Back to the 86: Behold...the Green Hornet!

[Jeffboyarrdee]

loving this car and color combo!

[phm14]

Just a little taste Just ordered a header, due in late next month. Plenty of time to choose a tune...leaning toward Ecutek at the moment. More research to do...Most of you guys are probably aware, but if your new to modding the 86, check out Steve99 stickies, here in the forum. He's got a LOT of info compiled. I've been through this thread, and others he's done, several times: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81493
Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the PSS10s.

[LancePower]

So which Header?

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by phm14

Just a little taste Just ordered a header, due in late next month. Plenty of time to choose a tune...leaning toward Ecutek at the moment. More research to do...Most of you guys are probably aware, but if your new to modding the 86, check out Steve99 stickies, here in the forum. He's got a LOT of info compiled. I've been through this thread, and others he's done, several times: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81493

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the PSS10s.

Get oft if not going boost or flex fuel. Get ecutek if yes to either of those.

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

[phm14]

Originally Posted by LancePower

So which Header?

The Gruppe S UEL catless. It's a "white box" piece made by Tomei, and they're on pre-sale for $450 shipped. I'm thinking the Nameless may be too loud with the catless header, so will probably go with a Perrin 2.5" resonated, if there's much more volume with the new header.

[phm14]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

Get oft if not going boost or flex fuel. Get ecutek if yes to either of those.

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

I've been looking at OFT, Xero Limit, and Delicious. Response/CS is definately better with the Ecutek vendors, but there's a $300-$500 premium for that better service, plus (possibly) some small additional gain. One reason I'm looking at Delicious and Xero Limit (both Ecutek) is rev matching. Has anyone used that feature on our platform? OFT says they don't offer it (or real time map switching) due to the gear sensor not being well suited to rev matching. My 991.2 had a 7spd MT w rev match (in "sport" mode), which was nice. I had an instructor at COTA compliment my heel/toe while on track, and had to 'fess up that the car was doing it

[phm14]

Speaking of Porsche, there's a certain group of P car fans that wax nostalgic about the older 911s: MT, NA, RWD, light, simple, raw, and highly capable drivers cars. They lament that the base & S level 911s have gradually morphed into a too large, too heavy (yet still highly capable) GT car. The 86/BRZ are similar to the earlier 911s (though the price point requires some owner mods to up handling/power). My 911 experience was great from a performance standpoint on track, but the cars' power, like many others, had me feeling like I constantly had to hold it back on the street, else eventually I would jeopardize my drivers license. On track, it was on the highest level of performance compared to the many other cars I've tracked, instantly lowering lap times and making the drivers feel like a hero. The 86, a drivers bargain, even with a few well selected mods, to me represents that light, raw, MT, NA, RWD affordable sports car that nearly all makers lost interest in building long ago. The platform can be well enjoyed as it leaves the factory, or it can be a highly capable blank canvas for those who want more. As consequences have increased dramatically for street racing/high speed driving, a car like the 86 allows good fun on public roads, while keeping the "better get off the throttle, or I may get a ride to jail & suspended license" worries a little more in check. Anyone with road course track experience can tell you you don't need a high HP car to enjoy the track, as we've all seen well driven NA MX5s dogging cars with 5-6x the power off the straights. Having the skills to run down, and pass, a $80K+ plus car with a $5K (or $25K) car is priceless. I don't get to the track often enough to be fast, but even watching these David and Goliath track antics never gets old. For me, it always comes back to fun, and that's why I'm back in a 86.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by phm14

I've been looking at OFT, Xero Limit, and Delicious. Response/CS is definately better with the Ecutek vendors, but there's a $300-$500 premium for that better service, plus (possibly) some small additional gain. One reason I'm looking at Delicious and Xero Limit (both Ecutek) is rev matching. Has anyone used that feature on our platform? OFT says they don't offer it (or real time map switching) due to the gear sensor not being well suited to rev matching. My 991.2 had a 7spd MT w rev match (in "sport" mode), which was nice. I had an instructor at COTA compliment my heel/toe while on track, and had to 'fess up that the car was doing it

The rev matching does not work that well ecutek or oft but it's better implemented on ecutek

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

[wbradley]

phm14- after reading your post above does that mean you're back to getting challenged by Siennas? lol

Seems to me the 911 layout has always been ahead of the pack by nature of it's architecture. I guess GM needed a long time of prosperity (relatively speaking) to actually make such a big change to the Vette.
I suppose the Vette had been a GT car for so many people that it was able to find its place. It has found a better place in term of checking all the boxes now.
My sister just returned driving from Scottsdale to Toronto in a 2020 911C (not sure if it's an S but it looks loaded) 2 people and 2 small dogs 3 day drive. What a car.

[phm14]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Just wondering why you wanted to go with such a noticeably taller tire size than stock? Sure combo weighs less than stock, but you are decreasing responsiveness in acceleration/decelleration by that diameter gain. Looking for better highway cruising ability with the new shorter FD?

