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S197 3V Fabman's build; How did we get here? Build Thread

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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Ahhh,,, forgot abut that .. I deleted the word Forgestar from my memory banks after buying some 18x12s for some Camaros. Not a pleasant buying experience.
Beggars can't be choosers...
 

Fabman

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Apex fixed my wheel blues. Not going to go to a wider wheel and time soon. And it if I do, it would be because Apex comes out with a 18x12.
I've tried....no 18x12s
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,519
8,156
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Every Day I'm not racing:

242255975_10102012087688439_8843632576435377294_n.jpg
 

Fabman

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This time I’m using the good stuff.
Amsoil is amazing in my transmission, no more missed shifts or popping out of gear.
Let’s see how it does in the power steering.
I really need to finish these next few races.

242818885_237064921722299_1671795909746712909_n (1).jpg
 
Last edited:

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
My absolute favorite part of racing is wrenching on shiznit.
Oh wait….no it’s not. :mad:

242687257_237035555058569_8521473503727083529_n.jpg
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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And there it is....a brand new FR500 Rack and pump. (@Albino500 has EVERYTHING is that shed of his)

Just get me through this last race weekend baby and I promise to buy you a brand new BOSS 302s Electric rack just as soon as they are available from Ford.

IMG_3007.jpg
 
1,289
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Philly Metro Area
BOSS 302s Electric rack
Is there any difference in the operation of the 302S rack versus the others? I thought the only difference between the various versions was the internal stops to prevent the models with the wider wheels/tires from rubbing when going from lock to lock. Something that can be tailored using the Roush kit:

 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Is there any difference in the operation of the 302S rack versus the others? I thought the only difference between the various versions was the internal stops to prevent the models with the wider wheels/tires from rubbing when going from lock to lock. Something that can be tailored using the Roush kit:

The programming is different. It’s tuned for racing with big sticky tires. Beyond that I don’t know but that’s what Filip from cortex said to use so that’s what I’m going with.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
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Exp. Type
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20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Apex fixed my wheel blues. Not going to go to a wider wheel and time soon. And it if I do, it would be because Apex comes out with a 18x12.
The difference in width between a 295, 315 and a 335 is only about an inch.
Going from a 10" wheel/295/30 tire to an 11" wheel/315/30 tire is a no brainer.
Going to a 12" wheel/335 is a bunch of work to get things to fit properly, and very limited sources for wheels and flares, more expensive tires etc. so it's much less of a clear choice there. I did it because I had that monster blower motor at the time, but now that I'm N/A stock coyote, it's much less necessary.
Had I the N/A Coyote to start with I don't think I would have bothered with the 12's although at that time Apex hadn't come out with the 11's so its was go big or go home for me.

(Last 2 columns are tread width and overall diameter)

Hoosier sizes.PNG
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
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Interesting. that sort of comfirms what I saw here at the track. My camaro buddies in a pair of zl1s went to 18x12 wheels with 335/30-18 hoosiers and to be honest, the lap times where not that differnet as they were in 19x11 inch 295/315 hoosiers. I looks like it was not worth the effort.

I'll stick with the 315 r7 for now... Or maybe the 300/680-18 Zestino slicks I have yet to try out. They are almost identical in size to the 315 R7's. Hope to cycle them in well before Oct 17, my next race.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,519
8,156
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
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20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Interesting. that sort of comfirms what I saw here at the track. My camaro buddies in a pair of zl1s went to 18x12 wheels with 335/30-18 hoosiers and to be honest, the lap times where not that differnet as they were in 19x11 inch 295/315 hoosiers. I looks like it was not worth the effort.

I'll stick with the 315 r7 for now... Or maybe the 300/680-18 Zestino slicks I have yet to try out. They are almost identical in size to the 315 R7's. Hope to cycle them in well before Oct 17, my next race.
A good driver in a well setup car is hard to beat, an extra inch of tire isn't going to matter much.
Case in point, look at the Phonex boys. Very stockish mustangs going super fast....I mean SUPER fast.
In the end, Talent trumps all.
 

Mad Hatter

Gotta go Faster
5,237
4,227
Santiago, Chile
A good driver in a well setup car is hard to beat, an extra inch of tire isn't going to matter much.
Case in point, look at the Phonex boys. Very stockish mustangs going super fast....I mean SUPER fast.
In the end, Talent trumps all.
Yup that S197's lap times are phenomenal.....Or I should say "that" drivers times are phenomenal.

My friend bought a competitors gen 5 Camaro track car for his 19 son. The kid has been winning at the track since he was 15 years old in small hondas and the like. His second day out ever in a rear wheel drive car and his best time was 2 seconds faster then mine. The cars previous owner never got close to that. Talent!!! Us normal people just have to work hard to do ok... Oh well, maybe I should have started 30 years earlier!!
 

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