sudoprime

iTrader: (1)

My FD should be getting loaded onto the shipping truck any hour now. I should take delivery in the next week or so



This is going to be my race car. I've been doing autocross and rallycross for the past few years and it's time to build a dedicated race car to thrash on. I have an idea of what I like doing, but I'm going to try a few things out before I decide on the final direction of the car.

I've been considering stage rally, drift and road racing. The rally folks are trying to talk me out of hurling rocks at a nice car like this, so I may pick up a 944 or 240 for that - we'll see.

In any case, my tentative plan is this -

1) Scope out racing organizations that I might join and break out all of the rule books regarding roll cages. hopefully I can build an FIA-spec cage that will comply with everything I would want to do - e.g. Rally America, Formula Drift, IMSA, Hill climb, etc. It might be the case that the rules conflict with each other, but I'm hoping I can build just one cage and then figure out what I want to do with it.
2) Manual transmission swap - I bought an automatic, some people may flame me and say I'm wasting my money/time not just buying a manual, but it is what it is - I'd be building the backend anyway. I'm considering a T56 swap instead of an OEM manual, but the gearing is sorta off for the 13b so idk. It'd be nice to have the option to upgrade to a sequential dogbox.
3) Single turbo conversion - I might develop my own single-turbo headers with the help of my brother, we'll see. CFD?
4) General race parts - I would like to do a CNC conversion on a bridgeport mill, which would make custom race parts possible.
5) Autocross - In the next year or two, while I'm building the car I'm gonna be taking it to autocross events in the area so I'll be adjusting the suspension/wheels accordingly

Once all that is done, I'm gonna try a bunch of different forms of motorsport and see what sticks.

sudoprime

iTrader: (1)

Some of my old cars -

sudoprime

iTrader: (1)

Time for a quick update.
PowerFC is installed with the auto adapter from Banzai Racing.
Autopower roll bar is (almost) bolted in. I ran into a problem with the backplates, the holes don't quite line up with the backplates. I think I will just swap the left/right and drill a 4th hole in the empty area.
Got a wideband installed as well.
AIM Solo 2 for some basic data logging - didn't get the one that hooks into ECU because I want to eventually go all out with it with a race dash, etc.






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sudoprime

iTrader: (1)

I've had the better part of a year to work up a plan for the rx7, and some decisions have been made on the direction of the build.

* I am going to build a pair of shifter karts from scratch and race those with NHKA.
* I bought a 981 Cayman day driver that will be on track duty.
* The rx7 is going to be my rally/winter car.

As a way to learn welding and fabrication I am going to build some CIK shifter karts from scratch. I picked up a welder (Miller 220), a tube bender/notcher (JD2) and some 4130 tube. Now
I just need to glue it all together. The engine will be a honda clone to start and then I will convert to a full shifter at some point.

I will also make a post in the next few months of a trick I learned along the way. Intel released a 3d depth camera for developers called the D415. It happens to make a pretty dope 3d
scanner for the low price of <$300 (with software). It should have 1-3mm scanning precision, depending on which multiverse you live in. I was going to use that to reconstruct a 3d model of the go karts,
but that was before I discovered the chassis homologation docs that give you every measurement. I'm sure it will find uses for the rx7.

So the go karts are my main project right now, with the rx7 coming soon after. I'll update this thread with the karts, since it seems relevant to anyone that likes these cars.


This is the vision for them -




Now, I have room for 2 cars, plus my wife's X1. As much as I'd love to get some cheap cars to slay on, a 240sx and a 325ix rally car ideally, I just don't have the space. Given those restrictions, I'm quite content with my
choice of a 981 and an FD. Since I will have my go karts and cayman to play on the track, I am turning the focus on the rx7 back to rally.

Is it dumb to build a really nice first stage rally car? Yes. Is it a dumb idea to choose a chassis with 0 rally support? Yes. Are there hundreds of better choices for a rally car? Yes.

So with that in mind, I am gonna get my fab on and make it happen. I don't want to lead anybody on, this is a hobby and I'm one person. It's going to take a lot of time to build the car.

Where the car currently sits -
* Engine was supposedly rebuilt 10k miles ago.
* Has an intercooler, intake, catback, and now a power fc.
* It's an automatic

Here is what's in my parts bin right now -
* Fuel filter
* Spark plugs
* Oil pressure sender
* Boost controller
* Gauge mounts
* Dual radiator brackets
* Manual clutch + brake pedals
* Clutch hydraulics + hard lines
* Silicone vacuum lines + clamps + check valves
* Stainless clutch + brake lines
* Secondary fuse box
* Block off plates
* Drive belt
* Drivers door seal

While I am in there, I will also do a fuel pulsation damper delete and maybe a fuel filter relocation. Maybe an engine rebuild, port job, tube frame. Where does it end? I don't know.
But the general plan is - get the car running well, do a manual swap (t56 with an 8.8 rear), add a rally suspension (I'd rather not spend 10k on that if I can avoid it).
And if SBG ever releases the Pole Position rails I will pop one or two of those in.

This is what I'm going for -

sudoprime

iTrader: (1)

Just had a close call with a tire wall at Palmer Motorsports Park in my Cayman


First track day ever, had just set my fastest lap (1:55). I was off line due to the pass on the WRX and I didn't adjust my speed properly.
I knew I was a little hot for that line, but I was expecting some mild oversteer, not full opposite lock.

Maybe next time I'll remember to respect the marbles.

The FD build is slowly moving along. It's finally back in my garage, and I have most of the interior stripped. I just have the carpet, headliner and doors left.
I've been putting off a vacuum hose job, but I've got boost problems so that needs to happen before I start beating on it too hard. I am hoping that this winter I can hit some rally crosses in the FD.

Time has been scarce lately, but I'm slowly inching forward on it.