Building for the road course...again

Been working through my prep list this week. Track on Sunday.
1777040291943.png


One of my absolute favorite parts of this car. I bought the setup 5 years ago and it’s been through some serious racing. One of the best investments I’ve made and would make again anytime.

Not sure why but this picture gives me such joy. This is the first time the car has seen fresh rotors since 2024 lol. Last season was all on used rotors I had.

1777040314189.png

1777040336108.png


Cobalt racing brakes have come onboard as a sponsor so their decal will be going on the car soon. I hate making these decisions as I am no good at aesthetic things lol. Hopefully I pick some good placement. Maybe I will ask you all for some help like last time
 
Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day. 12c and sunny. Felt warm. Went out for 3 sessions. This is the first time this track has seen any action this year and it rained all week so we were starting with less than ideal track surface.

Found some time rather quick. The car is working. Engine seems to make nice straight line speed. Not sure how. More throttle commitment? Carrying more speed. Something.

Brakes are mental. Haven’t had to really get into the pedal. Honestly can move braking points up everywhere.

On the main straight, I tell myself I am not braking until I see shift lights in 4th gear. We are getting there lol. Shift lights start. I can push it for sure. Not much, but it all matters. Rev limit is 8500 and we are seeing 8400rpm just grabbing the brakes. Maxing out 4th gear is a little new. Better exit outta the last corner and some late brake action.

Front end bites hard. Very hard. We do have some roll up front. The spring rate stagger is helping that. It’s not great but the grip is strong.

Lap time so far 1:13.5. I think I went that fast last season. Maybe a touch faster.

We were on rear tires from 2024, and front tires from 3 or 4 races last year. Good enough!

Oil leak from hell on the driver side. Seems like valve cover gasket. Never seen an engine piss so much oil. The mess was massive. All the valve cover nuts were very loose plus I did not RTV the 4 corners like you’re supposed to. Hopefully that’s all it is lol.
IMG_7537.jpegIMG_7538.jpegIMG_7542.jpeg
 
The day went very well minus my oil leak lol. A Camaro trans am race car popped an oil line and hosed down the track. Dude did not pull off like you’re supposed to.

I hit the oil slick at full kill. Video to come lol. It was a lot less bad than it could’ve been. It was a bad spot on the track to go off. Wall on one side, open field on the other side. Thankfully my car went to the open field side lol. I saw the oil slick and was prepared by opening up the steering wheel. Saved me!


In other news I’m struggling to find a machine shop. Nobody has a k20 torque plate. So dumb
 
do you actually need a torque plate? for example you dont need one on the speed due to the threads on the head studs being below the piston in the block
 
Easter Bunny said:
do you actually need a torque plate? for example you dont need one on the speed due to the threads on the head studs being below the piston in the block
Click to expand...
It’s about 1 to 1.5 thou of distortion. CP wants 3 thou P2W. I have special pistons that want 1.5thou

Short answer? If you wanna do it right. Yes. Torque plate.


Being NA, tighter the better until the piston seizes in the bore.

I found a Canadian source for a torque plate. It’s still $500cad but I would have it forever. I am thinking about it
 
Easter Bunny said:
do you have an extra head you can just bust holes in?
Click to expand...
i have thrown so many heads in the trash. What a bummer now. Of course i did not expect my machine shop to close down and i regret not grabbing the torque plate the second i found that my pistons were missing. That plate will sit forever now and be lost eventually. Total bummer
 
Honda manual is funny. Found this last night while working on the car.

Engine was definitely leaking from here. All over the place. Big mess. All over my transmission, drive shaft, control arm, wheel. Coated in oil lol
1777476108663.png

Honda solution, hit it with some sand paper
This makes sense. My freshly powder coated valve cover was loaded with paint in the gasket channel. I sanded it, brake cleaned it, hit it with acetone. Put 45 minutes into cleaning it up. Hopefully it seals now with the rtv in the correct places. Am almost debating putting my crusty oem cover back on. That thing didn’t leak lol
1777476124265.png
 
One clip from sunday. Not my fastest but first lap i am finally catching the mustang GT350 i was chasing. The driver is a regular at this track so she knows what shes doing. That was fun
Second lap is mostly clean until i hit the oil slick at the end. Couldve been much worse as there is a wall to the left and typically that section of the track if you mess up over the bump, the car can get pointed towards the wall and its not great


Looking at data i was slower everywhere vs end of season last year except straight line speed. simply a matter of throttle commitment in a few sections, early braking, and low corner speeds. The data shows me all. As the track surface was far from ideal im not bothered. It is my first time driving this year after all and i compared it to end of season driving last year and it is pretty clear, it is not even close lol.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • 0.00 star(s)
Fixing the last owner's neglect and building for potential time attack
Replies
1
Views
1K
IssaSlowCar
  • 0.00 star(s)
08 speed3 not building clutch pressure
Replies
4
Views
3K
Awafrican
Awafrican
slo.ms3
  • 0.00 star(s)
[SOLVED] Not building boost & stuck in launch control in all gears, please help
Replies
17
Views
4K
Awafrican
Awafrican
yeet123
  • 0.00 star(s)
Building Anna
2 3
Replies
44
Views
8K
yeet123
yeet123
Rotormike
  • 0.00 star(s)
New member in Las Vegas building a Mazdaspeed 6
Replies
2
Views
457
Awafrican
Awafrican
Back
Top