Bwhahahaha.....Thanks TJ. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

I already called dibs on 'all the good stuff' up in post #13! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

If you lived near me, I'd let you make a lap in the Z. It has a Flowmax single out the back, and gutted cat. Driving under an overpass with the top down just begs for moar throttle!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Coilovers shipped today Kevin (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

Excellent! I'm anxious to get them installed. I'll have to post up lots of pics when I open them up. From what I've seen, they are almost too pretty to put under the car.

oh man I'm jealous !

I finally got my Strano's / KONI's this year (been "needing" since 08/2011 !) ... Let me know what alignment specs you decide to go with, I'm trying to decide a "street/race" compromise (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

~DaVe

That's easy. Knowing that this is more street car than "track" car, I'll stay with my typical street alignment.

-1 Camber (if it will get there, and it should)
5.2 Castor (5.2-5.5, depending what range is available)
0 toe

That is responsive enough to enjoy driving it on backroads and exit ramps and can still do the occasional autocross while not being so darty and nervous that my wife will hate driving it. For a dedicated autocross build (or more aggressive build), I use 1/32" of toe OUT (not in). It makes the car want to turn (you trade stability for response) but it's more nervous/less stable in normal street driving. I also run more negative camber (-1.5 to -1.8 for most tires) for a more focused application, but that gets you running on the inside edges of the tires in a straight line and it can lead to some instability (darting) under braking when combined with the toe out. So, I'm not doing those things on this car and we will see how it goes.

The Strano/Koni package works well on these cars. I was all set to go that way again when the new UMI package appeared and Sam tuned it (you can also order them from Sam if you decide you want a set). If it wasn't for Sam tuning them, I'd have stayed with Koni shocks. However, I know how Sam tends to set up a car and I like his approach. There were a few guys here who wanted to know more about the UMI package so I figured I'd give it a shot...in the name of science and all that. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I'm really looking forward to it and I've been very pleased with all of the UMI parts for this project. Ryan and the UMI crew are building great stuff and you won't find a nicer group to work with.

UMI deserves praise for continuing development on these cars. More importantly they deserve praise for how they treat their customers. Without a doubt, they have the best customer service in the industry. They always pick up the phones to answer your questions, and they go out of their way to make sure that the customer gets the parts they need, and they listen to customers on what products they should design next. It's an example of how a business should be run. Ryan, Ramey - and the rest of the guys and girls at UMI - you guys rock. Don't change a thing.

I just dropped the 10 spokes off at the wheel refinishing shop. They had a nice Maserati on one of the lifts getting a wheel fixed as well as other fun cars. We picked out a pretty cool color of charcoal with a silver accent (like a dusting so that it looks like metal flake, I really can't explain it) and left the tires to be mounted when they are done. They are going to straighten the bent wheel and refinsh them all. I should have them sometime next week. The guy who helped me was one of the guys from out in the shop and quite a car enthusiast. I made him a good deal on the old tires since he said he loved them and could use them. I think he'll take good care of the wheels. I'm anxious to get them back and see how they look.

Progress.....

Which tires were you putting on these wheels?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...tireModel=HTR+Z

275/40-17

I ran these on the teal terror and we did extremely well autocrossing on them. They are actually fairly sticky and they respond well. They are also quite affordable, but overall I liked them well enough to buy more of them.

The HTRZ II is my favorite. They are dirt cheap and actually has a decent amount of grip. The best part is when I have some fun on the street, I don't feel like I'm leaving $20 bills on the road. I used to put the baddest street tire I could afford, like the NT05's that I had on my M3. They were incredible. So much grip. So much so, that I couldn't have any fun.

I'm sure the regular HTRZ is similar.

I like the HTRZ II, that's what I had on the Corvette. The II is a 360 treadwear tire, the HTRZ is a 160 treadwear. They are pretty sticky, but you can overheat them with two drivers at an autocross. We found that they'd get greasy for the last few runs if we didn't wet them down to cool them. I think they'll be great budget street tires for my uses.

Wow no kidding. So they would be terrible on a road course, huh?

Will the local autocrosses allow you to run those at that tread wear rating in the street classes, or ONLY in E/SP or above??

I ran them at Nashville superspeedway and I didn't have any trouble at all. It seems to be all the sliding around and driving it with the throttle that really heats them up. I did three 20 minute sessions on them, then we autocrossed the crap out of them on my teal car with two drivers and they still had good tread on them when I sold the wheels and tires.




I'm not sure. I ran CP with them in the Teal Terror. I haven't run an event in about 5 years. The rules have changed since then. Worse case they can put me in SM/SM2 or CAM (if legal) or "wherever". I'm sure I'm pretty rusty and I'll just need a few events to get my reflexes back and get my wife comfortable running. If I can remember how to drive, then I might worry about what class I actually belong in.

My theory was something like this...if I buy something 200 treadwear or higher, I'd never make it to an event. If I buy these (160 tread wear) then I'm likely to wind up an event next week. That's just how things go. We'll see if I can actually get out to an event this summer.

It would be a shame to take that car to an OVR event. They are using National Trails for every one now and the last time the car came back into grid with a full layer of dirt on all four Hoosiers. Better off waiting for a Toledo local

Everything is being run at Trails? Wow...that's awful. I didn't know that, though I knew they built a medical building in part of the Ackerman lot and I wasn't sure where else they might be able to run. The old airport site was probably the worst one, so I was hoping they weren't running there.

For now yes. I know there is some hope of getting back in at Ackerman or maybe Rickenbacker, but right now it's just talk.

Are you near Columbus? I didn't realize we had too many OVR guys on here these days.