We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the making.

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catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

We I had set Saturday asside to get something done before sunday's event. However nothing worked out.

I had scorpio LCAs and inner tie rods ready to go on but the ball joints/outer tie rod end had completely different threading, so that was a bust

I had all the mustang swap parts here but the banjo I got wasn't the correct size and the line wasn't as long as I had hoped.

I did get the 15psi wastegate in, which is boosting it to 20psi from some reason. And I got launch control wired in and working for the hell of it. Then just before leaving (10pm saturday night) to make the 100 mile drive home I noticed the clutch pedal wasn't feeling right... Took the pedal cluster out and wow I was lucky to catch that before all hell broke loose.

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Spent a few minutes getting it back together.

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Then took a look at the gas pedal and noticed it wasn't even opening the throttle all the way... The cable spring mechanism had broke so I patched it real quick. Once in Tunerstudio my throttle sent from 0-70% open to 0-145% open! What a difference that made the car feel in response...

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Added a heat sink and the copper plate back to a new sensor. I know I know this isn't a great fix but it helped calm the AFRs down a bunch. I want to see read the temp on the sensor at some point. Needs to be below 900 degrees on the outside.

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Big thanks to Estaban for the advice on the Launch control. I hid the activate switch in the seat heater like he did. Thanks. I never got the limits set right (lack of time saturday night/sunday morning) to get it for autox. The next event has a test and tune so I hope to take advantage of it then.

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Sunday the autox went well. I didn't have my ducks in a row to datalog and whatnot this time. However I took Ben's advice and set the tires to 40psi all around. That helped, a long with the boost coming on around the 3500-3800 mark with the new wastegate as help. Then set the rear shocks to full soft which didn't really help the tire lift, new springs it will be.

We ran 3 drivers and 2 in a single heat. The car, with two drivers, got a little too hot. Sitting around 210-215. I was a little uncomfortable with that and will be adding a oil cooler very soon to help combat that.

I hope David puts up some neat photos, a few people commented on the car. It did better even with those small changes. Running from mid/low pack last event to the bottom of the "quick people", top 20 out of 80+ in raw time. It was a tight course and I even used 1st in one hair pin before the finish, which have never had to do before. I think there is a second to be had with more camber and caster, and a half second or more in better brakes. Once the car has stiffer rear springs there may be as much as a half second or more there as well with the help of rotation. So it is looking very well indeed for a old POS, vs all these vettes, evos/stis and the typical miata.


Fastest CSP miata (national guy) 43.0
ASP evo 9 on slick 45.1
stc civic 46.3
My time 47.2

So with a little work I'm gunning for the somewhere between the civic and the evo on a tight course. Nothing to brag about but I like seeing the improvements, concerning everything.


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-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by DSPXR4ti »

catapultkid wrote:
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Took the hood off?

Ben
85 DSP XR4ti, 2009 Solo 2 National Champion, burns muffler, 3in exhaust, Mc2 Full suspension, 325 hps & 328tqr, GMR Intake, Wilwood brakes, Eaton LSD, stand alone ECU. Working on being SM National Champion.
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

Do to the heat. Trying anything we could. Seemed to help a little.
-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
DSPXR4ti
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by DSPXR4ti »

catapultkid wrote:Do to the heat. Trying anything we could. Seemed to help a little.
Get a small spray bottle to spray the radiator in between runs, I'm only saying this because if you start winning your class, which it sounds like your well on your way, someone will have a problem with removing your hood.

Of course this coming from someone that has these kind of people in the SFR region that would have a problem with that hood removal.

Ben
85 DSP XR4ti, 2009 Solo 2 National Champion, burns muffler, 3in exhaust, Mc2 Full suspension, 325 hps & 328tqr, GMR Intake, Wilwood brakes, Eaton LSD, stand alone ECU. Working on being SM National Champion.
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

Yeah, we borrowed a friends but it didn't do the trick, however neither did removing the hood. Needs a bigger radiator and/or oil cooler mounted. Then like you said and nice big sprayer between runs with water. What does your car run at at autox, temp-wise?
-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
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Esteban
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by Esteban »

The WB sensor needs to be relocated boss. The problem isnt overheating the outside of the sensor, but the probe itself as it's too close to the turbine. Your A/F readings will also be more accurate when it least 18" away as the WB instructions may note.

Glad you found an issue with your throttle and fixed it. Missing 30% of WOT is a huge difference.

Want some added cooling? Get a cossie style grill.
Can you activate your radiator fans via the A/C switch? It's a good trick to help cool between runs.

The temps between 210-220, was that water or oil?
DSPXR4ti
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by DSPXR4ti »

catapultkid wrote:Yeah, we borrowed a friends but it didn't do the trick, however neither did removing the hood. Needs a bigger radiator and/or oil cooler mounted. Then like you said and nice big sprayer between runs with water. What does your car run at at autox, temp-wise?
I still have the stock water temp gauge and the water temp sensor is in the stock location so I'm not sure what the temp actually is but it runs just below the half way point on the stock gauge. turn the fan on, on my 3rd run 85 deg. day.

