Upgrading, test and tune myself and my '04 MCS in the 2009 season

[jonp]

I understand that I will probably have to make adjustments for street use, autocross and track days, which will be all difernt setting, I just like to know About where to start at.


Jon

[jonp]

Just replace my lighten flywheel and clutch master clutch with a OS GIKEN STR CLUTCH/FLYWHEEL (standard flywheel not the lighten one). I had it put in last Wed and got it back Thurs. have less than a 100 miles on it. Waiting to get it broke in so I can autocross it and do a track day. I really like it so far.

Jon

[minihune]

Originally Posted by jonp

Ok, soon as M7 gets restock with their Coilovers, I will order me a set. I will also get the H-sport upper and lower control arms plus a pair of H-sport camber plates.

Does anyone run the m7 Coilovers?

I'll need some ideas on how to get my car align for a daily driver/autocross and some track days, so any and all help will be appreciated. Plus also I will be towing a teardrop trailer some too.

Jon

I don't know anyone in my area using m7 Coilovers. You want ride height adjustable and shock adjustability for both dampening and rebound if you can get it. Set front shocks to softer to mid setting and rear shocks to firm not the stiffest. Then adjust. This will help to reduce understeer.

Alignment-
Front camber should be as negative as you can make it. -3.5 degrees is not possible with any suspension upgrade for the MINI, the suspension parts will hit and limit will be about -2.4 to -2.2 degrees in the front.

If you do only lowering springs or coilovers only then front camber will not be enough at about -1.0 degrees. Adding adjustable front camber plates allows you to adjust right and left front camber and get as much as you can. Rear camber should be about 1 degree less negative than the front if you can to reduce understeer.

For street and autocross use-
Front camber- as negative as you can make it. About -2.2 or more is good.
Front toe slightly out about 1/16" to 1/8" which helps with turn in but wears tires a little more on the street and makes steering a little more sensitive. 1/4" would be aggressive but I have used 1/8" with no problems.

Rear camber about -1.2 degrees using a lower adjustable rear control arm. If you use only lowering springs or coilovers the rear camber will be very negative about -2.4 degrees which would increase understeer.
Rear toe- slightly toe in helps with straight line stability, about 1/8" toe in is fine and not as much as for normal street, if you want a little quicker turn response then zero toe is OK.

Adjust alignment about once a year or at the start of the season.

Don't forget to always clean or replace your air filter- I do about 3 times per season.

I use BG-44K about twice a season to help clean the injectors
http://www.bgprod.com/products/fuelair.html

Good luck.

Anytime you make upgrades you need to drive better to make use of the upgrades. If you drive the same then you get the same times/results. You'd need to push harder and reach the next higher limit.

[jonp]

Thank you Minihune that helps a lot. I'm still waiting for M7 to get the coilovers in. I'm hoping to have everything and on the car, before the beginning of the 2010 season.


Jon

[jonp]

Well for the 2009 season on a set of worn out V710 tires and end up replacing my clutch/flywheel at the end of the season I was NEOKLA SM champ.

I think the clutch and flywheel was missmatched that I put in 2008, I replaced them with a OS Giken matching race clutch/flywheel combination.

I was surprise to win the championship, since all I was really trying to do is work on myself and the car. I had a lot of good competition last season and will have a lot more this season since I'm going to SMF and lot of my competition will be joining me.

I got new tires for this season and still have to get use to the new clutch/flywheel setup. Trying something new and not sure how they will work, but i'm going to run the Kumho W710 tires, I know they are a rain tire, but the optimum operating temperature is 195, the dry rating is not much differnt than the V710.

Jon

[minihune]

Good job.

For some reason there are fewer MCS running in SM class these days.

It's tough to keep up with cars shod with 275mm wide R compound tires.

Let us know how the current season works out for you.