Autox ESP project... hopefully moving forward!

[Sam Strano]

With fingers firmly crossed that the wiring harness has solved the issues in my car, I just wanted to update where I am with the car and project.

Not as far as I wanted to be since the car hasn't run most of they year.

I have wheels done 18x10.5 running 315/30-18's. Currently Hoosier A6's, but will be testing some of the new Goodyear DOT's hopefully in the next few weeks (if the car remains running).

I just got my AST rear shocks back from being fixed, the struts are on, as are the set of springs I chose to start with. Of course I'm using a set of Strano Performance Parts Adjustable/Hollow 35/22mm swaybars. The car is also on camber plates at this time.

Next steps include: Upgrading the Limited Slip, installing the Watts linkage, Shifter, a change of brake rotors, and seats. You'll note that nothing power wise is done at this time. I have an intake, I have a tuner.... but until these powertrain issues are 100% for sure gone, I'm not touching that stuff. Besides, power isn't poor as is, and fast autocross cars are much more about handling and getting the power we have, down to the ground.

There is another build of a similar car going on for a different class which I've watched with interest. They are going a different way with some things, and have issues that I don't. I've never had an issue with the car stopping---ever. I won't be running as much camber. I won't be running as much rear bar, I won't be running as much spring and I will be running more wheel width and stickier tires. I've even offered help to those folks but they seem to want to go it alone, which is fine with me.

Fingers crossed that the car runs and runs well, because if there are issues my fall back car for the class is my 2001 Camaro (which runs fine) that I've won a few National Championships in already. I want this project to work, so if I do end up in the Camaro you Mustang guys have to understand it wasn't by choice!!!!!

This will be a thrash, I wanted to be almost done by this time of the year, not just starting... and I have a hell of a month coming up where I'll be travelling from NJ to NE to DE 3 weeks in a row and the car needs to be mostly done. But it doesn't have to be completely done until August (thank god).

I'm not big on blogging, and putting up every thought I have. I'm more into concentrating on my work and talking to folks. Every once in a while I'll try and update things!

 

[jayel579]

Thanks for the update Sam! Are you referring to Terry Fair's build? Four weeks till the NJ Pro, I will see you there

 

[Sky Render]

Are you running 315s both front and rear? I'm only asking because I autocross and want to get some new, wider wheels, and I was wondering if you can run wide tires both front and rear.

 

[Sam Strano]

You can... in fact I have all a complete setup for it. From the 10.5" wheels to the spacers you might want (recommended). But they do stick out a little, so it's best for track of autox, not road use.

 

[19COBRA93]

FWIW, I run 295's all the way around on 18x10's and I think it's a perfect compromise for street/track and fitment without modification. 315's would be nice.

Sounds like a good combination.

 

[Sky Render]

You can... in fact I have all a complete setup for it. From the 10.5" wheels to the spacers you might want (recommended). But they do stick out a little, so it's best for track of autox, not road use.

Are the wheels and spacers on your website?

I was looking at getting some 9.5" wheels and putting 285s on them. I think those would fit up front. I was going to use those RTR wheels.

 

[Kobie]

I'd love to see pictures of it when done!

 

[19COBRA93]

Are the wheels and spacers on your website?

I was looking at getting some 9.5" wheels and putting 285s on them. I think those would fit up front. I was going to use those RTR wheels.

You don't need spacers for that. I'm running 295's on 10's in the front with no spacers just fine.

 

[Sky Render]

You don't need spacers for that. I'm running 295's on 10's in the front with no spacers just fine.

Thanks for the info!

 

[jsnyng]

Thanks for the info!

My $.02 on your plans, I think RTR's will look pretty awful up front with 285's and the 33 offset of the wheels. Look into some Forgelines or something similar with a 40-45 offset.

 

[Sky Render]

My $.02 on your plans, I think RTR's will look pretty awful up front with 285's and the 33 offset of the wheels. Look into some Forgelines or something similar with a 40-45 offset.

