XelderX's BG FSP Build

[Vanimaniac]

Van is stalking me.

Ha, no I'm not. I am always looking at results from other regions to see who's beating who. I just happened to remember you saying you were having an event this weekend.

Doesn't surprise me that Feinberg went so fast. I don't know him but I do know that he was BY FAR the fastest DS driver at Nats this year (unfortunately with cones). If he had beat Jinx by that much in your car at Nats this year like he did this weekend, he could have won FSP.

Again congrats, Justin!

I'm watching you....

 

[khaosman]

Good work man, can't wait to see how the car and you continue to do! That comment is hilarious... I'm sure if you painted the car it probably wouldn't get that treatment, but that's part of the fun

 

[steverife]

Congrats!

Jim is THE MAN!

 

[dmitrik4]

congrats, Justin. it's amazing that you built a car that's so competitive right away. nice work!

 

[xelderx]

congrats, Justin. it's amazing that you built a car that's so competitive right away. nice work!

I had a lot of help on the initial setup from someone familiar with the chassis and with a better understanding of vehicle dynamics than me. I would have never wound up this way on my own.

 

[Rogue]

so what's this i hear about your motor mount?

 

[xelderx]

so what's this i hear about your motor mount?

There is some discussion about what constitutes a "motor mount" in the Street Prepared rules. There is a precedent put out in the July 2008 Fasttrack that says, "Street Touring and Street Prepared: All three pieces of a Miata motor mount (Engine mount Rubber, Stopper Casing and Engine Bracket) are considered to be part of the "Engine Mount in 14.10.J and 15.10.J.". This seems to indicate that in the picture below part #s 6 and 8 would still be considered part of the motor mount and open to replacement as long as the areas it mounted to on the chassis and engine/trans were not modified.

Whether or not that Fasttrack update extends beyond Miatas is the question. I see it as having to be universal though, since you cannot write a separate rule book for every car. It must be all emcompassing.

 

[aMaff]

have you written a letter to the SEB to ask for clarification?

 

[xelderx]

have you written a letter to the SEB to ask for clarification?

I'm having an email discussion with an SEB member.

 

[aMaff]

I'm having an email discussion with an SEB member.

Ah, well that's a start. You definitely want to push for an official clarification. But you already knew that

 

[xelderx]

I was thinking more about the motor mount rule today and they really have an issue on their hands. The July Fasttrack posted above sets precedent to encompass the brackets as part of the mount. As long as the motor is not relocated in the chassis I can fabricate the rest of the mounts to fit however I need. What makes my custom mounts illegal over any retail bought mounts that are not exact replicas of the stock units? Even the AWR mounts are not manufactued identical to the stock mounts, but what lies between the mounting points of the motor mounts is irrelevant. There are 2 main "truths" to the motor mount rule. The motor has to remain in the stock location and you can't modify the mounting points on the chassis or motor/trans to accomodate the mounts. I'll argue that I have violated neither of those points but I'm still unclear as to how "stock location" of the motor is determined.

Also, in non-rulebook discussion world...I finished my adjustable cam gears. They aren't pretty, but they should get the job done.

 

[Rogue]

can you make me a set?

 

[aMaff]

I can't really disagree with you, the precedent's there. What was the un-official word from your e-mail conversation? Or is that still ongoing?

 

[xelderx]

can you make me a set?

Do you still use your cam sensor?

 

[xelderx]

I can't really disagree with you, the precedent's there. What was the un-official word from your e-mail conversation? Or is that still ongoing?

I haven't gotten another email yet. I'm hoping I hear something in the next week or so. I'm getting ready to put the car in the garage and completely redo the mounts. I would really like to have an answer before I waste the off season working on a possibly illegal setup. If they are going to chop my legs out from under me it would help a ton to let me know in time to fix things before next season. This ain't a Honda...I can't just bolt a competitive package together. Half the crap on this car is custom and extremely time consuming.

 

[Rogue]

Do you still use your cam sensor?

i'll be using a Megasquirt next season, can't remember if it uses the cam sensor

 

[xelderx]

i'll be using a Megasquirt next season, can't remember if it uses the cam sensor

Let me know. I have a few extra sets of gears so it won't take much time to make another set. Let me get these running on my car and make sure I don't need to modify them.

 

[gavin_leslie]

I think it comes down to two questions....
-Have you increased the amount of metal comparative to the stock motor mounts(think thats the gist of that motor mount rule)
-what constitutes "stock engine location"? What reference point is to be used to measure this stock location and on which chassis/engine (both are different and in different locations)?

I think conceptually you meet the intent, but the wording of the rule seems to have assumed a level of plug and play that isnt here.

Are those hex screws threaded into aluminum? If so, I kinda ran into an issue with that setup a while back.

http://www.teamunemployment.com/gavin/adjustable cam gear/DSC01985.JPG

Heres mine as arrived. Issue was I couldnt get the amount of torque needed to stop the gear from slipping slightly. I didnt want to crank down on the screws and strip the threads (custom piece y0), so this is what I did.

http://www.teamunemployment.com/gavin/adjustable cam gear/DSC02425.JPG
http://www.teamunemployment.com/gavin/adjustable cam gear/DSC02422.JPG

I basically flipped the hex screws and added nuts to the front. Yes, its a little inelegant, but I can get 14ft/lbs without worrying that Ill strip anything, and if I do, its a screw or nut that gets buggered and not the gear. Just a thought.

Oh, I got a confirmation of receipt from the SEB on that question you had. Ill let you know when I get the full word on it.

Gavin

 

[Vanimaniac]

Justin, I hope you get it all worked out. There's got to be a solution to your issue. I just wonder if this is the beginning to more "scrutinizing" of your build from your local competitors.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Van (looking forward to competing against you and your protege in Lincoln)

 

[xelderx]

Are those hex screws threaded into aluminum? If so, I kinda ran into an issue with that setup a while back.


Gavin

The screws are threaded into the steel of the original gear. I was worried about the thread engagement, but the gears are a little thicker than I thought. If I do run into a problem I'll just have my friend Mig weld some small nuts onto the back side.