TL Track Bound Round 2
#1
TL Track Bound Round 2
Hey Guys,
original thread in case you missed it:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...TL+Track+Bound
Headed back to the track here in about a week and wanted to start another thread to hopefully highlight the improvements made to the car since my last track day in July.
First of all the biggest change will be that I basically have a brand new clutch setup. New oem clutch, master cylinder and even slave cylinder due to some unexpected failures with all three lol. The clutch was even slipping while at the track last time so this alone will really help being I won't have to nurse the clutch with every shift.
Other changes will include:
-DIY Custom fiberglass front splitter
-Rear carbon fiber wing
-Another 40-50lbs weight loss
-Race exhaust (just my resonator then a single straight pipe on back)
-Springs at least 1/4" stiffer and dropped the rear about 1/2"
-Custom Rear diffuser if I get the time next week
-Fresh brake fluid and a better bleed job
-2 Fresh Bridgestone 245/40/18's with treadwear of 140 (should be fun lol)
You can check out the results from last time in the other thread but basically the car was kinda tail happy and a few other small things so this time around I'm mostly looking for an all around neutral feel and just try to keep a bit more momentum going through the corners and increased high speed stability.
Also taking the wifey this time so at least I'll have some pics and video of the car.
original thread in case you missed it:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...TL+Track+Bound
Headed back to the track here in about a week and wanted to start another thread to hopefully highlight the improvements made to the car since my last track day in July.
First of all the biggest change will be that I basically have a brand new clutch setup. New oem clutch, master cylinder and even slave cylinder due to some unexpected failures with all three lol. The clutch was even slipping while at the track last time so this alone will really help being I won't have to nurse the clutch with every shift.
Other changes will include:
-DIY Custom fiberglass front splitter
-Rear carbon fiber wing
-Another 40-50lbs weight loss
-Race exhaust (just my resonator then a single straight pipe on back)
-Springs at least 1/4" stiffer and dropped the rear about 1/2"
-Custom Rear diffuser if I get the time next week
-Fresh brake fluid and a better bleed job
-2 Fresh Bridgestone 245/40/18's with treadwear of 140 (should be fun lol)
You can check out the results from last time in the other thread but basically the car was kinda tail happy and a few other small things so this time around I'm mostly looking for an all around neutral feel and just try to keep a bit more momentum going through the corners and increased high speed stability.
Also taking the wifey this time so at least I'll have some pics and video of the car.
#2
AZ Community Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
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You already know:
Brakes, Brakes, Brakes - upgrade Discs, Pads and Fluid.
And tires.
(fwiw - I've got a track day thread and an AutoX thread somewhere in the Photo Gallery.)
Brakes, Brakes, Brakes - upgrade Discs, Pads and Fluid.
And tires.
(fwiw - I've got a track day thread and an AutoX thread somewhere in the Photo Gallery.)
#6
Trending Topics
#9
Your Friendly Canadian
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Ditched the rear bumper? That's some aggressive weight savings
#15
Here is the track setup for Monday. THIS IS A TRACK SETUP AND A TRACK SETUP ONLY SO BS COMMENTS ABOUT THE WING. I wouldn't ever run this setup on the street, not even the splitter being it would hit every curb around. I wasn't able to get the rear diffuser done but I did have the straight pipe exhaust made up and can probably get a video of it up tomorrow when I put it on.
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1378.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1379.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1381.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1378.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1379.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1381.jpg)
![](http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/vill0169/IMG_1382.jpg)
#16
Team Owner
Are you going to have anywhere near enough speed to make any downforce? I can't imagine the Tl breaking 80mph on most tracks.
#19
Team Owner
That's better but still at the low end of making any appreciable downforce. I would just put the car at a slight rake and call it a day.
#20
AZ Community Team
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Do you have a link to the track your running?
Last edited by Bearcat94; 10-02-2010 at 09:25 PM.
#21
Your Friendly Canadian
Join Date: Dec 2007
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So what exactly did you do to set up your car for the track? I'm guessing the lip and rear wing, tow hook, remove rear seat and racing belts. Anything else?
#22
Wow a lot of responses, we run at bir which is known as the fastest road course in the country, I'll be hitting 135 MPH quite easily actually. Bir has two track setups and last time we only ran the shorter course last time but this event will include both tracks.
As for my full setup, check out the first post in each of my track bound threads.
