Wull

Originally I took this in part exchange for my hatch sti with the sole intention of selling it on, but after the clutch failed on its first outing on track i've decided to hold on to it for at least another year and do more track days and possibly Super Lap Scotland next year, but we'll see.

Spec is

2008 ej25 with ej20 heads machined to fit.

Fully built, mahle pistons, Manley rods, acl bearings, arp head studs, Cosworth gaskets, gt30 hybrid turbo, RCM headers, 850cc injectors, live mapped by AF @ 1bar power unknown.

Suspension is BC br coilovers and the brakes are standard Brembos with rc5+ pads.

The clutch that was fitted was a Competition twin plate with hydraulic clutch release bearing and that was an absolute nightmare to drive, but after the first outing on a wet Knockhill it started slipping after only 3 laps


So that was all swapped out for an Exedy hyper twin plate and what a difference, much better now, easier to drive on the road and a much better feel that I'm happy with. I was out @ Knockhill on the 29/9 and it done the trick.


The tyres fitted above are the Uniroyal Rainsports 3's which are awesome in the wet and damp conditions but I feel they're not the best when the track is dry, so I've got another set of wheels sitting that came with Michelin Pilot Sport 4's fitted, the plan is to use them on the next track day if it's dry then swap them out for proper dedicated track tyres if I decide to do sls next year or I'll use them until they're done then swap them out. I'll keep the rainsports for when it's wet and damp.

Suspension wise I want to fit uprated arb's, currently they're standard size.

Brakes are good, I'm happy with them.

I'll fit a different steering wheel as the std one is far too big for track driving and I'll stick a bucket seat in as the std seats don't hug you enough for track driving, it's especially bad when braking for the hairpin, harnesses will make a huge difference.

And that's about it, there's a dyno day on the 4th with a car club so I'll get it on and see what power she's making, I'm thinking around the 360bhp mark, I had previously thought maybe 400bhp but I'm not so sure, it pulls well, similar to the hatch that I had which was 361/400 but we'll see. I'm thinking for the sls I'd be around the 190/ton mark wheel so that would have me in class d. The M3's that are in this class are super quick, so it would be more for the sake of taking part and having a laugh, current times on the spec above is 62.6 and they're doing 57's.......I believe with better tyres, more track time and arb's I'd probably go sub 60s but anything below 59's might be a tall order.

Something to work towards though.

Wull

Last track day of the year and this time I had the Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s fitted. Consistent 62.1 laps in the video towards the end, new PB of 61.6 but the camera had ran out of battery.

Brakes were goosed, warped discs. I was getting a violent judder which you can hear and it was making it extremely hard to control the car coming in to the corners.

I also got the car on the rollers a week later and it’s making 319bhp @ 0.85bar(dyno results) so that’s another thing to get done for next season. 3bar map sensor and another map @ 1.4bar or so.....should see roughly 420bhp. I’m guessing I’ll be in Class C so I’ll need to get my **** in gear.

A few suspension changes, tyres etc should see me sub 1 minute laps, where I’ll be I don’t know but if I can’t do a sub minute lap with those changes then I’ll just give up.

scotty75

iTrader: (4)

I think you need better alloys so that you can sell me the sti alloys lol .

Wull

I'll be needing another set but I'll need to keep these ones as well.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I'd say with all those changes and a bit of tuition and practice you'll be on the money... hard to tell in the vid but you seem to be doing a bit of coasting in a couple of places, and there's one corner where it looks like you could take a slightly wider line and go in deeper... with another 100 horses, and some better brakes you look as though you could be mixing it up with the big boys in their M3's.

P.S I'm not having a pop at your driving either, looks nice and smooth, but just not quite aggressive enough... some tuition would help shave a couple more seconds off.

Wull

I take everything onboard so not to worry. I’m not sure where but I think it comes across that way on the video as most areas I’m braking hard and not coasting at all. Sometimes you can’t even hear me downshift at the hairpin but I’m full on the brakes whilst coming down from 5th - 2nd.

I think I improved on my last outing at Clark’s, that’s the corner after the chicane. I’m now braking hard and then dropping to 3rd before turn in. Before I was coming off the gas, coasting for a brief moment, brakes then turn in whilst staying in 4th.

I need as much help as I can get and two heads are better than one. Any tips or pointers whether it be driving or car setup then I’m keen to learn.

Wull

Some Whiteline products purchased.....

22mm front heavy duty adjustable arb
24mm rear heavy duty adjustable arb
Alk
Bump/steer correction kit

I'm trying to book the car in for another map with AF mid January, then I'll fit all the suspension parts after and have the car ready for the first track day which is the 3rd of March.

