Traction control on old cars?

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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 12:42 PM
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Default Traction control on old cars?

I'm wondering if anybody's seen anything like a kit containing a computer and a set of sensors that you can hook up to the main ECU to achieve a sort of aftermarket Traction Control System? Wheelspin blows! Tires are expensive!

Any advice would be appreciated; thanks!
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 12:43 PM
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Default Re: Traction control on old cars? (car47)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by car47 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm wondering if anybody's seen anything like a kit containing a computer and a set of sensors that you can hook up to the main ECU to achieve a sort of aftermarket Traction Control System? Wheelspin blows! Tires are expensive!

Any advice would be appreciated; thanks!</TD></TR></TABLE> for TC you need ABS, so you'd need a ABS system, and that alone is a feat beyond doing.

You can improve your suspension and driving to help.

End of the day it's a FF car so it'll always be hurting for traction.
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 12:58 PM
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Default Re: Traction control on old cars? (***$nyper)

I was hoping for something that worked based on giving gas / not giving gas rather than utilizing ABS; I mostly want to reduce wheelspin on my tiny 13" tires. Becoming a better driver will definitely help, of course.

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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 01:01 PM
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Default Re: Traction control on old cars? (car47)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by car47 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was hoping for something that worked based on giving gas / not giving gas rather than utilizing ABS; I mostly want to reduce wheelspin on my tiny 13" tires. Becoming a better driver will definitely help, of course.

</TD></TR></TABLE> Well i've never heard anything like that being made.

Very cool car and they are known for never having traction, just not enough room for enough tire.


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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 01:24 PM
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Default Re: Traction control on old cars? (***$nyper)

I think he thought you meant the brakes were going to slow the wheels down for traction. (not the case)

You don't need ABS per se to have real traction control but you need wheel speed sensors so you need about half an ABS system to make it work. Racelogic is the only "real traction control" system I'm familiar with... IIRC you can order them with wheel speed sensors if needed. They are very nice although they are pretty expensive. I'm sure there are other systems that are like Racelogic but I don't know of any. The other options (much cheaper) is basically a maximum wheel acceleration limiter. You figure out how fast your car can accelerate without breaking traction then it limits the tach form accelerating any faster therefore if the wheels were about to spin it wouldn't let them go any faster. MSD has an accessory for MSD ignition boxes that does it and megasquirt can do it, not sure of any others. Those are the only two types of systems I know of... Although personally I have no interest in traction control. It's a light powerful FWD car, get accustomed to careful pedal modulation.
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 03:53 PM
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Thanks Bob! I looked into Racelogic and it's exactly what I'm looking for ... but DAMN it's pricey! Maybe I'll do that next year.

You're right though, I just have to become skilled with my feet. But that's so HAAAARD!
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 08:12 PM
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Default Re: (car47)

if you learn to drive half as well as that car looks, you'll be set!
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Old Jun 24, 2008 | 09:42 PM
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ive seen the subframe kits before for the mini, amazing! you guys always run stock exhaust headers tho! what gives?

see if there is room to put in some heim joint radius rods to reduce lateral wheel movement/wheel hop.

stiffer rear suspension? lower tire pressure?

or just enjoy spinning em with your kick *** high rpm honda motor


PS. its hillarious your alt is easier to change than mine. lol
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 05:02 AM
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Default Re: (welfarepc)

Thanks guys!

Yeah, isn't that alternator location weird? And handy.

It's tough to fit an aftermarket header because of the spacing of the subframe ( see the clearance where it bends under the block ) and the tiny front end of the car ( we had to cut away portions of the grill just to fit the stock headers )-- I had a set of hytech-replicas that I was trying to smoosh in there, but it just didn't fit. I was bummed. I'm sure there are good headers that take up the same frontwards space as the stock set, but I don't know what they are.

Thanks again, y'all.
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 06:10 AM
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http://www.moretraction.com

their units work in every aspect of racing. great stuff
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 06:36 AM
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That sounds impressive.
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 07:01 AM
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Default Re: (car47)

also, you could swap out the final gear for taller one. LS ring gear is 4.266 vs the 4.40 in most vtec B series transmissions. Or, just swap the whole LS trans, which has taller gearing all around, and is easier and cheaper than rebuilding your current trans. Also there might be some aftermarket final drive kits (meant for turbo cars) with a lower ratio as well.

of course, you'll lose a bit of acceleration in the higher gears by going to a lower final drive, but it might be a good trade off if you are currently struggling with traction anyway.
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 07:27 AM
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@ ComeOnKip: That looks perfect too, thanks! But even more expensive than RaceTechnologies' solution! Damn!

@mike-y: That's a good idea -- I actually got an ITR LSD off ebay and had to get an aftermarket ring gear and ended up getting a 4.7. That might suck huh. Hmmmm....

I haven't driven the car yet, we're at the very end of the building stages, so I'll let you know how it all turns out!
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 07:59 AM
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Default Re: (car47)

I have seen a few of these b-series mini's, and I'm always impressed.
Please make a build thread for that thing

looks like a fun project
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 08:36 AM
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yes the davis tech units are quite a bit or scratch. and most sanctioning bodies frown upon them. but who cares... full throttle b-mini launches FTMFW.
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 11:49 AM
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Default Re: (ComeOnKip)

wow that davis unit looks amazing, I wish I could somehow justify that kind of money for a car that’s only worth 5K at best.
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Old Jun 25, 2008 | 12:52 PM
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Default Re: Traction control on old cars? (car47)

Megasquirt has traction control options, and is inexpensive. Although some experimentation would be necessary.

http://web.archive.org/web/200....html
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 07:33 AM
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Default Re: (abnaasefmb)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by abnaasefmb &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow that davis unit looks amazing, I wish I could somehow justify that kind of money for a car that’s only worth 5K at best. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Being absolutely irrational and short-minded with a credit card is my justification for about 95% of my auto-related purchases
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 09:43 AM
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Default Re: (ComeOnKip)

AEM EMS has traction control. I have no idea how well it works though.

http://www.aempower.com/ViewCa...ID=62
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Old Jun 27, 2008 | 05:21 AM
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@Disco: That looks interesting, but it says:

"No individual wheelspeed sensors are required and you get to program the allowable acceleration rates based on RPM and Gear."

I can't imagine that works as well as something like the racelogic system, and race logic is cheaper! I think what I like about the racelogic is that it's a system with a very specific purpose.

@ Butterball, an interesting option, but the same comments as above still apply... thought the price is a bit more attractive.

@ComeOnKip: Amen brother. How have I managed to go through 4 cars in the past 2 years? I am one short minded tool.
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