What COM folks are building...

[horizenjob]

I was wondering if folks would like a thread on build projects. What folks are doing to their cars and how, maybe pictures etc. I was looking at a Locost project thread and suddenly realized it was by an old time COM member from the 70's and 80's. I'm guessing we'll be able to get him to the track when it's done. Here's a pointer to Rad Nutting's Locost build with an Ecotec motor and some various other bits.

For a little extra background, I had a total brake failure in an ST3 Ford Fiesta, left the track at high speed and actually totaled a parked instructors car . It was a pretty crummy day and my cars front end was pointed down at about a 30 degree angle. Everyone said it was totaled and I was looking for a ride back home. Rad came by with a sledge hammer, porta power jack and a torch and beat the living daylights out of my car for nearly 2 hours. I was able to drive it home and to work for a few days until arranging to get it repaired.

Here's a link to his thread. I think we're going to start seeing more of these. I know we have one or two Canadian ones coming to Mt. Tremblont this year too. There's plenty of pictures as you scroll thru.

http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6783

[mug23]

I'm currently in the process of building a 1987 Porsche 944 to run in the NASA's 944 Cup series. I may bring it to a COM event or two. I will post pictures once it has something to show.

Also, my I blew the motor on my Subaru STI on the last COM event at NHMS last season right at the first lap of the Time Trial. I will hopefully will be replacing that motor too if money allow.

[962porsche]

dave you could just buy my car ! i'm rebuilding 2 944 motors for my 944 spec car . i'm replacing the sleeves in my 944 spec motor with ones that can be bored .50 MM over and the other motor is just a hone and rings . once i get the car back in the shop i will be removing the dash and heating sys. and replacing the dash with just a gauge pod and moving the roll cages knee bar up 6 inches .

[agrabau]

On the Evo this winter I had Chris build me a new roll cage (he is working with DSG for cages now) It's a lot more intricate and safe than before.

I also installed new fender flares, rebuilt the rear differential with new bearings and reshimmed it (with Bill's expert hand), repainted the inside of the car, Cut the rear strut towers off and raised them 2", setup launch control on the autronic with a brake switch for hillclimbs, added a larger power steering cooler, reinforced the intercooler for high boost, lowered the seat 2" and moved it back 3". Installed a steering wheel quick release and an Oreca 3 bar boost gauge, revised the body harness removing any extra controls that are no longer in use. The last step is to reinstall the diff, align and corner weight it and then get some good tires for once.

I'm hoping to buy a non turbo rwd 4 cyl car for COM if possible and keep the Evo on hillclimb-only duty. We'll see how spring goes for that.


Alex

Some photos- clutch pack for rear diff...



Body harness all done..



Interior..

[mug23]

dave you could just buy my car ! i'm rebuilding 2 944 motors for my 944 spec car . i'm replacing the sleeves in my 944 spec motor with ones that can be bored .50 MM over and the other motor is just a hone and rings . once i get the car back in the shop i will be removing the dash and heating sys. and replacing the dash with just a gauge pod and moving the roll cages knee bar up 6 inches .

Dave, Thanks for the offer. I already have the 944 ripe apart already and I think I like to build my own so I know the car better. However, if you have an extra working good condition motor or some spare parts, I may like to take it off your hand.

One of the most exciting thing that will ever happen to me in my life is my first son will be born on Feb of 2010. I will need to focus more on this first, tho....

I'll call you when I get a chance.

[962porsche]

a son ALL RIGHT ! NO i'm not selling the spec car its to much fun to drive . i may part with the 944S i have ? what parts do youy need ? i have 4 pre 85.5 cars .

[mug23]

Yes, a son. I will be bringing him to track meets and stuff like that. Maybe I'll start him off with karting at 4 years old if he into it.

The 944s? I was hoping to get another motor and a short 5th trans. The only problem is, the S motor if you have one will put me in the super cup class in which I don't want to get into right now. Once I get a bit more experience with banging doors with 30 guys on the track at once, I will try and move up to the super cup class and I will get the turbo.

As of now, I just want the regular 944 2.5l motor or a good working trans if you have one around. Also, do you happen to have the turbo's oil cooler set up?

