Spec Boxster Build

[BruceH]

Yep, still looks like great fun! Thanks for the video Tom

[thstone]

If you missed these posts (http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/52494-aos-more.html and http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/52798-engine-failure-pics.html), then I'll summarize quickly by saying that my engine failed.

The rebuild is going well; the heads are already completely rebuilt, the cases are cleaned and the bottom end is ready for re-assembly.

Eric and the team at Hergesheimer Motorsports is moving fast so I may not have any more pic's since the engine should be complete early next week so I can pick up the car in time to race at Laguna Seca on June 28-29.

[rastta]

Ouch. Looks like a nice rebuild though.

[thstone]

Re-assembly started today...

[thstone]

Engine re-assembly complete! I also needed a new clutch so that will be installed tomorrow when the engine goes back into the car. Should be ready to pickup on Thursday.

[boxsterspec]

I'm super impressed with HRG! Props to them for getting all their customers back on track in time for Laguna.

Mark
#299

[thstone]

Engine installed along with a set of cat delete pipes from Fabspeed! These complement the Top Speed mufflers that were previously installed.

The engine is being dyno'd tonight and I'll pick it up tomorrow.

[thstone]

Dyno runs last night showed that this new engine is pretty darn strong for a 2.5L base!

[Topless]

Yay, those boys were quick! Does Tyson oversee all the engine rebuilds? 295 hp at the wheels?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Topless

Yay, those boys were quick! Does Tyson oversee all the engine rebuilds?

Cory Barker does the engine rebuilds now with the key decisions made by Mark Hergesheimer and Eric Oviatt. Tyson has been working on the Cup cars of late.

I'll get another dyno next week on the same machine that I used previously so I have an apples-to-apples comparison to quote the increase.

Originally Posted by Topless

295 hp at the wheels?

Much more. Much, much more.

Because I drive flat out. That is the only way I know how to drive. Flat out.

[Topless]

I know, I've seen you drive.

[thstone]

With the mid-summer racing break just about over, I'm gearing up for a busy racing schedule this fall. First in line are two events at Willow Springs in September. Stay tuned for results and video.

Also, in a week or so, I'll be posting a dyno comparison of my old 136,000 engine vs the new rebuild. Same car, same dyno, same dyno operator, data corrected for temp. I've always wondered how they might compare and now I have the actual data.

[thstone]

Speaking of summer and my continuing goal to keep cool in the car on a hot day (it stays hot here in SoCal until Halloween), I recently upgraded from a standard cool shirt to the hooded type.

Results? This is HUGE improvement in comfort! Cooling your head, neck, and torso is 10x better than just cooling your torso. The hood fits fine under my helmet and only takes a few seconds to put on.

Thinking about getting a newer driving suit also.

[thstone]

New shoes for the weekend - the male equivalent of 5" heels.

You might want to save this pic to that "special" folder on your hard drive...

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by thstone

New shoes for the weekend - the male equivalent of 5" heels.

You might want to save this pic to that "special" folder on your hard drive...

Do you have a report on how they run yet?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by jsceash

Do you have a report on how they run yet?

Yes, I've done several races and a few practice days on the Toyo RR's and they work quite well. They have a little more grip than the Toyo RA-1's or Toyo R888's and give slightly faster lap times as a result (not huge but every few tenths count!).

The handling is very good with incredible feel during turn-in but it took me some time to adapt to the sliding characteristics. What I mean is that when they start to slide, they seem to so very quickly so you need to have an heightened sense of sideslip motion and quick hands to catch it. The RA-1's were more forgiving in this sense. At least this is my experience with my style of driving (everyone is slightly different).

On the downside, (and no surprise!) they heat cycle out faster and don't last as long. Some R-compound tires, like the Nitto NT-1, never really heat cycle out and provide fairly consistent lap times for up to 30+ sessions. Instead, most of the Spec Boxster drivers are getting 6-8 heat cycles (sessions) from the RR's before lap times drop off noticeably. Everything is a tradeoff!

But this means that if you want to run near the front, you need a new set of tires for every race weekend. If you're ok with running mid-to-back of the pack, then you can run them until they cord.

I'll post up some pic's and results over the weekend.

[Topless]

Teaser!

We did a lot of nose-to-tail with RRs vs NT-01s last year and at Chuckwalla and WSIR the RRs were good for about 2-3 seconds when fresh. They fall off very quickly after about 8 sessions though.

I can usually get 40-50 sessions on NT-01s until they cord. My brother gets 30-40 sessions on NT-01s. Same cars with same setup but different driving styles.

[thstone]

I had a great day yesterday at Willow Springs!

The day started out warm (it was 75F at 6am) and was up around 100F by late morning. The rule of thumb is that hot days do not produce fast lap times but I was able to post up a personal best time of 1:34.7 during the second practice session! With the POC Spec Boxster track record of 1:33.2, my PR in hot weather is not too shabby. We'll see what happens this winter when the weather cools.

During qualifying it was difficult to get a clean lap due to traffic and then when I had a good one going, Little "t" spun in front of me coming out of Turn 9. No big drama but I had to lift for a moment to decide whether to go in front of him or behind him (went behind and he did a good job of stopping the car and not rolling forwards or backwards). When all was said and done, I qualified 2nd behind Little "t".

For the race, I got one of my best starts ever getting past three 911's from other classes before Turn 1. From there on, my race was pretty uneventful; Little "t" jumped out to a lead of 3-4 seconds which I was never able to whittle down much and I never had any pressure from behind so the 12 laps went by rather easily.

Thus, I finished 2nd for my very first podium! All cars that podium are required to be weighed immediately after the race to ensure weight compliance and I had to ask about how to do this since I had never been in this position before (what a goober!) I passed weight 20lbs over minimum of 2650 (including driver) which is right where I had calculated. So yes, that means that my car is around 2435 lbs with 1/4 tank of fuel or more than 400 lbs lighter than a stock 986.

The rebuilt engine ran great and had very good power. I plan to get it dyno'd this week and will post up a graph of the old 136,000 mile engine vs the new rebuild by next weekend.

Sorry but I don't have any race video since I suffered brain fade and forgot to turn it on!

Speaking of brain fade, I am skipping the race today because the heat from yesterday really took its toll on me - I am spent!

Pic's or it never happened? Here you go;

[BruceH]

Congrats on the podium finish, that is awesome

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by thstone

Dyno runs last night showed that this new engine is pretty darn strong for a 2.5L base!

What a beauty!