Empedocles99 Weekend Track Whore

Started by Empedocles99 · Nov 2, 2007 · 64postsInvision 2005–09SMF 2010–26

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 11:44 am · #1

Hi, I made a track car out of my 1985 ca20e notchback.
I've taken it to Willow Springs (all 3 tracks), and California Speedway. Next up is Laguna Seca.

I've done the suspension, racing seats & harnesses, roll bar, and engine management.

Next up is to put the T2 from the ca18et on my car, and hopefully not blow up the ~~turbo~~ engine.

Check out my megasquirt build thread: Megasquirting
Coming soon: turbo build thread

Here is a gallery of some random pics:

posted image

worr20Nov 2, 2007, 12:35 pm · #2

Good job. nice car. as for the turbo blowing you might want to worrie more about your motor blowing lol.

PremoNov 2, 2007, 1:27 pm · #3

looking good chriss!! lol @ ass sticker on truck lid

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 1:34 pm · #4

Premo
looking good chriss!! lol @ ass sticker on truck lid

The s2000 runs A-Stock class in autocross, so I had two magnetic A's and two S's left over. It was the natural thing to do

PremoNov 2, 2007, 1:40 pm · #5

haha thats classic

asparagusNov 2, 2007, 1:41 pm · #6

Looking great man, don't you hate how high the seat mount locations are? Drives me crazy

New2DriftingNov 2, 2007, 1:44 pm · #7

Empedocles99
The s2000 runs A-Stock class in autocross, so I had two magnetic A's and two S's left over. It was the natural thing to do

haha. funny stuff. your interior WAS in PRESTINE condition.

PremoNov 2, 2007, 1:48 pm · #8

asparagusLooking great man, don't you hate how high the seat mount locations are? Drives me crazy

word. my head hits the roof big time in eric's (hillkill) car. shit, it grazes the thing now with stock seats if i have it upright in a good driving location. ugh i hate being tall sometimes

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 1:53 pm · #9

New2Drifting
haha. funny stuff. your interior WAS in PRESTINE condition.

Yeah, I felt bad about it, nobody even wanted the stuff, I tried to give it away for free, it all ended up in the dump. How tragic is that?

That is... I felt bad until the car was 300lbs lighter or so and was much more fun to drive

asparagus
Looking great man, don't you hate how high the seat mount locations are? Drives me crazy

Yeah, that's why I took out the front half of my cage. The cage would have killed my brainz.

I had a really, really hard time getting the seats mounted, and I am still not totally comfortable with how they turned out

asparagusNov 2, 2007, 1:58 pm · #10

^haha I TOTALLY know what you mean. I used the stock rails/sliders with my universal seat mounts and I had to make the best of it. The seating position is great for driving I suppose, but it could be A LOT better.
I really wish I could do something as extensive as this but I don't think many sanctioning bodies would condone to this.

posted image

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 2:02 pm · #11

asparagus
^haha I TOTALLY know what you mean. I used the stock rails/sliders with my universal seat mounts and I had to make the best of it. The seating position is great for driving I suppose, but it could be A LOT better.
I really wish I could do something as extensive as this but I don't think many sanctioning bodies would condone to this.

I don't race any sanctioned events, so that would work. I have wanted to make something like that, but I don't have confidence in my welder or my welding

PremoNov 2, 2007, 2:12 pm · #12

dumb question but why dont they allow that at sanctioned events???

New2DriftingNov 2, 2007, 2:35 pm · #13

not sure either premo... that seems way safer to me than what we have to work with stock.

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 3:13 pm · #14

Premo
dumb question but why dont they allow that at sanctioned events???

Sometimes they're pretty particular about safety stuff, and assume that stock is better than the potential hack jobs that people do.

I don't have any evidence that it is not good enough for one particular body or another though.

TalkingGoatsNov 2, 2007, 3:37 pm · #15

Car looks great! How comfortable is that sparco seat? How well does it keep you centered? Impair any mobility?

