Captdistraction's ST2/GTR build thread Build Thread

[captdistraction]

Thinking about that event. I haven't picked up a trailer yet due to the pending house sale (the market listing begins tomorrow ) but I have some options from some really great people if I need it

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

June 4th is MiniFest, bro!

Pro is running some summer events that you should be able to take advantage of. Then INDE in September, perhaps?

 

[captdistraction]

I think it would be too hot by the 18th right? Oops on the dates. I haven't had a second to sit down and get my calendar reviewed and planned.

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

Too hot...nah. But it will be hot, no doubt. Wear that cool shirt!

 

[captdistraction]

Installed the watts link, gt500 brakes, arp studs, Vorshlag nuts, Torsen t2 and reinstalled the remaining hardware. Just have to install the rear coil overs and the exterior is basically complete

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

I can almost feel the sense of motivation from here

 

[captdistraction]

So an update and a couple minor bugs to work out:

The car's logged 150 miles, and no major issues. During the drive the car performed well, keeping revs low but varying speed and in traffic. It makes all the noises being a stripped chassis racecar, but nothing as terrible as I expected with all the solid suspension, rod ends, etc.

The watts, rear JRZ shocks, updated front springs, Torsen, and other minor BMR pieces are all fitted and externally the car is 100% complete. There's some minor incompatibility with the eibach swaybar and whiteline lower LCA brackets (making removal difficult), and a minor swaybar to watts housing clearance issue at full droop (and only at full droop, the bar rubs very slightly against the watts). Its still to be determined if I'll even run that bar, or consider another, or go without. The watson reduced size bar is looking good, however.

The drives went great, and I even stopped at a car show with my buddy who just took delivery of his GT350R:

All sorts of dumb questions and I let a dozen people and kids climb in the car to sit in it, and generally had a good time. Not without a downside though, on the way out, a SBY 2013 boss followed me, and while merging onto a highway under construction, he made a super sketchy pass at full bore at the last possible second and "pushed" me off the road onto the shoulder, nearly clipping some barrels in his -redacted- stroking manuever, or rage as I wasn't going crazy fast on the onramp. I don't imagine that guy is on this board, but just in case I have a pair of fresh middle fingers for him. Nothing like working very hard on something for a couple years just to have some asshat try to undo it all in the brainless effort to make a carshow meme.

Onward and upward, here are my two bugs:

Bug 1: Engine makes some odd noises once heated up. Its cyclic and I can hear it from the front cover, a somewhat buzzing/moaning sound that follows RPM. It only shows up when warmed and I can't tell what it is. ArizonaBoss and I agree that its likely electronics, possibly the throttle body that was making incredible amounts of noise even when the engine is KOEO and actuating. It doesn't hurt performance, oil is normal (slight smell of gas in a sample, but to be expected). I'll post up the video, but no going crazy on MMR just yet, lets stay focused on the issue (or likely non-issue now after 150 miles):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf_U0VSTnd8

Issue two:
Can't fully disengage the clutch. Its a custom unit based on a mcleod RXT, and I think we built it too tall. That being said, I don't think I'm getting enough movement out of my slave to fully disengage it. Hard to shift from neutral, and can hear it kicking around the input shaft a bit when clutching in at low speeds. Chatters a bit, but also was TBE. Clutch engagement begins instantly as you pull the pedal up, sometimes even a little movement out of the car when fully down to the floor, but it feels like its right there, just need a bit more engagement.

I was thinking about using one of those RAM shims (.158" shim) under the slave and see if that improves it. Thoughts there?

Otherwise this thing is beastly, rides great on the JRZs (a little firm, but so well damped/controlled). I'm honestly thinking about going up from 600 front rate to 700, and doing another inch shorter spring as my final ride heights were 26.75" Fender to ground, 27.75" rear (though can lose an inch there if desired).

Soon I'll have some driving videos up for you guys and dyno time in a couple weeks.

 

[captdistraction]

Photos for the above:

 

[VoodooBoss]

So yours really is a RCWALP!

 

[Fabman]

Photos for the above:

Car really turned out nice...

 

[captdistraction]

So yours really is a RCWALP!

Not for too long, just breaking it in this way. Hopefully we make more progress on the home front soon so I can start looking at trailer options more indepth.

