Roxanne - budget milano/75 track car - Page 14

**AR4me** · #**196** (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 09:02 PM

So, Phil tech'ed Roxanne this evening - passed, Roxanne is going to WSR

Only got alignment left to do - Friday evening. Based on short drive it runs quite well. Shifting great after the monkey kit rebuild, driveshaft without vibration after rebuild and re-balance,... Only issue is pinging. Though, that is easily fixed. With stock timing advance I run 87 without problems, but with increased advance it pings. First try will be to fill 91 in there. If that doesn't do it I will have to retard timing - no biggy.

This evening I even wiped down Roxanne

Some pics below.

1. Fire extinguisher (well within reach!)
2. Wide angle race rearview mirror - no way the stock would fit with the roll cage
3. Seat with belts - also the rear view mirror can be seen
4. Ready to go
5. Another...

Jes

Mezevenf · #**197** (**permalink**) 08-31-2006, 11:04 PM

Loving it Jes, let us know how it goes on the track!

The pictures you've been posting have been awesome. I love this forum

**AR4me** · #**198** (**permalink**) 09-03-2006, 11:49 PM

So, left home Saturday morning at 5 am, arrived at the track shortly after they opened the gates at 7 am. Got the wheels with Hoosiers on Roxanne, checked fluids and was ready to go. What a weekend

Roxanne did very well. I did not turn a single wrench nor did I add a single drop of fluid of any kind

I played a little with tire pressure, but that was it.

In race group our track sessions were quite long. Saturday we had continous on track full steam for about 1 h at a time. With that long red-line activity, on a fairly short tight track, in about 105F in the afternoon, Roxanne did hit the "red light" on the temp gauge, but she didn't leave it on

Back off a bit and the temp comes down again. Oh, and as I got rid off the 87 left in the tank, the pinging went away - I was debating to retard timing a bit, but it proved unnecessary.

Anyway, back to the activity. Saturday we mostly practiced getting used to the very close proximity of other cars. Initially, at a minimum distance of 4 feet, but that was reduced to a hair as the day went by. I mostly enjoyed Sunday. All morning and early afternoon we practiced starts with short sprint races - that was a blast! The topping were the graduation races late Sunday afternoon - that was just so much fun! A very intense weekend, with unbelievable instruction!

It was so hot that after each on track session you would come out of the car soaking wet dripping! Saturday afternoon I was exhausted, slept almost 12 hours

Sunday after the graduation races I did not have the energy to swap the street tires back on. Paul (sidewaysalfa) easily convinced me to just drive home on the Hoosiers (Dot legal). An uneventful drive home in little traffic through LA

Snapped a few pics of Roxanne after getting back - unfortunately, I don't have any pics from the track - was too busy driving.

Jes

**AR4me** · #**199** (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 12:00 AM

Now, what's next for Roxanne?

Well, she could need another diet or a trip to the gym (for a 24v). In the interest of the budget, I think we will start with the diet. So, what to work on? I'm thinking of:
1. weight off the hood,
2. weight off all doors,
3. weight off the underside (the coating),
4. weight off the rear bumper.
Any other suggestions?

Also, something has to be done about the transmission. Firstly, I receive points for it "having" an LSD, but there is no LSD function left - worn out. So, out of ALL tight corners it lights up the inside tire, making it difficult putting down power early. Add some bumpiness to some of those corners and it is real difficult... Secondly, the syncros are so worn that it grinds on ALL upshifts. On the downshifts double clutching solves the problem, but it is impossible to upshift quickly, and you loose valuable time accellerating... Though, it is kind of costly to rebuild, so I'm not sure what to do about it.

The car still has too much understear. Got to think about that...

Jes

**75evo** · #**200** (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 12:20 AM

AR4me,

Glad you had a good time! Now I really wanna make it to the Feb. '07 school!!

The rear bumpers, the doors, and the rear door windows can be replaced with some kind of lightweight material. Maybe remove the power window regulators on all doors expect the driver's?

You definitely want LSD.

**nizam** · #**201** (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 02:06 AM

Good job, Jes!

Grant · #**202** (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 02:53 PM

It was nice meeting you Jes. Even if the synchros didn't work, atleast the new linkage felt fantastic!

**AR4me** · #**203** (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 04:05 PM

Good meeting you all - that was quite a drifting show in the verde, Grant (one hand out the window)

Looks like you made it home without further brake problems

Jes

Grant · #**204** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 12:42 AM

You know...ever since changing the accumulator, I haven't been able to get the air out of the lines entirely. Still really spongy.

Yeah, the skid pad and go kart track were pretty fun. Some of the instructors didn't find it too amusing (I heard a "We're not practicing drifting today" over the megaphone on day 2!) and my last few slides of the day were at a much higher speed and cupped and chunked my left rear tire mid-slide! I'm guessing from the heat?

Did you know you can easily take the LSD out yourself? The way to set preload with the discs seem pretty silly in the transmission manual we got at Concorso Italiano but definitely seems doable. Do you know what percentage you want to set yours up to when you rebuild it? I'm finding the stock 25% didn't let me quite kill the mid corner understeer with throttle as easily as I wanted.

Mezevenf · #**205** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 02:02 AM

Bump it up to 75% like me

Most people seem to like the 50% number.

**AR4me** · #**206** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 08:34 AM

Stock is 24%, common for track/race is 48% as Bernard said - haven't heard much in terms of track experience with 72%. I would probably do 48%. I think the biggest cost is for the actual discs - $125 per side per 24%, e.g. $250 for 24%, $500 for %48... just in parts. Yeah, we disassembled the transmission/LSD and put it back together ourselves on the 3.7. Though, Andrew Garcia did the actual LSD rebuild and gear back-cutting, cross-drilling and shot-peening.

Bernard,
How is 72% on the track?

Jes

Mezevenf · #**207** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 08:51 AM

The 72% on the track is awesome, though I've never driven a 48%, only a 24%.

The track I drive on only has the one tight turn, and its not *that* tight. It allows me to get the power down nicely without the back wanting to drift out, very easy to feel and the accel can come on strong once you get the hang of it. Gets a bit tail-happy in the rain if the tyres are not so good though.

I use it one the street often, and the combination of harsh suspension, racing (button) clutch, 72% LSD and no power steering is interesting.

**AR4me** · #**208** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 09:14 AM

Bernard,
I suppose you just used 3 clutch discs per side, correct? Any ill effects (mechanically)?
Jes

Potenziato · #**209** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant

You know...ever since changing the accumulator, I haven't been able to get the air out of the lines entirely. Still really spongy.

Grant · #**210** (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 11:48 AM

Let's not talk to much about my brakes here, but yeah, I had my food on the brake, ignition on, pump running until I got all the bubbles out of both calipers (bled all 4 nipples, but wasn't able to do two at a time). The fronts I bled with the pump off. And yeah, my pump was cavitating in the extreme heat but would return to normal for the drive home.