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Sure, my external oil cooler adapter plate has a built in thermal bypass spring that pretty much bypasses the external cooler while the oil is cold. I think most do?
Hey Hoon, just read thru your entire thread - awesome stuff!
Question for you that I didn't see addressed anywhere, but probably would've been done very early on when you gutted and caged the car: I also have a 2006 Base that's going full track duty. I'm curious what you did with/how you handled the SRS? I see you would've removed the module and all the wiring going to it and the stock seatbelt mechanisms - I'm assuming you removed the front and rear crash sensors as well. Did you have to do anything special, or is it as simple as unplug, remove the module under the center console, and tuck any of the wiring away? Did you have to install resistors anywhere so the car doesn't freak out (assuming you're running stock ECU still)? TIA
Sure, my external oil cooler adapter plate has a built in thermal bypass spring that pretty much bypasses the external cooler while the oil is cold. I think most do?
I'm curious what you did with/how you handled the SRS? I see you would've removed the module and all the wiring going to it and the stock seatbelt mechanisms - I'm assuming you removed the front and rear crash sensors as well. Did you have to do anything special, or is it as simple as unplug, remove the module under the center console, and tuck any of the wiring away? Did you have to install resistors anywhere so the car doesn't freak out (assuming you're running stock ECU still)? TIA
From memory I simply removed the airbags, the sensors and the control module. I didn't add any resistors. I do have an airbag warning light on the dash which afaik the only way to get rid of is to open up the cluster and physically remove that bulb. That's been on my list of things to do but not high enough on the list to actually get done :P
From memory I simply removed the airbags, the sensors and the control module. I didn't add any resistors. I do have an airbag warning light on the dash which afaik the only way to get rid of is to open up the cluster and physically remove that bulb. That's been on my list of things to do but not high enough on the list to actually get done :P
Appreciate the response! If living with the light on the dash is something I just have to deal with, then so be it. I just really wanted to make sure by disconnecting/removing everything, that the ECU wouldn't freak and prevent the care from starting or anything like that.
My ECU is stock but does have the immobilizer disabled for unrelated reasons. Having said that I don't think the immobilizer has any connection to the airbags
Back from a 3 day event at Summit Point. First day was sunny but freezing, second day was a warm but a wash out, third day again freezing and sunny. Overall good event and a great opportunity to test the mods from this winter.
I was surprised that the solid subframe bushings were not more noticable. There is probably noise increase, but in this car I couldn't tell. What I did notice was the gear mesh vibration on hard deceleration, that's when it was most obvious. Also, initial turn in was a bit quicker, but that might also be the new alignment with zero toe in the back.
The new Kinetix manifold / large tb / cone intake setup did make a difference. I could really feel the engine come alive between 5k and 7k RPM, it was pulling hard all the way to the redline like never before. However I do feel like the torque up to 5k was a bit lower.
Overall I was running about the same as my best times before, in the 1:23 range, the extra top end power did help me set higher top speeds (135 MPH vs. previous 131 MPH), but as cold as it was the tire grip was below optimal. I think with warmer temps this setup will prove itself overall faster, and I have to wonder if I'd get some of the torque and maybe a few extra hp if I do a dyno tune.
Here's a combined red/black session from Friday afternoon. Lots of traffic but some good laps.
I've run it many times in Forza but never in a real car. ;-) Love that long straight. there's nothing like that on the West Coast. well, maybe the straight at Laguna Seca. maybe it is, just doesn't seem as long to me because it's partially uphill.
Started prepping the car for the next event and noticed that my wing mount/tubular bumper had a lot more flex in it than before. I examined where the bumper support mount to the car and all the bolts were nice and tight, but then I realize that the upper bumper support bolts go thru the trunk rear wall sheetmetal and into the trunk. When I looked at then from inside the trunk here's what I saw
The captive nuts have ripped thru the trunk sheetmetal on both sides causing the whole panel to flex back and forth.
I broke out the welder and went to town installing a thicker support bracket. I welded it to both trunk and rear walls of the trunk as well as to the bumper support nuts. It's not pretty, but it's strong and the flex is completely gone.
Left alone probably eventually it would have. I'm a bit surprised the bumper is mounted to sheet metal, but I guess that's the nature of unibody construction. Also, would've eventually end up with negative angle of attack on the wing 😄
Back from Pitt Race event. It was a hot one, the temps in the pits were hovering around 100 degrees during the day. I was able to do one or two full morning sessions and only about 10-15 minutes of the afternoon sessions before both I and the car started to overheat. My first impressions of the track are fairly positive, it's interesting and challenging, but not necessarily very fast or flowing. Seems like most comers were designed to unload the suspension right when you're trying to get on the throttle. So the track rewards patience and smoothness. Also, it has two separate S sections so there is a lot of lateral loads and it's hard on tires and suspension components. We had one person lose a wheel while on track due to snapped studs and when I went to torque the lug nuts on my car Sunday morning one of mine snapped off as well. So I only got to drive two days, which is fine by me, I'd rather this happen in the pits than on track. Also, rain was rolling in Sunday so I only would've gotten one session in before the downpour anyways.
It took me a day to really pick up the rhythm of the track, but I still have a lot of fine tuning to do. My best times were in the 2:03 range, although I did see a 2:00 flat predictive lap time, but I was not yet able to put it together from start to finish. I'm yet to go thru the videos, but I'll post something when I have it.