You're correct, in theory, but on my butt dyno, it seems the reduced weight and 2.8% increase in circumference/diameter feel like a wash. While I am giving up some looseness fun, I'm also taking better advantage of the new coilovers with more grip: safer on the street (especially for the Wife), and faster for occasional track days, plus a bit more comfy, especially on longer drives.
I've got ~1000 miles driving on the new wheels/tires/coilovers now. Total suspension drop is close to 10-15mm, though the slightly taller tires take some of that drop at pinch weld heights. I set the coilovers at close to max recommended preload to keep the rear from getting too friendly with the bump stops. I'm very happy with the PSS10s so far. They are firm on the street, but comfortable on all but big bumps. I expect they will be a good improvement on track, vs the stock suspension/stickier rubber I ran on my FRS. If I decided to track more frequently, and roll was more than I like, I could add a stiffer from sway bar. If I were concerned with lap time, a more track focused wheel/tire setup would help, but I've always just tracked for fun, running good street tires instead of R comps. Chassis seems well balanced, but I can play with + rake angle to fine tune that a bit, with the stock sways.

[phm14]

Originally Posted by wbradley

phm14- after reading your post above does that mean you're back to getting challenged by Siennas? lol

Seems to me the 911 layout has always been ahead of the pack by nature of it's architecture. I guess GM needed a long time of prosperity (relatively speaking) to actually make such a big change to the Vette.
I suppose the Vette had been a GT car for so many people that it was able to find its place. It has found a better place in term of checking all the boxes now.
My sister just returned driving from Scottsdale to Toronto in a 2020 911C (not sure if it's an S but it looks loaded) 2 people and 2 small dogs 3 day drive. What a car.

I consider the fact that the 86 is not a straight line car as a bonus. I don't generally respond to drivers who want to street race, but the 86 helps reduce the probability of a knee jerk "I'll show him" reaction, with a driving record/insurance rate friendly "why bother, I don't GAF how fast your cop magnet is" reaction. The turboed 911C is faster than it seems-read very linear. I expected to be pulled by Vettes on long straights, but that didn't happen with the cars I encountered at COTA over the weekend I had the 911 there. I picked up my '18 911C MT with a few K on it at Suncoast Porsche in Sarasota FL, driving my RCF trade there, returning to Houston the next day in the Porsche. The RCF was much better the the 911 (with the 14 way seats) for that kind of marathon drive. I like the seats in my 86 better than the 14 way 911 seats, and would go for the 18 way seats in future. The 911 is an awesome car, but the seats, and annoying head unit gremlins, made the car a poor value in a street car for me. I got more in trade for the 911 than I paid for it. The 911, RCF, and even the 170mph LC are all far faster than I can sanely use on any public roads near me. I could not afford expensive cars when I was younger, but if you buy and sell at favorable prices, short term ownership of lightly used performance cars doesn't have to be a financial disaster. The used S2000CR I had sold for $1K more than I paid for it, after a year+ of ownership w frequent track weekends, in a private party sale, after Honda announced the end of S2000 production...and that was with bald rear tires. Looking at prices now, the new owner is no doubt happy with his purchase, if he still has the car.

[wbradley]

You sound pretty smart, but also a bit lucky and prepared to take the shot.
Its tougher here where those cars are stored winters and nowadays partially in spring too.It sucks to spend the price of a house (somewhere) for something that gets road dings and rusts.
My brother in law purchase a 62 Vette restored with an LS3 2 years ago. He drove it to and from his cottage last summer every weekend, 140 miles each way. But, he then shipped it to their place in Scottsdale and had been driving it daily there during the winter. Those cars sadly just don't belong up here. Not unless they suddenly become disposable or are nothing more than display pieces.

[phm14]

Guys, I appreciate the input on tuning. Wound up going with OFT. After a couple of days to get the files, I flashed to stage 1, just for fun & to compare to stage 2+, while waiting for the header to arrive. I drove stage 1 for a couple of weeks, then the header showed up, as promised, yesterday. Install was not bad, and fit/finish were spot on. I just test drove the car withe the Gruppe S catless UEL, stage 2+. Very noticeable bump in the mid, over stage 1, and I was enjoying the power delivery improvement before. Feeling better power delivery, and more pull, even running the much quieter factory muffler. Car feels especially stronger letting the clutch out in 1st. The Nameless axle back came off...too loud for me with the catless. I tried to buy a Perrin, then a Tanabe medallion, but no one had any in stock (no power improvement with catback/axleback, anyway). The factory muffler sounds good to me, and I'm enjoying the different sound of the UEL header. Decided to dump the oil, at 1653 miles, while I had her up on the stands. I have a friend here on the forum that will review logs for me, for a very reasonable fee. Anyone tweaked the current version stage 2+ tune, with good results? Need to review the feature choices...I've already found the new "soft" (and/or higher) rev limit. I think I would like a bit more air out of my fans at low speed. I wonder if "pedal dance mode" is default.

[RJG_FRS_612]

Originally Posted by phm14

Love the throw of this 1.6lb Raceseng Ashiko shifter knob, previously installed in my last manual car. Added their black ano reverse lockout as well...This shift knob was originally in the 911 (Raceseng don't have the Porsche 7 spd shift gate pattern, yet). Takes a $20 adapter swap to fit the 86. Only downside is that big chunk of SS gets pretty warm in the Texas summer heat, an takes a couple minutes to cool down. Looking at the bright side, it helps me keep my paw off the shifter when it doesn't need to be there.

I traded my 14 FRS for a Hakone 86 over the weekend. I just couldn't stay away from this car...it was so good for the well over 100K I put on my previous.

I am also swapping the exact same shift knob over lol.