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S197 BOSS 302 Race Car Build Thread Build Thread

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ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
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Arizona, USA
I will use this thread to chronicle the build progress of my 2012 BOSS 302 into a wheel-to-wheel race car (without a license plate).
Feel free to ask questions etc. as I go along.

I apologize for the broken image links; I am hotlinking most of these pictures from my Facebook page and they keep changing the archive links on me. I'll be moving the files to IMGUR in the near future to ensure consistent file delivery for those of you that are actually interested in reading these updates or those of you starting from the beginning.

Beginning state (picture from February '13 BMO Track Weekend @ Chuckwalla):
vCTqhy9.jpg

Intended competition classes:
NASA ST3 / ProAutosports PS1 race classes (9.0:1 power to weight)


Over the next few months I will be tearing the car down, adding a 6-point roll cage, racing seat, cool shirt system, fire suppression system, electrical cut offs and a few other odds and ends.
Most of the installation/fabrication work is going to be done at a local race shop, but the teardown and some of the smaller items will occur in my garage.

The car will be ready to run October 1 2013, for a series of shakedown events preceding the 2014 race season here in AZ.

Before the teardown even really begins, the car already has the following mods:

  • FRPP 302S Oil Cooler System
    Roush/KW Coil Over Suspension
    Strano adjustable swaybars F/R
    McLeod RXT Clutch w/ Aluminum Flywheel
    CJ Pulse Ring
    YellowBoss 302S Breather System
    302S Splitter
    302S Grille
    LS Wing
    LS Trans Cooler Scoop
    Steeda Shifter
    Sparco steering wheel w/ NRG quick-disconnect
    TracKey
    Roush mufflers
    FRPP 302R LCAs (poly)
    FRPP LCA Relo Brackets
    Energy Suspension UCA bushing (diff side)
    Tiger Racing FG hood
    Clutch assist spring delete
    Maximum Motorsports Bumpsteer Kit
    FRPP 302R/S ABS Module


Here is a shot of the most recently-installed mod, the quick disconnect steering wheel setup:
4yqnYVS.jpg

This weekend I am planning to install a fresh set of spark plugs (Motorcraft SP-519), and install a Lethal Performance off-road X-Pipe along with an AED custom tune. Looks like Ford won't cover a TracKey warranty claim if the vehicle is being used in competition/timed, so it's time to go aftermarket. Stay tuned for more updates as I make progress on the car!
 
Subscribed for all the fun to come.
 
I'm so excited about this! When I think of the Boss, I think of it as a race car first and a street car second. IMO, you are just taking the car back to its correct and pure state. I would love to do this with my car someday. OTOH, with four race car builds under my belt (three of them just LeMons/Chump cars), I have learned it always takes way more time and money than you might think and generally, it's cheaper and easier to just go buy one.

Heck, I'll ask - why don't you just go buy one? Do you have an estimated budget for the build? Back-of-the-napkin math says your car + $45K gets you a shiny brand new 302S. Call Mark Wilson and he might know where to find some gently used ones. I can see that your build will cost less than that, but once you factor-in stuff like your MT-82 assploding...

Anyway, can't wait to see the progress. If you were closer, I would pitch-in. I'm a pretty good tear-down man. Speaking of that, I'm guessing that Gary will be sending you a certifed scale to weigh every damn thing that comes of your car. You will need to factor-in the time to document that. ;)
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
Jimmy Pribble said:
I'm so excited about this! When I think of the Boss, I think of it as a race car first and a street car second. IMO, you are just taking the car back to its correct and pure state. I would love to do this with my car someday. OTOH, with four race car builds under my belt (three of them just LeMons/Chump cars), I have learned it always takes way more time and money than you might think and generally, it's cheaper and easier to just go buy one.

