What are your winter projects and performance goals for 2014?

[Deez-67]

Just picked this up last Friday. I want to get it painted lift tires and running better.

 

[Memphis]

Installing Whiteline Watts link, T2R diff, Bobs Diff catch can, water temp gauge, cleaning up my horrendous bundle of gauge wires, having an exhaust shop reroute the turbo piping so I dont scrape on every FU@#$! thing and then and currently torn on spending the rest of the budget on a) forgestar 18x11 all around from Vorshlag, b) Cobra Imolas or c) Tiger Racing hood and CDC Agressive chin. And of course trying to figure out just how many shiny objects to shower my wife with so she doesn't go berserk when the parts start arriving.

 

[Mountain]

Mishimoto radiator, poly engine mounts and Ground Control camber plates to replace the Steeda's.

 

[Mike K]

Not to much just get new seats and tires. Oh and lower it and install my new shocks.

 

[Vorshlag-Fair]

Winter Projects at Vorshlag:

It is really getting a little crazy around here, but with a whole month off of racing and with 3 of my techs out of college for a few weeks, we can make more progress than normal - weather permitting (we had an Ice storm in Dallas that shut the town down for 3 whole days recently!). Let's see, what are the big projects in our shop now or about to be brought here later this week...

1. A big thing I have to "finish" is the sale both our 2011 and 2013 Mustangs. Yes, they are both. Still. For. Sale. For. F*cks. Sake.

2. Finish the current shop race car build, a BMW E36 LS1, which we will race while waiting patiently for the S550 to arrive. Building it around NASA ST2/TT2 rules with a simple 350 whp LS1, 18x11" wheels, 315mm Hoosiers, some aero, nice cage, all white.

3. Get some customers' turn-key E36 LS1s wrapped up and gone, only to make room for more waiting to come in.

4. Finish this customer Corvette C4 race car build. Custom roll cage, safety gear, race seat, cool suit system, new drivetrain, some aero work, upgrade to 18x10.5" wheels, total re-wire and re-plumb front to back, and new brakes - the usual.

5. Make some serious progress on our NB Miata LS1 "Alpha" build, which the customer wants to take on Hot Rod power tour next year. Yikes! Lots to do, but we have the custom tubular front crossmember, suspension, and brakes done, the drivetrain (LS1 + TKO600) is mounted, and we've already started on the rear crossmember/suspension. Big 18x10" wheels and 285 tires all around will help tame this uber-light 450 whp monster.

6. Start on this fun little Rallycross build, which we should move to the shop this week, using a caged 1994 Mustang GT rolling chassis we just acquired. This is an ex-Stage Rally car built by a famous car magazine many years ago that I have been trying to buy for 3 years. We will stick an LS1 (gasp!) in there along with some other go-fast parts we have laying around the shop. The reason we are building this car is to show off some custom built, Bilstein Motorsports, 50mm inverted monotube Rally struts that we will build for it; these are massive and super strong. Should be a light, powerful car and make big 80 foot rooster tails of dirt and mud!

7. Get our BMW E46 LS1 "Alpha" build back to the shop and work on the rear subframe/8.8" Ford IRS diff swap, get the car fitted for wider wheels, and continue working on this race car/street car killer. Lots to do, not enough room or time to get to it all.

Other than that, just chillin... waiting for the 2014 race season to start. In 4 weeks.

 

[2Fass240us]

Purchased an iTSX to tune out the stock garbage and allow for upgrades, including the 3.73s I just had installed at Pro Dyno with the T2R. I need to install the new shifter since the stocker is sloppy and I missed a few shifts at VIR this year. I also need a rear cover with a drain, which is partially dependent on which Watts link I may / may not add next off-season. I'm leaning toward the Fays2 based on the OP's advice and research I've done on them internets.

I have a couple of maintenance items as well, including a battery tray replacement and PS pump. The latter whines like a S/C and leaks at the high-pressure fitting at the pump. I'm thinking about doing away with the OE connection and having BMRS do a high-pressure line for me, and use it as an opportunity to install a PS cooler as well. Depending on how much the plumbing and the cooler run me, I will either get an APR splitter, Schroth harnesses, or just save it for an additional track day

As far as upgrading the nut behind the wheel, I plan to do my normal Tarheel Sports Car Club schedule of CMP in June and VIR-F in September, and will try to squeeze in a 1-day trip to CMP in March so I don't come back to the June event so rusty. I recently moved up to the Blue run group and would like to advance to Red quickly to accelerate my development to instructor. Once I hit that point and it gets cheaper to hit the track, I'll probably double my twice-yearly schedule.

