Project FRS - Autocross build & videos
 

Re-posting this here as more people might be interested than in the general forum...

I just picked up a 2013 Scion FRS in Hot Lava a week ago. Going to be using this car as a semi-daily driver and primarily a competitive autocross car.

I did a similar project for my e36 BMW the past couple years, called "Project 325", see my sig.

Now, it is Project FRS time :)

First video of the project is below along with the first dilemma...to run CS or STX autocross??? :iono:

Project BRZ (2017 model) starts on page 71!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgZULLR2TNw[/ame]

At this point, I am leaning towards CS so I have some $$ for the e36 track changes I will be doing to it.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHoxQDnC1-U[/ame]

Couple photos after polishing and applying 22ple glass coating (video coming soon)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/c9...=w1437-h958-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9Z...=w1437-h958-no

STX all the way. How "cheap" is the CS really? (rhetorical question)

Car needs camber bad, CS limits camber, STX lets you get the tires pointed in the right direction. Just my 2 cents, camber plates were a better mawd than tires so far.

Well, you're right, CS is not cheap. But, comparatively to STX it is :)

I put together a budget build with Koni's, TRD parts, TRD exhaust I already have, crash bolts, and wheels and I am just under $3k (tires not included). If I go with the build I want (DA suspension, lw exhaust, bigger front bar + endlinks) I am just north of $6k...

My STX build is sitting just over $9k with all good parts, just missing some of the real big ticket items like OS Giken diff, lw seats, lw brakes.

Yea, I've purpose built cars for both CS and STX in the past (current my e36 STX BMW) so aware of the differences. STX is kind of where my heart is, but our local STX population has been dwindling the past year where as CS has grown a ton since I left it.

So...I am kind of like :iono: :bonk: :mad0259:

First mod complete, polishing and paint coating :D

More to come soon!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sbTDU9Sy5U[/ame]

Fantastic job man! Nice detailing equipment by the way.

Nicely done! Hope to meet you sometime.

This is similar to our situation here in Chicago. CS is growing a ton, and STX participation (especially on any consistent basis) is very low.

Although I am in the process of making the jump from CS to STX next season. I ended up making my decision because I got a good deal on a very nice set of coilovers and wheels. I also have decided that I'm going to focus more on PDX type events, and just autocross for fun. So mods for the track took priority over staying in a specific class for me. Especially since I don't plan to go to Nationals. A full STX build would cost me about another $3-4k. Which is a commitment I don't care to make right now.

That being said, CS is a blast right now. There's tons of great competition, and a lot of evenly matched cars. I haven't been keeping up on CS for a couple months, but I'd keep on eye out for word on the legality of Koni full replacements. People have been getting significant negative camber with them, and there is speculation the ruling on them may change before next season.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing where your project goes!

Thanks :) I do detailing on the side (at one time had a part time business) so have a pretty good setup :D

You can find me at just about every SCCA and BMWCCA autocross event in Colorado :) Will also be doing more HPDE/TT next season in my BMW!

Thanks for the info on the Koni's, I hadn't heard about that. Indeed both classes are a lot of fun.

Stay tuned, will have some updates on this project car soon and where I will be heading for autocross classing :D

The decision has been made :)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P18q8yEaNsE[/ame]

Seems that your tire choice is already made as well, lol! :) Enjoy watching the videos, thanks again and looking forward to following the build.

Thanks, glad you enjoy the videos :) Yep, if season started today, tires would be the Bridgestones...we'll see what is out there come spring time.

I think we're all in that boat right now. Everyone is waiting for the new hotness. Bridgestones are only single season tires anyways.

Yea, I'm wondering if something as good will come around?

I had about 80 runs on my RE71's at the end of this season (got them just before Spring Nats). I think they probably had another 50-60 runs left in them...people say they continue to grip well as they wear.

I've heard their lifespan is between 80-140 runs and that they start to fall off a little past 50% life. I've also heard they get a lot better after the first 20 runs or so. But that's all anecdotal evidence so take it with a grain of salt. I'll probably be running mine the first two or three local events next season until I can see what is out there for replacements when the new lineups arrive.

Mine were great from the beginning to the ~80 runs when I sold them.

Almost hope nothing else comes out so the decision is easy and I don't have to worry about tires :bellyroll:

Got some parts! Getting close to having an install party to get everything on the car. First though, a stop at the dyno for some baseline pulls.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbISWPRWk48[/ame]

I've got two sets of RE71s.. First set 220 runs-down to 1/32, 2/32 but probally still would have a few locals in them.

