Quote:
Originally Posted by DaleTx
That's awesome!... Learning how to get around the track and drive the proper lines is a kick... but during the down time there is nothing more fun than tinkering and making the car just a little bit better for the next time. Glad to see your enjoying the new car so much... that's what it's all about.
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Dale.... I've gone absolutely NUTS!!
So during the first track weekend -- it was obvious to me that the car was tail happy. Not sure why or what could be done about it - but it was a really sweet driving car - until you hit the magic limit and when you hit that - this thing was going to do it's best to come around on you.
It was equally obvious that the 'street/track' tires were just not going to get it. That's EASY to fix... But then I started digging. Turns out - many people bought the 2 Eleven only to promptly sell them = and the car quickly gained a reputation as being a tail happy POS. That's a bad rap for a "track car" to have.
Now - like most things - there's clever ways to fix this - or at least to get it under control - and a few people have stuck with it and got it down. The current Champ being one of them. All it takes is ordering a bunch of little things --- a few settings massaged -- and it turns into a wicked little track beast.
I'd missed a couple of shifts during the weekend.... thinking it's me and I need to get more seat time. Turns out that is ANOTHER issue that has reared it's ugly little head -- that and -- these tend to tear apart the exhaust system - either breaking it outright - or just twisting it until it comes apart. WELL WHAT DO YOU KNOW -- during the last track weekend I noticed the exhaust had come apart!!! I thought WTF -- but just bolted it back together -- and upon return to the shop - some serious clamp work ensued. WELL -- turns out the real issue is the factory engine mounts allow the motor to move too much.... and low and behold --- there's someone out there making track versions. Yep - they're ordered. They fix TWO problems -- missed shifts under load -- and eliminate the exhaust issues.
Sticky tires finds the weak link in the oiling system -- the factory pan has no baffles and allows the oil to go up the sidewalls during hard cornering... Enter Moroso -- and BINGO a baffled pan... DONE.
The missed shifts cause an over rev problem - which blows up the factory sintered metal oil pump gears.... Yep -- billet versions just arrived today. Along with the fix for the missed shifts - this is also good insurance.
The factory aero wing -- is right in line with the roll bar. Dirty air. Someone makes an extension that raises the wing up a couple inches and bingo!
I was told to either do a Gurney flap -- or.... the same place that makes the wing extension - makes a wider wing. ALL of this adds downforce to help control that happy tail at high speed.
Guess what else I discovered.... which is about the dumbest thing EVER..... THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK IF YOU SPIN THE CAR AND ARE GOING BACKWARDS... this in a tail happy car. I didn't know this but have been assured it's a fact. It's a defect in the ABS system. They simply go into ICE MODE and all you have is a hard pedal but no braking. Hmmmmmmmmm No factory support for this anomaly. I'll discuss this with Mark at SEMA. Or ditch the factory ABS in favor of a dual master with a balance bar....
Then I discovered another brilliant oversight -- the factory knock mic is between 2 and 3 mounted outside of the block ----- and right under the blower. It picks up blower noise as knock and pulls out timing. The fix? Detach it from the block and zip tie it to the chassis..... and run good fuel. 100 octane. I can get a flash on the ECU to take advantage of the better fuel grade.
To some this might seem like A LOT - to me - it's only the beginning. I love this stuff! Make a list and get busy!!
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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