| Author |
Message |
Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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 Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| vwfye wrote: |
Nate,
after the driving and track time, how is the front end conversion holding up? Any tweaks or changes needed?
Your car really intrigues me! |
The front-end is working great. I thoroughly inspect it and the rest of the car after every event and it's holding up perfectly. I'm slowly getting the camber/caster adjustments figured out and finding what is optimal for the track and trying to keep detailed records for the future. For me, chassis adjustments are a bit like jetting carbs; one change at a time so multiple changes don't mask other things.
About the only things I can adjust easily at the track is tire pressure, shock rebound on the front Konis and the front sway bar stiffness. I really, really need better tires to make real advances on times. My goal this year is to get my lap times under a minute.
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Bobnotch wrote: |
Looks like you were having a great time. 17 runs, wow, they were definitely cycling the racers thru.  |
They have a really good system. We ran in 3 run groups of 25 or so every 45 minutes. They would pre-stage 10 at a time at the start line and allow 5 on the track at a time.
Even with 71 cars, most got to run between 15 & 25 laps. I ran so many laps and got low on fuel and stopped about 30 minutes early! Now that's a great day!!
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
| Bobnotch wrote: |
| Looks like you were having a great time. 17 runs, wow, they were definitely cycling the racers thru. |
They have a really good system. We ran in 3 run groups of 25 or so every 45 minutes. They would pre-stage 10 at a time at the start line and allow 5 on the track at a time.
Even with 71 cars, most got to run between 15 & 25 laps. I ran so many laps and got low on fuel and stopped about 30 minutes early! Now that's a great day!! |
Now that sounds like a kick ass day. 
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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vwfye
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2000
Posts: 7661
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| Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:42 am Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
I ran so many laps and got low on fuel and stopped about 30 minutes early! Now that's a great day!! |
very cool!
_________________
64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3" |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 8:57 am Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Tires were getting pretty thin and a couple cords were beginning to show through in places, so it was time for a new set of Sumitomo HTRZ2s. While they have lasted about 1.5 years, I've gotten about 20K miles of very hard use out of them including multiple auto-x's. I've gotten my money's worth. I wish I could say that about the GY Eagle GTs I have on the Porsche 914. . .  Those started good but have gotten progressively slippery and are down-right dangerous in the wet.
These are relatively cheap tires @ around $65 each from tirerack.com. For all around street driving, they have gripped very well and performed pretty good at the track too. I'm saving for a dedicated set of track tires for the special events, but these are good every day rubber with really good stopping grip and have low noise too. At just over $330 a set, you can afford to abuse things a little. 
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Saturday I had another chance to test & tune the Squarsche at Evergreen Speedway and try and make this car faster and handle better. We had a very good day.
This time around I had pulled the rear seats and lost about 35-40# there (those things are seriously heavy). Then I removed the 911 banana can muffler and brackets and installed a 16" straight pipe with down dump. That cut an additional 20# out of the rear. And finally, I had the new front tires installed so I actually have tread.
All I can say is WOW!! When I lost the muffler, this one thing feels like I got an additional 10% boost in power!! I definitely will have to re-tune the VE tables for the loss of back pressure, but this thing just rips with no muffler (and it sounds meaner too)!! With the lighter rear-end, the rear tires were even easier to break loose almost any time I wanted. So much fun!! I spent a lot of time gathering up the rear-end on my runs.  These three things added up to my lap times dropping by a full 3 seconds!! It was crazy!!
I still have a few tricks up my sleeve to try for next time. . .
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
Saturday I had another chance to test & tune the Squarsche at Evergreen Speedway and try and make this car faster and handle better. We had a very good day.
This time around I had pulled the rear seats and lost about 35-40# there (those things are seriously heavy). Then I removed the 911 banana can muffler and brackets and installed a 16" straight pipe with down dump. That cut an additional 20# out of the rear. And finally, I had the new front tires installed so I actually have tread.
All I can say is WOW!! When I lost the muffler, this one thing feels like I got an additional 10% boost in power!! I definitely will have to re-tune the VE tables for the loss of back pressure, but this thing just rips with no muffler (and it sounds meaner too)!! With the lighter rear-end, the rear tires were even easier to break loose almost any time I wanted. So much fun!! I spent a lot of time gathering up the rear-end on my runs. These three things added up to my lap times dropping by a full 3 seconds!! It was crazy!!
I still have a few tricks up my sleeve to try for next time. . .
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Very cool Nate. Looks like you're having fun with it, and that what really counts. Enjoy. I do wonder how much faster you'd get without the passenger?
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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eyetzr 
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2013
Posts: 1425
Location: Toronto, Ontario. Canada
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Yeah, ditch the passenger & let your son show you how it's done. Looks great
_________________
I think he meant "rare", as in "not well-done" |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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I have no doubts that my son in time, will be beating dad with regularity.
With a rear engine car, we have a pendulum effect in corners not unlike a Porsche 911. So it's always trying to kick the back-end out when the weight transfers and/or when getting back on the gas coming out of a corner. My car doesn't go for simple cones, it has an appetite for the larger barrels. This is why I have a bomb-can paint job on this car. If I didn't, I'd be afraid to drive it hard. . .
