Ken's Ordeal On His Tuning Trip To WI - Long
06-14-03, 12:16 PM
#1
Ken's Ordeal On His Tuning Trip To WI - Long
I drove out to the WI club's meeting to get my car tuned by Steve Kan and to find out why my suspension is all screwed up. Howard Coleman is an ex-pro road racer for Mobil One driving RX-7s and he would check my suspension out. Dick Lambert was the host. He has many great cars and I will not bore you with all of them. He has three FDs, two R1 CYM in great shape and one is mildly modified. His really souped-up one is a White FD. He has all the souped-up stuff and an Apex RX6 BB turbo. Just to keep you interested in this post, after Kan tuned the car, Dick did a 1/4 mile run with my Vericom computer(which is within 2% accuracy). Keep this in mind; Dick is 300+lbs and 67 years old and also not a drag racer. He knew his car was strong and did not like the results of his run. After he came back from his run, he had Kan do one run for him. Kan did 124+mph in the 1/4 mile in it. Dick was ecstatic and went to his home to call his friends so that he could tell them what the car did. We figure he has well over 400rwhp at 17 psi on pump gas. Kan tuned it with 96 octanes to play it safe. Dick had 93 octanes in it and we added 5 gallons of my 110 octanes to bring the octane level to about 96.
A little history and a recommendation, this was an event to bring in a BIG time tuner to tune cars in what I consider the boon docks. We had 5 guys signed up to pay Kan to fly in and tune our cars. I drove 320 miles to WI. When I got there I found out that two guys backed out. That meant the remaining three people had to make up for the bastards that backed out. I was not happy about that since I had to pay a lot more for the tuning. As you will see later that it was well worth it.
If any of you in other areas of the country want to fly in an expert to tune your cars I strongly recommend you have the guys that sign up pay some money down so that you will not be too screwed if they back out.
The other fellow that got his car tuned was very pleased with the results. Kan showed up Saturday 5.5 hours late due to all kinds of reasons.
Now back to my car. Howard Coleman found out that my suspension was all screwed up and gave me the correct toe in and camber settings to make it right. He was surprised I was able to make it there. It even gets worse.
Kan tries to hook his wide band to my car, but my O2 sensor will not come off. It took Dick at 300 lbs and a crow bar 20 minutes later to get it off. Now we tune in 3rd gear with a rotten suspension. It’s really scary going 100+mph as Steve tunes and I try to control this beast. Well, first day is done and the low boost tuning is done at 15psi and 95 octanes. I did a benchmark test before tuning and did 113mph in the 1/4 mile. After tuning we did a run with Kan in the car and a full tank of 95 octane and 5 gallons of water and turned 118 mph. Steve said he felt it would be good for 119+ mph with just me in the car and less gas and water. He did say that if you have a high powered car you should never race with less than 1/4 tank. The reason is that when you launch the Gs will put the gas at the back of your tank and you could get air pockets going into your fuel line, which could cause a leaning condition. That was just one of the many tips that Kan gave us. He also gave many tips to the WI club members when he first showed up.
Kan found so many problems with my map. Ignition was all screwed up. Parts of it were running negative split. He was surprised that I didn't already blow my motor up. At one point during the tuning section he said I might have a cracked or broken PPF. We then put it on the lift for a visual inspection. There were no signs of cracks on the PPF. We did however find the real reason why my car was so screwed up and explain why it would jolt from the left or the right in the rear after going over the slightest bump in the road. It turns out that the LaBreck bushings at the differential were screwed up. The left side bolt was loose and there was no bolt on the right side. It was just hanging there. That was my real suspension problem all along. I am lucky to be alive. Dick found a bolt that was not a perfect fit, but good enough to get me home. I also found out that the back did not have all the LaBreck bushings that I paid for. The bushing back there were stock, Kan said the front did have the LaBreck bushings.
He also recommended I dump the Apex blow off valve as it is junk and leaks. He also said I should get a Greddy elbow as the stock plastic one will crack. I don't want to bore you with all the recommendations Kan made for our cars, but I think the results pretty much shows he knows his stuff.
This is my recommendation to all you FD modified owners who want it done right. Get a big time tuner to come out and do it right.
