GTR Faith

[bobbo]

August 1st 6 of us are leaving Halifax for Mont Tremblant Quebec for this weekend...

http://www.boston-bmwcca.org/events/ultimate-calendarView.aspx?EventID=581

The friends I'm travelling with drive these: '03 Z06, C63 AMG, 2010 GT500, 2011 135, 2011 M3, and my '92 GTR.
The drive is approximately 14.5 hours and we've decided to break it in half, take friday as a day of rest, car prep and to get set up then LAP LIKE MAD Saturday & Sunday. We'll take Monday to relax and enjoy the area and then make the trek for home.

I thought it might be interesting to log the trip and keep you guys informed on how things go. Over the next couple of weeks I'll post what's being done to the car to get ready.
Here's the start...

Disassembly, inspection and replacement of suspension components.


Looks good back here but the subframe is getting dropped, new bushings put in and the diff is getting a rebuild with this getting installed: http://www.rhdjapan.com/nismo-r200-m...it-rs521-63329
New front axles. The right one was clicking pretty bad so out with the old and...

Inspect the brakes and install some new EBC Yellows... Thanks Daryl!

Pull the coil-overs out, inspect and clean up. I had some clicking in the front end and low and behold there were rocks caught in the helper springs. New stab. bar end links were ordered too.

I had 18s on the car and I didn't feel for the amount of track use the car gets they were the right way to go. I traded with another member here for set of these TE-37s:

Which will be wrapped in these...

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/tires/hankook/product/submitProductSize.do?pc=10968&tmn=Ventus+R-S3&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance

I was running the StarSpecs but it seems they've been knocked off their pedestal and the RE-11s and the RS-3s seem to be the top two contenders.
After input from others at the track and a GrassRootsMotorsports review I opted for these. Cheaper too!
Picked this harness bar up and got it powder coated black from blue. Wanted to keep it somewhat subtle. My wife got me a pair of 5 point harnesses for my bday. Best wife ever! Still need to fab a braket up for the px side.


That's all for right now. Will be updating more as parts arrive.

[MarusGTR]

I'm gonna say it again, ******* clean, so jealous. *wink* for the RS3s btw...

[bobbo]

Thanks Marc! Jon said the RS-3s seemed to feel solid despite the lack of opportunity to really push them. Couple of others run them out there. A blown MCoupe owner out there liked them too. You missed some GOOD times last weekend!

[MarusGTR]

Thanks Marc! Jon said the RS-3s seemed to feel solid despite the lack of opportunity to really push them. Couple of others run them out there. A blown MCoupe owner out there liked them too. You missed some GOOD times last weekend!

Hopefully we can make up for it later in the summer with another lapping day! And tthis time I'm pushing her, I really wasn't comfortable going in fast with my AMS pads.

BTW, taking the bumper out and moving the couplers to remove the AC, I found that the coupling under the passenger headlight, basically the opposite end of the one that blew last time, was also getting loose. I didn't need to undo it to move it around when I took the intercooler off. You should double check yours since your GTR is way more boss and all.

[bobbo]

If you haven't checked the schedule in a week or so there's been more dates added.
I don't know wtf is up with those AMS pads. I've had them glaze and become like silk pads and last weekend I beat the hell out of them and they kept up with no issues. VERY inconsistant. I MIGHT run them a bit longer just to use them up. Probably get one more lapping day out of them and then pitch 'em.
Thanks for the tip on the hoses but I've already had mine all apart and I use a dab of silicone on the clamps/bolts to help keep them from backing off.

[xyz999]

Make sure you have relatively fresh brake fluid in your ride. It's one of the least expensive and most effective prep work you can do for a nice track weekend The ebc yellow in my experience is insufficient for hard track use. They are good for street but they will FADE fast after 20 mins of hard use on the track, especially on a heavy car like gtr. I don't know what kind of track you are going to, but perhaps consider a set of track pads just for the coming weekend?

I can't personally vouch for rs3, but it is evidently the most popular tire for time attack guys here in Ontario.

Have fun and enjoy!

[bobbo]

Way ahead of you on the brake fluid. The organizers test everyone's fluid as part of the Teck inspection.
As far as the pads go I'll be pissed if they're weak as they've come highly recomended.
Tremblant is a long, smooth track which is supposed to be easy on gear depending on driving style.
My home track is hard on everything and I've managed to make even AMSs pads last.
I've got to bring the car home so I'll be keeping it at 7/10.

[Nvdgtr]

Are you only going for the weekend?

[bobbo]

Are you only going for the weekend?

No we get to Montreal on Thursday (Aug. 2nd) where I hope to spend the afternoon at Almasi getting the car dialed in better. We'll be at Mont Tremblant Thursday night, relaxing Friday so we're well rested for a solid weekend of lapping.
We're going to hang out Monday, maybe head into Montreal again for a bit and head home Tuesday.

[bobbo]

New wheels and tires are on, front end is all put back together and the all the clicks and rattles are gone. Tight as a new car!
I'm still going to be swaping out some of the rubber bushings with poly parts (thanks again Focused Motorsports!) if I have time.
My schedule is insane with going away for work for 2 weeks and my new house closes the day after I get back!
My new garage is going to be somewhat inaccessable because of some "extra work getting done" so
I won't have time to do the rear diff. I'll be able to get a VERY good shop here do the work for me instead.
I'm having a problem locating diff carrier bearings and differential housing seals (axle seals). If anyone has any input or even if the Z32 guts are the same the info would be VERY, VERY appreciated.

[MarusGTR]

Got some pictures of the GTR with new shoes?

Man you make me so jealous lol

[bobbo]

I've got an ok one. Will try to post it before I leave.

[bobbo]

Not a good pic at all but that's the new look... For now.

[bobbo]

Some more parts came in thanks again to Dan (Imation) at Focused Motorsports. Regretfully I don't have time to install them myself so Griffin Motors in Halifax are going to help me out. They've got some pretty serious talent in there so I feel pretty safe.


Got another quick pic of the car too...

[bobbo]

Getting started on the rear diff upgrade...