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
This time around I had pulled the rear seats and lost about 35-40# there (those things are seriously heavy). Then I removed the 911 banana can muffler and brackets and installed a 16" straight pipe with down dump. That cut an additional 20# out of the rear. And finally, I had the new front tires installed so I actually have tread.
All I can say is WOW!! When I lost the muffler, this one thing feels like I got an additional 10% boost in power!! I definitely will have to re-tune the VE tables for the loss of back pressure, but this thing just rips with no muffler (and it sounds meaner too)!! |
So, I have to ask, Any pics of the "new"exhaust set up? Just asking, as that huge Porsche muffler didn't look like it would have been too easy to remove just for "track use". I mean a 20# drop is quite a bit, but it sounds like you opened up the breathing too.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 7:29 am Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Bobnotch wrote: |
| Nate M. wrote: |
This time around I had pulled the rear seats and lost about 35-40# there (those things are seriously heavy). Then I removed the 911 banana can muffler and brackets and installed a 16" straight pipe with down dump. That cut an additional 20# out of the rear. And finally, I had the new front tires installed so I actually have tread.
All I can say is WOW!! When I lost the muffler, this one thing feels like I got an additional 10% boost in power!! I definitely will have to re-tune the VE tables for the loss of back pressure, but this thing just rips with no muffler (and it sounds meaner too)!! |
So, I have to ask, Any pics of the "new"exhaust set up? Just asking, as that huge Porsche muffler didn't look like it would have been too easy to remove just for "track use". I mean a 20# drop is quite a bit, but it sounds like you opened up the breathing too. |
I designed the aluminum brackets for the banana can muffler to be easy to remove. A screw driver loosens the band clamps on the brackets and they slide off. 2 bolts hold each bracket in place on the mount bar. 2 - 13mm wrenches and I can have the left bracket off (which is really the only bracket I have to remove to get the muffler out). Then a 10mm nyloc holds the S/S V-band which holds the muffler to the collector. It just drops down and out on the left side of the car. I don't bother to remove the right bracket since it's aluminum and weighs just a few ounces. Then I V-band the 16" straight pipe on. The collector is supported by a bracket to the mount bar about 1" from the V-band, so no additional support is needed for the straight pipe. The whole process takes about 5 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to swap back to the muffler.
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 11:29 am Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
| Bobnotch wrote: |
| Nate M. wrote: |
This time around I had pulled the rear seats and lost about 35-40# there (those things are seriously heavy). Then I removed the 911 banana can muffler and brackets and installed a 16" straight pipe with down dump. That cut an additional 20# out of the rear. And finally, I had the new front tires installed so I actually have tread.
All I can say is WOW!! When I lost the muffler, this one thing feels like I got an additional 10% boost in power!! I definitely will have to re-tune the VE tables for the loss of back pressure, but this thing just rips with no muffler (and it sounds meaner too)!! |
So, I have to ask, Any pics of the "new"exhaust set up? Just asking, as that huge Porsche muffler didn't look like it would have been too easy to remove just for "track use". I mean a 20# drop is quite a bit, but it sounds like you opened up the breathing too. |
I designed the aluminum brackets for the banana can muffler to be easy to remove. A screw driver loosens the band clamps on the brackets and they slide off. 2 bolts hold each bracket in place on the mount bar. 2 - 13mm wrenches and I can have the left bracket off (which is really the only bracket I have to remove to get the muffler out). Then a 10mm nyloc holds the S/S V-band which holds the muffler to the collector. It just drops down and out on the left side of the car. I don't bother to remove the right bracket since it's aluminum and weighs just a few ounces. Then I V-band the 16" straight pipe on. The collector is supported by a bracket to the mount bar about 1" from the V-band, so no additional support is needed for the straight pipe. The whole process takes about 5 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to swap back to the muffler. |
Thanks Nate, those 2 pictures help explain it all. I thought the muffler set up was more complicated, but that must have been your brackets that made it look that way. Very cool that you can swap it over so quick. I guess that means you'll have to set up a "race" program, and a "street" program for your MS. I don't know if that's possible, but it would be cool if you could.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Bobnotch wrote: |
Thanks Nate, those 2 pictures help explain it all. I thought the muffler set up was more complicated, but that must have been your brackets that made it look that way. Very cool that you can swap it over so quick. I guess that means you'll have to set up a "race" program, and a "street" program for your MS. I don't know if that's possible, but it would be cool if you could. |
Actually, the MS ECU that I'm using has what's called "table switching". So I'm going to be adding a dash switch and it will enable me to have a separate set of VE and timing tables for a street tune and one for race. I'm planning a dyno day with Mario Velotta from thedubshop.net to get the tables all optimized. That will make going to the track as simple as removing the muffler and flipping a switch.
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Just got word from Mario Velotta from thedubshp.net that I'm scheduled for a dyno session on Friday!! WooHoo!! I finally get more than an in-car tune and I'll get the fuel and spark properly tuned. It's going on an eddy current dyno so we will be able to get it tuned under virtually any load/RPM combination and not just WOT. It's really close now but I need to get the acceleration enrichment dialed in better especially with the muffler off.
