

    Non-Z ... broken timing belt, 2 bent valves, can I survive with 2 cracked guides?

    in Trouble Shooting / General Engine

    Posted

    Well title says it all. It's my sister in laws Daewoo ... there is a reason they went out of business. I imagine this car will only last another year or two so not expecting significant mileage out of it. The two bent valves cracked the valve guides at the bottom. I'm obviously replacing the valves but how bad would it be to just run with cracked guides? Do I really need to replace them?

     

    Thanks

    Cameron

    Survived my first track event!!

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    Friday at about 3:00 PM I leave from work with the Z loaded down for a 3.5 hour trip north to Blackhawk Farms Racetrack in far north Illinois. Trip went on without much drama. Realized the Kirkey seat needs a lot more cushion for the tail bone to be happy for that long. Anyway set-up camp for the night. Free camping at the track and they have a nice new shower facility. Met a guy who was racing Sunday in his vintage Datsun roadster. He was camping with his family in their toy hauler across from me. We walked the track and he showed my the line. I spent a LOT of time on youtube last week watching videos of the track so I was familiar but it's always good to see first hand.

     

    Forecast was ~80 with very slight (<30%) chance of scattered afternoon rain. Woke up a 5 AM to the sound of rain hitting the tent ... it rained until a little after 8. Drivers meeting at a little after 8:00 then practice started. This was a high speed autocross with 2-3 4 lap practice sessions followed by 4-6 timed laps. Fast cars first down to newbies last so by the time I ran it was mostly dry. First practice was noob conga line style follow the leader. Second practice I was about fourth back. I immediately caught the car next car who pointed me by on the straight (only allowed passing area). Immediately caught the next car ... anyway three laps of this and I finally had some room ahead so I really honked it down the front straight. Estimated in the 120 MPH range mid 5th gear. Come up to turn one and she just wasn't slowin down. Looked straight ahead and there's just a lot of green so I decide to pitch it in for the turn and hope I can at least scrub enough speed sliding sideways that I survive the inevitable off. Made it about 1/3 the way into the turn before the back end came all the way around. Did a nice 360 ending up in the grass. In the end no harm done. Last practice I was behind a very slow spec Miata who wasn't paying attention and wouldn't point me by so no fast laps there. We ended up getting 6 timed laps. One more slight off in turn 7 (last turn before the front straight). Turn 7 is preceded by top of 4th gear (~115 MPH) straight then slight kink then on the binders hard. The kink makes it tricky because it unsettles you just before you brake hard. Again she wasn't slowin like I needed her to. This time I just ran wide a track out into the rocks but stayed straight. Otherwise no drama. Ran a best 1 min 23.3 sec best lap which calculates to 84 MPH average lap speed. I was in "A Race" class which is basically the fasted of the fast full slick >2.8L class. I ran 6th out of 9 with first place down in the 1 min 19 sec range. Total of 109 cars at the event then there was a wheel to wheel race Sunday but I didn't stay for that. I was extremely happy with my time and to be that close to the fast guys. Packed up and drove home getting here about 10 PM.

     

    It was a great time. Very laid back but at the same time very organized. Will definitely run there again. This is an old 1.95 mile 1960's track in the middle of a swamp with very little run-off room but it's been maintained very well with new surface, facilities, etc. It is very intimidating to say the least. With such little track time I was really pussy footing around a couple of the scarier turns and couldn't quite ever find the turn-in point on turn 3. This is good because it tells me the car is capable of going a few seconds faster ... into the trophies ... with a little more seat time.

     

    Now I just need some brakes to keep up with the power. I still have stock brakes with Hawk pads and good shoes but they just dont grab like I need them too. I dont think I boiled the fluid as the pedal never got soft they just dont seem to clamp hard enough to slow the car down. Regardless great fun and highly recommended.

     

    Cameron

    Dissappointing autox with the LS Z

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    Quick update so others who've swapped dont get discouraged.

     

    I actually now have MORE rear grip than front on corner exit. When I first started after the swap the rear was always stepping out as mentioned above. It got a lot better after the few tweaks. However, since it's gotten hot and the slicks get much stickier combined with now softer tires in the rear (35 compound front, 25 rear) when I hit the throttle at corner exit the front end tends to wash out instead of the back snapping around. Hope to help fix this with the 25 compound radials all around. They should be going on this week in preparation for a high speed autocross this weekend.