I thought the RTRs were the same offset both front and rear? Most packages I see for those wheels have staggered fitment, though. Would wider tires in the back hurt cornering performance?

I like Forgeline wheels, but I can't afford to spend $5,000 on wheels alone.

 

[jsnyng]

I thought the RTRs were the same offset both front and rear? Most packages I see for those wheels have staggered fitment, though. Would wider tires in the back hurt cornering performance?

I like Forgeline wheels, but I can't afford to spend $5,000 on wheels alone.

For autocross, you want to run the same size on all four corners. I was just saying 285's on a 33 offset are going to stick out from the fenders. The pic in my sig is my car with 275's on a 45 offset. For the Atlanta National Tour race coming up in 2 weeks, I'm going to be running 295/30's on all four corners, but again with a 45 offset. I'm pretty sure the TSW Nurburgrings are similar in price to the RTR's and also come in a 45 or 42 offset.

BTW, I read your article about your first experience on the course. Good piece, and I enjoyed it. If you are anywhere within a half day's drive of an Evo School event (Sam is an Evo instructor BTW), sign up and take their Phase 1 class. It will be the best money you can spend this early in your career. You sound like you have a pretty good grasp on the fact you don't know what you're doing (not an insult but a compliment). These guys will help you tremendously. I had the same problem as you in my first event. Way too much coasting, not on the brakes hard enough, on the gas in the wrong places, etc. The Evo School didn't make me a perfect driver, but it damned sure made me a significantly better driver. I won ESP in last weekends event against some strong competition. I wanted my co-driver to run Pro class so he wouldn't be scored against me. He told me I'd have to earn my victory, and I tell you it made it that much sweeter to beat a much more experienced driver who was driving my car. I won by .184 of a second. It was cool that my car won 1st and 2nd place.

 

[Sky Render]

Heh. How'd you know that was me that wrote the article?

I'm looking into taking an Evo school, but I'm not an SCCA member, so hopefully I can still get in.

Does anyone have a good, reputable wheel vendor they can recommend?

 

[Sky Render]

Sam, do you sell wheels? I can't find them on your website?

 

[STEVE_POE]

what issues where you having and what harness application ? Just wondering as I just spent over a month tracking a problem down in a ford racing harness that turned out to be a software problem.

 

[cito]

There is another build of a similar car going on for a different class which I've watched with interest. They are going a different way with some things, and have issues that I don't. I've never had an issue with the car stopping---ever. I won't be running as much camber. I won't be running as much rear bar, I won't be running as much spring and I will be running more wheel width and stickier tires. I've even offered help to those folks but they seem to want to go it alone, which is fine with me.

Vorshlag I presume....

So, what diff are you going with? A few years (like 7) ago, you told me that the T2-R was the way to go (it was at the time), but now there are problems with it. What now? Truetrac works pretty well, but not enough bias? Auburn, modified trac lok?

What to do?

 

[ArizonaGT]

Sam, what powertrain/wiring issues are you having?

 

[Sam Strano]

I do sell wheels, but wheels are very hard to get on a website and get right. Right now I only have Steeda wheels and the setup I'm running on my car: http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetails.php?PartID=815&CategoryID=222&ModelID=35

 

[Sam Strano]

Sam, what powertrain/wiring issues are you having?

Had ongoing issues since buying the car.. they seem to bee fixed now. Something bad happens when the harness is rubbing on metal. Time will tell, but for now things seem to have improved greatly.

 

[Sam Strano]

Heh. How'd you know that was me that wrote the article?

I'm looking into taking an Evo school, but I'm not an SCCA member, so hopefully I can still get in.

Does anyone have a good, reputable wheel vendor they can recommend?

You don't need to belong to SCCA to take an Evo School.... Again, I have wheels, I can do wheels but they are complicated to do on a website not dedicated to them.

I sold a set of HRE's about a month ago. I have the wheels I'm running, plus Steeda wheels, and most anything else commonly available too.