Pure Motorsport: JDL Turbo BRZ Track Build

[gramicci101]

So, comparison? Obviously the massive additional torque and horsepower lends itself towards a different driving style, but how is it balanced? How'd you like the paddle shifters and transmission? How well did the brakes last? Any unusual quirks or noises?

Just looking at the gauge cluster I really like the center, although I wouldn't need real time tire pressures for each tire individually. I wonder why they have old school gauges on the left and right though, instead of doing it all digitally?

[ATL BRZ]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

So, comparison? Obviously the massive additional torque and horsepower lends itself towards a different driving style, but how is it balanced? How'd you like the paddle shifters and transmission? How well did the brakes last? Any unusual quirks or noises?

Just looking at the gauge cluster I really like the center, although I wouldn't need real time tire pressures for each tire individually. I wonder why they have old school gauges on the left and right though, instead of doing it all digitally?

The Vette is no longer a hot rod/muscle car with sports car features. It's now a sports car with race car features. It's seriously impressive, especially the Z51 package, which I drove. Excellent balance, torque everywhere, superb brakes with massive stopping power. The manual transmission I drove has two paddles on each side of the wheel but they are both basically dumb toggle switches for turning the rev matching on and off. It did give me perfect blips on every downshift though. Zero driveline shock and buttery smooth clutch engagement. No quirks or noises but the car is still very new.

Steering feel is not as "manual" feeling as the BRZ but everything else was amazing. I only got a few laps in it and had a nanny in the passenger seat reminding me if I break it I buy it. I was able to wind out 2nd and 3rd a few times and really enjoy the new 6.2 liter LT1. 460hp/465tq. It's a riot to drive and an absolute track weapon in the right hands. For $69k new there's no reason not to buy one other than simply not wanting a Corvette because of the stereotypes following it. But after driving a C7 Z51 on a track I can see how much effort went in to breaking down those stereotypes. It's almost as good of a fun per dollar value as an 86

[ATL BRZ]

Some video from yesterday at AMP.

Group X with @GTHachiRoku riding shotgun

[ame]http://youtu.be/Xt-VfXWE-ho[/ame]


Ron at Discovery Parts measured and drilled my helmet for me and properly installed HANS anchors so I can keep using my SA2005 for a while longer.

I'm really enjoying my new safety gear. The bar, harnesses and HANS work well together keeping me safe and secure in the seat. My confidence and driving has improved just from having that extra feedback through the seat into my body as one unit.

All three 86's were running RE-11A's yesterday and they performed great. @GTHachiRoku 's new Tein coilover setup has me seriously eyeballing some coilovers for my car. In the past few track days my stock struts + RCE Yellows have been feeling more and more soft. Funny how that happens.

[ATL BRZ]

Met up with a small 86 Atlanta group tonight. Four cars and five owners came out. Nice to meet you guys @UltramarineLuck, @weepel and @5AD86D we gotta get more folks out next time.

[ATL BRZ]

After much deliberation between 1 and 2 way coilovers I've finally decided

Staying loyal to my favorite brand and couldn't be happier with my decision.



Just ordered @Racecomp Engineering Tarmac II Clubsports!

If by any miracle they show up early next week I may try to install them and get alignment/corner balance done before hitting Road Atlanta next weekend.

[gramicci101]

Awesome. Doing the Group N top hats as well, or sticking with the OEM top hats? I'm debating on the RCE Tarmac Zero vs. Tarmac springs and Bilstein B6 dampers. They're only a few hundred different in price, but the coilovers are designed specifically to work as a unit, where the springs and struts are designed as two separate items that are complementary to each other.

[yohan04]

Awesome coils, have them on my STi and enjoy the hell outta them. Which rates did you choose? 350? 400?

Looking forward to your review.

[ATL BRZ]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Awesome. Doing the Group N top hats as well, or sticking with the OEM top hats? I'm debating on the RCE Tarmac Zero vs. Tarmac springs and Bilstein B6 dampers. They're only a few hundred different in price, but the coilovers are designed specifically to work as a unit, where the springs and struts are designed as two separate items that are complementary to each other.

Just changed my mind and decided to get Raceseng Cascam plates in front and their shocktops in the rear for 2" of extra travel. Also ordered Whiteline adjustable sway bar end links for both ends.

Originally Posted by yohan04

Awesome coils, have them on my STi and enjoy the hell outta them. Which rates did you choose? 350? 400?

Looking forward to your review.

Sticking with the standard 400lb springs. Excited and nervous at the same time about taking my suspension to this new level. It should be worth it with all the track time I have coming up.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by ATL BRZ

Just changed my mind and decided to get Raceseng Cascam plates in front and their shocktops in the rear for 2" of extra travel. Also ordered Whiteline adjustable sway bar end links for both ends.

Wow, straight to the top. I was leery about the Whiteline camber plates, there are too many negative experiences with those.

For the rear shock tops, the springs still mount at the correct level, but the shocks mount 2" higher for greater travel? Or will they lower the rear of the car by 2"?

After the coilovers, really the only thing you have left to do suspension-wise is to replace all the control arms with adjustable racerX arms. And the FT-86SF splitter.

[ATL BRZ]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Wow, straight to the top. I was leery about the Whiteline camber plates, there are too many negative experiences with those.

For the rear shock tops, the springs still mount at the correct level, but the shocks mount 2" higher for greater travel? Or will they lower the rear of the car by 2"?

After the coilovers, really the only thing you have left to do suspension-wise is to replace all the control arms with adjustable racerX arms. And the FT-86SF splitter.

Do it once (twice?), do it right.

The rear shock tops product page explains everything in perfect detail: http://ft86speedfactory.com/raceseng...-top-1294.html

I want to call the suspension "done" after this! Hoping I can get by with my SPC LCA's in the rear but alas racer-x stuff is undoubtedly on the same level at the rest of this new stuff. That Hancha splitter looks legit but I still consider those a consumable item, especially after lowering the car and continuing to street it. I smile instead of cringe every time I scrape my $80 ebay front lip, lol

[gramicci101]

SPC has said that their stuff is basically built to OEM spec, just adjustable. And that a number of people race on them with no issues. It's probably completely fine, it's just not as cool as the billet aluminum ones or having racerX custom build one just for you. However, racerX's front LCAs and rear UCAs look very tempting. Especially since the rear UCA is adjustable at the knuckle, which wouldn't impart any toe changes. Probably totally unnecessary, but that doesn't mean I don't want a set.

[ATL BRZ]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

SPC has said that their stuff is basically built to OEM spec, just adjustable. And that a number of people race on them with no issues. It's probably completely fine, it's just not as cool as the billet aluminum ones or having racerX custom build one just for you. However, racerX's front LCAs and rear UCAs look very tempting. Especially since the rear UCA is adjustable at the knuckle, which wouldn't impart any toe changes. Probably totally unnecessary, but that doesn't mean I don't want a set.

Interesting. My shop didn't need the offset toe bushing provided with my SPC's to align it the first time but they may need to use it this time since it'll be a little bit lower. We'll see.

[ATL BRZ]

First set of photos from Atlanta Motorsports Park 5/16/14

[gramicci101]

That looks like so much fun. Dd you get your coilovers in?