Now back to my tuning on Sunday at big boost and 107 octanes. XS-Engineering said my T04e kit was good for 25psi. Well, we tried, but all we could get was 22psi from 4800rpm to 6000rpm and then it dived to 17psi at higher rpm. That is probably not worth wasting $$$ to get 22 psi for a little while. At 22psi I did 123mph, not worth the extra $$ for race gas to me. A potential solution to get higher boost is a stronger wastegate spring. I might look into that.
Now the horrors of my trip, when I went out to WI I decided to take my big Nitto drag radials off and not wear them out. That was a big mistake. I put my small Nitto drag ones on and decided to wear them out instead.
For some reason the lug nuts did not seat properly and when I arrived 20 miles from my destination there was vibrating in the back. Turns out the lug nuts were loose on the right rear. I already busted one stud there two weeks ago. I guess the lug nuts were not a perfect fit. The lug nuts were coming loose. Finally on the way back home I’m on 3 lug nuts and a security one. To make a long story short I ended up breaking studs on the way back. I ended up with two studs and decided there was no way I could get home on two studs for the last 150 miles. I was able to make it to an inn in Abbotsford, WI. I stayed over night and limped over to a garage. I really lucked out; I went to Dell Knoll at K & D Auto. He tried to pull my last two lug nuts off and they broke. Long story short – if you ever are stranded in this town go to Dell. Cost me $327 to have him replace 5 studs, all the rear brake pads, a bearing and some other stuff. It was a good deal as I was out there stranded on my 59th birthday.
I could go on and on about this trip. I guess I bored you enough.
I have all kinds of pics. My greatest recommendation from what I learned in this ordeal is all you guys with highly modified RX-7s should to get a pro to tune your car right. It's all in the tuning. Dick wanted to bet me $3000 after the tuning that he would beat my car. After Kan tuned his car I was not sure if I could beat him. I probably could if Dick was driving but not if he had Kan driving it for him. I was not willing to go against Kan and have a gracious host potentially lose $3k, then again I might have lost.
If I ever can figure out how to get my car to run more than 22 psi with those turbos it will be awesome, probably well over 125mph in the 1/4 mile.
Ken
PS: This thread was oringinally in the "3rd Gen" section but was moved to "NE RX7 Forum". Maybe we can keep it in the "3rd Gen Section", if not maybe I should start one in the "Lounge".
A little history and a recommendation, this was an event to bring in a BIG time tuner to tune cars in what I consider the boon docks. We had 5 guys signed up to pay Kan to fly in and tune our cars. I drove 320 miles to WI. When I got there I found out that two guys backed out. That meant the remaining three people had to make up for the bastards that backed out. I was not happy about that since I had to pay a lot more for the tuning. As you will see later that it was well worth it.
If any of you in other areas of the country want to fly in an expert to tune your cars I strongly recommend you have the guys that sign up pay some money down so that you will not be too screwed if they back out.
The other fellow that got his car tuned was very pleased with the results. Kan showed up Saturday 5.5 hours late due to all kinds of reasons.
Now back to my car. Howard Coleman found out that my suspension was all screwed up and gave me the correct toe in and camber settings to make it right. He was surprised I was able to make it there. It even gets worse.
Kan tries to hook his wide band to my car, but my O2 sensor will not come off. It took Dick at 300 lbs and a crow bar 20 minutes later to get it off. Now we tune in 3rd gear with a rotten suspension. It’s really scary going 100+mph as Steve tunes and I try to control this beast. Well, first day is done and the low boost tuning is done at 15psi and 95 octanes. I did a benchmark test before tuning and did 113mph in the 1/4 mile. After tuning we did a run with Kan in the car and a full tank of 95 octane and 5 gallons of water and turned 118 mph. Steve said he felt it would be good for 119+ mph with just me in the car and less gas and water. He did say that if you have a high powered car you should never race with less than 1/4 tank. The reason is that when you launch the Gs will put the gas at the back of your tank and you could get air pockets going into your fuel line, which could cause a leaning condition. That was just one of the many tips that Kan gave us. He also gave many tips to the WI club members when he first showed up.
