$2008 GRM Challenge – Turbo AWD Mercury Tracer LTS
- Thread starter kcbhiw
- Start date
Down to the last minute - again!
The $2009 Challenge is only 4 days away and for once, I'm actually ahead of schedule before the event (knock on wood that it stays that way). The car has been wet sanded, corner-weighted, and in general, combed over. I've also cleaned up the valve cover and intercooler piping, rerouted some wiring under the hood, and moved the battery to the back. Boost control is now enabled, so I should see 15-16 PSI on the drags
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I have cross weights dialed in to 99.7%, front to back weights at ~60/40%, and left to right to ~52/48%....not terrible. I still need to finish the alignment and am a little worried about the bump steer that I'm seeing just moving the car up and down, but we'll see what happens with that. All in all, things look great.
I've added some vinyl to the side's of the car as a throw-back to the old GTX. The cuts were directly modeled after the actual "4wd..." and "DOHC..." found on the GTX.
It's sort of hard to believe that the Challenge has already arrived. It's been a quick summer....
The $2009 Challenge is only 4 days away and for once, I'm actually ahead of schedule before the event (knock on wood that it stays that way). The car has been wet sanded, corner-weighted, and in general, combed over. I've also cleaned up the valve cover and intercooler piping, rerouted some wiring under the hood, and moved the battery to the back. Boost control is now enabled, so I should see 15-16 PSI on the drags
.I have cross weights dialed in to 99.7%, front to back weights at ~60/40%, and left to right to ~52/48%....not terrible. I still need to finish the alignment and am a little worried about the bump steer that I'm seeing just moving the car up and down, but we'll see what happens with that. All in all, things look great.
I've added some vinyl to the side's of the car as a throw-back to the old GTX. The cuts were directly modeled after the actual "4wd..." and "DOHC..." found on the GTX.
It's sort of hard to believe that the Challenge has already arrived. It's been a quick summer....
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I only wish. I'm scared to even launch the car since the tranny is so brittle.
Tracer + Metallic "tink" + metal shavings =
a borked center diff lock....a day before leaving for the Challenge.
I was supposed to put the car on the dyno Wednesday, but I need the ability to lock the front and back together to prevent power from being sent in all different directions. By locking the diff, I can drop the drive shaft and tune on a 2wd dyno. Instead, I found that the lock rod moves in funky directions that it shouldn't. I think the associated shift fork is bent or dislodged.
The GTX tranny has the ability to lock the center diff to equalize power sent to the front and back axles allowing the respective differentials to share the load from side to side. By locking the center diff, I can drop the drive shaft and tune the car on a 2wd dyno.
Fortunately, it's locked in such a place that the car still retains full 4wd capability, but through 3 open differentials and drives fine. I think I'll still be able to compete, though the transmission will have to come apart post-Challenge.
a borked center diff lock....a day before leaving for the Challenge.
I was supposed to put the car on the dyno Wednesday, but I need the ability to lock the front and back together to prevent power from being sent in all different directions. By locking the diff, I can drop the drive shaft and tune on a 2wd dyno. Instead, I found that the lock rod moves in funky directions that it shouldn't. I think the associated shift fork is bent or dislodged.
The GTX tranny has the ability to lock the center diff to equalize power sent to the front and back axles allowing the respective differentials to share the load from side to side. By locking the center diff, I can drop the drive shaft and tune the car on a 2wd dyno.
Fortunately, it's locked in such a place that the car still retains full 4wd capability, but through 3 open differentials and drives fine. I think I'll still be able to compete, though the transmission will have to come apart post-Challenge.
- :
- 2003 mazda protege5
that would be a nice big mod to a msp or p5 make it all wheel drive
the extra HP from the decals pushed it over the edge...
Another Challenge is in the books and I think I did well, all things considered. The car was slow as hell through the auto-x and most of the drag. Power delivery issues plagued the weekend, but fortunately, no issues from the drive line which responded well.
Poking around through the day of the drags, I found a few things out of kilter starting with a vacuum leak at the ECU. That fixed, things didn't improve. I tightened up the waste gate actuator as boost was building very slowly. Things still didn't improve. Finally, I put a timing light on the engine and found that I'd lost 10* of timing. I measured 8* of base advance when the MS thought it was at 18. A quick adjustment of the dizzy and boom, 2.5 seconds off of the quarter mile (which wasn't impressive anyway).
In all, I finished 16/53. I'd have been deep into the top 10, maybe even the top 5 in the auto-x had I discovered the timing issue before hand, but I digress.
The event was an absoloute blast as always. I have one more left in the Tracer before I retire it from the Challenge, yet, I have a number of ideas that may bring it closer to the cover. Lets hope that it all comes together.
Below are a few images during the auto-x. The car is at least well composed.
Poking around through the day of the drags, I found a few things out of kilter starting with a vacuum leak at the ECU. That fixed, things didn't improve. I tightened up the waste gate actuator as boost was building very slowly. Things still didn't improve. Finally, I put a timing light on the engine and found that I'd lost 10* of timing. I measured 8* of base advance when the MS thought it was at 18. A quick adjustment of the dizzy and boom, 2.5 seconds off of the quarter mile (which wasn't impressive anyway).
In all, I finished 16/53. I'd have been deep into the top 10, maybe even the top 5 in the auto-x had I discovered the timing issue before hand, but I digress.
The event was an absoloute blast as always. I have one more left in the Tracer before I retire it from the Challenge, yet, I have a number of ideas that may bring it closer to the cover. Lets hope that it all comes together
.Below are a few images during the auto-x. The car is at least well composed.
carrotsnax
Member
- :
- 91 miata le, 02 P5
Hey it was great meeting you and checking out your car. Its really a piece of art to put it truthfully. Might see you next year, although I am not sure yet. Hope the trans is a' okay.
Brian,
Spooky Speed
Brian,
Spooky Speed
It was great meeting you too and thanks for the complements
. I wish we had more time to discuss the P5. That was an awesome feat in itself. Very well done!! I certainly hope to see you there next year.carrotsnax
Member
- :
- 91 miata le, 02 P5
It was great meeting you too and thanks for the complements
Well, thanks very much! I cant stop thinking about next year already. But I just need to see how the year carries out before I set it in stone in my mind. Your Tracer def. needs some multi-page coverage. Asap.
Is this autox or next installment of the Carmageddon games
