Well, I just finished classing my car for Time Trials. I know, I know, there's no TT event at PMI this month so just humor me. So I have a whopping 9 points. That leaves me with 11 points in mods I could have installed without being upclassed.

Apparently I haven't spent enough money on mods which means one thing - you guys have let me down. I mean, if a guy can't rely on heckling and prodding from his fellow enthusiasts then who? My girlfriend? It's apparent to me that there's something wrong with this scenario. Our relationship is compromised and regardless to what my therapist says, this is definitely YOUR fault! I expect a concerted effort from this community to make things right, otherwise I'm going to the dark-side with GaryM05 and buying a Porsche!

Joel

 

LOL. What will a coil-over cost you in points? I say buy a set of Ohlins from Z1 or someplace, then send them to me. I'll re-valve them for critical damping with higher spring rates (because I don't like the ones they come with) and get you squared away. Then you'll need to buy new springs, I recommend some Hypercoils, and a full assortment of adjustable rods and arms from SPL. Get a good alignment, and you'll be set.

And I'll have a research test bed in the form of your car to see how this combination works out, and to see if I want to spend my own money and follow suit. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Will

 

On a serious note, tires. get some R-Comps, mounted on decent wheels, and that should really do it. Maybe some sways.

With 11 points to spare, you should fit in just fine.

 

As usual, Dave and Will have given you solid advice. My .02 would be sway bars, control arms front and rear, then springs, then shocks. I seem to recall that you're already running on R-Comps, but if not, then those should jump to the top of the list for you.

Sway bars are great because they tighten up the responsiveness of the car and give you a tuning option that lets you really feel the effect of adjustments. The control arms will let you dial in a more tire-friendly track setup (this car LOVES negative camber up front, though your street tires will not thank you).

Beyond that, the springs will give you a lower center of gravity and still more responsive handling (though less tunable than what the swaybars give you), and the shocks will help control everything a little better.

Don't even bother with modding the engine, for what you're doing. It's not cost effective in these cars, and it's immensely satisfying to see the look on those BMW, WRX, and Porsche drivers' faces when they find out that you beat them with with a stock motor!

 

Wait, I gave solid advice?

Listen to the man, Joel! Buy some Ohlins and let me play with them! Give in to peer pressure!!!

Let me live vicariously through your credit cards!!!!

Will (doesn't think this was the kind of "heckling and prodding" Joel really wanted. But it's worth a shot.)

 

Hey, if Joel is really looking to spend some money (which it seems obvious that he is), then buying some super-fancy remote reservoir 4-way Ohlins would seem to be the most effective way to accomplish that goal.

And then giving them to some geologist who claims to have learned a thing or two about suspension tuning on the side to really get them dialed in seems like a sure way to make sure that he gets the most for his money.

 

You guys are funny, I was totally egging you on! I do have R comp tires and I'm planning on sways next. I'll start looking into suspension mods too, but I don't have the money for that just yet. My Z is a base model so a limited slip differential is also a consideration.

Will, I'm not going to forget your offer. You just might be committed to this!

 

Geologist? I'm a Geospatial Analyst!!

I have to admit though, I've tried explaining what I do to my friends a hundred times, and they still don't get it. And they also keep calling me a Geologist. Mostly as an insult for not continuing with my Engineering. What can I say, why they run off and work for companies like Pratt & Miller racing Corvette C6R's in ALMS, I have a family that appreciates the 9-5. My friends are all such over-indulged speed junkie slackers with no real responsibilities.

BTW, one of my friends finished his PhD in the Motorsports Engineering program (combustion physics is his emphasis) and is now working for McLaren. He sent my buddy and I a cool McLaren F1 racing flag. Too bad Kimi is racing for Ferrari now.

Joel, if you do get a set of coil-overs, I'm serious about dyno'ing them for you if you'd like. It'd be easy to machine out some adapters for the dyno, and we could make some recommendations based on the Z's weight, center of gravity, and kinemtaics (all of which I've already measured) and ideal critical damping for a given frequency. And if you decide to ever be curious enough to want the data and recommendations, rest assured it wouldn't be just me doing this, I'd actually get someone who knows what they're doing to look at them for you

Will

 

The problem with coilovers (at least for NASA) is that they cost you a lot of points on the TT point system, and Joel only has so many to play wioth. Sways and some suspension bracing, and an LSD would probably put him right at 11 points, and that would kep him in the same class.

Engine mods, like Gary said, aren't worth it (says the guy with the TT kit!)