Just Google BIR MN and you'll see the track. On the long course , turns 1 2 and 10 really will be where the downforce will noticed and Probably appreciated.
As for my full setup, check out the first post in each of my track bound threads.
Just Google BIR MN and you'll see the track. On the long course , turns 1 2 and 10 really will be where the downforce will noticed and Probably appreciated.
#25
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Cool. Looks fun.
![](http://www.rimblas.com/bmw/driving/images/bir_track_map.gif)
#26
Yep that's it... as you can see the main straight is plenty long enough to plenty of speed into turn 1.
I put the straight exhaust on this afternoon and just didn't think it was quite what I was after so I took it off and will pick it up again later on. Its very throaty but still too raspy for my liking.
I put the straight exhaust on this afternoon and just didn't think it was quite what I was after so I took it off and will pick it up again later on. Its very throaty but still too raspy for my liking.
#27
Team Owner
With that being said, have you done anything to help out the handling balance and tested it before the track?
#28
be careful with your aero add-ons. Sometimes things that make sense to you visually do not produce the expected results. Many times, it just makes it even more difficult to get your settings right. I have seen people go crazy with stuff like this only to find the stock car actually makes it around the track faster.
Sam
Sam
Last edited by wraithvr442; 10-03-2010 at 09:18 PM.
#29
Mom why is there two?
I track my TL often the stock body is good to around 130 or so. The Butt will stay with some if you follow me softer stiff stuff, it must dampen when that time comes. The TL from the factory is a very well equipped car. The roll comes from the car itself we have welded cross bars in the interior of the car to make it more rigid. What you are feeling is the roll of the car nothing else but that. All your body mods, no offence might make you more confident is the turns but are really doing nothing to help that car must be a brick and let the suspension absorb all the rolls and bumps. Just my penny's
#32
Alright fellas,
Just got home from the track and saw the new posts so I felt necessary to comment quick before I do my full write-up from today's events.
wraithvr442- Talked to a guy with a G37S Sedan today and he asked me about my splitter as well. He had run one previously but found that because the car was at the stock ride height, the splitter was just too high off the ground to do any good. This being said, My setup is pretty vastly different than that on a stock G37 sedan and given the track that I run at, the splitter/wing made no hinderance at all.
ethenol- Your two cents are appreciated and I do agree that a lot of the TL roll is pretty necessary actually and you should see in the pix to come that I do let my TL roll a fair amount through the corners. And if you track your TL as you say, I'd like to see your setup and see where we differ.
IHC- The funding and time were just not there to add a whole lot more to the car this time around. But I do have a laundry list of things to come for it as I will probably not be using it as a daily driver much longer.
Overall I'd like to just make a few points for the benefit of the thread. I'm doing all of this because I have a genuine interest in the sport of road racing and what to experiment on behalf of the entire TL community to see just what the TL is capable of on the track. So, I worked my way up to a IMO solid baseline setup for my first track day in July. This time, my main focus was to improve what I thought were the car's weaknesses last time in order to give me more confidence on the track and improve lap time plus account for the difference between the short and long tracks at BIR. I see no reason to say that I haven't done that. The only way to do this right is to make little changes at a time and keep everything else as consistent as possible to make those changes easy to account for.
I'll do a full write up on the track day tomorrow but to give you a quick summary basically the car kicked that track's ass. I passed cars I never thought I would but I'm sure a lot of that comes down to track experience. I got a great go-pro video of my last session today and it is a pretty good representation of the entire day. It was truly an amazing track day.
Just got home from the track and saw the new posts so I felt necessary to comment quick before I do my full write-up from today's events.
wraithvr442- Talked to a guy with a G37S Sedan today and he asked me about my splitter as well. He had run one previously but found that because the car was at the stock ride height, the splitter was just too high off the ground to do any good. This being said, My setup is pretty vastly different than that on a stock G37 sedan and given the track that I run at, the splitter/wing made no hinderance at all.
ethenol- Your two cents are appreciated and I do agree that a lot of the TL roll is pretty necessary actually and you should see in the pix to come that I do let my TL roll a fair amount through the corners. And if you track your TL as you say, I'd like to see your setup and see where we differ.
IHC- The funding and time were just not there to add a whole lot more to the car this time around. But I do have a laundry list of things to come for it as I will probably not be using it as a daily driver much longer.
