SN95 RinerAutomotive's CAM-T Mustang Build Thread Profile - SN95 Mustangs

[RinerAuto]

Talking about the PS pump reminded me - if you ever have problems with cavitation in the PS pump, try the Redline PS fluid. Back when I was autocrossing the Neon, they had a tendency to cavitate on sustained hard inputs - end of a long slalom and suddenly you lose a bunch of power assist. The Redline power steering fluid solved that.

It's odd, I hear the sound during acceleration like from the start or from slow sweepers. but it eventually goes away and I don't feel any change in the steering. The end goal for me is electric power steering, so I'm not putting anything into the stock system. This has forced my hand to dive into that quicker.

 

[RinerAuto]

I've been slacking on keeping this updated, things have been busy.

The Ponies in the Smokies autocross was an awesome time. I managed to finish in first for the Ponies in the Smokies autocross and then competed in the King of the Smokies shootout with those 11 cars. We only got 3 runs and the course was reversed from the course ran during the normal autocross. I was the most experienced autocrosser and my car is setup for it, but never count out a GT500 or Mach 1. This course also was on a slope so there was a lot of downhill, uphill, and off camber corners. After 1 run I had a good lead. My second run was ~1 second faster but I picked up a cone right at the finish and someone went slightly quicker than me so I got knocked down to 2nd.

Last run I knew there was a lot more if I could get one particular corner right. There was a downhill off camber corner that I overcooked on each of my previous runs. Everything was feeling great as I came through the finish...another 1 second faster and clean! I won the King of the Smokies autocross by 0.9 sec. Doing what I had come out to do. I know the rest of the events are not going to go my way (drag race, dyno, car show).

Videos for all of my days at Ponies in the Smokies are available on this Playlist:
Playlist - Ponies in the Smokies 2024

 

[JDmustang82]

Awesome video! Makes me want to do this next year! What do you use for a camera to get the speed and coarse layout?

 

[RinerAuto]

Awesome video! Makes me want to do this next year! What do you use for a camera to get the speed and coarse layout?

You're in luck I have a video on that

But, I've done it two ways in the past:
1. I used to use Track Addict on a tablet to get GPS and OBD2. Then GoPro to record video on car. On PC use RaceRender to import Track Addict file and Video. Sync data and video and overlay is done
2. Use a GoPro Hero 8, which has built in GPS. On PC use RaceRender to import video file and it finds and extracts GPS data from the video file. Data is synced to video but I have found it to still be slightly off, but easily fixed in the software. Overlay done

This year I bought SoloStorm and run that on a tablet in the car. It can do overlays, but I'm having trouble getting it to control and sync to my GoPro. It's a lot of work but I can copy video file over to the tablet to do the overlay. I sometimes do that for my fastest run.

Overall RaceRender is super easy, fully customizable, and is free for short videos (<3min).

 

[RinerAuto]

It's odd, I hear the sound during acceleration like from the start or from slow sweepers. but it eventually goes away and I don't feel any change in the steering. The end goal for me is electric power steering, so I'm not putting anything into the stock system. This has forced my hand to dive into that quicker.

The last event was in the rain and the car was making the noise a lot. I'm now leaning towards it being a pulley bearing. Although I have started acquiring parts for the electric power steering, so I'm still going down that road. But the fix might be cheaper than I initially thought. I have replaced all of the pulleys in the last 2 years, so it is a bummer if it is actually a pulley.

I can't get it to make noise all the time especially at idle, so it's been difficult to troubleshoot.

 

[RinerAuto]

On another note, enclosed trailer and canopy are very nice during rain events

 

[Fabman]

On another note, enclosed trailer and canopy are very nice during rain events
View attachment 94958

Ballin'

 

[Goat_House_Racing]

Nice build! Do you have any details on your custom SLA that can be shared?

 

[RinerAuto]

Nice build! Do you have any details on your custom SLA that can be shared?

What kind of details interested in? I have several build videos on my YouTube channel.

 

[RinerAuto]

Been slacking on updates. Currently in the process of installing an electric power steering column from a Prius and manual steering rack. More details to come once I finish.

