Spec Boxster Build

[rastta]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I will check that out, I have a Hero 4 Black that has been nothing but trouble so I am returning it. $75 sounds pretty sweet Thank you!

Steve

I hate my GoPro's - always something going wrong - usually battery related. However- the investment right now is too high to just dump them.
Looking at this as an alternative.....

Replay XD 1080 Mini Camera

[seningen]

Originally Posted by thstone

Hey Steve, I don't do any preprocessing or anything special, the stability is simply from the camera. The Mobius 1080p camera is impossible to beat for $75.

Mobius Action Camera 1080P

For the mount, I use a RAM dual ball mount with the base attached to the roll bar with a hose clamp. The Mobius cam is controlled (on/off) and powered from the TraqMate/TraqDash data system.

Its a somewhat low-tech setup that works really well. Credit goes to Brad Roberts for the recommendation and installation.

Here is a photo of the mount...

Thanks for the tip -- been having issues with my old Go-Pro -- I was planning on replacing with a new one -- but for 1/4 the price -- I'll give the Mobius a go.

Will probably see if I can configure it to turn on when connected to 12v power so I don't have to be a contortionist when I'm strapped in and and forget :-)

I'm going to try a Go-pro roll bar mount with double stick to the Mobious and a zip-tie reinforcement.

Hopefully get out to COTA this weekend to give it a try.

Mike

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by seningen

Will probably see if I can configure it to turn on when connected to 12v power so I don't have to be a contortionist when I'm strapped in and and forget :-)

I just ordered mine today too, and I do believe that is one of the settings - to start recording when the power is applied. I am going to add a switch to my oil temp/pressure gauge panel and run a wire up the center console so I can turn it on by flipping the switch. My old gopro, which I sent back today, I had to reach around and squeeze an awkward button, while trying not to bump the mount and have it be aimed all over the place.

The one thing I couldn't find is if I can flip the video like with go prop since I am hanging mine down from my BK bar and not upright like with Tom's setup, but I think my setup mimics the default setup when hanging down from the windshield so I should be ok. Edit: just found the answer, yes I can rotate it 180: http://www.buymobius.com/pages/how-to-configure-the-mobius-actioncam-for-use-as-a-dash-camera and also I think this is the enthusiast site I mentioned before.

I bought mine from this Amazon vendor:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GPUEOVK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Based on some information from an enthusiast forum about the Mobius (which of course I can't find now) - apparently there are older versions out there but this one is the latest and greatest.

[Greg Holmberg]

steved0x, did you order the standard angle lens ("A", 86°) or the wide angle lens ("C2", 131°)?

thstone, same question...

Specs

The standard angle camera is 2.40" x 1.40" x 0.75".

The standard angle lens does not look distorted at either 1080 or 720.

The wide angle camera is 2.40" x 1.72" x 0.75".

The wide angle lens at 1080 looks a bit fisheye. At 720 it does not look distorted.

[thstone]

The Good News: I got the front portion of the high pressure power steering hose replaced this week. It was actually fairly easy to replace since the connection to the power steering rack is accessable with the front wheel removed and push mount into the steering rack with a single bolt and bracket (#10 and #11 in diagram).

The two photos below shows how much force the old line endured; the original/replacement line has a Z plus a 90deg bend whereas the damaged line was pulled almost completely straight after being ripped from under the car. Surprising that it didn't completely break apart into two pieces.

The Bad News: Filled the power steering system and after starting the car, I found that the front portion of the low pressure return line was leaking where it meets the connector under the car. So #2 in the diagram also needs replacement and I'll have to get another liter of CH-11S fluid.

This is what the original/replacement power steering line looks like:


This what the damaged power steering line looked like:


I've already replaced #9 and #1. Next, #2. To be safe, I also ordered #5.

[steved0x]

I ordered non wide angle based on my reading. As soon as it comes I I'll take a drive and report back.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I ordered non wide angle based on my reading. As soon as it comes I I'll take a drive and report back.

I went with standard -- I will see how it does this weekend.

I mentioned it to a friend who told me his only drawback was setting it up.

Since there is no preview - trying to get it aligned and in proper view was a PITA.

setup, record, download, view, adjust repeat.

I'm hoping to use a level and limit the iterations

Mike

[Greg Holmberg]

seningen, regarding getting it positioned, I'm planning to use it in webcam mode (no memory card), connected via USB to my Android phone, running the Harry's lap-timer app. So I should be able to see the image on the phone's screen, and position the camera that way.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg

seningen, regarding getting it positioned, I'm planning to use it in webcam mode (no memory card), connected via USB to my Android phone, running the Harry's lap-timer app. So I should be able to see the image on the phone's screen, and position the camera that way.

Interesting -- do you have a pointer to documentation to do this (preferably for an Apple phone :-)

Would be nice to set it up this way -- probably great for data overlay, etc.

I have Harry's GrandPrix edition.

Mike

[Greg Holmberg]

Mike--

Well, it's really just wishful thinking on my part, since I don't have the camera yet. Here's the information I can find.

Harry's lap-timer on iOS supports external cameras via USB. It lists GoPro and Sony, but not Mobius.

