NOT Another...Yes...another auotx build thread

[neema]

Haha...yeah it's changing. I was thinking of getting a mount for the harness bar..that might make an interesting angle

Even better. Run an external mic out the trunk for better audio/less wind. You can grab the gopro adapter and a mic for 15-20 bucks from amazon.

 

[Vorshlag-Fair]

Haha...yeah it's changing. I was thinking of getting a mount for the harness bar..that might make an interesting angle

Yep, that's the best place to mount a camera, in my opinion. It gives you a view of the road ahead as well as some view of the driver, which is the whole point of taking videos for your own use - to see what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.

I use this I/O port roll bar mount, which can be made to work with your harness bar (I used it on the Corbeau harness bar as well). Gives a good angle for a vidcam, has some stabilization built into it (polyurethane mount bushing), but you would probably want to get a remote start/stop cable for your vidcam.

One thing I think that would REALLY benefit you on track, and it is something that I won't drive without, is a real time lap timer display that has predictive timing. The AiM SOLO timer / GPS data logger + suction cup mount are my favorite, and I'm about to do a buy-in to become a dealer with them next week. I'm going to step up to the AiM SOLO DL, that has OBDII data stream input + can tie into their AiM SmartyCam HD camera, for data overlay in real time (no post processing work, which is a PITA).

Every lap I drive on track, no matter what car, I do with the AiM running. I set it up to show my Predictive lap time, which updates about every half second. It lets me know if I made an improvement or a mistake, turn by turn, second by second. For Time Trial it is invaluable to let me know if I am on a good lap or if I botched it and should take a cool down and reset. Lap times are what its all about, and seeing them is what pushes me harder.

 

[csamsh]

I'm about to do a buy-in to become a dealer with them next week.

Convenient! lol. I've been looking at one of those for a while actually.

 

[csamsh]

Unexpected "fuck yeah!" moment-

So when I switched from 3.55's to 3.31's, I was not sure of my speedo accuracy. I also went from 27" to 26" tires. Taller one place, shorter another.

Anyway...I don't know if our speedos use a wheel speed sensor, something in the tranny, or what, but long story short, my speedo is only 1mph off, checked with GPS. Win.

 

[Jucostud]

Nice

 

[Bob]

The 3.55 and 3.73 gearing is just terrible with the Getrag's ratios, and only probably works for drag racing. If you have a choice, and are in a 2011-14 5.0 6-spd, get the 3.31s... Ford kinda goofed putting the 3.73s with the "Track Pack", in my opinion.

Track pack owner here. I've been struggling with the feeling that I'm having to shift a hell of a lot more than other people seem to be. So I'm glad to hear you guys bring this up.

Anyone have ballpark pricing for swapping from 3.73 to 3.31 gears?

 

[Jucostud]

Bob, pm me for more info about the gears... I've got a guy that does them pretty cheap.

 

[csamsh]

Track pack owner here. I've been struggling with the feeling that I'm having to shift a hell of a lot more than other people seem to be. So I'm glad to hear you guys bring this up.

Anyone have ballpark pricing for swapping from 3.73 to 3.31 gears?

Go talk to Terry/Ryan at Vorshlag about it. They brought somebody in to set mine up and they did a very good job. I want to say it was a three hour job?? Could be wrong.

 

[2013MustangGT]

@csamsh

I know the 3.31 gears are better at AutoX. How do you like them on a road course?

 

[csamsh]

@csamsh

I know the 3.31 gears are better at AutoX. How do you like them on a road course?

They felt good. I didn't feel any decrease in pull (semi verified with a gps 1/4 mile app in Mexico..111mph, stock tune, stock everything power wise)...the real tests will be going into turns 6 and 9 at ECR. I'm at the top of fourth and third respectively, and out of courtesy to my valvetrain I just coast to the braking zone instead of shifting for 75 feet or banging the limiter. I think I definitely would have needed fifth at MSR Cresson with 3.55's, on the straight going into the rattlesnake. I'm happy with the change.

 

[SoundGuyDave]

Isn't 5th gear on the Getrag a 1:1 ratio? Same as 4th on a TR3650? or 6060?

 

[csamsh]

Isn't 5th gear on the Getrag a 1:1 ratio? Same as 4th on a TR3650? or 6060?

yes 5th is 1:1

 

[Vorshlag-Fair]

They felt good. I didn't feel any decrease in pull (semi verified with a gps 1/4 mile app in Mexico..111mph, stock tune, stock everything power wise)...the real tests will be going into turns 6 and 9 at ECR. I'm at the top of fourth and third respectively, and out of courtesy to my valvetrain I just coast to the braking zone instead of shifting for 75 feet or banging the limiter. I think I definitely would have needed fifth at MSR Cresson with 3.55's, on the straight going into the rattlesnake. I'm happy with the change.