Heck, I'll ask - why don't you just go buy one? Do you have an estimated budget for the build? Back-of-the-napkin math says your car + $45K gets you a shiny brand new 302S. Call Mark Wilson and he might know where to find some gently used ones. I can see that your build will cost less than that, but once you factor-in stuff like your MT-82 assploding...

Anyway, can't wait to see the progress. If you were closer, I would pitch-in. I'm a pretty good tear-down man. Speaking of that, I'm guessing that Gary will be sending you a certifed scale to weigh every damn thing that comes of your car. You will need to factor-in the time to document that. ;)

We're building a LeMons car at the same time, as well :)

As far as pricing, I won't be in a space to plop down 90K+ cash for a car anytime in the near future, I ordered this car with the plan of going down this road. It's going to take roughly another $10K (including a $675 HANS for myself) to make her truly race-ready, but that doesn't include items I can recoup cost on like seats etc. Then another $3K later this year for a G-Stream wing and 302S front LCAs. All in about $15K, plus the car at around $47K OTD, puts the total build around $62K over the course of the last two years.

I have funds I can pull if I have a catastrophic failure like a tranny or (god forbid) engine grenading; I'd prefer not to go that route but I can if I need to. I'm hoping the MT82 will last through 2014 and then I'll put a Magnum XL in the car, but if it lets go I can take care of it soon enough.
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
Here are the passenger bank's plugs:

8ar161A.jpg

sD65H0d.jpg

Touched the battery with my wrench and made a little spark when getting the #8 plug out...now my EPAS is not working. Time to hunt fuses...

EDIT: Roasted the 100A mega-fuse right at the battery + terminal. Time to go to the dealer! EDIT Again: Just kidding, nobody stocks them, just ordered two from Tousley. Looks like I am done for the day.

On the plus side, the car runs nice and smooth with the new plugs!
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
The dual-breaker fuses shipped two-day air from Tousley this morning, I might be able to get the car moved and on jack stands before I need to take off for the weekend. If not, I'm going to work on it incrementally over the course of next week. X-Pipe, AED tune, and 10 gallons of 100 octane are the first items on the hit list.
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
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8,730
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Arizona, USA
Yeah all of the electrodes and straps look great, which is nice. No signs of detonation or anything that would fry a cylinder.
Cyls #1 and 4 seem to have more blackened threads than some of the other cylinders but I don't know if that means anything, might just be how the individual plug threads mate up to the threads in the cyl head.
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
My "helper" is watching me apply some decals. Easy stuff to handle while waiting for parts.

VQICER9.jpg
 
1,482
408
I've been waiting for this thread from you Drew. Good to see you're doing it.

I've been following my friend's SGT SPEC build. Maybe it'll give you an idea or two.

http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php/topic/79652-so-you-want-to-go-racing/
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
Fat Boss said:
I've been waiting for this thread from you Drew. Good to see you're doing it.

I've been following my friend's SGT SPEC build. Maybe it'll give you an idea or two.

http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php/topic/79652-so-you-want-to-go-racing/

Andy:

Thanks! You will see some similar pictures soon. I'm not particularly looking forward to scraping off the sound deadening material. Gonna be a lot of time with a heated blade and a torch. :eek:
 
ArizonaGT said:
I'm not particularly looking forward to scraping off the sound deadening material. Gonna be a lot of time with a heated blade and a torch. :eek:

Or, not. As a bonus, this is from one of our LeMons/Chump builds, so legit, first-hand information. I did two cars with torch and gasket scraper. And then...SCIENCE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTtwg-f5YRc
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
Jimmy Pribble said:
Or, not. As a bonus, this is from one of our LeMons/Chump builds, so legit, first-hand information. I did two cars with torch and gasket scraper. And then...SCIENCE!

[youtube]

images


Yes, I have heard that the dry ice works great on some cars, especially BMWs. Dean at Rehagen said for the S197s to just heat the material with a torch while scraping with a good flat blade. It will take time but not particularly difficult.


Edit: That almost looks like fun :)
 
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