Pictures will be added later, and this page will be made a little prettier, but for now, here are some ideas for the Z3.
In Showroom Stock trim, in addition to the required safety equipment (custom cage, race seat) the car was allowed Koni shocks and upgraded springs. The Z3 was also allowed to run 16" x 8" wheels. Unfortunately, Improved Touring specifications only allow me to run 7" wide wheels, so I'll need to purcase new wheels.
Other improvements/modifications will include:
Removal of remaining interior pieces - carpet, passenger seat, center console, driver's side door panel, sheet metal, glass, and window motor/regulator
Additions to the roll cage - NASCAR-style door bars, footwell protection, Petty bar
Engine breathing - cold-air intake, catalytic converter removal, possible addition of exhaust header. Will also remove the fan and fan clutch (to be replaced by an electric fan).
Suspension upgrade - larger sway bars, stiffer springs
That should be it for this season. I don't plan to worry about engine and drivetrain modifications until after I get a handle on the way the car drives this season.
Expected debut: NER SCCA's Pig Roast weekend, July 17 - 18, 2004, at New Hampshire International Speedway.
July 18, 2004
Well, I didn't make it to Pig Roast weekend.
The new cage additions were done by CFR welding - NASCAR-style door bar, footwell protection, and additional passenger door bar.
Started wiring the kill switch
Realized I had to re-do the window net (on order)
August 9, 2004
Suspension (rear springs, front struts, springs, and sway bar) 90% installed. Window net mount half done (upper tubes welded to cage). Kill switch wiring run, but different style switch needed.
So far, that's it. Now targeting August at NHIS for a debut..
September, 2004
Long time with no updates, which means I must have been busy racing! Finished the suspension, kill switch, window net, and graphics (at 10 PM the night before the first race weekend).
Completed three races in the car. See our results page to see how we did. Action pictures coming soon!
Issues:
Engine initially wouldn't rev past 5,500 RPM - turns out you need at least one rear ABS sensor in the car to send the right signals to the ECM, and I was a little too zealous in my interpretation of the GCR's requirement to "remove or disconnect sensors." Everybody else just yanks the ABS relays out of the fuse box which disables the ABS pump. Forunately, the first race was in the rain, which is a great equalizer if you have no power.
Weight: Need to get the thing on some scales to see how close I am to SCCA-specified minimum, but the car's not happy in quick transitions. Likely need to move up in spring rate.
Power: Once I got the car to rev to where it's supposed to, I realized it just didn't have enough oomph. Of course, it IS still running a SSB configuration motor, including catalytic converter, fan, fan clutch, and stock ECM software. Look for that all to change over the winter.
Grip: The Hoosiers work great (especially with the new wheels - no rub). However, the stock open differential has to go. Next season it will likely have a Quiafe or other similar limited-slip unit, and will be running much lower gears.
Enough of this, take me back home