I took my turbo out of the picture, run a dry turbo now, oil cooled only. I do have Merkurdepot shortly radiator too, which have change thing a lot for the better.

Ben
85 DSP XR4ti, 2009 Solo 2 National Champion, burns muffler, 3in exhaust, Mc2 Full suspension, 325 hps & 328tqr, GMR Intake, Wilwood brakes, Eaton LSD, stand alone ECU. Working on being SM National Champion.
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Ray
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by Ray »

FWIW my car generally runs much cooler than most -
Fans set to come on 190 off at 180
Radiator was Mike's now the C&R (saves 6lbs)
Oil cooler from an FC rx7 - sandwich plate and fittings / lines from summit (oil cooler has built in thermostat)
Cossie style grille
Hood vents - above radiator Wilky style and cossie style on sides
Oil cooled any turbo.

Water temps on a hot day approach 200; rarely exceed. Oil temps flutter about the same, slightly higher on longer waits / runs / etc.

Glad you are getting the car sorted - you and Ben are making me rethink my tire pressures tho... For the past several years i'm running 29F 25R or about that; no roll over and decent control, talks of closer to 40 is a huge change for my thought process. I might just try that out...
-Ray
1985 Ford F150 - Tow Missile
1985 Merkur XR4Ti -#141 CP "Miss Daisy"
2005 Subaru LGT
http://www.cartct.com
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

I do need a Cossy style grill asap. The 210-215 was the water not oil. The fans come on with the key turned, so they are always pumping air. The car isn't running water cooled turbo any longer either.

Ray what threading was used internally to the block for the sandwich plate? 3/4"-16?

Ebay has a universal with those threads for 12 buxs! almost too cheap not to try. Ebay also has used Nascar oil coolers that go pretty cheap as well. Thinking that I am going to piece a kit together in the 150-175 range which isn't too bad.

Tire pressures worked well, but I have a lack of camber. I'd judge it more on where the scuffing stop/roll over. 40 psi just happened to be where it landed.

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Brother driving, wife showing him the ropes. He is a miata guy and is pretty quick, but this time she got him by over 1.5 seconds!

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-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
DSPXR4ti
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by DSPXR4ti »

Just base on the pic, it look as though you are staying still when driving and your Miata driver friend is moving side to side, talk to him about keeping his body still when driving, it helps.

Ben
85 DSP XR4ti, 2009 Solo 2 National Champion, burns muffler, 3in exhaust, Mc2 Full suspension, 325 hps & 328tqr, GMR Intake, Wilwood brakes, Eaton LSD, stand alone ECU. Working on being SM National Champion.
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

That is a good point. I've tried making a habit of it more recently since the last time you mentioned it. I didnt notice how much he was leaning though. I need to start taking videos so you can help point out errors on line and what not. When riding with him I noticed how he was in line for cars that can carry more momentum, hence miata. This time I used more of a line that ran me super early into the apex allowing more time for the gas pedal, classic turn early/get on gas early. I never knew how much I was doing this until I rode with him and saw the difference, then I watch a bunch of videos the other fast guys had from the event and they were no better. I've found that you have to settle the car earlier and earlier before the turn to get the most out of the turbo. I wish I datalogged some to see how boost was reacting and when it was coming on. Seemed much much better than before.

Test and tune is up next.

Plans are to sort the launch control, add bigger brakes, and more camber.

This upcoming weekend is a vw weekend only and have a friend coming up, no XR work allowed :). I'm almost done the headers for the swap. Pic below. Can't wait to get this out there.

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-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
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merkurdriver
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by merkurdriver »

catapultkid wrote:We I had set Saturday asside to get something done before sunday's event. However nothing worked out.

I had scorpio LCAs and inner tie rods ready to go on but the ball joints/outer tie rod end had completely different threading, so that was a bust
Scorpio outers are different than XR outers and are the same L - R sides whereas XR has specific L - R sides.
If you need new Scorpio outers I have them here:
http://www.merkur.50megs.com/catalog_1.html
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

Very nice. I'll pick them up today
-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight
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Ray
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by Ray »

Yes the threads are 3/4-16 - typical ford.
-Ray
1985 Ford F150 - Tow Missile
1985 Merkur XR4Ti -#141 CP "Miss Daisy"
2005 Subaru LGT
http://www.cartct.com
catapultkid
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Re: We bought our first xr. Autox/street machine in the maki

Post by catapultkid »

Thanks.
-Paul
'85 Merkur XR4Ti
K20, VW mk2
'89 K2500, 6.0 swap
'00 Honda Insight