Tomorrow, I'm installing a switch and wiring that I'll need to start using what's called "table switching" What this will allow me to do is when I go to the track and pull off the muffler and install the straight pipe, I can flip that switch and the Megasquirt will switch to a completely different VE table (and possibly spark & ARF table, but I can't remember exactly), so with that loss of back pressure, the motor will be perfectly tuned for it. Then when I replace the muffler, I can switch back to a street tune that's optimized for the added back pressure of the muffler.
I'll also be adding launch control switches too to aid in getting off the line better. Even though I don't drag race, this will help getting off the start line at auto-x's. I don't know if I'll get these installed before Friday, but I won't be needing them for the dyno anyway.
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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| Back to top |
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eyetzr
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2013
Posts: 1425
Location: Toronto, Ontario. Canada
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Love this post. Best of luck with the dyno tuning. I worked with a guy that used to time trial his mustang, he liked the cones. His fellow racers called him Coneman the Barbarian. They used to spray Teflon on the front and rear of his car.
_________________
I think he meant "rare", as in "not well-done" |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
Just got word from Mario Velotta from thedubshp.net that I'm scheduled for a dyno session on Friday!! WooHoo!! I finally get more than an in-car tune and I'll get the fuel and spark properly tuned. It's going on an eddy current dyno so we will be able to get it tuned under virtually any load/RPM combination and not just WOT. It's really close now but I need to get the acceleration enrichment dialed in better especially with the muffler off.
Tomorrow, I'm installing a switch and wiring that I'll need to start using what's called "table switching" What this will allow me to do is when I go to the track and pull off the muffler and install the straight pipe, I can flip that switch and the Megasquirt will switch to a completely different VE table (and possibly spark & ARF table, but I can't remember exactly), so with that loss of back pressure, the motor will be perfectly tuned for it. Then when I replace the muffler, I can switch back to a street tune that's optimized for the added back pressure of the muffler.
I'll also be adding launch control switches too to aid in getting off the line better. Even though I don't drag race, this will help getting off the start line at auto-x's. I don't know if I'll get these installed before Friday, but I won't be needing them for the dyno anyway. |
That's great news Nate. Let us know how it all works out.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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icelancer
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2014
Posts: 149
Location: Square Bernardino, CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:07 am Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Man your ride is insane...Hard to believe it started out as the cowback
I really hope to have the time and resources to do this some day.
_________________
71 squareback (1904 A/T)
71 super beetle (1904 M/T)
B5.5 wagon M/T daily driver
SB for squareback or san bernardino....who knows. |
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Nate M.
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2003
Posts: 1306
Location: Anacortes, WA U.S.A.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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Just a quick-update since my last post.
2 weeks ago I got with Mario. We got launch control and table switching hooked-up and they work great. We headed to the dyno shop, got strapped-on and centered. We got a couple base-line pulls and the clutch MC sh*t on me. What are the odds right?? So we called it a day called AAA and I had a 2 hour flatbed of shame ride from Kirkland to Anacortes with a logo'd car. . . When you build, drive and push cars to the limits, sh*t will happen. What can ya do.
So I removed the MC and found the plunger seal to be a bit raggedy.  Yeah, no wonder it leaked suddenly. . .
This past Sunday we went to another auto-x and the weather was horrid with rain and high winds most of the day. It sucked between run groups, but driving was fantastic in the rain. It was a total drift-fest, so I spent the day hooning around and practicing my drift skills in the car. This made giving folks rides more entertaining. I laughed more yesterday than I have in a long time. By the end of the day, I was able to drift about 80% of the course!!
Yesterday, I decided that it was about time to get the Lexan windows installed. I recently got all the rubbers in so there was no excuse not to. I just installed them like a set of stock windows rather than flush mounting them with screws. I replaced the glass in the pop-outs with smoked Lexan so they can still be popped out like factory. It may not seem like much, but it saved just over 20# off the rear of the car. So far with the rear seat, muffler and the glass, I've stripped about 85-90# out of the rear.
_________________
Regards,
Nate M.
Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature
For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!! |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22432
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: My Shop-car build thread |
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| Nate M. wrote: |
Just a quick-update since my last post.
Yesterday, I decided that it was about time to get the Lexan windows installed. I recently got all the rubbers in so there was no excuse not to. I just installed them like a set of stock windows rather than flush mounting them with screws. I replaced the glass in the pop-outs with smoked Lexan so they can still be popped out like factory. It may not seem like much, but it saved just over 20# off the rear of the car. So far with the rear seat, muffler and the glass, I've stripped about 85-90# out of the rear.
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Sorry to hear about the clutch, but shiite happens.
The pop out windows look great. Are you going to do the far rear ones too?
Looks like you had fun day at the track though.
_________________
Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
| Tram wrote: |
| "Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
| Tram wrote: |
| People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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MonT3
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2012
Posts: 1988
Location: South Dakota
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