General documentation here. Specifically about video here. FAQ's and how-to here.

Mobius instructions here, including how to use it in web-cam mode.

Hope this helps.

Greg

[thstone]

How I keep track of what still needs to be done....

[thstone]

I go out early this morning to install the 3rd portion of power steering line but can't find the 12mm hex socket to remove the mounting bracket for the lines to the steering rack. I know that I used it when I replaced the 2nd portion and I am usually fastidious about keeping track of my tools for exactly this reason. WTF. Dammit.

I search around under the car, in the workshop, and everywhere else that I can think of and no joy.

I find another hex head that is close and decide to give that a try and hope that I don't strip the hex socket on the bolt. Give it a good strong pull and it the bolt comes loose. Ok, so maybe today isn't going to be a total screwed up day.

While doing all of this, I am using a work light to see and I happen to notice a little glint of light from something off to the right, so I swing the light over and find this...

The socket must have fallen off the extension when I installed the 2nd power steering line and fell down into this recess in the control arm. Quite amazed that I found it!

Waiting for the fluid to drain out and then I'll install the new line, re-fill, and give it a test.

[seningen]

Originally Posted by thstone

I go out early this morning to install the 3rd portion of power steering line but can't find the 12mm hex socket to remove the mounting bracket for the lines to the steering rack. I know that I used it when I replaced the 2nd portion and I am usually fastidious about keeping track of my tools for exactly this reason. WTF. Dammit.

I search around under the car, in the workshop, and everywhere else that I can think of and no joy.

I find another hex head that is close and decide to give that a try and hope that I don't strip the hex socket on the bolt. Give it a good strong pull and it the bolt comes loose. Ok, so maybe today isn't going to be a total screwed up day.

While doing all of this, I am using a work light to see and I happen to notice a little glint of light from something off to the right, so I swing the light over and find this...

The socket must have fallen off the extension when I installed the 2nd power steering line and fell down into this recess in the control arm. Quite amazed that I found it!

Waiting for the fluid to drain out and then I'll install the new line, re-fill, and give it a test.

I usually reserve my knee cap or a vertebrae for finding wayward tools...

And brake rotor scalp treatments....

Such is the life of the 'budget' Porsche racer :-)

Mike

[bkovac]

thanks for finding it, otherwise my tire would find it on the track

[thstone]

Originally Posted by bkovac

thanks for finding it, otherwise my tire would find it on the track

Haha! Yes, hate to leave a trail of misplaced tools behind me!

[thstone]

Here is a pic of the damaged power steering return line (left) next to the new line (right) - the old line was pulled nearly completely straight during my off road adventure.

When I got the new line installed, I noticed that the fittings were different! The old line female connector is on the right and the new line press fit connector is on the left. Oh crap. So I pulled the new line out and then realized that the female connector on the old line comes off and the smooth end simply "clips" into the press fitting on the new line; so I installed it again and filled the reservoir and no leaks!

Finished up everything else on the list and took the car for a 30 min drive to make sure that everything was good. Ran it up to redline on a couple of freeway on-ramps and it drove perfectly.

The only thing remaining is to have the Lexan windshield installed next weekend.

[thstone]

I had the lexan windshield installed today by a local window shop. Took about an hour and they charged me $90.

This is the 1/4" model from Five Star. I also plan to use two layers of protective film. The cut, fit, and finish was top notch - it was curved exactly like a factory glass windshield and fit into the frame perfectly.

Lexan weight is 15lbs. I weighed the stock windshield after it was removed and it came in at 24lbs. Net weight savings is 9lbs.

Visibility is incredibly clear and non-distorted.

Windshield removed;


Lexan windshield installed;

[thstone]

** Weight Update #4 **

Spec Boxster minimum weight with driver and fuel is 2,650 lbs. My goal is to be able to manage the weight of the car by adjusting the fuel load at the start of a race so I am near the min weight at the end of a race (with some margin for error).

Most recently, total weight was 2,705 lbs with a 1/2 tank of gas. Subtracting 51 lbs for fuel (6 lbs/gallon x 8.5 gallons), says that the car/driver weighs 2,654 lbs.

In a perfect world, I'd like the car/driver total weight to be 2650 lbs with 1/8 tank of fuel, which means an un-fueled car/driver weight of 2650 - 13 = 2637 lbs.

Thus, I still needed to reduce weight by 17 lbs.

Since the last update I have lost another 10lbs for a total of 30lbs! People ask how I feel after losing so much weight - I say, HUNGRY. Seriously, I've been slowly starving for 5 months but I've stuck to the plan. Still plan to lose 5 more for a total of 35 and will be down to a trim 180lbs!

With the lexan windshield weight loss of 9lbs and me losing another 10lbs; that's a total of 19lbs since the last update. This should put the total weight right at 2635lbs.

Weight goal achieved! No excuses about being "overweight" - in fact, I will have to be sure to keep a couple of gallons of fuel in the car or I could be underweight.

[JayG]

Nice Tom
When will the maiden voyage be?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by JayG

Nice Tom
When will the maiden voyage be?

Two coaching/practice sessions planned for July and then back to racing at Laguna Seca with the POC on Aug 6-7.