Spuds' Vroom Machine

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Are you allowed to run roll center correction? Makes a big difference.

Unless you are going through pads at an alarming rate, I wouldn’t worry about BBK. You can buy a lot of tires and entries for what one costs.

I don't think so. There's a bunch of complicated rules regarding bushings and attachment points. You can make adjustments in one direction but not the other or something. I remember looking at it and coming to the "no" conclusion.

Yeah.... They are expensive enough that the frontal lobe logic is overpowering my deep seeded obsession with shiny engineered mechanisms.

BTW, was it you that I was discussing the grimmspeed tower brace with or was it someone else? Can't remember where it was and what I thought of it lol. Like, if I were to tower brace, I would do that or something else.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Spuds

I don't think so. There's a bunch of complicated rules regarding bushings and attachment points. You can make adjustments in one direction but not the other or something. I remember looking at it and coming to the "no" conclusion.

Yeah.... They are expensive enough that the frontal lobe logic is overpowering my deep seeded obsession with shiny engineered mechanisms.

BTW, was it you that I was discussing the grimmspeed tower brace with or was it someone else? Can't remember where it was and what I thought of it lol. Like, if I were to tower brace, I would do that or something else.

The SCCA rules are so complicated it’s hard to tell.

Possibly. I have been in a few of those discussions. I run the nameless tower brace because I like the way it uses conical nuts to lock it in place as opposed to using pure clamping force like other braces. May not be a big deal but it triggers my monkey brain in a positive way.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

The SCCA rules are so complicated it’s hard to tell.

Possibly. I have been in a few of those discussions. I run the nameless tower brace because I like the way it uses conical nuts to lock it in place as opposed to using pure clamping force like other braces. May not be a big deal but it triggers my monkey brain in a positive way.

That was it! I was trying to remember which one had some feature I thought was cool.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Spuds

That was it! I was trying to remember which one had some feature I thought was cool.

From an engineering perspective it makes the most sense to me. I dunno if it translates to that much of a performance difference but I like it.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

From an engineering perspective it makes the most sense to me. I dunno if it translates to that much of a performance difference but I like it.

Technically the camber plate/spring perch is still just clamped to the chassis so any movement the brace would have in that regard would just be translated to the plate/perch. But arguably the plate/perch connection to the chassis has to support all that force anyway so as long as the brace face doesn't have less Mu than a regular nut, then this should be superior, at least in the lateral direction.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Technically the camber plate/spring perch is still just clamped to the chassis so any movement the brace would have in that regard would just be translated to the plate/perch. But arguably the plate/perch connection to the chassis has to support all that force anyway so as long as the brace face doesn't have less Mu than a regular nut, then this should be superior, at least in the lateral direction.

Yeah, it’s probably totally fine. I just like the little detail.

[Spuds]

Finally got around to trying an aftermarket catback. Took a shot at a used HKS Spec-L from a forum member. Replaced hardware with SS and all gaskets. Got it on and it looked real good.

Sound outside the car is great. Sound inside the car above 4k rpm is also great. Inside and below 4k rpm, so much drone I still have a little headache from my 45 minute drive 3 hours later. Debating whether it's worth trying to fix or just find something else. Obviously the latter is the right answer, but that feels like losing...

For reference: JDL EL > JDL OP > JDL UQ FP > HKS Spec-L.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Finally got around to trying an aftermarket catback. Took a shot at a used HKS Spec-L from a forum member. Replaced hardware with SS and all gaskets. Got it on and it looked real good.

Sound outside the car is great. Sound inside the car above 4k rpm is also great. Inside and below 4k rpm, so much drone I still have a little headache from my 45 minute drive 3 hours later. Debating whether it's worth trying to fix or just find something else. Obviously the latter is the right answer, but that feels like losing...

For reference: JDL EL > JDL OP > JDL UQ FP > HKS Spec-L.