Kan found so many problems with my map. Ignition was all screwed up. Parts of it were running negative split. He was surprised that I didn't already blow my motor up. At one point during the tuning section he said I might have a cracked or broken PPF. We then put it on the lift for a visual inspection. There were no signs of cracks on the PPF. We did however find the real reason why my car was so screwed up and explain why it would jolt from the left or the right in the rear after going over the slightest bump in the road. It turns out that the LaBreck bushings at the differential were screwed up. The left side bolt was loose and there was no bolt on the right side. It was just hanging there. That was my real suspension problem all along. I am lucky to be alive. Dick found a bolt that was not a perfect fit, but good enough to get me home. I also found out that the back did not have all the LaBreck bushings that I paid for. The bushing back there were stock, Kan said the front did have the LaBreck bushings.
He also recommended I dump the Apex blow off valve as it is junk and leaks. He also said I should get a Greddy elbow as the stock plastic one will crack. I don't want to bore you with all the recommendations Kan made for our cars, but I think the results pretty much shows he knows his stuff.
This is my recommendation to all you FD modified owners who want it done right. Get a big time tuner to come out and do it right.
Now back to my tuning on Sunday at big boost and 107 octanes. XS-Engineering said my T04e kit was good for 25psi. Well, we tried, but all we could get was 22psi from 4800rpm to 6000rpm and then it dived to 17psi at higher rpm. That is probably not worth wasting $$$ to get 22 psi for a little while. At 22psi I did 123mph, not worth the extra $$ for race gas to me. A potential solution to get higher boost is a stronger wastegate spring. I might look into that.
Now the horrors of my trip, when I went out to WI I decided to take my big Nitto drag radials off and not wear them out. That was a big mistake. I put my small Nitto drag ones on and decided to wear them out instead.
For some reason the lug nuts did not seat properly and when I arrived 20 miles from my destination there was vibrating in the back. Turns out the lug nuts were loose on the right rear. I already busted one stud there two weeks ago. I guess the lug nuts were not a perfect fit. The lug nuts were coming loose. Finally on the way back home I’m on 3 lug nuts and a security one. To make a long story short I ended up breaking studs on the way back. I ended up with two studs and decided there was no way I could get home on two studs for the last 150 miles. I was able to make it to an inn in Abbotsford, WI. I stayed over night and limped over to a garage. I really lucked out; I went to Dell Knoll at K & D Auto. He tried to pull my last two lug nuts off and they broke. Long story short – if you ever are stranded in this town go to Dell. Cost me $327 to have him replace 5 studs, all the rear brake pads, a bearing and some other stuff. It was a good deal as I was out there stranded on my 59th birthday.
I could go on and on about this trip. I guess I bored you enough.
I have all kinds of pics. My greatest recommendation from what I learned in this ordeal is all you guys with highly modified RX-7s should to get a pro to tune your car right. It's all in the tuning. Dick wanted to bet me $3000 after the tuning that he would beat my car. After Kan tuned his car I was not sure if I could beat him. I probably could if Dick was driving but not if he had Kan driving it for him. I was not willing to go against Kan and have a gracious host potentially lose $3k, then again I might have lost.
If I ever can figure out how to get my car to run more than 22 psi with those turbos it will be awesome, probably well over 125mph in the 1/4 mile.
Ken
PS: This thread was oringinally in the "3rd Gen" section but was moved to "NE RX7 Forum". Maybe we can keep it in the "3rd Gen Section", if not maybe I should start one in the "Lounge".
06-14-03, 02:10 PM
#3
Originally posted by Jason Ken
I can move the other thread back in here if its that important. The main discussion of that thread died out a couple of days ago and it turned into a tuning session discussion for NE people. Thats why it was moved.
Jason
I can move the other thread back in here if its that important. The main discussion of that thread died out a couple of days ago and it turned into a tuning session discussion for NE people. Thats why it was moved.
Jason
It's a good thread, entertaining and I think all RX-7 guys would be interested not just 3rd gen guys.
Thanx,
Ken
06-17-03, 04:02 PM
#5
Originally posted by Jason B]Ken
I can move the other thread back in here if its that important. The main discussion of that thread died out a couple of days ago and it turned into a tuning session discussion for NE people. Thats why it was moved.
Jason [/B]
I can move the other thread back in here if its that important. The main discussion of that thread died out a couple of days ago and it turned into a tuning session discussion for NE people. Thats why it was moved.
Jason [/B]
Ken
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