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 3:50 pm · #16

DeathAndMajesty
Car looks great! How comfortable is that sparco seat? How well does it keep you centered? Impair any mobility?

You've got to be pretty narrow to use that particular seat. But... you do not move in that seat at all. The bolsters are really deep and the whole seat is tube-framed so it's rigid.

It's comfortable as long as you're not too big, I'm probably as big as I'd want to be in them, my co-driver who is a little bigger than me, gets his ribs get a little squished when he sits in them.

You can't reach much besides the driving controls when you're in the seat with the harnesses on. Ingress/Egress is pretty tricky, gotta be acrobatic and use the roof to help you out.

All that said, they are perfect for racing, and tearing ass around the hood.

EternalSwapNov 2, 2007, 4:38 pm · #17

Sweet project Chris. But PS: Your steering wheel is inside-out. unbolt it, and flip it the other way

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 5:19 pm · #18

EternalNewbie
Sweet project Chris. But PS: Your steering wheel is inside-out. unbolt it, and flip it the other way

What, really? haha, how do you know?

If I flip it the other way, it'll be even closer to the driver, the momo hub puts it pretty close.

asparagusNov 2, 2007, 6:47 pm · #19

Yeah I dont think a steering wheel is ever supposed to concave outwards

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 6:56 pm · #20

asparagus
Yeah I dont think a steering wheel is ever supposed to concave outwards

Eh, it works

New2DriftingNov 2, 2007, 7:12 pm · #21

i was thinking that but didn't say anything... knowing my luck, it's some "drifting thing" that im ignorant of. haha. why not grind the welds smooth and paint the floor? then they wouldnt even know at a "sanctioned event"

Empedocles99Nov 2, 2007, 7:16 pm · #22

New2Drifting
i was thinking that but didn't say anything... knowing my luck, it's some "drifting thing" that im ignorant of. haha. why not grind the welds smooth and paint the floor? then they wouldnt even know at a "sanctioned event"

If I had the welding knowhow I would do it. The seat brackets in there aren't really the best.

200sxkitcarNov 2, 2007, 7:42 pm · #23

Wow man, nice car. I'd have to say that *was* indeed probably the cleanest interior I've ever seen in a 200. Now its even better, being that much lighter Love those rims too, definitely fit the car well. What is that pic of the small metal piece by the coins in one of the pics?

EternalSwapNov 2, 2007, 9:28 pm · #24

Empedocles99
What, really? haha, how do you know?

If I flip it the other way, it'll be even closer to the driver, the momo hub puts it pretty close.

I have the exact same wheel I think. Egay spl?

OzchuckNov 3, 2007, 11:20 pm · #25

wow, quite a few of you yanks are making good track cars out of 12's now, i like it.

JuneBugNov 4, 2007, 12:50 am · #26

New2Drifting
i was thinking that but didn't say anything... knowing my luck, it's some "drifting thing" that im ignorant of. haha. why not grind the welds smooth and paint the floor? then they wouldnt even know at a "sanctioned event"

Or just put the carpet back in the car, it doesn't weigh that much.

OzchuckNov 4, 2007, 1:42 am · #27

Any event that is anal enough to force you to keep a stock floorpan will be sure to check your floorpan.
drift, most autocross, sprints and lots of mixed circut categories will be fine with a modified floor pan

ptclaus98Nov 22, 2007, 5:25 pm · #28

How did it drive? Was it quick? Did you feel comfortable pushing it? It seems like it's top heavy because of the ride height.

asparagusNov 22, 2007, 5:39 pm · #29

How was driving horse thief mile at wsir? I went there for asb2 and it MUST have been killer going uphill in that ca20

ryan206Nov 22, 2007, 9:12 pm · #30

Man! Your interior is CLEAN!!

If I would've seen it for sale, I would've bought everything and had it shipped...

