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track reliability psychotherapy

Old 10-09-2009, 10:27 AM
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Default track reliability psychotherapy

Ok, I've become so obsessed with a worst-case-scenario that I'm afraid to drive the car at the track anymore. This scenario involves things like blowing up the motor/trans/rear-end, abandoning the car, paying $500+ towing fees, losing my job because I'm marooned, losing all the money I have in the car, and being sad knowing that I'll have to spend like $4k on a trans to fix the reliability issues.

So, what else can I do to fortify this car?
Current reliability considerations:
built motor running only 240whp
6-speed
11psi instead of 15psi
bearings packed with synth grease
super-awesome turbo hot-parts

current concerns/things I lose sleep over:
oil starvation
260* summer oil temp with shitty Canton oil cooler
mystery trans temp
mystery rear end temp
fuel injector/regulator pressure failure
mystery detonation or pre-ignition
differential failure
trans failure
oil line rupture
rotor grenade
ball-joint/tie-rod failure
manstration

I'm open to thoughts on what I can do or which medication to take to enjoy the car.
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Old 10-09-2009, 10:31 AM
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Knocksense (i suppose you could get MS to do that, indicating knock with a light?) and sertraline maybe?

Is oil starvation really a common problem? Need some serious braking force to starve it if its topped up..
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Old 10-09-2009, 10:34 AM
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I can't get enough resolution to get knocksense working properly.
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Old 10-09-2009, 10:40 AM
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[QUOTE=hustler;465720]...
mystery trans temp
mystery rear end temp...
QUOTE]

Subscribing. I always wanted to know why the **** the trans gets so ******* hot. I drive like an *** sometimes but damn that **** is concerning
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Old 10-09-2009, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by buffon01
Subscribing. I always wanted to know why the **** the trans gets so ******* hot. I drive like an *** sometimes but damn that **** is concerning
yeah, I want to bring viscosity way up in my 6-speed because it shifts like its too thin.
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Old 10-09-2009, 10:55 AM
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For mystery detonation. Just put in race gas at the track. You tuned for street fuel, so if you run race fuel there is basically 0 chance of detonation.

Get a better cooler to replace your Canton.

The rest....whatever.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:02 AM
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I'm in the same boat man. When I built my car up, I changed out everything i could possibly think of. End Links, Tie Rods, All bushings, and just about every other wearable part. I have the mazdaspeed transmission, if that is really any stronger, and a bulletproof engine/turbo setup. I ran 7psi at the track last weekend because i wanted to both learn the car and i was scared of breaking the damn thing.

To some the fear may seem unfounded, but I understand completely
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:03 AM
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bymystery detonation I mean that no detonation is occuring but could. I hit MBT in every cell again, then advanced 4* further to determin MBT, then rolled back 2* from MBT. I've never actually heard detonation in this car, but that doesn't mean something can't go wrong and blow it up.

The damn spark table has so much advance that it scares me.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by rharris19
To some the fear may seem unfounded, but I understand completely
I have 9,000-miles and 7 hours of track time on the motor, 5-hours on the new turbo parts. The only real reliability issue I have is brakes.

However, building this car was an emotional event. It hurt so much when I lost the Corrado that I swore I would never do it again. Now I'm in deeper than ever, and pushing a car like I've never done before. I guess I'm scared that I'm going to lose it by either theft or mechanical failure and I don't have the energy to build another.

At this point however, I have to track the car I suppose...its not fair to the car not to put it on the track. I'm definitely going to leave it at 11psi for a while though...until I get the lap times I want.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by hustler
bymystery detonation I mean that no detonation is occuring but could. I hit MBT in every cell again, then advanced 4* further to determin MBT, then rolled back 2* from MBT. I've never actually heard detonation in this car, but that doesn't mean something can't go wrong and blow it up.

The damn spark table has so much advance that it scares me.
Hence why I said to run race gas when on the track. Detonation will not occur with it.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by neogenesis2004
Hence why I said to run race gas when on the track. Detonation will not occur with it.
I've been pulling a total of 6* across the board for track playtime. However, that doesn't eliminate the threat of a mechanical or electrical issue causing misfire or pre-ignition.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:33 AM
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It's like talking to a brick wall.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by neogenesis2004
It's like talking to a brick wall.
3K+ posts and now is when you notice??


So any comment the drivetrain temps??

BTW did you ship the Illuminas, I didnt hear back from you
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by neogenesis2004
It's like talking to a brick wall.
race fuel will not stop preignition from a system failure. If for some reason a spark is fired 10* early, its over for the motor.


I may put some thermo-stickers on the trans and see what kind of temps show up.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:39 AM
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Grow a pair, how come Sav dosen't seem to have a problem?
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:44 AM
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Take up a different hobby. Imagine what will happen if (when?) you put the car in the dirt and hit the wall.

Seriously, this is getting so old.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by levnubhin
Grow a pair, how come Sav dosen't seem to have a problem?
he has a truck, trailer, and a business that revolves around breaking ****. I'm also poor.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by hustler
he has a truck, trailer, and a business that revolves around breaking ****. I'm also poor.


Then what Jay said.
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by hustler
... I'm also poor.
I feelz you son!
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:56 AM
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For all the E-thuging you do, this thread makes you look like a *****. Stuff happens in life but you move past it. When things break you fix them. I just live by the idea that things always break so just expect them to and dont worry about it, because it will happen! Get a trailer for the track. Then you can worry about walls more than mechanical problems. Keep it in a garage on jack stands with out the wheels on it to prevent it from getting stolen. Other than that your car seems bullet prof for the most part and I would like to see it some time.
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