MRG MotorSports 818S Build

[Tamra]

So when are you guys going to slap some race tires on that thing and really start going for it? You'd probably shave 3 seconds or more just from tires.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

So when are you guys going to slap some race tires on that thing and really start going for it? You'd probably shave 3 seconds or more just from tires.

For now Michael and I are just racing each other. (he is kicking my butt)
Remember the plan for our car is 80% DD, 10% autox, and 10% track day.
So our Toyo 235-255 R888 are the tires we plan to run for a while. We will need to take them off for the freezing weather.
Bob

[Tamra]

That's no fun! We would love to compete with you next year at one of the national events in OH. All you have to do is buy one more set of wheels and put some hoosiers on them, and use the R888's for the street! Your garage looks big enough to fit just one more set of wheels/tires...

How's your 0 camber experiment going in regard to tire wear?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

That's no fun! We would love to compete with you next year at one of the national events in OH. All you have to do is buy one more set of wheels and put some hoosiers on them, and use the R888's for the street! Your garage looks big enough to fit just one more set of wheels/tires...
How's your 0 camber experiment going in regard to tire wear?

We are @-0.5 camber with Michael and I sitting in the car. Going to bump that up to -1.0 degrees.
It took 9 runs in 30 minutes to get these tires up to 160F. And that was drifting the car out of the corners.
Going to do 1 or 2 events this weekend.

The A7's will come in the spring.

At some point in the next couple of weeks, we will move our focus to my 818 #21
Bob

[Tamra]

The A7's will come in the spring.

Yay for Hoosiers!

Good luck this weekend. We have a double header planned as well. Going to NJ tomorrow and MA on Sunday.

[Goldwing]

Congrats on passing inspection Bob!
Thanks for posting pics of your rear bumper.
2 questions: Can you post a pic of the front bumper solution you came up with?
For someone a bit weak on structural engineering, what thickness and size tubing did you use for the bumpers? I did see the 3/4" steel will not be looked upon well, lol.

Thanks!

Rich

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Congrats on passing inspection Bob!
Thanks for posting pics of your rear bumper.
2 questions: Can you post a pic of the front bumper solution you came up with?
For someone a bit weak on structural engineering, what thickness and size tubing did you use for the bumpers? I did see the 3/4" steel will not be looked upon well, lol.

Thanks!

Rich

Rich,
the rear is 1.75 tube 0.95 wall mild steel
the front is 1.50 tube 0.95 wall mild steel
The mechanical engineering on the bumpers is pretty bad. A lot more triangulation should have been done.
We were limited to the rules and pick up points on the chassis we had to work with.
On my second car, the design will change and I will build 2 and replace this one.
What I originally wanted is something that would gradually absorbed energy as it collapsed.
A foam block might be safer. But had to meet Ohio laws.
Below is a picture of the front.
Bob

[Goldwing]

Thanks Bob.

I wonder what they'd think of attaching the bumper to the 3/4" collapsible cage so that it collapses with the cage?

With the radiator in my way, I'd have to keep the support outside of the cage if I mounted the bumper to the main frame. I suppose the lower bar of the cage could be reinforced or replaced with something more substantial, but would be awfully low to the ground. Wonder how much good it would do in a collision. I'll have to keep pondering.

Thanks!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Michael and I Are also doing a double autocross this weekend.
Columbus, Indiana today and Wilmington, Ohio tomorrow.

Something we did notice today.
We did 12 runs in 90 minutes. This is typical for a autocross with co-drivers driving the same car.
Our R888 tires did not get hot and sticky. I estimate only to 120 degrees. (65f ambient)

A lot of people (40) stop by at the end of the event to see the car.

[Frank818]

Wow that's nice stuff there!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Below is Michael's fastest run video.
There were 53 Drivers there today. Michael had the 2nd fastest raw time.
The only faster Driver was in a XP Lotus Elise (I think it was supercharged)

Michael is getting pretty good with the 818. Watch his hands catch power induced oversteer as he crosses the finish line at the 57 second mark.

[Mechie3]

Black lotus with a giant wing and "upshift" license plate? If so thats Dallas from Indy region.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Black lotus with a giant wing and "upshift" license plate? If so thats Dallas from Indy region.

Nope, His name was BJ Mcgee.

[Tamra]

Only 53 drivers? Our event would have been cancelled if less than 100 showed up! I bet you got a ton of runs.

Car looks like it was transitioning pretty well.

Good luck again today!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Michael and I had a great weekend auto crossing. Between us we had 27.001 runs at 2 events.
Everything was running perfect until our very last run opportunity, when we snapped the right rear axle during launch.

Here is Mike's fastest run today.
https://youtu.be/zxiWVl0joYc

Here is the axle breaking.

https://youtu.be/HS9kN_Pd_78

I think we have everything we need to fix it Monday evening.

[Tamra]

One axle out of how many launches? Not bad! A little bad since you're only on street tires though...

Coming from the S2000 world which has a diff and axles made of glass... make sure you get the revs up high enough so that when you dump the clutch you get the tires fully spinning. You are getting very bad wheel hop, which puts a lot of stress on the drivetrain. For added protection, pull the e-brake and slip the clutch a little to preload/remove backlash everything prior to launching (put the e-brake down prior to launching).