 

Will, you're a geospatial analyst? That means something specifc to me, where do you work?

 

I'm not sure how the NASA points work, but if you had to choose between sways and a LSD, or coil-overs, I'd get the LSD. Combined with R-compounds I think it will make a bigger difference in lap times, than coil-overs and a crappy open diff. (I also have a base model Z)

Dave, I work for a company in the Springs, NCDC Imaging. We specialize in spectral analysis and classification for urban development and resource management. We use everything from digital ortho's, hyperspectral imagery for taxonomy, to QuickBird half meter images. Our big claim to fame is the use of Feature Analyst, which is a VLS application that combines traditional spectral signature classification with texture and shape recognition.

Will

 

Geospatial Analist?!

Now look here, I know a "Sexual Intellectual" when I see one! (A.K.A. F***ing Know-It-All).

Just kidding Will. I'm in the 3D Computer Graphics Industry and I can somewhat understand what you're taking about (which is scarry). I hope that doesn't label me as a geek now. Kidding, again Will, kidding.

I'll have to check the points for the LSD. Of course, who is to say I don't already have one installed? How would anyone know?

 

VLS?

Visual Landing System?

edit:

Never mind, I just looked it up. Visual Learning System. I'm pretty familiar with the Lidar point clouds too. I first saw that at a conference about 5 years ago. I bet we'll be seeing 3D scans of major population centers on Google Earth soon. Exciting stuff. Are they able to texture map the scans with photographs yet?

I think that cinched it.. I'm a geek.

 

Wow, major topic detour. Sorry guys. Back to NASA.

 

Will, thanks for your definition of a geospatial analyst. It means something similiar, but slightly different to me. Nothing I can get into here, though.

Anyway, back to NASA:

As you can see, a good set of coilovers will cost a good bit of points.

Sway bars, on the other hand, are only 2 points.

3 points for an LSD; definitely worth it!

Finally, with regards to engine mods, there is one that might be worth it:
That would be the MREV spacer, by Motordyne Enginering. 2 points, only costs a couple of hundred ($250 or so, I think), and really gives a big boost in mid range horsepower/torque, for pulling out of those corners. The install is so easy that if you bring it to the May Pueblo event, we can do it right there at the track.

So, if I were you, I would go with the Motordyne spacer, a set of sways (Stillen makes a good, 5 way adjustable set), and an LSD. That would give you 7 points, comfortably within your class.

 

Wow, 7 pts for a coil-over, vs sways, spacer, and a good LSD.

Yeah, one of those options seems inherently more beneficial for a base model Z.

Will

 

That was your description, not mine!!! I know you're a lot more than just a rock collector!

Also, it's great to hear that your friends are doing so well in moving into the world of pro motorsports. Stay in touch with those folks...if nothing else, they'll always have some great stories to tell, and will be good contacts to maintain if you ever decide to move into that world (I'm sure the family would understand!)

 

No way, I never used the term Geologist. Those guys are weird. My second degree is in Geography & Environmental Science. Maybe that was the confusion. GIS and remote sensing is used by a lot of geologists, though. We contracted out some structural geology on one of our projects.

Yeah, I get a little jealous of what some of my buddies have going for them, but I have a great family and they're a long ways away from knowing that kind of joy.

Joel, if you're a geek then I don't want to know what that makes me. As far as dimensioning from photos, I got really excited to talk about some of the stuff we're working on here, but it belongs in a whole 'nother thread. I don't know very many people that are into what I do, so it's always fun to for me to be able to talk about it.

To try and keep this somewhat on topic, Joel, have you looked into the options available to you for a LSD? Have you heard of Quaiffe? I am partial to helical units over salisbury clutches, but there are more objective opinions on the unit that also agree it is a fantastic option for Base model Z's who like track time. If you upgrade, it would be worth a look.

Will

 

We're all geeks here; my degree is computational astrophysics.... and I'm heading to California for grad school to get a masters in Information Warfare Systems Engineering. Any degree with four words in it's name has got to be for a geek!

On a serious note, Joel, that was a real offer to install a spacer on your Z at the track in May; I figure maybe if I am working on someone elses car, it will appease the mechanical gods, and nothing will go wrong with my car Heck, if you bring some sways, we could install those, as well. Probably not the LSD though, that might be a bit much for trackside work.

Dave

 

I've seen your past posts regarding the Quaiffe and thought that would be a good manufacturer to research first. Honestly, I'm not as mechanically savvy as I'd like to be. Up to this point my upgrades have been minor with emphasis on the nut that sits on my shoulders.

Joel