Second set is 5% faster and about 100 runs. Both sets were flipped around 80 runs

STX camber really helps tire life

220 runs is not too shabby actually. The way these tires wear initially, you'd think they would not make it past 100 good runs.

I flipped the set on my STX BMW at about 45 runs, then again right before Nationals.

Racecomp Eng' Tarmac 2's (thanks Myles!) have arrived. Holiday break will involve lots of parts installations :)

Getting baseline dyno pulls this weekend too!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgZuR8rAx3U"]Un-boxing Racecomp Engineering Tarmac 2 coilovers - Project FRS - YouTube[/ame]

Awwww yeah!

What size did you get for the Swift's? Looks like 2.5 x 6?

Himming and hawwing about spring rates myself, giving it a few months to let it soak in.

Edit: Also vendor choice? Enough come up when you search for the swift part number that I don't feel screwed, but no sites I've heard of before which always leaves me a little wary.

:thumbup:

Not sure on the exact spring size to be honest. I just told Myles (with RCE) what I wanted for rates and that I preferred the Swifts (of the options he had), he did the rest.

I got the Swift springs directly through Racecomp Engineering when I ordered the suspension. I'm sure Myles would be happy to help you out, great service!

Baseline dyno pulls are in! Been doing a lot of work to the car over the holiday break, hopefully have it on the road in a couple more weeks.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7PEku6h4-Q[/ame]

@justinco Have you taken your car out to HPR yet?

Nope. I should be there with the BMW this season a couple times.

I do have winter install updates though for the FRS :)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Sovttin-I[/ame]

Car is mostly done and got the post upgrade dyno/tuning done last weekend. Got a couple videos coming soon with updates :)

Yesterday I got the Schroth harness installed (not in upcoming videos):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bm...=w1168-h657-no

First start of the car after the upgrades were installed and OFT flashed ECU.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdqpjzAcDlE[/ame]

Power numbers after the upgrades!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h4kkTgmjXE[/ame]

First ever autocross event was a success. Lots of work to do still from both a setup and driving standpoint though.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBMPLoiaCg[/ame]

Last winter season event of the year. Car is already working good. Friend ran it to 2nd in PAX out of 105...I ended up 12th with a slow run, otherwise would have been right up there. Can't wait for the first national!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrTgbIoEzKE[/ame]

New Sparco EVO seat just installed. I was hoping for more weight savings, this whole setup only saved me barely 5# over the stock seat, kind of pisses me off!

Needs some adjustment as well as it sits too high and I cannot fit in the car with my helmet on currently. Almost wondering if doing seats in this car is worth it (over some other STX upgrades), as the stock seats are already very nice and lightweight.

Damn dilemmas...

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bqf...=w1382-h778-no

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xfV...C=w545-h968-no

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2jm...Z=w545-h968-no


http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fA7...=w1382-h778-no

I know a few locals that have that seat in other cars. half of them just remove the bottom cushion for autocross so they can fit without hitting the roof.

Yea, I have a couple options. The EVO seat has removable pad layers so you can adjust the height. The side mounts can also adjust up/down as well.

I should be able to get at least a 1" drop if not more, we'll see. Going to work on the fine tuning of the fitment tonight.

Pics no work?

Took things apart tonight to do some adjustments and weigh individual things.

This rig of Sparco base/slider/side mounts weighs 19lbs! All together with the seat it is over 37lbs (my stock seat weighed in at 43.2lbs). Going to look for a lighter alternative, too dang heavy. I think the Buddy Club mount/slider is a lot lighter.

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lCj...u=w276-h369-no

For the meantime, the seat is back in the car after making the adjustments. I moved the slider all the way forward on the side mounts, the seat all the way down in the side mounts, and then re-aligned it all. Also attached the stock seat belt as well as the harness and re-installed into the car.

Oh, and I took out one layer of the padding in the seat itself to sit lower and now I have ample headroom with my helmet on. The Schroth harness is a bit more difficult to tighten at the waist now, but not a huge deal.

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7j6...A=w545-h968-no

Yeah, I've got the dead pics now too... Why are all of the pic hosts sucking so horribly recently?

Dang, did you see them before? Google photos can be annoying when trying to link images...

I changed the links, let me know if they work. They show up ok for me in various other browsers, ones that are also not logged into my google account (thought that might be why only I saw them cause they're in google photos).

On topic, drove the car to work today for first time with the seats. They are fairly comfortable after first impressions.

They were working before, they stopped, and now they're working again :iono:

Weird. I moved the photos from my general photos album to my FRS album. Maybe that is why (I re-linked them from the album earlier today).