[Bob_n_Cincy]

One axle out of how many launches? Not bad! A little bad since you're only on street tires though...

Coming from the S2000 world which has a diff and axles made of glass... make sure you get the revs up high enough so that when you dump the clutch you get the tires fully spinning. You are getting very bad wheel hop, which puts a lot of stress on the drivetrain. For added protection, pull the e-brake and slip the clutch a little to preload/remove backlash everything prior to launching (put the e-brake down prior to launching).

Hi Tamra,
We have made somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 to 300 launches in the 818.
I not sure I would call my R888 street tires.
https://www.toyotires.com/tire/patte...petition-tires

The wheel hop is another issue that I have not addresses yet.
For the last month I've been back to running my donor lower trailing arm. They have better tire clearance than my ebay Godspeed arms. I will try changing to some urethane bushing to get rid of the wheel hop.

Thanks for the pointer on preloading the drivetrain.
Bob

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Tonight Michael and I rebuilt our broken axle in a couple of hours.
I remember spending a couple of days building are axles the first time.

The break was clean at the spline to shaft transition inside the wheel CV joint.
About 1 hour of our time was spent taking the CV apart and the reassembling. Getting the balls back in is a PITA.
It had to be done, to get the broken snub out.




The broken shaft shows a slight twist. There as a line on shaft from a roller that was made during the steel making process. We highlighted that line with a red marker.

We plan on building up an extra set of axles to keep with our autocross spares.



Here is a picture of the break. If anyone wants to analyze it.



Bob

One other note: You cannot tell that the shaft is broke visually as the break in inside the outer boot.
By grabbing the shaft near the outer CV, you can feel about 1" of play.

[svanlare]

How bad is the job of getting the stub out? As for the break, pretty much all of the recent breaks seem to be exactly at the same spot. Might have to pull Carroll Smith's books off the shelf and read about stress risers.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

How bad is the job of getting the stub out? As for the break, pretty much all of the recent breaks seem to be exactly at the same spot. Might have to pull Carroll Smith's books off the shelf and read about stress risers.

To get the outer CV apart:
1: Using a 3/16 flat tip punch and a kid size plastic hammer. hit in one point of the center star. This rotates the opposite side out of the CV.
2. Using a small screw driver, pop the exposed ball out of the hole in the cage.
3 . Repeat the process until you get all the balls out.
4. Twist star and cage to 90 degrees and remove.
Notice that the star and cage are directional. The thin side of each goes toward the transmission.

Reverse process to reassemble, except tap the balls in through the cage.
Fill with grease.

This process sounds simple. It is not.
Bob

[Bob_n_Cincy]

This past week not much got done.
Still waiting for our VIN tag to arrive from the state capital.

Replaced our broken axle.

We were having a problem with our rear wheels locking up if we came into a corner to hot. So we decided to add an adjustable proportioning valve to the rear brakes. The knob is right behind our shifter.

While adding the proportioning valve for our rear brakes, we also upgraded to all SS flexible lines at each wheel.

We were also looking at changing Master cylinders to move the fill cap out from under the windshield.
$_57f.jpg
This did not work out on our first attempt. We will try this again on our second car.

We are headed out in the morning to Wilmington, OH (our home track) for an autocross test n tune. Should get a bunch of runs in to see what we can break. We have got to be +300 runs on this car.

Bob

[Frank818]

Bob, while relocating the reservoir, if you use DOT5.1 fluid make sure you DON'T use soft silicone lines. They will perspire the fluid through. Use some approved fuel or coolant lines.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Bob, while relocating the reservoir, if you use DOT5.1 fluid make sure you DON'T use soft silicone lines. They will perspire the fluid through. Use some approved fuel or coolant lines.

Frank,
I'm not adding any lines to relocate my MC filler cap. I am going to a MC with a different shaped tank. see picture in previous post.
Bob

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Today at 6AM with it 29F at our barn, Michael and I were putting the car back together.
We had a great day, with 30 autocross runs. Michael's times were right there with a couple of highly modified Corvettes.
Our new brake pressure adjustability is working out great.

Before last weeks autocross, we filled the tank. We filled it again this morning.
2.8 gallons and 15 runs later equals. 0.187 gallons per run or 5.3 runs per gallon.
Coarse was about 65 seconds per run.
Engine = 2.5L 210 bhp (spec),195whp(measured) ~1800 lb car and 600 lbs of ballast.
Driver = Very Aggressive
Bob

[Tamra]

Your fuel use sounds about right. Last weekend when we did two events in a row, around 20 or so runs, we were at just under 3 gallons. We are making 300whp though. We filled it to the top of the filler neck before and after to be sure we knew how much we used.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Your fuel use sounds about right. Last weekend when we did two events in a row, around 20 or so runs, we were at just under 3 gallons. We are making 300whp though. We filled it to the top of the filler neck before and after to be sure we knew how much we used.