We're getting really close to the first track day, bummer I landed this on the summer break here however at least time will be on my side going into the fall event season

 

[Fabman]

So yours really is a RCWALP!

I give up....whats a RCWALP?

 

[VoodooBoss]

Race Car With A License Plate. It's a Boss owners thing...

 

[captdistraction]

Drove it around again today, we're up to 250 miles. At some point soon we'll change the oil, get the tune refined, get it aligned, and lets get it on track! Still a lot more prep to get it "race" ready, legal and logbook'ed, but great strides.

My social media is littered with photos and videos of the car as its snuck around town.

That said, I'm no longer really worried about the engine noise, whatever it is, its drowned out by the million other sounds this car makes,a nd having had a chance to romp on it a bit now, I'm certain its not an issue haunting me.

Though I still need to figure out the clutch before I add too much wear to the trans (I did order a small shim), and I can't seem to get the steering linkage tight enough on the rack to eliminate all play. Anyone have issues there?

 

[captdistraction]

Continuing prep at a slow pace, I've managed to put some more miles on the car and work out a few issues. The steering rack is fixed, the odd noise is no longer a mystery. It was the waterpump making noise while the water level overall was low. I have a small leaj somewhere around the boss 302 oil cooler (why I have that thing installed....), and I believe the system never fully bled due to the bridge/heater core bypass I had built. I'm monitoring it, but I hadn't found the exact source of the leak. I can smell it from under the car near the oil filter, and I can smell it when laying into the throttle hard, but I can't find any source of liquid water or evidence of water evaporation (there is indeed some on the trays, but can't tell if it was from a water hose wash vs the coolant system)

Otherwise things are going well and will be slow over the summer. The first trackday is an unknown for me with the summer break and my house being sold on July 1st. Hopefully can get a day in before the great sonoma trip.

All that's left from an install perspective:
Install center and side nets
plumb the fire system nozzles (the pulls and bottle are all set)
finish configuration of the racecapture system, prep a gopro mount
oil change and install the external oil cooler (maybe delete the boss liquid to liquid one?), along with the gauges for the racecapture pro and standalone gauges (already prewired)
align and corner balance the car, adjust all the suspension settings

Its turning out really great. Also, we'll get on a Dyno sunday (not an official dyno, but a mobile dyno of unknown make) for fun. I'll be sure to have some video taken soon, along with some writeups on the RCP system which I think is one of my favorite aspects of this car.

Some pictures of the progressing work:

Telemetry and fire system wired up. Those 3" ducts really move air from the quarter windows! took care of my hot footwell issue

external cutoffs (not required but I've always liked the idea of a interior and exterior emergency kill and fire pull). They both work (the external switch is in series with the relay trigger)

Not the traditional AIM dash, but a very neat concept and system. The little bar with squares below is a multistage shift light

 

[302 Hi Pro]

Beautiful car build, excellent workmanship.

It must be very gratifying when your behind the wheel during testing and sorting.

As for the coolant leak, did you check the weep hole on the water pump during a pressure test? Sometimes the least expected component is the cause and sometimes only when running.

Good luck and keep the pics coming. Also looking forward to some vids of the car running by the camera so we can hear the beast in action!

One of my favorite threads on TMO.

All the best,
Dave
2HP

 

[VoodooBoss]

Is @ArizonaBOSS still using his stock oil cooler? While it hasn't been systemic there have been enough documented failures that I'd look to remove at some point.

 

[captdistraction]

He is I believe. Maybe give him my new hoses as spare and just delete it. I may still have the factory screw insert for non-boss cars which that and a gt lower hose are all that is needed to eliminate it.

Drove 80 miles north to Prescott for a car show weekend, no promises but there may be some dyno footage soon

 

[captdistraction]

So the noise is back and it's definitely in the timing area under the front cover. Can't tell what's causing it but I will pull the covers off early July and inspect and go from there. It's not causing any unusual running or timing issues and from what I can see the passenger side chains are nice and tight.

I'll get it home and really it won't run again until after I move on July 1st. I'll continue working on it and getting it track ready but the Sonoma trip may not happen for me

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

Sorry, I couldn't resist ;D