Maybe try the JDM exhaust hangers. I’m surprised you are getting so much drone with the JDL FP.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Maybe try the JDM exhaust hangers. I’m surprised you are getting so much drone with the JDL FP.

Are those just stiffer hangers?

Nevermind, found this. I'll probably have to figure out how to get some of these lol. https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143514

Additional edit, yeah it's a bad time to order parts internationally, but since I'm shipping it anyway, maybe there are other bits we can't get here that could use...

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Are those just stiffer hangers?

Nevermind, found this. I'll probably have to figure out how to get some of these lol. https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143514

Additional edit, yeah it's a bad time to order parts internationally, but since I'm shipping it anyway, maybe there are other bits we can't get here that could use...

Yup, many people in that thread with that same catback. I forgot spcmafia was running that setup too. May find them on eBay too.

[Spuds]

JDM hangers improved the drone issue, but it's still really bad on the highway with the windows up. Just drove 4 hours plus an AX event today and my ears are still hurting.

Love the sound of the exhaust from outside the car, but I might need to throw in the towel on it.

In other news, I went back to the stock rear bar. I'm pretty pleased with the current setup. Leans on the stable side of things with just steering inputs but the attitude is easily adjusted by the pedals. Was enough to take 3rd raw time at AX today at least. Car was definitely capable of an FTD if I could stop making little mistakes.

Oh, also now using Wayno's oft tune. It's... Interesting. Some ways better than the one from ofp, some ways worse. I feel like it's a bit faster and more smooth in some areas, but it has some strange behaviors at steady state and in edge cases. At least it's something new to study and compare.

[RToyo86]

I dealt with that drone issue on several catbacks before I settled on the CSG touring. Now I have no issues.

Ear pain not worth it if you drive often.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

I dealt with that drone issue on several catbacks before I settled on the CSG touring. Now I have no issues.

Ear pain not worth it if you drive often.

Yeah CSG was the original plan. Saw an opportunity to try the HKS out for relatively cheap (from the classifieds) and went for it. It does sound great minus the drone. Definitely recommend to anyone with stock header/front pipe. (Has nothing to do with one possibly being for sale soon...)

[Spuds]

Alright, super official completely theoretical 2026 build checklist just to write it down somewhere:
Car is at 65,000 miles.

-GPS/data acquisition system. Probably racebox+racechrono-based.
-GPS/data mounting. Would be cool to 3d print a semi-permenant mount somewhere out of sight.
-OFT mounting, or solve by above? I like seeing some things in real time and my current solution won't hold up in AX maneuvers.

-Rear endlinks. Whiteline works, but the stiffness of the bushing makes me uncomfortable
-Front suspension bushings are a PITA... But would be interesting to have
-Try lowering a bit
-Corner balance (I may have bought scales...)
-Alignment (a friend may be buying Hubstands...)

-Diff oil
-Trans Oil
-Clutch??? It hasn't slipped fully engaged yet, but hard shifting I've had it slip a bit soooooooo... Probably OEM if I am replacing it.
-AC refresh, it's not working great in the summer... I'll get a professional to do this with the right equipment.
-Brake fluid, pads and rotor seem fine. (I don't need a bbk, I don't need a bbk, I don't...)
-Considering changing all wheel lugs as preventative maintenance. All but 2 are original. Threads are in relatively good shape, but I feel like they will get fatigued eventually.
-Engine oil of course.
-Accessory belt + idler? I mean, no issues yet, but preventative maintenance and all that.

-Exhaust... Gonna try a few things to see what makes the drone better/worse first. CSG is my backup.
-Work on the tune. Currently running a wayno tune, but it seems it needs to be dialed in more than the oft one. Need to do some research.

-Harness bar+ 4 point? (Want to try left foot braking, but that's hard with OEM restraints)
-Seats?
-Steering wheel?
(My driving position is like a half inch too far back for how short my arms are)

-Finally, wash and detail for the first time since at least one forever ago.