Hi Tamra,
Great driving in your 818 and the s2000.
Our front tank has a 3" filler hole that we can see the gas coming up during filling. The tank is almost a gallon per inch. We have our safety foam within one inch of the top. That is where we stop. We have made runs with as little as 2 gallons left in the tank. No sign of fuel starvation.
Michael wants to add a filler tube so we don't have to open the hood to fill the tank. Have you selected a fuel cell yet?
Bob

[Bob_n_Cincy]

A quick update on Michael's and my progress.

Decided to switch all our hose clamps to the OEM spring type. Over the last couple of cooler months we have had a couple of worm drive clamps start to leak. While we had no issue with the spring type. So this week we switched them all to spring type.

This weekend we are installing our double heater system.
The Subaru quick warm up heater system is great. Well we are installing a double system. We plan to be ably to drive the car around down to 30F.

We are about ready to move our efforts to the second car. So here is a nice transition picture.
Bob

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Normally I post videos of our best run of the day.
This time I'm going to post the ugliest run of the day.
This is what happens when you push to hard.

This was actually a clean run with no cones.
Bob

https://youtu.be/UMEPSYvlMAI

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Today was a pretty good day. Took the 818 back to the state inspection facility with the new bumpers installed.
WE PASSED
I thought we would get our VIN plate today, then to the title office, then to DMV for plates.

But not so quick. The VIN plate has to come from the state capital in Columbus. 3 to 5 days.
So maybe street legal by next weekend.

Bob

After passing Ohio State trooper Inspection a month ago.
They told me a few days to get my VIN number.
We today I finally got my VIN number. Then I went to the Title office and paid taxes and got my new title.

It is listed as:
2015 Assembled Vehicle
Model 818S
Mileage: 94032 (from engine/dash donor)
Purchase price $14665.40 (Total of my receipts)
Tax 1026.58

Tomorrow going for plates.

Bob

[Jeff Kleiner]

Yahoo Bob & Michael---FULLY LEGAL!

Jeff

[Hindsight]

Congrats!

[Mechie3]

Congrats. I got my plates last weekend even though it still doesn't run. Lol.

[Tamra]

Normally I post videos of our best run of the day.
This time I'm going to post the ugliest run of the day.
This is what happens when you push to hard.

This was actually a clean run with no cones.
Bob

https://youtu.be/UMEPSYvlMAI

Wow, those were some tank slappers! Way to stay in it though. Did you guys wind up in the dirt? Kind of hard to tell in the video.

It seems like most of your videos are at runway sites. Do you plan to bring the car out to any concrete events in Wilmington or Toledo?

After passing Ohio State trooper Inspection a month ago.
They told me a few days to get my VIN number.
We today I finally got my VIN number. Then I went to the Title office and paid taxes and got my new title.

It is listed as:
2015 Assembled Vehicle
Model 818S
Mileage: 94032 (from engine/dash donor)
Purchase price $14665.40 (Total of my receipts)
Tax 1026.58

Tomorrow going for plates.

Bob

Congrats!!!

[Frank818]

Bob has been VINed!! Yeah!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Wow, those were some tank slappers! Way to stay in it though. Did you guys wind up in the dirt? Kind of hard to tell in the video.

It seems like most of your videos are at runway sites. Do you plan to bring the car out to any concrete events in Wilmington or Toledo?



Congrats!!!

Hi Tamra,
You surprise me all the time, I only expect "tank slapper" comment out of my motorcycle racing buds.
No dirt, there was 20ft wide section of new pavement on a 75ft wide run way.

Twice a month we run at the Wilmington parking lot (where your van was parked) A couple time a year we run on the concrete tarmac. In between we go to other sites like http://www.cscc-scca.org/ they have the runway we run on. I can't explain why we post more of their videos.

After getting our plates this morning we put on 100 miles today driving around visiting friend and family.
We could only get standard number plated today, vanity plates in December.

Bob

[matteo92065]

B

After getting our plates this morning we put on 100 miles today driving around visiting friend and family.

Bob

Those are some of the BEST miles!

WhAt plate are you going after? The CA DMV web site is not working for vanity plates. I have to go into office for custom plates. WTheck!?

[Bob_n_Cincy]

B

Those are some of the BEST miles!

WhAt plate are you going after? The CA DMV web site is not working for vanity plates. I have to go into office for custom plates. WTheck!?

Michael gets to pick for this car. The top of his list is "STI POWR". I'm trying to get him off the Subaru theme.
I'm thinking "FACTRY5" "IBLT IT" "2FAST4U" or a tribute plate "PWALKER"
Bob

[Mechie3]

I wanted a Paul walker plate but thanks to a trooper choosing "oink" for his plate Indiana still isn't offering vanity plates.

[svanlare]

Congrats on getting it registered!

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Our 818 has a 5MT transmission out of a 2006 NA Impreza Wagon. We have over 300 autocross runs on it in the 818.
We never took the transmission apart except for the center diff housing.

While cruising down the highway today there was a big thump. When we got home about 2 miles later we found trans fluid leaking.

It appears that the bolts holding the ring gear came loose. You can see the bolt heads in the following video.

https://youtu.be/IBGVQCvmhRs