Roadrunners SE

[Roadrunner]

Hoping to have ECU sorted by the end of the year, maybe. Few other things to sort out before then though. Watching Dann work his wizardry on the laptop with the car on the dyno made me realise that that is definitely an area left to the experts. Will get Dann's opinion on ECU down the track but will probably go with the Adaptronic.

Umm I think the closest I'v been to North Rocks area is driving the M2 and M7 heading south to Goulburn or cutting across to Mx5Mania. Seem to be doing that trip quite regularly lately. Need a racetrack closer up this way!

Next up some permanent gauges and likely an oil cooler to help with temps.
Not sure how to make this work with the Thompson Oil Relocation Kit but will cross that bridge when I get too it unless anyone has any ideas?

[Apu]

Eh...if you ask me, I'd say Works Engineering relocator, oil cooler kit and gauges!

[Okibi]

Looking great! Pity you didn't get to drive it with the ECU you'd have bought one on the spot.

[NitroDann]

He drove emilies with an elite ecu at 230whp. I'd say he is convinced.

Dann

[Roadrunner]

Yep totally convinced. That was a real eye opener. Loads of power yet so smooth and easy to drive

[Okibi]

Same, I was hoping for (and expecting) a bit more power but im so impressed by how smooth car runs.

[Roadrunner]

Home sick with the flu today so chance for an update.

A few weeks ago I attended my first club track day at Wakefield Park. How awesome was that! Took me a while to get use to the wider track compared too Marulan. I think the first two laps I was only using half the width of the track. After some excellent tuition from Keith I started getting my lines right and gettting smooth and consistent.
I was very happy with the car. Felt nicely balanced, turn in was good and the brakes held up well.

Fastest lap of the day for me was 1.16.25 which I was very happy with. Cant wait to go back and do it again.











Had a bit of a play with the miniaturisation effect. Looks like RC cars:

[flamingsamurai]

Had a bit of a play with the miniaturisation effect. Looks like RC cars:

The long antennas definitely make them look like RC cars.

[Roadrunner]

Unfortunately the heat issue reared its head again on track.
It was a freezing day at Wakefield, max of like 10 degrees but after a few laps the temps started rising up to around a peak of 108degrees.

As soon as I back off it cooled down instantly.
I considered getting an oil cooler installed to help but thought I'd try a few other things first.

Dan suggested that the crappy factory tune running really lean will be causing heat issues on track, and I was suggested to look at the coolant mix and the thermostat.

I was running a 50/50 coolant mix which I've now learnt is not very good at cooling so went out and bought some more coolant and distilled water. I also decided to change the thermostat as I don't know if its ever been changed.
Picked up a high flow thermostat from supercheap.
Highflow top, original bottom:


Original left, highflow right:


So after I changed this all over and mixed up a 25/75 coolant/water mix and burped the system I noticed something that blew me away.
The thermostat opens at 88degrees (yeah yeah don't laugh I never knew )

My car had always run between 95 and 98 degrees on the street. I assumed this was normal!

Now, the car gets up to 88degrees, gets up to maybe 92 max and then instantly drops to 87 again. I was shocked

Not sure if this will help with cooling when on the track, but having the coolant starting at a lower temp will surely help keep off the over 100 degree temps for a little longer?

I went on a club run down the Putty road, decided to give it a bit of a stress test (well, as much as you can on the street). Held third gear through all the tight twisties pushing the red line rather than changing to 4th. even pulling up the steep hill the hottest it got was 94 degrees!
I might hold off on the oil cooler for now to see how it goes at the next track day just as a comparison, and then get an oil cooler put in.
Maybe even see if we can do something about that crappy ecu too

[Roadrunner]

The long antennas definitely make them look like RC cars.

Haha yeah! My headunit activates the antenna regardless if it is on or off. I thought about putting a switch in to deactivate it but I look the look so it stays

[Roadrunner]

With all the club runs im involved with I wanted to install a permanent 2way radio as the driver couldn't hear what was being said when the unit was in the hands of the passenger.

I picked up a GME unit on special.
Plug and play setup. Cigarette lighter power, and compact magnetic antenna and built in speaker (option to plug in external)
However I didn't like the suction cup it came with and the cables running everywhere.


Conveniently it fits in the little cubby hole in front of the gear knob.


The unit is juuust deeper than the pocket, plus the connections on the back are stupidly long.


This bit of plastic behind the cubby hole interferes with the plugs.
Nothing a dremel cant fix


Cut the back off of the cubby box completely. the radio unit is held in by wedging it in. Holds nicely.


Installed and done. Can hear the inbuilt speaker perfectly:


I'll mount a holder for the handset here:


I installed a twin cigarette lighter unit behind the passenger seat for power. (anything in the one next to the gear stick is annoying)
Antenna held by magnetic base between the twin hoops on the roll bar. (looks a little "inadequate" at 2inchs tall but works perfectly)

[Roadrunner]

What happens when you forget to take your hub rings out before a track day
Just a bit melted...

[Nevyn72]

What happens when you forget to take your hub rings out before a track day
Just a bit melted...

Time for an aluminium replacement?

[Roadrunner]

Went too the club Motorkhana day on Sunday at Sydney Motorsport Park.
If you've never done this before, I highly recommend it.
I don't do "silly" things in carparks so getting a chance to do some skidz and hang the rear end out was awesome. Wife loved it as well. A full day for sliding around in the wet was fun!

Car got too a max of 100 degrees which I think would be normal given the circumstances. Dual drivers, very little down time between runs, constantly bouncing off the red line and with little to no air movement through the radiator.

Thanks to David for the photos!









At the end of the day they set up a head to head slalom. I just beat the other guy but over shot the finish line. Cheeky reverse was not missed by the time keepers

[Roadrunner]

Time for an aluminium replacement?

No, just have to be mindful when putting those rims on.
It only centres the hub for fitting the nuts. Went down to Sydney and back on Sunday and didn't have any vibrations without them fitted