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"Problems in the power production department" discovered.
All symptoms pointed to a transmission issue. The car was losing 2-3whp on a couple dyno pulls while we were working the middle of the timing curve. We weren't touching peak areas, but it was losing power. Then it started to smoke on downrev from under the car. No leaks underneath, nothing obvious on the dyno so we called it quits.
I though I might have forgotten to refill the gearbox fluid during my swap, so I shopped around and finally picked up a used NB 5spd from a local RoadsterCup competitor. During the swap, I discovered the gearbox was in fact full. The fluid was a little milkshakey, but was all there. Next problem was discovered when I then attempted to remove the driveshaft to R&R the trans. The yoke was seized into the tailshaft housing. I had to remove it with our 5lb deadblow.
No idea what happened when, but the yoke is trashed, tailshaft housing is cracked in two places and has a pretty serious gouge on the interior.
"fresh" 120k mile second hand trans going in:
I snapped a pic of my trans tunnel heat shield while I was under there. Not as good as the Koolmat setup in Bullet, but cheap/easy/quick.
Next project is finishing the interior crap; Sweet MFG column clamp, ignition switch delete, Longacre starter panel install. Someday i'll even get around to the SadFab bronze retrofit install...
Old motor back in, new transmission and diff installed with fresh Amsoil fluids.
Singular hood vents finished
Blackbird Fabworx Black Edition spoiler installed.
Fixed position PCI seat bracket installed to replace the MemoryFab slider. Seat is now lower and farther back. Win-win.
Harnesses re-adjusted, center net re-wrapped.
OEM dash bar deleted, SweetMFG column clamp installed.
SHAKEDOWN TIME!
I trailered up to Autoclub Speedway to tag along with the crew at a Supermiata race weekend. My mighty Land Cruiser got a miserable ~8mpg on the round trip, but that is a different story.
I invited Sean from Goodwin Racing to come up and co-drive with me. We've been trying to trade rides for a while now, and I finally had my end of the bargain put together.
I put Sean in Green group with the rest of the SPM folks and I opted for the only other open-passing group, Red, with the Vettes and Stock Cars.
The car ran great. No issues all day. We put 20 gallons of e85 through it and only made minor setup changes. New symmetrical alignment, but still on the 1000/500, stock sways PTE setup.
My airdam is too thin and was caving in early in the day. I added an additional undertray support made of zipties to bring it up a bit higher and that stopped the total collapsing. The airdam still dimpled at speed, so a .1" or thicker one will be cut to replace it.
I was peer pressured into racing Supermiata after seeing how well the car was running. I did a 2:02.251 in Red group, but could only manage a 2:03 in qualifying. I ended up 9th on the grid of 16 cars for the race.
During the formation lap the car shut off in T6. I was unable to get it to re fire with the key or bump starting, so I pulled off into some paved runoff and watched the race from the infield. :(
I need a deadline for motivation. Car hasn't been touched in a while. ECU bracket got scavenged for Snoopy, life happened, business trips, moved apartments, yada yada...
Need To Do list, time and effort:
2. Relocate ECU
1. Diag/repair no-start issue
3. Dyno three maps:
SPM 140whp map
PTE reclass maps. +/- 129whp
#MaxAttack map, hopefully higher than the others, best case scenario 155whp.
Want To Do list, time and $$$:
1. SADfab delrin/bronze combo retrofit.
2. Halo seat
3. Clean/paint interior
4. Replace/upgrade DiY lexan windshield
Schedule for deadlining: Sept 23-24 Buttonwillow Supermiata
Oct 19 Wedding anniversary. Oct 28/29 – Buttonwillow NASA (*Double Points*)
Nov 4-5 Auto Club Speedway Supermiata Finale
Nov 18/19 – Streets of Willow Springs NASA (HPDE/TT Only)
Decided super last minute to go and try for a sub 2:00 #13CW lap. Was unsuccessful. Ran a 2:01.7 in the last session, in the heat, blah blah... With cooler weather during a morning session with clean track, I know a sub 2 is out there.
How does the LC do towing the Miata? I 'm about to buy a 100 series and trying to decide if I need the 5 speed, or if the 4 speed in the early model years is good enough.
How does the LC do towing the Miata? I 'm about to buy a 100 series and trying to decide if I need the 5 speed, or if the 4 speed in the early model years is good enough.
I sought out an '04 specifically for the 5spd. Really glad I did. YMMV
I bought a ScanGaugeII to monitor trans temp and stuff while towing. The OEM coolers are doing a great job. I swapped the entire drivetrain to Amsoil synthetics for piece of mind as well.
With the 24' enclosed steel trailer it needed 4th on the freeway. Weight-wise, it was just under the tow capacity, but the 4.7l hated pulling that box through the wind. I got ~8mpg on the only tow I did, which was pretty flat to and from Autoclub Speedway in LA.
With the new open trailer, it stays in 5th easily and returned ~13.5mpg to Buttonwillow and back. The trip to Buttonwillow is up and over Grapevine each way. I was actually able to keep it in 5th on the return trip up the hill(Mountain?) with slightly better planning and pace control(Not using cruise control).
Bonus: With the open trailer, my wife is comfortable enough to drive it if needed.
IMO: Not enough truck for a steel enclosed. I considered looking for an all-aluminum slant/wedge nosed enclosed trailer, but the open was the way better deal at the time.
Sounds like we'll be there!
Came back from MRLS where we drove Bullet on Hoosiers and with the boost turned up a bit and Emilio immediately registered for SLB.
Horsepower is addictive, turbo noises are really fun.
Sonny and I are daydreaming about how to finish/justify Supermiata S1 conversions..
TSE DiY kit: $3100
Intercooler kit: $500
Exhaust: $500
BBK: $600
6 spd ~$750
3.9 Torsten ~$800
injectors: $500
Singular GT250 wing kit: $1600
Sounds like we'll be there!
Came back from MRLS where we drove Bullet on Hoosiers and with the boost turned up a bit and Emilio immediately registered for SLB.
Horsepower is addictive, turbo noises are really fun.
Sonny and I are daydreaming about how to finish/justify Supermiata S1 conversions..
TSE DiY kit: $3100
Intercooler kit: $500
Exhaust: $500
BBK: $600
6 spd ~$750
3.9 Torsten ~$800
injectors: $500
Singular GT250 wing kit: $1600
Sounds like we'll be there!
Came back from MRLS where we drove Bullet on Hoosiers and with the boost turned up a bit and Emilio immediately registered for SLB.
Horsepower is addictive, turbo noises are really fun.
Sonny and I are daydreaming about how to finish/justify Supermiata S1 conversions..
TSE DiY kit: $3100
Intercooler kit: $500
Exhaust: $500
BBK: $600
6 spd ~$750
3.9 Torsten ~$800
injectors: $500
Singular GT250 wing kit: $1600
Sweeeeeeeeet. It's going to be a good time. If you're interested I have info for the private test day happening the day before as well.
05-15-2017, 08:01 PM
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