It's going to be tough but I want to learn left foot braking. But the clutch pedal is so high compared to the brake pedal. Luckily Maximum Motorsports makes a clutch pedal adjuster. I also put a spacer on the end of the throttle cable at the pedal to raise it up off the floor some. I think that will really help Ashley as she has to stretch to push the pedal 100%.

While checking random things I found a metal like sludge on the rear axle magnetic plug. Checking the differential it is...I didn't find any chunks of metal but the differential could move some when I pulled on it. Going to replace the bearings and reshim. The car has a discontinued autocross specific Auburn diff.

Oh did I mention I have less than 1 week until I head to UMI Motorsports Park for Muscle on the Mountain autocross. I'm the only SN95 mustang. The next newest mustang from my 1994 is a 2013.

 

[Goat_House_Racing]

What kind of details interested in? I have several build videos on my YouTube channel.

I've been watching them although without an extensive suspension background coming up with the exact locations for modifying the k member and such. I've been looking at the Griggs setup vs your all in spend video would you do custom had it over again?

 

[RinerAuto]

I've been watching them although without an extensive suspension background coming up with the exact locations for modifying the k member and such. I've been looking at the Griggs setup vs your all in spend video would you do custom had it over again?

I did a video on the cost comparison. Although I have spent over $5000 and have had to do some redesign that is still considerably cheaper than Griggs or Cortex. Plus the learning experience and knowledge gained would not be there if I just bolted on a premade design. But the premade design is designed to work, while I have had to figure some things out. In the end I would do it again.

As far as the k-member, I modified to save money. If I had the money at the time and maybe in the future I would go with a maximum motorsports k-member. Like the MM my k-member pickup points are just raised 1" in position 1 and 2" in position 2. The k-member modifications are really easy. It's figuring out the placement of the upper arm is where you need a design program.

 

[Fabman]

I did a video on the cost comparison. Although I have spent over $5000 and have had to do some redesign that is still considerably cheaper than Griggs or Cortex. Plus the learning experience and knowledge gained would not be there if I just bolted on a premade design. But the premade design is designed to work, while I have had to figure some things out. In the end I would do it again.

As far as the k-member, I modified to save money. If I had the money at the time and maybe in the future I would go with a maximum motorsports k-member. Like the MM my k-member pickup points are just raised 1" in position 1 and 2" in position 2. The k-member modifications are really easy. It's figuring out the placement of the upper arm is where you need a design program.

Its been fun following along.

 

[RinerAuto]

Its been fun following along.

Thanks Sal! I enjoy following your car as well.

 

[RinerAuto]

Life is keeping me quite busy. I have managed to get some work done on the car though. I recently completed an electric power steering conversion. I decided on using the electric column from a 2nd gen Prius, a Unisteer manual rack, and an Inductive Autoworks EPS controller.

I was able to use the complete column with little modifications along with the Unisteer steering shaft and u-joint that fit the Prius spline for a complete bolt in application. The pros I dropped weight from the engine, reduced overall weight, removed parasitic drag from the engine, added quick ratio steering, removed flammable liquid from the car.



I do still need to figure out mounting the turn signal stock. I found out it's need for brake lights to work as well I went with a shorter hub adapter as well which gives us more room for our arms. Ashley has to sit all the way forward so she is liking the extra arm room.

I drove the car around on the street as a break-in and it felt ok. I unfortunately didn't get a trial event before taking it to UMI's Muscle on the Mountain. The first run it felt terrible, it was heavy in quick transitions. I found out the speed input into the EPS controller wasn't working. For the next run I changed it to constant assist level of 80%. This was much better, but the steering now felt to light. I backed down to 70% which was better. By the end of the event I had it set to 75%.

I have talked to Inductive and realize I'm missing a wire for the speed sensor input to work, so hopefully that will allow me to set power assist based on vehicle speed.

I knew going into this that some tuning would be required. I think once I get it figured out it will be a killer system....hopefully

Install video:

 

[RinerAuto]

I've been bad at updating this lately. Since last post in July I've gone to UMI's Muscle on the Mountain, UMI's King of the Mountain, SCCA Nationals, and many local events. Season has been up and down. I think I'm getting the car on the right path though.

