Max's BRZ STX Build
 

Over the last two weeks, I have taken my now retired daily driver, to 80% STX build.

The car already had a Kartboy shifter, and Mach V 17x9 wheels with some 245/40/17 Dunlop Z1 tires I had sitting around.

Out came the Unichip and the Eibach Pro Kit, and on went a set of MCS D/A Internal reservoir shocks from Vorshlag Motorsports, along with Vorshlag camber plates.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psc8b33ad0.jpg

The MCS shocks have a very cool adjustment knob. Push down for rebound, and pull up for compression adjustment

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps0aecfd4b.jpg

I had to drill out the rear OEM top hats, as the MCS shock has a thicker shaft than the stock shock.

I already had a Strano Front bar, but it would not work at the lower ride height with stock end links as it hits the control arm. The solution is to move the bar above the control arm, and use adjustable Whiteline end links on their shortest setting.

For rear camber, I installed a set of SPC rear control arms, but I think I will need to add adjustable toe links as they limit how much camber you can dial out.

A Perrin resonated catback, with Perrin HFC front pipe were next in, and I will add the overpipe and JDL header when it arrives (hopefully soon).

Moto-East did the tuning, and I could not be happier with the results. The dip is pretty much gone and it drives so smooth.

Over the weekend, I took the car to California Speedway to test the setup.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps0154129d.jpg

I didn't like the way the car felt doing the pedal dance (ice mode on the brakes), so I just held the traction control button down after that and no further issues with the brakes.

The car had some corner exit oversteer, so I took some compression out of the rear which fixed that. I added some rebound all the way round to help in transitions at which point the car seemed really good to me.

Here is a run from Saturday...

[ame]http://youtu.be/BNJCqhKXo1Y[/ame]

On Sunday, I ran my old STR MX5 on Rivals. I really didn't like going back to the Rivals after the Z1's. The car was pushy and loose, much like it had been in Lincoln. Really hard to drive. I then drove the BRZ to compare and was just 0.2 seconds slower than the MX5 and about 0.5 faster than our top local STX BMW (Jeff Stuart).

[ame]http://youtu.be/SZ5s4mVKhD0[/ame]

Overall, I'm really happy with the setup. The header, overpipe and a tune adjustment for those items should wake the power up even more.

Many thanks to Vorshlag and Moto-East for their great service and quick turn around.

Welcome to the the club! Hope to see you at some of the tour next year.

Your car was flying (windy day too, lol) out there on Saturday practice! :burnrubber:
Didn't get to see the timer much due to not being on top of trailer, what times were you getting, ~54 secs?

55 - 56 second runs for the most part.

:popcorn:

Welcome Max... :) look forward to the progress.

Bill

Thanks Bill. Did you ever do engine mounts, and if so, what was the NVH like?

I am running Cusco Mounts..NVH is a bit strong but everything feels more tied together and connected too..I wanted you drive my car on the test course but that never materialized.. sorry. maybe spring Nats next year. :) That being said, I also have all the bushings done in the drivetrain,(Tranny, Rear Diff, Subframe, Steering Rack and the engine).. so my NVH is probably a bit higher than most. It feels strong.. not unbearable but just at the limit of my tolerance too... but then again I have gotten used to it. Others that have ridden or co-driven my car notice right away that I have done Eng mounts. Hope that helps

Bill

So, I was getting some clunking up front, so I did some investigation.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psdd452a84.jpg

My Strano bar was an early version, with no collars and the fitment was not quite perfected. Obviously, it was hitting the control arm. I really liked the balance of the car on the Strano bar, but I also wanted to add some adjustability.

So, my friends at Whiteline contacted me and asked to help out. Yesterday I received a nice box from them and I got to work. First up was a 22mm adjustable FSB.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psed93c952.jpg

This thing comes with adjustable endlinks and collars to prevent bar walk. Awesome.

Install is easiest by removing the subframe...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps74258f63.jpg

Then, you can pre-assemble on the bench which makes things very simple.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps9a68e525.jpg

After installation, clearance at full droop over the control arm is much improved.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psbbdcbc14.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psc4a5fe1d.jpg

They also sent me an adjustable rear bar, which again comes with endlinks and come swaybar mount stiffeners. Pretty cool.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps2ffd5061.jpg

I'm looking forward to the car making its first National debut at the SCCA Match Tour in St. George at the end of the month.