For ECR I think you will like the 3.31s better, Mark. I predict your car will run sub-2:03s there on the 295 Rivals. I've driven lots of other folks' (and two of my own) 2011-14 5.0 6 speeds with all three rear ratios (3.31, 3.55 and 3.73) at ECR and I always like the 3.31s better, and seem to be shifting less.

So for ECR I do a bit of shifting with the 3.31s, but less than with the other ratios. I start a lap in 3rd gear exiting Turn 11, go to 4th before the start/finish, air it out shifting at 7000. Then back to 3rd gear for T1 and upshift to 4th gear briefly before T3, then back down to 3rd gear for T3-T4. I short shift to 4th in the middle of T4, scream down the hill at full throttle, then late brake and downshift to 3rd gear at the entry to T5. Exiting T5 then up to 4th gear on the short straight to T6, then 3rd, 4th and shortshift to 5th gear on the back straight between T6 to T7. Then I go back down to 3rd gear for T7 and hold that gear all the way through T10. Upshift between T10-T11, down to 3rd again into T11, and repeat.



It seems busy but for a 2.5 mile track with a huge speed spread (45 mph to 125 mph, several times), but its not as bad as it would be with 3.55s or 3.73s - which need to use 5th gear more and are buzzing 3rd gear and having to go up to 4th in some spots where the 3.31s can hold 3rd.

The parts are cheap - figure $180-200 for new Ford Racing gears and install kit. The labor is a PITA, figure 2-3 hours with a COMPETENT shop doing the swap. We do these semi-infrequently so we bring in a Ford rear gear specialist to do these jobs, as he is very experienced on the 8.8 and gets a great pattern - noise free. It is very easy to get the backlash or pinion wear pattern wrong, which makes noise and wears quickly. Even some of the factory installed gears are set-up poorly - we've seen brand new cars that howled and needed a gear re-install (new pinion crush sleeve + pinion depth and backlash reset).

Again, if you have the choice, and you are not a drag racer, always choose the 3.31 rear gears on a 5.0 6-spd 2011-14 GT or Boss. It is the best compromise for autocross and track use, not to mention the best mileage for street driving.

Cheers,

 

[csamsh]

New parts y'all...

In my search for the perfect upper third link...we may have a winner. Not on the car yet but I'm thinking it will be good-

Pictures:





Hotel room key for size comparison-


I don't think this gusset is present on other BMR arms:




Machined Aluminum bearing sleeves...very nice


Very close tolerances on these guys...makes me think NVH may not be too bad...shouldn't be crashing around a ton




And...I've been cheating on the car. Finally picked up my Sig p227!!!

 

[Jucostud]

That thing is big! Looks awesome in person.

 

[neema]

Looks good Mark. I can't believe this is the only spherical UCA for 2011+ cars (except for Multimatics). I guess what's crazier is how some brands use cute little rod ends. Took the market long enough to catch up...

When are you out on track next?

 

[csamsh]

On track tomorrow!

 

[Norm Peterson]

New parts y'all...

In my search for the perfect upper third link...we may have a winner. Not on the car yet but I'm thinking it will be good-

Nice.

Is that Part Number: UTCA033 ?

Is it compatible with this axle side bearing ?


Norm

 

[BMR Tech]

Nice.

Is that Part Number: UTCA033 ?

Is it compatible with this axle side bearing ?


Norm

Correct, it is UTCA033.

As for compatibility, yes, it will work well with that Steeda Diff Bearing.

I actually recommend that exact bearing you linked, to MANY of my customers because we do not offer a diff bearing for the UCA, unfortunately.



Thanks Norm.

 

[BMR Tech]

Looks good Mark. I can't believe this is the only spherical UCA for 2011+ cars (except for Multimatics). I guess what's crazier is how some brands use cute little rod ends. Took the market long enough to catch up...

When are you out on track next?

To be honest, we have always been surprised that "most" other companies choose to just throw a 3/4" rod-end on their UCA for the S197.

We have always used spherical bearings on our UCA for this platform. We've offered the UTCA020:

http://www.bmrsuspension.com/index.cfm?page=products&vehicleid=1&maincatid=21&catid=71&productid=164

....for many years. Unfortunately, it is much, much cheaper for a company to offer a rod end piece - so these have never been big sellers for us. It's unfortunate, as the quality is about as good as it comes with our spherical pieces.

That said, we DO realize the price of this UTCA033 is above and beyond what many people are willing to dish out, so, we are also developing an industry first 1" Rod-End UCA as well. We assume this will be primarily used by the drag racers.

The reason it took us so long is because we simply offer so many parts for this car, more than anyone else, so we just have not had the time.

I finished the development of a complete new line of springs for GT and GT500's....and am currently testing some REALLY kick-ass sway bars that we developed recently. Watts link is in development....etc. It is hard to get everything out in a quick fashion, especially when we do everything in house.