Autocross season is almost over though. I have 2 events left for the year. With the last one being with my local club that I'm fighting for a repeat Overall PAX Championship. I am 2 points down from 1st place, but it's going to be really hard to win. The guy in first has been super consistent in a borrowed FS Mach 1.

 

[RinerAuto]

Last week I competed in the North Carolina Autocross Championship at NCCAR. I was able to help NCR bring home the NCAC Trophy to keep for the 2025 season.

Day 1 I drove a CAM-C S197 Mustang. It took me a bit to get on top of the under steer but finally managed one clean run which was also fairly quick. Ashley drove the CAM-T SN95 Mustang and almost beat me (63.873 vs 64.441 +1). If she didn't have a lapse in concentration and almost forget the course I think she might have beat my day 1 time.

Day 2 was a new course and I was back in my CAM-T SN95 Mustang. After the first day for Provisional class I was sitting in 5th and Ashley was 2nd in Ladies class. If I wanted to get a pint glass I would need to find a lot of time. Luckily the Mustang is fast and I got 4th in PAX for day 2 which was also enough to get to 2nd place in Provisional class. Ashley was able to maintain 2nd as well even though she coned away her fastest runs.



My fastest runs are uploaded to YouTube.

 

[Ludachris]

Last week I competed in the North Carolina Autocross Championship at NCCAR. I was able to help NCR bring home the NCAC Trophy to keep for the 2025 season.

Day 1 I drove a CAM-C S197 Mustang. It took me a bit to get on top of the under steer but finally managed one clean run which was also fairly quick. Ashley drove the CAM-T SN95 Mustang and almost beat me (63.873 vs 64.441 +1). If she didn't have a lapse in concentration and almost forget the course I think she might have beat my day 1 time.

Day 2 was a new course and I was back in my CAM-T SN95 Mustang. After the first day for Provisional class I was sitting in 5th and Ashley was 2nd in Ladies class. If I wanted to get a pint glass I would need to find a lot of time. Luckily the Mustang is fast and I got 4th in PAX for day 2 which was also enough to get to 2nd place in Provisional class. Ashley was able to maintain 2nd as well even though she coned away her fastest runs.

View attachment 99659

My fastest runs are uploaded to YouTube.

View attachment 99658

Congrats!

 

[RinerAuto]

2024 season is complete! Here's an overview of all the events I attended this year.

• Ponies in the Smokes competed in the 1st Annual King of the Smokies event (KOTS)
• UMI's Muscle on the Mountain (MOTM)
• UMI's King of the Mountain (KOTM)
• SCCA Nationals
• NC Autocross Championship
• Local Autocross Events
  • TSCC: 7 events
  • ODR: 3 events
  • CCR: 1 event

Overall it was a successful year. I won some hardware at Ponies in the Smokies. Locally, I won my class, finished 2nd overall, and Ashley finished 2nd in class. However, I didn't drive to my potential at MOTM, KOTM, and Nationals. The mental aspect of racing/autocross is something I need to work on. Started reading Carroll Smith's Drive to Win and Tune to Win.

But we're racers, there's always something to improve on the car I have a short list of upgrades to do this winter. More info coming soon.

 

[Dave_W]

Congratulations on another successful year!

I find I have trouble at major events because they usually require a hotel stay, and at least the first night I usually can't get to sleep and end up only getting 2-3 hours of sleep. Plus, there's an "on the big stage" mindset that I sometimes have trouble dealing with. Especially with Nats, there's a lot of socializing and extra stuff happening that doesn't occur at the same level at a local event. It's hard to compartmentalize and shut all that out when I'm on the course.

One thing I've tried is to adopt a "3 runs and done" attitude at local events. I'll put all my effort into the first 3 runs of the day. I'll still take any additional runs, but I'll re-score myself in the results based on just the first three runs. I think putting that extra pressure on myself to get my best run quickly has helped me focus at Tours & Nats where you really only get 3 runs.