S197 tts/aix build start to finsh

[marksti]

Suspension setup #4 which was end of last year:

We switched the Ford racing suspension to something alittle more "track like"

Griggs/Koni front coilovers (lighter then ford racing, with adjustable top hats)
Griggs Race watts link rear end with TA cover
Griggs torque arm setup
Griggs rear coilover conversion (no more shocks like the GC kit)
Conered weighed/balanced alignment at Griggs racing
Coast driveline
Dumped the Steeda adjustable third link

Car came in at 3230#'s with a full tank of fuel on the scales

Still on Nitto nt01's

Engine upgrades:
Comp cams stage 2 NSR cams
Upgraded radiator

Weight:
Corbeau seats that droped like 20#s each compared to factory units
Removed front door speakers
Started removing front window glass/motors for track outings
Removed ac compressor/lines


Lessions learned:You can't compare a MASS market suspension to a custom one...in price and perfromance, More so once it's dialed, Less weght always better..At this level the $$$ spent doesn't quite give you the bang for the buck like before

Also at this point once the rear end grip was sorted out, the weak front end suspension design began coming to the fore.

Theres nothing like having a world class race shop miles from your house

Next up: the jump to forced induction and complete Griggs chasis/Griggs race brakes etc etc

 

[marksti]

Time for more powa:

Paxton Novi 2200 with air to air intercooler
Steeda belt tensioner
GT500 fuel system
SCT big maf
Deka 60#'s injectors
HTOs

The car put down from 450-490 rwhp on 3 different tunes

I bought the blower kit from a internet delaer, but after numerous attempts to have them give me a solid tune and after spending a extra $1000 needlessly i toke it over to John@ Griggs.

Lession learned:More powers better, but now the chasis balance is hendered and the factory rotor/calipers brakes don't work as well due to more speed and more weight..sometimes local tuners are what you need for a custom ap..or may even a remote one that knows what to do


Ran the car at a slow 1/4 mile track on a 91 octane tune with a full tank of gas: 11.8@119 short shifting at 6200 rpm, redline normaly set at 6500 with cams

Due to increased heat from the blower install the power steering system would over heat under extreme conditions..so a power steering cooler was installed

 

[pcdrj]

Very similar to my setup. Are you running Grigg's brakes? Looks like it but can't really tell from pics.

 

[marksti]

Suspension setup #5

So i made the mistake of trackin the car again..this time in a race group filled with track only race cars for the most parts including Katech C-6R's and Aerial Atoms on slicks.

The car ran Infineon in the low 1:50s still on those old Nto1's..but pushing the car that hard also cooked the brakes.

New setup:
Griggs ST front chasis system
Griggs front race brakes
Griggs rear race brakes
Griggs roll bar
Racetech 6 point harnass
Griggs custom brake intakes
Truetrac
Better/shorter intercooler piping
APR rear diffuser
315 tire rear coilover bracket kit
Shelby grill



Cars now at 3200 #'s WET

The SLA setup did wonders...at the end of the day i added a blower/roll bar/biggger cooling system,reinstalled a heavier crank pulley/reinstall OE driveline and the cars still lost 20-30 #'s or so by switching to SLAs/Griggs brakes.



More details/pics later

 

[Kaldar142]

hey mark, more pictures of the car please!

 

[Kaiser]

Yeah, great info on your build. I hope to get my GT on track soon but i'm going to change seats before i do.

Keep the updates coming!

 

[US-1]

Very impressive.

 

[DusterRT]

What can I say...you've got good taste in wheels!

How long have you been running them? I recently had one crack on the inside bead, I've been wondering if they're built a little light for cars as heavy as ours. I've also been wondering if it was mis-handled when I had my tires mounted (it was at a reputable performance shop, but they had just gotten their tire equipment).

And what brake ducts are those? Too late for me as I've already conjured something up but I'm just curious..I saw them on another Griggs SLA'd car so is it a part of their system?

 

[marksti]

hey mark, more pictures of the car please!

The cars currently run at open track events here in Norcal..and is entering NASA TT soon.

Thats it for now as far as current mods..in the future i hope to drop another 150#'s off the car and install the 315 tire package at all four corners

Theres always the chance the motor will let go also..so that may have to be adressed aswell.

