I want to run a track event and I am contemplating if my car would be reliable for two 30 minute sessions at Willow Springs. I have a GSR with the Greddy kit and a thicker headgasket which lowers my compression. I'm imagining a track event would kill my motor especially after driving for such a extended period of time.

 

I am by no means an expert but from what I've heard, your tuning needs to be perfect or you will find out about it the hard way...

 

turbo miata goes boom:
http://www.taner.net/vids/wwang/wwang-miataboom.WMV

 

 

And you also need to be looking for alot less than 100% of the maximum power output.

Do you have an EGT probe?

 

I dont see why you couldnt. I would just make sure you have a conservative tune, and run low boost. Maybe 5.5-6 psi. Nothing more.


Mike

 

Run good fuel, reduce timing, and knock a couple pounds of boost off. The major enemy is heat, the combustion parts will reach stabilized operating temps much higher than street or drag use would bring about. You must avoid detonation at all costs, timing is the easiest method to go about it.

Always watch your water and oil temps also.

 

hit up ShaunK on the board, he has the same setup (minus the headgasket and higher boost) on his GS-R and has tracked it successfully.

Brian

 

Assuming the car is tuned well (you do have a EGT and/or AF meter, right?) and in good running order (fresh oil, new coolant, good radiator, etc) it should be fine.

Just keep an eye on the gauges and listen for detonation. If you have an MSD 6BTM, set it to retard the timing a bit more than on the street just to be safe.

If track use becomes regular, give serious thought to a full ECU (Hondata, etc) and larger injector to get the car tuned really well. I've never been a fan of bolt-on fuel pressure modules - they are ok for street use, but always seem to have major issues at the limit.

 

Do you have a fuel pressure riser or correctly sized injectors (with a stand alone)?

 

on your first track event you have a lot more to think about than your gauges and motor pinging. You will have info overload as it is.
Is your turbo tuned for a drag setup or maximum power? Chances are it is, and chances are it is not cooled or fueled properly for extended on track sessions. If you have the $, I would recommend putting some $$ into upgrading your radiator, intercooler, fuel pump and injectors. Schedule some dyno time and go a little more conservative with your timing and A/F ratios.
Then turn down the boost a pound or 2, and run a gallon of toulene or a three gallons of 100octane unleaded in with your gas. All of this should be enough to not have to worry about blowing your motor up. Of course still have the gauges (preferrably the electronic memory/warning type with a buzzer) but chances are you will not have the presence of mind to look at them much if its your first time out on track.




[Modified by elgorey, 1:55 PM 4/8/2003]

 

This is a lot to take in. I do have an egt gauge, but my radiator is stock and I also heard an oil cooler would be beneficial. My fuel setup is 450cc injectors with 4:1 fmu and a vafc to tune out the fuel. I also have an upgraded intank fuel pump and an inline pump for insurance. Even if my car is tuned right, I am just worried that all that boosting even at a low psi setting will wear out my motor like crazy. All the people I know with a turbo only run their cars at the drag strip. Even at autox, I haven't seen anyone with a car that had an aftermarket turbo kit. My car runs great when autoxing, but that is nothing compared to the stress I will putting on my car if I do track it.


[Modified by Andrew 825SM, 4:34 PM 4/8/2003]

 

I would consider upgrading your cooling with a bigger radiator and higher flow water pump (if there is an OE available) before hitting the track.

 

I run track events with my 89 crx thats supercharged. obvisously i don't have to deal with as much heat as a turbo but I rec. at least adding a decent oil cooler ( B&M is a good choice for the price) run good gas, add some octane boost if you can if no race gas. and try to vent as much heat from the engine bay. ie. duct work. I also raised the back of my cf hood with some washers JDM style to let some heat out the back.

 

Like Brian said, I've tracked my turbo GSR a couple times. It's running a Greddy kit on the OEM 7psi, and I have the stock head gasket. The motor is bone stock and has 145k miles, and the head has never been off.

I run the stock size radiator with only water and about 4oz of Water Wetter. Since I'm still running the blue box and 310cc injectors, I run about 40% 100-octane race gas when it's hot out to prevent pinging (I know, I know, the Hondata is in the garage, so no comments pls).

Anyway, I ran at Buttonwillow last May, where the ambient temps were at about 80-85. With the race gas I had no pinging or overheating issues. My biggest issue all day was lack of an LSD to take advantage of the torque. Even let a couple friends beat on it and they came back in with sh*teating grins and turbo plans in their heads.

What time of year is the event at WS? I wouldn't run the car in the middle of summer, even with the Hondata. Unless of course I towed it up there and had the new motor waiting in the garage at home. Your oil cooler will be a big help, and I have plans to add the same thing asap.

Honestly, with a turbo GSR, you will run out of tire and brake on a street car way before you can use all that power. I found I was not in boost the majority of the time, as all you need is a little bit of spool before you are passing most of the other guys and you're braking for the next turn.

 

Talk to DB8GSR, he has taken his old Turbo GSR to some HPDEs before.

 

I used to do a lot of track stuff with my turbo CRX si. I guess I'd echo what a lot of these other guys are saying. I had a stock d16 bottom end. I used a very efficient air to water intercooler, retarded the timing, ran 100 octane gas, and limited my boost to 8 psi. Make sure your mixture isn't lean. I know with the d16 the major source of failure with a stock bottom end (no parts were available back then) was rods bending because the timing was off. So make sure you've retarded the timing and have a good rich mixture, watch your a/f gauge and temps and you'll be fine. I ran mine at a minimum of two 2 day track events per year for four years and never broke a thing. Good luck with the boost in the corners!
Jim

 

I'm surprised everyone is telling this guy to spend gobs of money on new cooling, oiling and intercooling hardware. Not to mention a new ECU and dyno tuning.

The throttle is not an on-and-off switch. It does have multiple intermediate positions. You do not have to beat the snot out of your car just because you're on the track. Work on driving the perfect line and worry about the speed later. Just as others have said, you will be under an information overload and you don't need to be worrying about your car holding up.

Just as you can manage your brakes by adjusting your braking point to avoid buying a BBK, you can adjust your speed and aggressiveness to the given conditions (weather, available octane, boost level, etc.)

-Adam