     

    Cameron

    Generic theoretical springrate question

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    I can say for a fact I improved the chassis overall torsional stiffness by the fact that it no longer sets on four jackstands. My garage is not perfectly level and it used to just sag and set on four stands anyway. Now it does not and ends up just sitting on three stands.

     

    Since we're talking springrates here's another one. For a relatively high hp/torque car (LS1) would ... again in general terms ... you want a softer or stiffer rear than a lower powered car and why?

     

    Thanks

    Cameron

    Generic theoretical springrate question

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    From a very high level I need to get my head straight. I realize there are many variables to consider but would like to focus on one for now ... assuming everything else equal and that's spring rates. Some may remember from other threads that I did quite a bit of work to the chassis to stiffen up the front end while relatively little to the rear. So I would say the chassis is now relatively stiffer front to rear than it used to be. From a high level would I want stiffer springs in front to take advantage of the stiffer chassis or less stiff springs since the realized springrate is now higher relative to the rear and why? This is not a riddle I'm really trying to gain some understanding.

     

    Thanks

    Cameron

    Aerodynamic impact of the drip rails on S30

    in Windtunnel Test Results and Analysis

    Posted

    I noticed something interesting on the way to an autox this past Saturday. There was a very light mist and I only have RainX - no wipers. I watched the pattern how the tiny (and I mean tiny) drops that formed traveled across the windshield. In the middle the air goes straight up but from there out it's sort of a sunburst pattern where the air goes from straight up in the center to horizontal towards the sides. Since the windshield bubbles out in the middle I guess this shouldn't be surprising but I thought was interesting. So do you want the air to go around the windshield or over it? I assume this depends somewhat on if you are looking for downforce (more flow over the rear wing) or more streamlined. Any thoughts?

     

    Cameron

    Driving Impressions?

    in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board

    Posted

    '02 LS1 in light mostly stripped '72 240Z will light-up second gear at will. I use 6th anytime on the highway. 6 speed is not excessive but then again my DD also has a 6 speed. Main difference between L and LS is the huge grin on your face when you hit the loud pedal. Exhaust smell is identical either way (I recommend cats which I will be adding this winter). Autocross takes finesse even with full slicks. I launch basically at idle and manage wheel spin through first. Started with 3.9 from the L days but that's just silly. I'm running 3.7 now but should probably put in the 3.5. It's really no louder than the L was but that's probably because I have zero insulation or even carpet. No drone or annoying noises.

     

    Cameron

    Excessive stubshaft endplay w/ new bearings?

    in Brakes, Wheels, Suspension and Chassis

    Posted

    OK this is an exercise in extreme frustration!!! Could not find the mark on the upright. Took it apart and the spacer is a 'B'. My thinking is the spacer is too long. If is't way too long it would still tighten up but then you could risk the outer race walking out - not good because then it would loosen up over time. If it's a little long which is what I have then the bearings will not get preloaded and it will be sloppy. Anyway so I ground a bit off the end and it tightened up a little. So I'm thinking I'm getting somewhere so I ground a little bit more off and then it's WAYY tight. Dammit. I cannot believe how sensitive it is. I'm taking it real easy with a 12" disk sander so I didn't take much off at all. So I added a shim but it's too thick. Now I'm working on grinding the spacer down some more to make the shim work. This is just temporary to hopefully get me through an autox tomorrow. I really need the next shorter spacer from a "B". Anyone have one I can buy or know where I can get one?

     

    Thanks

    Cameron

    Using two JCI passenger style mounts!

    in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board

    Posted

    Can anyone tell me where the actual rubber mount comes from that is used on the JCI LHD passenger mount? Thanks

     

    Standard small block Chevy I believe. Can you use the LS1 to SBC adapter plates on the left side? These are sold through a bunch of places even E-bay. That's what I did and they basically consist of a flat 4-6 mm plate with the four LS1 mounting holes, then it centers the SBC mount over one of the front holes. They are intended to allow a LS to be mounted into traditional SBC frame mounts.

     

    Cameron

    My clutch lasted 4000 miles

    in Gen III & IV Chevy V8Z Tech Board

    Posted

    If you open the bleeder and get a burst of fluid that sounds to me like you are trapping pressure in the line which would not allow the clutch to engage. I would take the line off and make sure it's clear. Sounds like a fluid blockage issue to me ... maybe master.

     

    'Drives like a torque converter' - you could patten that sell it to the ricers and make pennies ..... call it a feature!!

     

    Even with 9.5 slicks at the autox I still leave at idle and get no traction so yeah def dont need clutch to burn rubber.

     

    Cameron

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