[Kai Noeske]

Congratulations Dave!!! *waves* Best wishes for becoming a father!

I am not building any car stuff this winter, only doing paperwork with the RMV for my new track car... and shuttling tires and rims to and from the tire guy to be set...

Hope you also find some time to get your Subie fixed eventually. Such a sweet car!

[brucesallen]

I hope you 944 enthusiasts are familiar with the bad oiling in the NA motor. Kevin Foote experienced third main bearing failure due to high G cornering oiling issues. A junkyard engine replacement cost more than a used Miata. Talk to Kevin.

[962porsche]

the # 2 barings spin on 944's from bad oiling from the crank .not from the pan ! one fix is to have an other oiling hole cross drilled thru the crank . or use the crank from the 3.0L motor . an other reason 944's spin the berings are from people using a to heavy weight of oil . i have built alot of water cooled porsche motors and not one has ever come back with a spon baring the motor .the motor that went when nate was driving my 944 broke a valve spring . i don't think its to bad for a motor with well over a 140k miles on it and the last 46k miles are all race miles . not that the oil cooler is a bad but not needed .the 944 motor does not run hot at all . i look at it this way .i don't want the extra weight i don't want an other fitting to brake or leak so why add it . becouse of the nickeled coating on all water cooled porsches you can not bore them . you have two chooses one is to bore and have it renickel plated or the other is to resleeve it with cylinders that can get bored . most of the time i go with sleeves . its about 175 bucks per cylinder . nickel about 1400 with shipping . used bone yard motors go for about 3200 dollars . i talked with kevin once he needs to find an other builder !

[kfoote]

[thanks Bruce for directing me here]

The first motor I spun a #2 rod bearing on was a bone stock motor with 170k miles on it. That one is forgiveable.The second one I spun the #2 rod bearing on was drilled for oiling to solve that issue in theory. I put about 1000 street miles on it, and it spun the bearing at the end of my first on track session with it. The car is now gone.

If you're looking for parts, I have a 1987 2.5L 944 that I bought as a parts car to rebuild the 944 track car after engine #2, which I sold before changing the engine. I have all the pieces to fix it except for a rear sway bar link and a battery, i just haven't had the time to do it. The car was hit in the right front, and needs to have the RF frame rail to be pulled up a it to fix it right. I have a RF fender and headlight assembly from a different car (not installed), and the front bumper cover and hood are repairable. The car is very clean with 82,000 miles on it, and it looks like it was never driven in winter. There's some light body rust in the normal 944 places, but the underside is pristine. It runs and drives as is when hooked up to a jump pack. The car is currently in Ayer, MA. If you'tre looking for another parts car or project, feel free to email me, my email address in the officer directory is the best one to contact me at.

[CP]

Been busy for the last 3 months building another 99 Spec Miata after I backed into the T2 wall at NHMS with my last one. Almost all the good parts from the old car are now on the new car. Just waiting for some little things next week before dropping the engine and trans back into it and shipping it off for the cage, which is coming out of the old car. I hope to make it to a COM event or two next season

[paultg]

Wow, CP, swapping cages. I guess that is one benefit of racing a vehicle that is a convertible!

[timmmy]

Hi all,

Its been a while since I was on the forum and as its a midwinter Monday night after I spent all weekend in my shop, and all evening moving snow I figured I would check in.

I have a major project on hand that has been going since April, it is targeted to be complete by my Birthday in April, or at least complete enough for some track testing.

The project is a 1986 Audi 4000Q. An ex rally car originally built in 1988 by 4 Star Racing in Canada. It had a tough life and is now being resurrected. The car is basically new from the ground up and is sporting a 4.2V8 and matching driveline donated by a 2005 S4. Car wil be running VEMS engine management, and will likely get twin turbos next winter once I have the chassis sorted a bit. Should be a lot of fun.

here is a link to the build thread on Motorgeek. (starting on the latest page, work backwards or start from the beginning. http://www.motorgeek.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... &start=500




See you all in the spring!

[Mick]

Dam, from a Miata to a beast. That's going to be fun.