New Track Car
 

I am new to the forum and need some help. I currently have two track cars, a 427 AC Cobra (ERA) and a Minibusa. (GT-5 Mini Cooper fiberglass body on a tube frame with a 250 horse Hayabusa mid engine, rear wheel drive.) For the last two years I have traveled around from track to track and have been on every track on the west coast except Sears Point.
I have dreamed of a FRS ever since I 1st saw it. Both my Cobra and Minibusa are for sale and as soon as one sells I will be getting my new FRS.

My new FRS will be built primarily for track days, it will be driven on the street but street comfort is not a concern. I plan on adding a cage but not butchering the interior. Going with coil overs and sway bars, bigger brakes, header and full exhaust, and the inovate intercooled supercharger. What I don't know and need help with is wheels and tires.

I know I will be going with the Enkie RPF1 wheels. But I don't know what size. I assume I will have to use adapters to go to 5 by 114 bolt pattern, is this correct? What is the best wheel size and back space for track use with the above combination?

2nd question. I love the looks of the Lux Motion Mark 11 wide body kit. But the wheel size they use, 11 and 12 inchers are outrageous and I'm sure no good for the FRS limited HP. If I went with this kit and the above mentioned engine/exhaust up grades how wide of a wheel could I use to look good with the wide body kit but yet still be matched to the engine for track use.

Thank you for your help.

They make Enkie RPF1's in 5x100 which fits our cars. My guess I would go with 17x8's or 17x9's depending how aggressive or wide of tire you want to go. Since your going with the innovate SC, 17x9 should be perfect.

Don't use the innovate supercharger on the track. I had it. Intercooler is insufficient for track use.
I sold it and have more fun NA.

Ambient air temps were only low 20s. (C)

I was driving, mate with his laptop sitting next to plugged into ecu. Watching the temp rise and rise after every lap. I forget what the figures were. I posted them somewhere.

I wonder how much hood vent would help? I think for a dedicated track car OP would probably get one.

I contacted pwr and plazmaman and they both suggested to run a larger heat exchanger and pump. I cbf with doing that, with the risk of it still happening. So I just bailed on it.

I have been looking at the Seibon vented carbon fiber hood.

what kind of sanctioning body lets a passenger use a laptop while on the track?

It wasn't an event. We get two days a week of open track for testing. The only requirement is that bikes and cars aren't on the track at the same time, so we have 30min alternating sessions.

We can help you with your entire setup. Lets chat.

Considering you have a pretty serious budget planned I would second the idea of staying NA for a while to see if it suits your taste. You may have to buy E85 in bulk but it's worth it to have ~205 whp at the track. You didn't mention cooling either which needs to be on the list for sure. All in all I think it's a brilliant car, chassis primarily, and it has worked out to be an extremely fun yet cost effective choice for dual duty. Being on the west coast you have direct access to many of the top tuners such as CSG who know the platform extremely well !

I am planing on adding the Mishimoto oil cooler kit, does the radiator need to be changed also?
What about adding a bigger radiator for the intercooler?

It looks to me like the 17 by 9 RPF1 wheels are probably the best way to go. Correct? Any other suggestions?

Tires,
255/40R-17 would fit the 17 by 9 wheels with 10" of tread width, but would gear the car up slightly.
245/35R-17 would be 9 3/4" of tread width, not quite as wide but better gearing. This size would actually gear the car down slightly.
245/40R-17 would be the same gearing as stock.
Which would be best?

Hey are you the fellow that pitted next to me at the twilight event at Streets of Willow? The #8 Cobra?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w.../IMG_43251.jpg

Either way, welcome! As cool as the Busa mini sounds, I hope you keep that Cobra. :D

I was running 17x8 RPF1 with some 245 Goodyear Tires 300TW to qualify for the 86Cup stock class (I do not recommend this set up). Depending on how long you plan on keeping it NA, the 17x9 wheels with 225/45/17 do quite well with the right tires (HK RS3 or stickier), or go straight to 245/40/17. Not enough tire seems to be a bigger problem than running too much tire. Mike has tested all this stuff extensively, so he can advise you on how to set up and acquisition of parts.