Some track tyres arrived yesterday, Toyo 888's GG compound, brand new dated last year so that was a decent buy. Just need another two, I had planned on getting a set of SG compounds as well for the finals but I'll see how it goes.

Purchased a trailer on Sunday so no worrying about breaking down or crashing either.

Got a set of harnesses as well free of charge which was a result, it's going to cost a bit more than I had previously worked out but it'll be worth it, I'm looking forward to it.

Wull

Whiteline products have arrived, oil etc for a service is here as well so the plan this month is to get the service done and the suspension can wait until after the map before being fitted. Will go for full on track settings, I’ll use the car trailer to collect after it’s fitted and set up.

Wull

I finally got round to replacing the oil cooler modine to block water pipe, after replacing the hose I filled the coolant up, bled it the best I could and ran it for a few days before performing the sniffer test. I’ve been paranoid lately about whether the HG was away but after performing the test twice I’m happy that it’s ok and to carry on with the original plan.

I changed the engine oil, oil filter and rear diff oil so it’s now booked for another map on the 23rd, after that I’ll get it booked in for it’s lower test and weight @ RA which will determine which class I’m in. I’m hoping to stay within Class D.

Then it’ll be suspension next month.

I’ve also got brakes coming, not decided on the rear just yet.

Wull

Quick update.......

Got the car mapped last month but had issues with the bcs, so replaced that, sorted a vacuum hose that was split, replaced the front o2 sensor and then got it checked over again.

It’s now making 1.3 bar but very late on, so it’s getting checked again this Saturday and hopefully it’ll be making good boost low down and holding it right through to the top end.

I thought the demister switch trick wasn’t working whilst trying to switch between low and high boost setting so I purchased a boost gauge so I’d know for sure. The demister switch was working it’s just because it’s making the boost late on so I never felt the usual rush you’d get from the higher setting.

I’ve got the brakes now which are 4 pot ap’s, I’ll stick them on this weekend and the car is booked in for all the suspension parts to be fitted and set up next Wednesday. So car should be ready for the first track day (3rd of March).....

johned

Did you sort the late boost.

Wull

Yeah it’s now making 1.4 bar and much earlier.

Drove perfectly well all the way home, felt awesome and faster.

Got home, got the VBOX and headed out to my usual stretch to see the improvements on the acceleration times and it started playing silly buggers, hesitating etc. Times were pretty much the same, I’m stumped ��

Dropped the car off today for the suspension work and geometry which will be set up for track only, I’ll trailer it from now on so it can be set up more aggressively.

I’ve stuck the 4 pot ap’s in as well.

I’m going to do the track day on the 3/3 and see how it goes and decide what I’m going to do. I’ve got until April to decide whether I’m doing sls or not.

johned

What cured the late boost problem.

Wull

Further adjustment of the wgdc and actuator arm.

Wull

That’s all the parts fitted and the geometry set up, I’m not happy with the camber settings. Going to take it back and have that set to -2.5 deg as the car is for track only, I’ll be trailering it. In hindsight I should have specified settings or asked beforehand to find out but I thought my instructions of “set it up as aggressively as you can get it” because I’m using it as track only would have been enough. Caster seems good though.





Car went on the dyno to see the difference from before and it’s now running lean, it was running perfect during the mapping session with the afr being between 11-12 whils on boost, so something has happened since then. I’ve disconnected the vac line to the afpr and the base setting is at 3.2 bar, I applied pressure to the fpr from a spare tyre with 1 bar in the tyre and the fpr went up to 4.2 bar. So we’re thinking fuel pump or fuel filter. The std fuel pump is apparently good for 400bhp so I don’t think it’s strufgling due to not being able to handle the job (if in good condition) but the fuel pump may not be as good as it once was so is struggling with the job in hand.

R666ORY+1

R666ORY+1

Wull

I try and do as much of he work myself but fornall the suspension work and geometry I took it to Dunc @ Hypertech, I’m taking it back to have the camber adjusted. I didn’t really pay much attention to the settings but just under -1 deg isn’t enough on the front. It’s track only now so I’ll get it set to - 2.5

Not done any this year because of the issues and won’t be until the running lean issue is sorted but last year they weren’t too bad.

At times during the 3 & 4hr open pitlane sessions it could get busy but I’d say 70% of the time you had a clear run at it.

Rev limits do days where there’s less cars but they cost a little bit more because of this. My personal favourites are the TrackScotland days because you get the best selection of cars with proper drivers, a lot of racers.

With that being said the Knockhill hot hatch day that I did wasn’t as bad as I had been told or thought, but some of the stories you hear has you wondering if it’s best to steer clear.

R666ORY+1