Venturing down the slippery slope - SKYHI Motorsports SE

[SKYHI]

More camber... How much rake does the car have? Lower ride height?

Yes the plan is for more front camber via some ELBJs. Would like to run about 3.0 degrees on the front and 2.5 degrees on the rear if i can get it, to see how that goes. The rears were at around 2.3 degrees before I had my last alignment, so i know I can get at least that out of them.

Strangely enough the lack of front camber in my current alignment didn't seem to have too much effect on tyre temperatures. They were consistently about 5 degrees hotter on the inside of the tyre than the outside, when we took the temps with the infrared thermometer after each run.

The car is currently about 5mm higher in the rear end than the front. Ride heights, well it depends where you measure it from Centre of the wheel to the guard is about 315mm on the front and 320mm on the rear. That equates to about 120mm from the ground to the pinch weld on the front and 125mm on the rear.

[NitroDann]

You will need to get a probe style tyre pyrometer to get the right camber/castor settings. Learn to string/tape/level align the car yourself and it turns out to be pretty quick and easy.

Dann

[SKYHI]

You will need to get a probe style tyre pyrometer to get the right camber/castor settings. Learn to string/tape/level align the car yourself and it turns out to be pretty quick and easy.

Dann

Yep, have a probe style pyro on order

Agreed, string line alignments are worth doing. I have been involved in a couple at the tracks over the years, but would like to get a setup together to use on this car at some point.

[plohl]

Good job with the 63 dude.
How'd you find it compared to your old car? I think you did similar times to that back in the day.

[SKYHI]

Thanks man. I think you're right. I remember doing a 63.0 in qualifying and being disappointed that I couldn't crack a 62

It's a completely different beast. The only thing this car has over the white car at that point is more power, and we all know Lakeside is not about power. Other than that it's heavier, not as stiff, is very soft, doesn't brake as well, and the tyres aren't R specs. The jury is still out on the comparable grip levels between the tyres however. I was pretty impressed with them, but wasn't game to push too hard my first time out with the car, and on the AD08Rs.

[SKYHI]

Haven't had a lot of spare time of late, and as usual, trying to fit in a few things just before a track day.

Last weekend I finally found time to finish installing the MCA X-R coilovers. These have the default 10kg front springs, 6kg rear springs, and valving. They should be an improvement over the MCA Blues that came out, and hopefully help eliminate the bit of understeer we are currently experiencing, given the difference in spring rates front to rear is less than it use to be with the 9kg front and 5kg rear springs.



The other thing I wanted to do was remove the AC, and in particular the condenser. As I'm currently still running the standard SE radiator, I wanted to give it as much air as possible to keep temps under control. I also took the opportunity to try and duct a bit more air through the radiator, by placing a piece of coreflute from the undertray to the underside of the radiator. Want to keep the heating, so everything under the dash has remained for now. Hopefully this will do the trick until I get around to installing a new radiator.



lastly, I also took out the electric aerial for a bit of extra weight savings. Eventually the head unit and the speakers will come out as well. Nice little grommet to seal off the hole.



All in all managed to take 12.6kgs in weight out of the car

[greenMachine]

Interested to see you doing this. I am keeping all the creature comforts, hoping that driver skill can overcome the weight handicap

[SKYHI]

It was more about getting the condenser out of the way than anything. Eventually I will upgrade the radiator, do the reroute and ducting, but even then I'd still want to remove the condenser to avoid it blocking airflow to the radiator. I hardly use the AC anyway, and it could all be reinstalled fairly simply if need be. It practically cost me nothing to do either. I'm more about keeping the car cool than me

Same for the stereo gear. I don't use it anyway, and if I want tunes I'll just play music off my phone through a bluetooth speaker.

[SKYHI]

Last tweak before I hit the track was another alignment to dial out some rear toe in. Finished up with this:

Front Left: Camber -1.88 deg..........................Front Right: Camber -1.87 deg
..............Toe +0.1mm................................................Toe -0.1mm
..............Caster +6.74 deg...........................................Caster +6.60 deg

Rear Left: Camber -1.96 deg...........................Rear Right: Camber -1.96 deg
..............Toe +0.8mm................................................Toe +0.9mm

Surprisingly the lack of camber doesn't really seem to be a big issue with the AD08R tyres. I'm thinking the relatively low level of grip compared to
an R Spec tyre, means it copes better with less camber. Tyre temps were pretty even across the tyre.

Along with the new coilovers, the reduced amount of rear toe definitely improved the car balance and gave me more confidence to push for a new PB.

[SKYHI]

Thought I'd do up a list of modifications, so that i can check them off as I develop the car. Not necessarily in order, some things might change, and I'm sure I've missed others. Who knew there was so much to do

1. Braided brake lines
2. Qstarz BT-Q818Xt Bluetooth GPS receiver
3. Scosche car mount
4. MS3 cable
5. Longacre tyre pyrometer
6. Extended lower ball joints
7. New radiator
8. Coolant reroute
9. Radiator ducting
10. Inconel studs
11. Ecliptech shift light
12. Hardtop
13. Delrin bushes
14. Adjustable front and rear sway bars
15. Adjustable sway bar end links
16. SKUNK 2 throttle body
17. Oil cooler
18. Corner weight and weigh
19. RaceCapture Pro
20. Pi3 or tablet for digital display
21. 9” wheels with 225/45/15 tyres
22. Coil over plugs
23. Mazdacomp subframe braces
24. Lightweight Battery
25. Lightweight mirrors
26. Depower Steering rack
27. Fuel pump and FPR
28. E85 fittings and tune

STAGE 2
1. Built bottom end
2. Twistmount turbo and manifold
3. Hood vents
4. Front splitter and lip/dam
5. GT-250 Rear wing

Ticking off number 1 on the list this week before our next Time Attack event on Saturday.

[Magpie]

7. New radiator

I'm about to investigate using a Honda Civic radiator and a small oil cooler in place of the current PWR setup. Will let you know how it goes.

[greenMachine]

Have a talk to Chris W (Zossy1 here, probably best to PM him, or PM me for his phone number), he ran one in the Blue Rocket. Search on here, there may be info on his installation. Isn't Madjack running one too?

[plohl]

Maybe move bonnet vents to stage one. They help a heap with cooling. I wish I was allowed to use them in 2f.
What session are you doing on Saturday? I'll be there too

[ManiacLachy]

Pretty comprehensive list.

I agree with plohl, move vents up to stage 1, they'll be all sorts of help to your cooling.

But I'd move the re-route to stage 2, not much point doing it in our car's (NB8Bs/SEs) unless you change the head gasket at the same time. It won't hurt, but it won't really help either, so I'd leave it until the engine build.

Along with the ELBJs you'll need to clearance your FUCAs, NB8Bs got an added gusset which reduces the size of the pocket, and the ELBJs will change the geometry and the coilovers can rub on the FUCA. You just need to grind away at the gusset to gain back precious millimetres. Do it all at the same time as the bushing swap.

No 10., where are the inconel studs going?

No 14., the guys at SuperMiata think the SE's rear sway bar (14mm) is perfect and advocate changing only the front to the 1.125" Racing Beat bar.

I'm going to do my best to remember to come out this Saturday! I assume it's Lakeside?

[SKYHI]

7. New radiator

I'm about to investigate using a Honda Civic radiator and a small oil cooler in place of the current PWR setup. Will let you know how it goes.

Will be interested to see how the smaller radiator copes. Where is your oil cooler currently mounted?