Do you have JDM Markers? If you do, take them off when you race! If you wreck, its gonna suck more messing up a set of JDM Markers

Empedocles99Nov 23, 2007, 12:23 pm · #31

asparagus
How was driving horse thief mile at wsir? I went there for asb2 and it MUST have been killer going uphill in that ca20

Oh crap yeah, it was painful. We could keep up with everyone on the track for the most part except the uphill. We only got 2 sessions in before the clutch died when we went there though.

Definitely need more power for that track. The other two tracks were fine though, not as much elevation change

eminem_rh25
Man! Your interior is CLEAN!!

If I would've seen it for sale, I would've bought everything and had it shipped...

Do you have JDM Markers? If you do, take them off when you race! If you wreck, its gonna suck more messing up a set of JDM Markers

My interior was clean, before I tore it all apart

I don't think I have JDM markers, the car was owned by older folks for most of its life, who weren't too up on that kind of thing, and I really am not going to spend much money on aesthetics for this car.

ptclaus98
How did it drive? Was it quick? Did you feel comfortable pushing it? It seems like it's top heavy because of the ride height.

The car drives superbly.

It basically has a slight edge over lightly modified miatas at most of the tracks I've been to.

I drive it as fast as I can while keeping it on the track, and it feels very capable. My only complaint is braking stability, I might get a brake bias adjuster.

It might be able to use a lowering, but the suspension is already a vast improvement over the stock performance, and I just don't feel like putting much more money in to it.

Empedocles99Nov 23, 2007, 1:31 pm · #32

Oh, I'm going to California speedway on the 'Roval' course (2/3 of the oval + the infield).

Should be able to get it up to top speed this time, I'm thinking. I'll let you all know what that turns out to be

ptclaus98Nov 23, 2007, 11:02 pm · #33

Empedocles99
The car drives superbly.

It basically has a slight edge over lightly modified miatas at most of the tracks I've been to.

I drive it as fast as I can while keeping it on the track, and it feels very capable. My only complaint is braking stability, I might get a brake bias adjuster.

It might be able to use a lowering, but the suspension is already a vast improvement over the stock performance, and I just don't feel like putting much more money in to it.

Can you tell me how it drives at Laguna? I'm excited now that it is like a stock-ish Miata. I was gonna try an do something like you did once I got an S12.

Do you think I might have understeer problems with a KA, or no?

JonBNov 23, 2007, 11:10 pm · #34

Nice car. Is that a CA20? What were you doing with that ECU? Maybee just add some diagonal braces to the seat mount.

EternalSwapNov 24, 2007, 1:45 am · #35

When are you going to CA speedway?

Empedocles99Nov 25, 2007, 10:37 pm · #36

EternalNewbie
When are you going to CA speedway?

Dec. 2, with these folks: http://www.speedventures.com/

JonB
Nice car. Is that a CA20? What were you doing with that ECU? Maybee just add some diagonal braces to the seat mount.

I took the connectors off of a spare ecu to make a custom wiring harness for my megasquirt ecu.

Empedocles99Dec 28, 2007, 4:51 pm · #37

Today, I am spray painting the car flat black. I built a paint booth in my garage, washed, sanded, and washed the car.

Right now, I'm in the middle of masking (doing a 'quick' job, not taking panels off).

Pictures forthcoming tomorrow, unless I screw up

Correction: I finished the paint today (minus the wheels), but didn't get it out of the garage for pictures. It looks good, pictures to come in a week or two after I take vacation

Empedocles99Dec 31, 2007, 6:36 pm · #38

Picture of the paint, as promised:

posted image

I still want to spray the wheels gold, they're a pain to clean, and haven't had the time to yet.

200sxkitcarJan 1, 2008, 8:21 pm · #39

Nicely done! I think that looks great w/the chrome trim. I loooooove the stock turbo meshies I just wish they stuck out a bit further.

EternalSwapJan 1, 2008, 10:10 pm · #40

Looks good Chris, thats a nice rattle job

That looks a lot like Mira Mesa...