There are ALOT of little things i didn't mention..but i don't want to bore people more then i have

Regards

Mark

BTW one of these days i gotta get some better pics

 

[marksti]

What can I say...you've got good taste in wheels!

How long have you been running them? I recently had one crack on the inside bead, I've been wondering if they're built a little light for cars as heavy as ours. I've also been wondering if it was mis-handled when I had my tires mounted (it was at a reputable performance shop, but they had just gotten their tire equipment).

And what brake ducts are those? Too late for me as I've already conjured something up but I'm just curious..I saw them on another Griggs SLA'd car so is it a part of their system?

The brake ducts are Griggs made...I had them installed on the car while at their shop getting work done.

I don't think the ducts are part of the SLA system..They are by request

I previously had the Steeda/Agent 47 setup these seem to work better

No, i haven't had any problems with the wheels..so far i have 14 or so track days on them...

 

[Kaldar142]

I love your car, that's the steeda splitter, correct?

How do you like those corbeaus? I'm using sparco Evo 2 right now but I wish it was suede

 

[DusterRT]

reinstalled a heavier crank pulley/reinstall OE driveline

I assume the driveline is due to vibration issues, but why did you put a heavier pulley on (I assume OE)?

 

[marksti]

I assume the driveline is due to vibration issues, but why did you put a heavier pulley on (I assume OE)?

Yes and no...I had a Coast and it was rubbin alittle on big bumps..so i decided to go back to stock.

The crank pulley was becasue i went to a blower...which requires you run a factory pulley so the boost is proper.

 

[Bizzyb0nes]

thats truly an awesome machine! more action pics please

I've been bouncing back and forth with how aggressive to go on mine when the time comes, but being daily driven (atleast now)...I'd probably end up going H&R race springs/Dspecs since it could remain a bit more streetable, and probably as nice as I good get given what I could/willing to spend. I go back and forth about swapping sway bars, but steeda says their kit only adds 10% difference in roll resistance...and that just seems cheaper/easier to get a slightly stiffer spring and call it a day.

 

[foolio2k4]

Love the rear diffuser. May I suggest going with a APR wing for more downforce? Also an APR splitter that covers the whole front bottom.

 

[fhlh]

There are ALOT of little things i didn't mention..but i don't want to bore people more then i have

Keep posting... you are not boring anyone!!!

 

[Kaiser]

Did you go with the Comp cams NSR before of after the paxton 2200? How does it idle with those cams?

I'm likely staying N/A for the time being and taking off weight, so i've been thinking of cams. Only thing i worry about is smog here in CA and i'm not sure if those would pass the sniffer.

Love the new pics!

 

[marksti]

Did you go with the Comp cams NSR before of after the paxton 2200? How does it idle with those cams?

I'm likely staying N/A for the time being and taking off weight, so i've been thinking of cams. Only thing i worry about is smog here in CA and i'm not sure if those would pass the sniffer.

I installed the cams while I had plans to keep the car NA.

They add a nice bark to the motor and improve the very top end power range...but they also shift the power band alittle to the right for what its worth...which means less mid range.

As far a smog..Its still passes the IDLE/DYNO emissions tests.

I've seen a few real quick s197 AI/TTA cars around here...most run intake/pulleys/exhuast/headers and figure 310-325 rwhp is good and focus on suspension/chasis/brakes..and alot of weight reduction.

Not that cams are bad..i just didn't feel the love like i thought i would after i installed them.

 

[Kaiser]

Thanks for the info on the cams. I'm not sure i'll go with cams yet, but nice to know they will 'sniff' ok.

I've pretty much got all the bolt ons ( pullies, intake, delete plates) except for headers. I know long tubes are the way to go, but the ol CA smog comes into play there. I still might go for it eventually.

After going to an American Iron race a few years ago at Sears point, i remember the difference between the AI and AIX cars seemed to be around 2 seconds or so. So your right on target saying it's best to focus on really good suspension setup and weight reduction for the track, at least to start off with.

 

[Kaldar142]

Hey mark, how did you like the BMR a-arms? Was it worth the upgrade? What kind of improvements did you feel