ESP Camaro

[landstuhltaylor]

Got the seat installed today. I think this is going to be first on the list of things to revisit later. With the height I need the seat at I doubt many people will be able to fit in the car with a helmet on. At that point a lighter fixed mount would be better and safer. (Yes I know a Kirkey with no cage and back brace isn't exactly safe.) I think I'll also need to order a quick release for the wheel if I want to be able to get in/out of the car in the garage without damaging anything. Even with the seat slid all the way back it's a real pain and someday I'll forget to be careful.



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[formula218]

I had to grab a NRG quick release after I got my kirkey in, my fat ass couldn't fit between the wheel and seat bolsters.

[landstuhltaylor]

I had to grab a NRG quick release after I got my kirkey in, my fat ass couldn't fit between the wheel and seat bolsters.

One of the few times being 5'5" works out for me, I think I can live with the current setup for the time being at the expense of looking like a tool when I get in/out.

About to put an order in for an Auburn Racers Differential (542088). I would love to use a T2R but apparently their metallurgy has gone to shit and they don't last. Also considered a TrueTrac as they don't wear out, but they don't quite perform as well as the Auburn. Of course the downside to the Racers Diff is that as they wear, the clutch packs wear on the case as well causing them to be non-rebuildable. Looks like this will mean putting in a fresh unit yearly right before Nationals (~$150 each for the first four years, then have to buy new at full price and repeat). Figure while I'm in there I'll put in a fresh set of 3.42 gears to replace the 120k mile ones in there now. Never done this before, probably going to suck. Also getting six sets or ARP studs with the extra two going in a spare set of front hubs for quicker repairs on site.

[landstuhltaylor]

@meissen, can the title be changed to ESP Camaro?

No real progress made over the weekend but many parts were ordered. Should be a bit more productive with the nicer weather.

Edit: 1000th post

[meissen]

updated

[landstuhltaylor]

Got the axle out of the car tonight. Letting it drain overnight and renting some tools in the morning. Hoping to have the new unit buttoned up by the end of the day and back in the car early Sunday.





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[hoogiesngrinderz]

Don't ya just love that smell?!

[landstuhltaylor]

Yep. Put off draining the fluid out of the pan and into containers and ended up knocking it over, so now the whole garage smells like it.

[landstuhltaylor]

Very slow going, keep running into snags when I need tools I don't have. This time it's a pinion bearing puller.

[landstuhltaylor]

Well my experiment with the HF bearing puller failed and after pressing in some ball joints on my 20T press I realized that the correct tool is worth the money. I found carrier bearing puller from PEM Racing that appears to be equivalent to the Yukon kit for a much lower price. I figured this is going to be a yearly routine, so the cost will be worth not dealing with crappy tools. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161933060173

This was also an excuse to pick up an electric impact wrench for both garage work and changing the wheels at the track. Seems all my fellow autocrossers have beat the absolute shit out of their Craftsman 1/2" impacts, so that's what I will be going with. Price is very reasonable. Other things that should be coming soon are aluminum rear LCAs from J&M (lighter than stock and rod ended) as well as new brake hard lines from SStubes.com. My Global West front uppers are also now on their way back from being clearanced for low ride heights as well as the ball joints modified by Alan at blainefab.com. I had to order new rear brake rotors after spilling some metal etch on them which I was considering doing anyway.

As for pictures, modified the new Moog front upper shock mounts. Should gain some needed shock travel for the front Konis without affecting ride height at all. Also started burning out the bushings on the front LCA so I can put some poly bushings in there. Caster bushing is a new stock unit.

[formula218]

Cordless impacts are life changers. I've got a snapon 18v i grabbed from a buddy for $150 and it makes changing tires a 10min deal. I use it for pretty much everything i can.

[landstuhltaylor]

So in order to install the Allstar coilover sleeves on the Koni you have to remove the top hat. I didn't want to spend $50 and wait for the correct tool to be made/shipped, so I just ground off enough of the hat so that I could fit a big set of vice grips on it.



These are also the only three pieces in my entire suspension and braking system that is being reused: the spindle, hubs, and the bare Konis. This also elimates the spring isolators front and rear. Goodbye 550/150 springs, hello 800/400



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[landstuhltaylor]

Some progress on the front





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[landstuhltaylor]

If anybody is in the market for a pinion depth tool I highly recommend this one from Speedway Motors. It does not assume the bearing cap face is the centerline of the bearing but instead mounts in the carrier races. Also includes a separate dial gauge for setting backlash. Cheaper than most of the other depth gauges like it and put together by a company that is deeply involved in SCCA and Optima.



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[landstuhltaylor]

Ready to button up the rear



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