Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Installed Pauls rear toe arms today which finally fixed the really bad toe in I had when I installed Bobby's upper arms. Even with out the race alignment done and aftwr just 1 test drive I can already feel the difference the suspension changes have made and it feels great.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Few little updates:
-My compworks fender braces showed up today.
-Sergio has asked me to get a quote on fixing the hood. As well as said he's just about ready to give me a full refund for the hood.
I tried 2 places today to get quotes both of which said they wouldn't touch the hood and both recommend I get a new corrected hood. There is only one shop left that does collision work so maybe they'll work in fiberglass but not holding my breath.
I love the look of the hood and need it's functional ability so far I'm seeing a 13 degree drop in temps when I DD it to work.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Ordered up my sparco side mounts and bolt kit today.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Looking for a discussion on cages.

I'm torn on what I want to do for a cage at this point in my build.

I want to be safe and I run my race seats.

With my size 6'4" tall and now 270lbs. And reading up on cage threads. I almost feel like I'm limited to 2 options.

1)only put in a 6pt maintain factory interior
2)basically go full race car and gut everything, modify the drivers seat position to give me clearance for width as well as extra headhood clearance. Which I'm stI'll doubtfull I'll get even wit removing the headliner and lowering the seat as far as I can.

Another option would be to remove the sunroof/roof skin and go 1pc roof.

I know this car is for road racing. But I still love /enjoy driving it on the streets from time to time.

Thoughts on how/if a person of my size will fit with a full cage (AER spec)

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Well you need to decide what you want but I am 6'3 and made my cage work. It wasn't easy but seat position was important and I did bend the cage for ability to still use the interior but now that it's done I won't put it back in. I wouldn't do a halo hoop just cause u won't be able to get it up away from you enough from what I found. I clear all my cage components very well and no sitting crooked required. If u buy a pre bent cage and have someone weld it in my guess from research is u won't fit.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Ya I also have that dilemma of finding a cage builder.

So far all the known road racing shops near me don't build cages here in SC.
RRT is 6hrs away so that's not practical for fitment testing trips.
And Panic motorsports send there cars to there sister shop in florida. Again not practical.
I have a welder that I trust here. But he said I'd have to build my own or buy a pre made cage which I don't like as I'm sure it would have to be modified for fitment.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Any old muscle car shops around? Don't have to stick with just import shops.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Modified my mishimoto coolant overflow (so that it mimics stock)

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Not car related but - bought a racing suit will be here tomorrow.

Was on close out on jegs got it for $440.
Sparco Pro Cup X2.

Also contacted RRT about getting a cage and seat brackets made for the car. Decided Id rather drive to a shop that has experience working in dsm's in the road racing scene then be the guinea pig for a shop.

Will be going for a full cage set to AER specs. And if it requires car becoming a dedicated track car. So be it.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Suit showed up a day early. May be 1 size to big. But it's comfortable all around.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Well got in on the Bobby Gould. Group buy on tuners. For rear adjustable tubular laterals and trailing arms.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Finally got around to installing my Paul Volk LCA with my porsche brake ducts today. 10 days off work would have kicked myself if I didn't work on the car at least a little bit.
I may tackle my fender braces tomorrow but we'll see.
Was a good thing I installed them. The bushings in my old oem ones were shot and I noticed the bushings for my front sway bar are torn as well. Hopefully the RM sway bar group buy on tuners will go ahead and I'll jump on a complete set then.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Also here you can see how much lower the LCA made the front.

Also got a new neighbor across the street the last one Mr. Morris wife died and he was put into a home.

The new neighbor is a car guy. He has a yellow vette. And what ever chevy that is in the background at least has an exhaust done to it.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Small update :
Purchased DC sports csb 1001 and 2007 strut tower bars. As well as the complete RM Sway bar set but for now just plan to use the rear.
Also heard from Sergio of carbonetics about my hood
And on top of replacing my hood he also gave me a discount on his dash and doors. I have since passed on the door panels per my brothers advice. Till I get the cage installed, then if I have room for the door panels I'll get them later.
I'm 95% sure I'm going full race with this car at this point. It'll still be street legal but may only be used to drive the 16 miles to cmp and back. Otherwise trailered.
-Going with fully gutted (might still put the paneling back in but there won't be anything behind them like speakers, etc it'll just be for looks)
-Full road race spec cage.
-also looking to install race capture and some sort of display to use for my dash like johns freund has. Or maybe and AIM setup.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Off topic, but I know you live near CMP. On Monday, April 9th there is a Noble and Rossion track day out there. I'm trying to time a work trip to Charlotte and taking a personal day to attend the event. There are going to be a lot of pretty cool cars there, I know at least 8 or so Noble/Rossion, plus some R8/GT3/GTR, etc.

