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Actually you would be surprised how much weight comes off with tire wear. I was considering using used sets of tires during accel, skidpad and auto-x runs during FSAE comp... it was around 2-3lb/corner on a 10-11lb Hoosier. That's huge inertial reduction for a sub-500lb racecar.
Engine's out for clutch job... Determined my coolant leak was indeed the reservoir (backside, couldn't even tell until I removed it). OCD kicked in and placed a rather large order with ECS Tuning to do a complete cooling and PS overhaul. I hate rusty pipes...
Just deciding whether I should replace the shift linkages while I'm in there... They were freezing last winter, put the play only comes from the mechanism on the trans itself. Hoping to have it ready by the 12th for a break-in/shakedown before my first autox on the 18th.
Thanks for the order.
I would do the shifter linkage while you have it out and easier to get to the underside. Then you can slide out the exhaust heat shield and do them to the shifer box. On the cables PM me the VIN and what the top side shifter lug looks like, black or nylon in color.
Thanks for the order.
I would do the shifter linkage while you have it out and easier to get to the underside. Then you can slide out the exhaust heat shield and do them to the shifer box. On the cables PM me the VIN and what the top side shifter lug looks like, black or nylon in color.
That's what I'm thinking... I'll PM with the details when I get home from work. Any possibility I can add it to my order?
Lots of of work done... engine trans is back in the car, with the clutch pedal feeling a heck of a lot lighter than before. Currently stuck on a seized inner ball joint that won't come out even with a 12-ton press (broke my ball-joint tool before I decided to cut the joint off). Will need to put some heat into it...
the ball joints that bolt onto the arm? I have a new set in the garage waiting to go on, I did need an excuse to buy a press
Ball joint for subframe -> control arm.... yours might not be that bad. What I'm doing is last resort method. I'm dealing with an original ball joint with 130,000 miles and road salt during the winter. I used the same chop and press method on the second arm only because I broke my ball joint tool on the first one.
Although, if that's your excuse to buy a press, I'm not stopping you. I'm a tool-buying addict...
So, onto plan B and a trick I've picked up along the way. Heated the area around the ball joint with a Mapp torch and dunked it in cold water to create a thermal shock in the joint. It did the trick, but only enough to need 11.5t... That last pull was scary and I've had 20t presses flexing with VW wheel bearings.
Of note, are the oil cooler coolant pipes normally unpainted from BMW/Mini? I just found it weird the one I rec'd was not...
Pics from the weekend:
Plastic bushing had worn away and reshaped the pin as well.
Subframe out for new PS lines and bushings
Attacking the shift cables. Exhaust butchered by a PO.
Everything except T-stat and housing... At least I have a bill indicating when those were changed so I was able to make an educated decision.
Job done and car is running... sort of. I now regret not buying a new t-stat housing and gasket. Started filling coolant and it started pooling in the valley of the housing... derp. Need to have it running this week to go to my friend's wedding.
A quick update... been travelling for work a lot, but got the up and running in time to drive to my friend's wedding in NY. In the process, I have sorted the CEL and a few other miner problems (even a partial clay bar cleaning).
I am starting to feel that the trans is the only weak link left. Does anyone make rebuild kits for these things, or am I going to have to get creative?
Reviving this... I've been spending quite a bit of time on the road for work and my 1984 Rabbit GTI racecar build took on a life of it's own (as well as building my buddy's K20 Civic EK track car) last winter. The R53 has been my daily driver and have managed to put on close to 20k miles in the last 18 months. It might not be a lot, but it must be noted that I have also been away from home for at least 24 weeks in that span. And I have a 10 mile commute (round-trip), so there has been a lot of extra-curricular driving. I love it to death. An incident or two along the way (including losing the battle with a city bus, forcing me into a pothole at 2am and bending a strut) but it keeps giving me a silly grin every time I drive it.
Realizing that if I want to make it a true autox project car, I needed a new daily driver, so the driveway is now shared with a '17 Golf. Anyways, it's off to storage for the winter... I have big plans for it, including a sunroof delete, interior strip, battery relocation, suspension work and a track support trailer system.
Do you do any MCO events? I might venture over there with the CADL cross-over event (work schedule permitting).
I plan on selling my 17s and Direzzas when the time is appropriate. Great tires and great, light wheels, but just too much for the **** roads around here. I have acquired, possibly, my autox/track wheelset. Our local meth supplier, erm, Perry Auto, hooked us up with a group buy-in on a set of track wheels. From memory, they're flow-form construction, 15x8, ET28 and around 10lb ea. Not bad for $400 CAD (300USD at the time). I had originally purchased them for the GTI racecar, but I think the Mini will get them instead. Undecided on tires for now... leaning towards RS-4s.
Do you do any MCO events? I might venture over there with the CADL cross-over event (work schedule permitting).
I plan on selling my 17s and Direzzas when the time is appropriate. Great tires and great, light wheels, but just too much for the **** roads around here. I have acquired, possibly, my autox/track wheelset. Our local meth supplier, erm, Perry Auto, hooked us up with a group buy-in on a set of track wheels. From memory, they're flow-form construction, 15x8, ET28 and around 10lb ea. Not bad for $400 CAD (300USD at the time). I had originally purchased them for the GTI racecar, but I think the Mini will get them instead. Undecided on tires for now... leaning towards RS-4s.
I'm a very active MCO member: I'm part of the autocross timing team and participate in as many events as possible every year. Have also a few CADL events (PMG) and did my first time attack at St Eustache this summer. I also do HPDE events: got 4 or 5 in this year.
I'm currently running 16x6.5 SSR C-types with RS4 tires. Used them for autocross and lapping. Like Mega72 said, they wear like iron. They are a great all-around performance tire. I'm thinking of getting a set of 15x8 wheels (most likely 949 Racing) that will be dedicated for autocross. I'm also thinking of getting either coilovers or Koni Yellows with Swift springs over the winter to upgrade my stock suspension.
Let me know about your 17-inch wheels if you're thinking of getting rid of them. I might be interested
05-25-2016, 06:52 PM