Empedocles99Jun 16, 2008, 4:21 pm · #41

Yeah, I looked up the torque spec at the time, and you're right, you can sort of guestimate how much torque you've applied once you've done enough of these.

I think, upon further relflection, I used manifold gaskets for a ca20e, not an 18et, which apparently has a different part number, huh...

200sxkitcarJun 16, 2008, 8:24 pm · #42

I would thread out the head for longer studs, as they are only threaded a very little bit (maybe 3/8"??) from the factory to work with the stock studs. They tend to loosen/strip out because of the fact that so little material is being engaged. Its a SOHC CA thing, happens to both the CA20 and CA18's all the time. The hole in the head is actually quite a bit deeper than what they have threaded, so I'd thread it all the way and get a longer stud, that should fix the problem.

Copper exhaust mani gaskets would solve any leaking issues, I wonder how much they would be to have custom made. Couldn't be too much, they're super simple pieces.

Your pulling problem may be a caliper issue, or it may be a bushing issue. I know that you replaced some of the parts with poly, but the notch I sold to a friend he went thru the ENTIRE brake system only to find that one of the control arm or tension rod bushing/bracket was shot, and the entire wheel was toe-out under the braking force, hence the drift/pull to that side. Something to consider, anyhow. Its difficult to notice play when the car is in the air, it may take a good deal of force (like the weight transfer of the car slowing) to actually get any perceivable play, so it might be a good idea to go over all these parts and make sure everything is tight.

Good to see that you are still in this, you're car is one of the coolest I've seen yet!

Empedocles99Jun 16, 2008, 8:45 pm · #43

200sxkitcar @ Jun 16 2008, 01:24 PM
Copper exhaust mani gaskets would solve any leaking issues, I wonder how much they would be to have custom made. Couldn't be too much, they're super simple pieces.

Good idea, I'll get some if the oem 18et gaskets die.

200sxkitcar @ Jun 16 2008, 01:24 PM
Your pulling problem may be a caliper issue, or it may be a bushing issue.

It was a leaky right front caliper. I replaced the left one, and the right one died shortly after (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I didn't have any braking problems at all, even with the extra speed from the turbo (think, 100mph in 4th threshold braking to about 35 in 2nd gear followed shortly by another quick stab two short turns later).

200sxkitcarJun 16, 2008, 11:30 pm · #44

Nice. all that weight loss is good. You are still running the stock brake stuffs, correct? Besides hi-pro pads?

Empedocles99Jun 16, 2008, 11:53 pm · #45

200sxkitcar @ Jun 16 2008, 04:30 PM
Nice. all that weight loss is good. You are still running the stock brake stuffs, correct? Besides hi-pro pads?

Yep, stock brake system.

Weight reduction, racing brake fluid, and amazing racing pads.

Empedocles99Jun 20, 2008, 2:46 am · #46

Exhaust stud backed out, causing the exhaust gasket to blow out.

Replaced the stud, made sure it's extra snug. I hate putting that last exhaust manifold nut back on, it's so hard to reach (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

200sxkitcarJun 20, 2008, 5:31 am · #47

Did you replace it with a longer one? They tend to re-thread themselves back out, often times taking the aluminum with them...

That nut is the one definite downfall of the sohc CA turbo setup, what a pain in the ass!

200sxkitcarJun 15, 2009, 12:17 am · #48

i have mad skillz when it comes to working on s12s?

no, i just know which combination of shit to push/pull in the door to pop it open. the black se is open now, too.

200sxkitcarJul 20, 2009, 2:24 am · #49

Yeahhh.

when i got it,

a bit too close. somewhat of a boostleak me thinks So I tossed on some duct tape. stupid. burned off nearly immediately haha... some heat reflective furnace tape would have been ok but the car runs fine so fuck it! lol

that was a big update. damn

Ju_S12_TurboJul 21, 2009, 8:42 pm · #50

haha sell me one of those seats for the drivers lol