If you have that day free, I think it would be pretty cool to at least check out for a bit.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

April 9th..

I'm off the entire weekend fri, sat, sun. ( i had alreadt put in for vacation as the kids will be out of school)

I'll see about putting in for Monday as well.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Well just made the deposit on the white 2g shell.

Just have to arrange a way to get it here. Spent a little bit more but got a whole lot more.

-brembro brake set up, 3g booster, carbon hood just to name a few.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Let me know if you need help finding a truck to haul it for you; I work with a few freight brokers that may be able to help.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

So far I currently have a guy from work who said he'll take his encloses trailer and go get it. It's just a matter of him scheduling a weekend off.

I swear I don't think this guy sleeps ever. On top of working at my job 8-12hrs a day 7 days a week.

He also owns a turkey farm, oil change and service station, he repose cars, owns a vinyl sticker/wrap shop.

He's in his early 30s.. but says his plans are to be retired by 40.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

SLOWWHITE 2.O - is officially on its way

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

WooHoo! Evo X wheels I see.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Is that a viper style exhaust???

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Yes evo x wheels. And he did a side exit exhaust.
Not sure if I'm allowed to use it or not.

Just as a heads up the car has some things wrong that weren't described but also came with a lot that wasn't mentioned.

And since I'm OCD and the car isn't where I know I want it to be. Ive made the choice to take some time and fix the things that are bothering me now vs later.

My wife doesn't agree as "it's a race car" most of its cosmetic but still I know myself well enough that it'll always bother me if I don't address it. She says I'm not getting any younger and to just start racing. Anyrate.

So for now I'm just having the red car put back together and I'll do HPDE event this year with it as is.
(Am having the Boston diff supports added, rm sway bars installed, rest of bobbys G suspension installed)

But then calling it done for the year on that car

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

What wasn't as described?

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

A couple things so far. But it is, what it is, but until I get a day off (next sunday) to really get a full day of investigating I'm going to refrain from making statements as I truly don't know just how bad somethings are vs do they just look bad.

But 1 particular no questions are the evo x rims and tires supposed to have only 1500 miles on them.... must have all been snow

Will say this. I really missed having a white car and she looks pretty in the garage.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Well just a quick update on this car. Dsm revival started work on my car.

Ordered up slim line fan, bought a sparco passenger seat bracket for $40, we'll see how high it puts my race seat. If it's to bad for $40... who really cares, couldn't pass it up for the price. But if it works then I'll buy a driverside one. (I have 4 race seats anyways, long story if I haven't shared) this also allows me to use the stock seat belts or a harness bar till the white cars done.

Is it bad that I keep thinking I may just build 2 cars. Lol. My eldest will be 16 in 4yrs. Maybe keep this car and have a car for the kids to come do HPDE events with me.

Wife wasn't to thrilled when I suggested it the other night though

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

So went to see the car last friday. Couple thing came up

1)need a new clutch - should in stay 2600 or go twin or triple? I've read random threads where people say twin/triple are easier on the car I have no experience in them what so ever. But anything that will help a motor that's going to be used continously is fine by me...open to opinions as I always thought they were just to handle higher hp/tq. I know john freund uses a QM twin.
-halo seats and sparco seat bracket didn't work would have been fine if I didn't have the Halo section but the Halo sticks out the window, but at least Jacob who's doing the work said he'd do the seat mod for $100 so that's going to get done on my red car.
-also suggested I get another pusher fan and remove the stock one. As he showed me in there current clocked position my 90 degree couple is rubbing on thr motor mount which put a hole in it. And if he clocks it any more it then hits the stock fan which again would tear up the coupler. So we're doing a 2nd fan and then some duct work to help direct air.

