Messages

1

Engine management / Mark D EAT Chip SALE!!!

« on: May 07, 2009, 12:33:49 AM »

I received my Paypal 15% refund yesterday, thanks again for this deal Mark.
Should I be looking for the chip in the USPS mail, or UPS/Fedex?  Thanks.

When I got mine, it was through USPS.

2

Suspension / Rear suspension noise? Please help

« on: May 05, 2009, 09:42:21 PM »

I think they can make noise anyway, even if they "look" new.

Mine started making the occasional noise going over the curb to my driveway, but only after I took them out and reinstalled them with new suspension. My noob ass probably installed something wrong though. :rolleyes:

3

Engine + Driveline / rear sway bar

« on: April 29, 2009, 07:06:03 PM »

Four door here. Sounds like someone removed yours.

4

General Topics / Goin on an 1100 mile road trip, will the spoiler tilted up give me better MPG?

« on: April 28, 2009, 11:34:15 AM »

The Mythbusters test was flawed and lacking in a number of ways. But generally, at highway speeds, it is more efficient to keep the windows closed and use the a/c instead.

My last road trip to San Diego in the Celica, I drove back with the windows closed and the blower on the first or second setting. I got mileage numbers I haven't seen in years. Not coincidentally, it's been years since I did a roadtrip that long with the windows closed.

5

Engine + Driveline / rear sway bar

« on: April 27, 2009, 09:18:39 PM »

Yes, I do.

Which car of yours doesn't have one?

6

General Topics / Goin on an 1100 mile road trip, will the spoiler tilted up give me better MPG?

« on: April 27, 2009, 12:03:03 PM »

At higher speeds, it is actually better to keep your windows up and use the a/c. Having the windows open even a little creates a huge amount of drag. Use the lowest blower setting you're comfortable with.

Are you doing the trip in one shot? I did a 1000 mile trip in one shot...even doing 100mph for about an hour in a really, really desolate part of New Mexico (passed no cars for over half an hour, got passed once) it was around 14 hours. By the end I was fighting to stay awake.

It didn't help that one of my pit stops was around half an hour though...chose a town that made you drive a few miles away from the freeway to get to all the gas stations, fast food joints, etc.

7

General Topics / Brake/clutch bleeding

« on: April 26, 2009, 05:11:40 PM »

Thanks.

8

General Topics / Brake/clutch bleeding

« on: April 24, 2009, 09:50:30 PM »

I know how to bleed brakes...I've done so on my Celica. That car, however, is automatic, so I never had a clutch to worry about.

Does the clutch share fluid with the brakes? Where's the bleeder screw for that? And what order do you bleed it? (Since you bleed lines in order of furthest from the master cylinder to the closest).

Thanks in advance, likely doing this tomorrow...

9

Interior / Seat belts

« on: April 23, 2009, 01:01:28 PM »

Well, the car passed NHRA tech at the dragstrip down the street from my house, and those guys have a reputation for being tough. The guy actually glanced at the seatbelt and tugged it. Maybe it's not such a big deal after all.

When I got my Celica teched for the San Diego National Tour this year they were far less thorough. May not be a big issue after all.

10

Suspension / Spring Rates?

« on: April 23, 2009, 12:58:18 PM »

What about the Ground Control Coilovers?  They are like $400 or so?  Depending on what I can get my hands on, these are high on my list.  But I don't know much about suspensions, if it isn't obvious.

I'm still learning the ins and outs of this car.

My half-assed reply that is not based on much knowledge: jack up the car and take a look at the rear shock. There isn't much of a good place to put a spring over the shock, and the sheet metal surrounding the shock as it connects to the upper mount can't support the loads caused by a spring. Some coilover kits somehow mount the spring so it doesn't depend on that weak sheet metal for support, but I'm not sure which ones.

This could all be wrong. Check r3v, there's a lot of track gurus there that know more than I do about good coilovers for this car.

11

Engine + Driveline / oil coolers?

« on: April 23, 2009, 12:49:42 PM »

Hey I have a temp sending unit and guage in my car and honestly, my temp usually gets around the 200 deg. range. I thought about an oil cooler too, but unless I was racing, I don't think it would be nessesary. So 1991 e30m42 and I agree on the oil cooler is really not needed.

Out of curiousity, where did you install the sending unit and the gauge? Any pictures by chance?

If/when I start tracking my car, it's going to be something I'll have to keep a close eye on.

12

General Topics / Writing off a car

« on: April 23, 2009, 12:45:39 PM »

That's insurance fraud, and it's illegal.

13

Exterior / Team Dynamics Racing wheels

« on: April 15, 2009, 07:14:38 PM »

Mine just arrived yesterday. Trying to decide what I'm going to do for shoes since the Celica will need a set in a month or two. Haven't test fitted them yet but there shouldn't be any issues as it's the direct E30 fitment (Spec E30 legal).

Very good deal at Bimmerworld BTW...$99 a wheel! Not even the Celica's Rotas were that cheap!

14

Suspension / Spring Rates?

« on: April 14, 2009, 03:15:16 PM »

Stock are right around 120F and 265R.

Most guys run H&R's and Bilstein's, sports or races. Whatever floats your boat. I've ridden in cars with stock suspension, sports, and races and honestly my buddy's races aren't any more harsh than my stock setup. Keep in mind I'm 19 and the last thing I am worried about is comfort. Yesterday I turned down a '87 Cosworth 190e partially because I felt like I was driving a mattress, and because a 5 year old prepped and painted it. That aside, you won't be disappointed with whatever you go with, unless you are a 65 year old man with arthritis in your back.

+1. I am on the IE Stage 3 springs (which are rated something like 315 lbs/in front and 570 lbs/in rear). They're stiff, especially if you take a bump too fast (can't roll through speed bumps at 15-20mph like I did on the stockers). But honestly, most of the time I find myself wishing they were a little stiffer.

Getting the car lower has made for a night and day improvement on handling, even on crappy 7-year-old tires. Even if the ride were harsher than it is, it'd be worth it for this improvement alone. Make sure you get a quality shock though that will pair well with the spring rates, or you're going to be very disappointed.

I'd love a coilover setup, but it's pricey...and I hear there are strength/reliability issues in the rear. More trouble than it's worth to me for a car that I expect will last me a year or so.

15

Engine management / Mark D EAT Chip SALE!!!

« on: April 14, 2009, 03:03:10 PM »

In Oregon, we have 92 octane fuel.  Would the 93 EAT chip work okay?  Or should I stick with a 91?  Just want to make the right decision.

My uneducated two cents: stick with the 91. These are not like the stock chips, they are a little more aggressive and really need the right octane to work right. 93 *might* work but if it doesn't, you'll likely get predetonation and then you're stuck with either ruining your motor or a chip that's of no use to you.