Very nice....wondering why you went up to a 'solid' 22... whereas Sam's bar was hollow????.. ...What kind of camber did you end up with??? if you don't mind sharing..

Bill

I wanted something in a similar size to Sam's, but adjustable and with better clearance to the control arm. It's a few pounds heavier, but hopefully it will keep the same balance.

I'm not sure the swaybar mount stiffeners are legal in STX? They have the same things for the GR/GH/GV Imprezas but I didn't run one on my STI because I thought it was technically illegal per the rules.

Hmmm... I wondered about that, but hadn't looked into that yet. I better check. Thx.

I think they are legal...

Substitution, addition, or removal of any anti-roll bar(s) is permitted.
Bushing material, method of attachment, and locating points are unre
-
stricted. This does not authorize the cutting of holes to route the bar(s)
or links. Components such as anti-roll bars and strut housings that
serve dual purposes by also functioning as suspension locators may
not be modified in ways that change the suspension geometry or steer
-
ing geometry. Non-standard lateral members which connect between
the brackets for the bar, including allowed strut bars per Section 14.2.G,
are permitted

Hmmm... maybe that last section covers it, although I'm not sure what that is actually saying :lol:.

FWIW, structurally I don't think the mounts benefit much from those stiffeners, at least not with the loads that the small-ish BRZ bars will exert on them. The STI requires a much larger rear bar and a larger bar/spring roll stiffness ratio, and I never had any issues with the mounts. I believe those braces came about on the legacy that initially had that multilink rear design, and with that chassis the swaybar mounts were much thinner and did tend to bend (according to Myles at @Racecomp Engineering). But I think when Subaru adapted that suspension to the Imprezas they strengthened them quite a bit.

(and not trying to be a pain just wanted to bring it up since you plan to run national events with it - definitely would not want to run into issues over something small like that :))

No, I really appreciate you bringing it up. I notice that Hotchkiss makes a stiffener as well for their bar, although a slightly different design, so maybe they think it is weak as well.

I believe I'm covered with the rules, but I'll double check with Brian Harmer when I see him in Utah.

Those are braces. I don't think they are legal.

pg82 section G/H

G. Strut bars per Section 12 are permitted with all types of suspension,
subject to the following constraints:
1. a 2-point strut bar may be added, removed, modified, or substituted,
but only with another 2-point strut bar.
2. A triangulated (3-point) strut bar may be removed, modified, or
substituted; substitution may be with either a triangulated or a
2-point strut bar. The connection to the chassis (i.e., firewall, bulkhead,
etc) must be in the standard location.
3. Lower suspension braces must be attached to the lower suspension
pickup point locations on the chassis within 2” (50.8mm) in
any direction of the actual suspension attachment to the chassis.
4. Except for standard parts, no connections to other components
are permitted.
Additional holes may be drilled for mounting bolts. Only bolt-on attachment
is permitted. Interior trim panels may be modified to allow
installation of strut bars. Holes or slots may be no larger than necessary
and may serve no other purpose. This does not permit any
modifications to the frame or unibody beyond the allowed mounting
holes.
H. Longitudinal (fore-aft) subframe connectors (“SFCs”) are permitted
with the following restrictions:
1. They must only connect previously unconnected boxed frame rails
on unibody vehicles.
2. Each SFC must attach at no more than 3 points on the unibody
(e.g., front, rear, and 1 point in between such as a seat mount
brace or rocker box brace).
3. SFCs must be bolted in place and not welded.
4. No cutting of OE subframes or floorpan stampings is permitted.
Drilling is permitted for mounting bolts only.
5. No cross-car/lateral/triangulated connections directly between the
driver’s side and passenger’s side SFCs are permitted. Connections
to OE components such as tunnel braces or closure panels
via bolts are allowed and count as the third point of attachment.
No alteration to the OE components is permitted.
6. SFCs may not be used to attach other components (including but
not limited to torque arm front mounts or driveshaft loops) and
may serve no other purpose.

I've emailed Brian - I'll report back.

And the verdict is.....

ILLEGAL!

I'll take them off which luckily is a 5 minute job. Thanks for the heads up, guys.