Edit: 2nd fan showed up - 4/18/18 only it was supposed to go to the shop not my house. Shipping address is listed as the shop but they still sent it to my house....rawr

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

I wouldn't go multi-disk unless you're making north of 600whp. In factory applications, they work great, but I've had a couple in my DSM and I hated them. Lots of chatter, grabby engagement, etc. The best clutch I ever had was in there when I sold it, a South Bend with the street Kevlar disk. Perfect engagement, light action, smooth.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Updated: $1500 later and another $700 still to go this week for an accusump setup.

-New pistons -Manley 9:1 with upgraded wrist pin per builders request l
-Act 6 puck -sprung
-new release bearing
-new bearing clip
-new ACL bearings
-2nd spal fan
-fan mounts
-Kiggly girdle
-new hawk hps brakes front and rear - street use
-evo 9 kevlar timing belt per builders request.
-Mishimoto thermostat
-diaqueen tranny fluid
-water wetter.
-2x set of sparco seat mount bolts.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Sergio from carbonetics messaged me today. And long story short. He said all my stuff is ready and do to the hastle, headaches, time frames , etc. On top of replacing my hood with his new CAD designed dry carbon AB V2 hoof (I'll be the first to get it) he offered to either pay for free shipping of my parts ($300) or I could choose comparable parts of the same value. I chose to have him make me a custom center console/armrest. Thats race car only. It replaces the empty space where a radio would go with a flat piece that flows with his dash. I did this to allow for more space to mount stuff neatly. (Tpms, tablets for race capture, etc)

He said everything else I ordered is ready but will need 3 weeks to build me my center console.

Here is a picture of his dash with his center console. I highlighted the area I'm talking about that he's filling in.

I'll have to figure out how to mount it once it gets here.

Other parts to arrive:
-dash
-interior door panels
-side skirts
-front splitter
-fender flares
-AB V2 hood.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Agreed on staying away from a twin/triple unless you really need the holding power. Like Steve said, great in factory applications, but not so much in the aftermarket. Kevlar discs are great for street use, but the fuse to the flywheel during high-temp situations (racing, very aggressive driving, etc.). That is what my CCI Stage 3 in my Evo IX was; they eventually stopped making it. I personally really liked Southbend's equivalent to the ACT 2600 that I had in my Laser RS AWD. I would check both them and CCI (Competition Clutch) out. ACT has the quality control of a Chinese factory with tons of disc failures so I'd stay far away from them.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

I've ran both the SS and SSX Southbend pressure plated mated to that "OCE" hybrid disc that they have Exedy make. With very good results. The SS pressure plate felt like stock pedal pressure and held over 400 ft lbs of torque to the tires, and still engaged like a stock clutch. And the disc is tough, takes abuse without breaking the center springs, and wears like iron. I went with the SSX this time, cause I was exceeding the capacity on that SS plate, and it actually broke the torque straps, so I figured that was my cue to go bigger. It never slipped.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

The car had an act 6 puck with out the springs and felt good. Only reason I'm replacing it is that one of the pucks had a chunk taken out of it. I would have never known if we hadn't pulled the tranny. As the car shifted great. I only went with the spring version 6 puck because my builder recommended it.... and you all told me to stay away from twin disks lol

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

ACT quality strikes again! :lol:

Be prepared, but the car won't shift as well in the high-RPM's now that is has a heavier sprung disc. It will be nicer at low-speeds and easier on your drivetrain for launching though.

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Well that kind of sucks.

I don't plan to launch the car...ever.....and I'll mostly be shifting at speed since it'll be road racing

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

That what makes it harder to shift at higher rpm's is those springs? I've always had issues with clutch drag above 8k...

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Yup, it's the extra weight/inertia. Get a solid disc and it will help greatly!

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Since "slow news day" post.....

So went to wash the white car sunday for the first time since I've owned it I had to push it out the garage and install a battery to be able to roll up the window, which the battery box is located in the trunk.

When I closed the trunk the plastics fell down reveling a ton of rust holes.

So I contacted Sergio at carbonetics and ordered up his CSL hood since he was still filling my order anyways. (Save myself $300 in shipping if i ordered later)

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Sounds like you got F’d on this clean shell deal :(

Re: 1997 GSX - DD, RR, and 11's.
 

Damn. sucks about the rust. Was it the original hatch? Makes me curious about the structural integrity of the rest of the chassis and cage.