I got the Forgestar CF5's and Conti DW 295/35-18s mounted a month or two ago, so that doesn't really count as "off-season."

 

[neema]

In order of priorities:

1. Get my misfiring/stumbling engine problem fixed. If the dealer doesn't pull through, I'm going to start tearing it apart.

2. Install Watson rollbar

3. Find a fixed-back seat that fits me well and order a Hans device

4. Steeda front LCAs with bushings and ball joints/M-3200 EPAS steering rack/Moroso oil pan. I don't want to worry about oil starvation on slicks or juddering from stiffer LCA bushings. This will require the removal of the k member.

5. Aim MXL Pista. Oil/water/air fuel gauges, warning lights, data acquisition, and predictive lap timing all in one.

6. V-band exhaust clamps--mostly so I can cleanly swap in a large muffler under the car for decibel-limited venues

 

[Department Of Boost]

1. Finish rear diffuser/belly pan

2. Convert fuel system over to e85

3. Trans cooler

4. Diff cooler

5. Install Tiger Racing hood with aero latches

6. New gauge setup

Then go break 220mph in the mile.

 

[Timmbo]

1. Finish rear diffuser/belly pan

2. Convert fuel system over to e85

3. Trans cooler

4. Diff cooler

5. Install Tiger Racing hood with aero latches

6. New gauge setup

Then go break 220mph in the mile.

You left out making my 10 rib KB belt drive kit lol!

 

[csamsh]

Winter projects:

1. Get 3.31 gears swapped in

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I need some winter projects, anybody have any suggestions???

 

[Department Of Boost]

You left out making my 10 rib KB belt drive kit lol!

The final prototype is being machined right now.

 

[Department Of Boost]

Winter projects:

1. Get 3.31 gears swapped in

....
....
....


I need some winter projects, anybody have any suggestions???

You can come up here and help me.

 

[TGR96]

The only project I have for the Stang this winter is to switch out the Steeda Sport springs for some H&R Super Sports. I'll also install my Boss grille and Boss quad exhaust, but that doesn't really have much to do with corner carving!

However, I picked up an autocross/track toy a few months ago, a 1999 NB Miata. It has 140K on the odometer, and no maintenance records, so I am gonna do the usual radiator/timing belt/water pump/seals/hoses preventative maintenance on it. Then I am gonna research for a good set of coilovers that don't cost more than the car's worth!

 

[2008 V6]

1. Finish rear diffuser/belly pan

2. Convert fuel system over to e85

3. Trans cooler

4. Diff cooler

5. Install Tiger Racing hood with aero latches

6. New gauge setup

Then go break 220mph in the mile.

220MPH is frigin fast - I've always like Rotary engines - Don't end up like this FD3 at Bonneville trying to make a new record for a stock bodied production car in 90s.
Racing Beat – Did this twice before giving up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYIjG3se3I

I know - Beat you to it - They deserved it for driving a Mazda

 

[Timmbo]

The final prototype is being machined right now.

YES!

 

[csamsh]

Thought of a project!

While doing gears- strip axle, paint it, weld tubes, weld LCA relo brackets, press in some ARP wheel studs, replace axle seals/bearings if bad, and do an UCA if I can find one I like.

 

[NoTicket]

My plans:

Whiteline LCAs
Koni STR.t shocks and struts (GT500 strut mounts)
FRPP P springs
BMR LCA relocation brackets

 

[hunterwiley]

(1) Rebuild after getting knocked off track again at our last event in October. Thankfully this time it's just sheet metal damage....
(2) Engine rebuild; Still going to be rocking a pushrod small block stroker next year
(3) Building a SLA on the front end
(4) Improving aero on the car - dropping the front splitter down and maybe a diffusor in the rear (time permitting)

 

[Ivan 5.0]

My winter plans:

1) Torsen T2-R
2) Steeda Diff Cover
3) Bob's Diff catch can
3) MM Springs (figured I'd give these a try - currently have steeda sports)

Also thinking about swapping to 3.73 gears...

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Just remember, you're not allowed to lap VIR faster than me. LOL

My winter plans:

1) Torsen T2-R
2) Steeda Diff Cover
3) Bob's Diff catch can
3) MM Springs (figured I'd give these a try - currently have steeda sports)

Also thinking about swapping to 3.73 gears...