JDL header arriving tomorrow, so tonight I pulled the stock header and overpipe. I have a Perrin overpipe which will be going back in with the JDL header. So far, so good, although I can't imagine getting the overpipe out with the header still in the car!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psbfe4f1cc.jpg

Really easy if you just unbolt the engine mount by the overpipe, take a pillow or something and put it between the engine and a jack and jack the engine up slightly. Only need a couple inches and the overpipe will pull right out.

Yeah, they say you can get it out by just removing all the heat shields, but they are tough to get off as well. Once the header was off, I could get to the other heat shield bolt much easier.

Had the header stayed on, I think the engine jack method would be easier as you say.

I love reading builds where the car is being used for what it was intended for. Good luck next year and look forward to your feedback. :)

Thanks - actually the car will make its official National debut at the SCCA Match Tour in St. George, Utah next weekend. Another well known STX driver (and one of this years National Championship course designers, Elliot Speidell) will be codriving with me.

Elliot is a great driver. He drove his usual co-driver's STX build this week at AMP and then ran in my RTR FRS. I won't tell you which car he ran a better time in. ;)

Look forward to talking to him about his impressions when he returns.

Good luck!

Oh, I know that answer to that Kevin... I have desert insiders :D

Guess what I'm doing tonight... @JDLAutoDesign

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps3a795ab0.jpg

Holy hell - this thing sounds absolutely amazing. Combined with an updated tune from Moto East, it feels really good as well.

I'll be doing some data logging to help perfect the tune and taking some video over the weekend.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps4bae669d.jpg

That looks very juicy.:eyebulge:
Hope to hear it run on Nov 2 practice.
Looking forward to vid of your winning Utah runs before then.

using the kitchen table again???? Tiffy is going to be mad...;)

looking good :)

Glad you happy with it! Cant waist to see some logs and videos

Here you go...

[ame]http://youtu.be/ZshCpZu9ClM[/ame]

Max,Home depot , lowes, ace hardware, get a moving blanket. Wait, maybe if you keep doing that your wife might sell me your BRZ after she Kills you.:confused0068:

I have a moving blanket. The wife stole it for some of her stuff!

:lol:

The BRZ is coming along nicely, can't wait to see it.

Elliot's usual drive has been having some issues, but I'm sure they'll get it sorted out. (May have already, actually)

Case in point, my car was quicker at the last couple events. Still need to catch that RTR FR-S (and driver) though :D

Max, mind if I come say hi at the match tour?

Sent from my GS4.

I'm not sure Elliot can make the Match Tour now, but please do come say hi.

Max,

Not sure those rear swaybar braces are legal for STX. I didn't run mine because I was told by some that they weren't allowed. You might want to check into it. STX should be an interesting class next year with the addition of so many twins.

EDIT, NM posted before finishing reading the thread.

SCCA St. George Utah - Match Tour.

I was running three year old Dunlop Z1s, which felt great in the heat, but they didn't like the cold. I really struggled in class competition with getting any heat in them. I won, but I was not happy with the times the car was running. I also found out afterwards that I forgot to take out the spare tire and tools from the trunk!

For the LCQ, I used some tire warmers and on my first run, the car was sketchy but not terrible. I put in a decent time, but for the second run I knew I would go much faster. I might of done that, but I forgot to turn off the traction control! I tried turning it off mid run, but that didn't work!

However, my first run was enough to squeak in the Challenge which ran in the afternoon. With the hotter weather, the tires came alive and I was running almost two seconds quicker than my class runs.

I won the bracket and made it to the final four, where I lost to Jeff Kiesel. With the Match Tour format using PAX, I really stood no chance if he stayed clean, which he did. I did win the 3rd place runoff against Shelly Monfort and I won around $300.


Here's my run from the final pair in the LCQ bracket, which moved me to the final four. With a one run shootout, you need to be clean, so I was trying to stay off the cones a little more than I normally do. I was thrilled to make it that far, and really happy that the car was doing such great times in its first big event.

[ame]http://youtu.be/HgxB_e1am6Y[/ame]

Great driving, Max! The times were really dropping on Sunday!

Congrats on the class win and a great run at the shootout!

-Brent

Sent from my GS4.