Overall I'd like to just make a few points for the benefit of the thread. I'm doing all of this because I have a genuine interest in the sport of road racing and what to experiment on behalf of the entire TL community to see just what the TL is capable of on the track. So, I worked my way up to a IMO solid baseline setup for my first track day in July. This time, my main focus was to improve what I thought were the car's weaknesses last time in order to give me more confidence on the track and improve lap time plus account for the difference between the short and long tracks at BIR. I see no reason to say that I haven't done that. The only way to do this right is to make little changes at a time and keep everything else as consistent as possible to make those changes easy to account for.
I'll do a full write up on the track day tomorrow but to give you a quick summary basically the car kicked that track's ass. I passed cars I never thought I would but I'm sure a lot of that comes down to track experience. I got a great go-pro video of my last session today and it is a pretty good representation of the entire day. It was truly an amazing track day.
#33
Team Owner
Can't wait to see the video. Glad it's working out well. Any interest in track only suspension settings?
#34
Safety Car
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
With all oem suspension, my car will slide around turns with no perceivable body roll. Taking 110 mph curves on the freeway has no perceivable roll either. And, my car has a very high ride height too. Amazing what no weight can accomplish.
#36
Mom why is there two?
ethenol- Your two cents are appreciated and I do agree that a lot of the TL roll is pretty necessary actually and you should see in the pix to come that I do let my TL roll a fair amount through the corners. And if you track your TL as you say, I'd like to see your setup and see where we differ.
What I have done to the car is some hillbilly stuff, but it worked very well. First off a good friend of mine owns a machine shop so this was fairly simple. Here is when I'm going to get some shit. We took a set of bomz racing coilover sleeves for the 03 TL, so they said. 75.00 bucks. Took the sleeves and measured everything out in the suspension and started to cut the fronts down to fit correctly. I cut the strut hats down and a few other things and measured a little more and everything went together well the rear I knew I wanted a rake as IHC commented a few posts earlier. This was accomplisged by tiggin a 2 in collar on the end and machining it with the thread to match the nuts. Again the hats were cut down a little and things went together well. It is springy in the back we are working on that since it is a little bit above the stop. I have a adjustable strut back there right now but still could use a little work, but none the less it does work well. Tire combination is 275/40/17 BFG g-force on stock wheels. I will be going to a 16 in the front so I can lower the back further down on the stop and still keep the rake. All of my sway bar bushings are new and over tourqed for a good tight feel. Small trick I learned from an old volk guy who auto crosses. Coolong ducks to the brakes and a very very healthy engine. The wheels are also spaced 1/4 in. Might just be all in my head but it felt like it made the butt have a little less roll. The interior bar is from the seatbelt bolts cross wise to the floor seat belt bolt if you follow me. That is as far as I have gotten. We will see if I go any further I like where the car is for now and it still scares me sometimes, so until I have learned the car completely............... Cant wait to see the vids.
What I have done to the car is some hillbilly stuff, but it worked very well. First off a good friend of mine owns a machine shop so this was fairly simple. Here is when I'm going to get some shit. We took a set of bomz racing coilover sleeves for the 03 TL, so they said. 75.00 bucks. Took the sleeves and measured everything out in the suspension and started to cut the fronts down to fit correctly. I cut the strut hats down and a few other things and measured a little more and everything went together well the rear I knew I wanted a rake as IHC commented a few posts earlier. This was accomplisged by tiggin a 2 in collar on the end and machining it with the thread to match the nuts. Again the hats were cut down a little and things went together well. It is springy in the back we are working on that since it is a little bit above the stop. I have a adjustable strut back there right now but still could use a little work, but none the less it does work well. Tire combination is 275/40/17 BFG g-force on stock wheels. I will be going to a 16 in the front so I can lower the back further down on the stop and still keep the rake. All of my sway bar bushings are new and over tourqed for a good tight feel. Small trick I learned from an old volk guy who auto crosses. Coolong ducks to the brakes and a very very healthy engine. The wheels are also spaced 1/4 in. Might just be all in my head but it felt like it made the butt have a little less roll. The interior bar is from the seatbelt bolts cross wise to the floor seat belt bolt if you follow me. That is as far as I have gotten. We will see if I go any further I like where the car is for now and it still scares me sometimes, so until I have learned the car completely............... Cant wait to see the vids.
#37
Team Owner
ethenol- Your two cents are appreciated and I do agree that a lot of the TL roll is pretty necessary actually and you should see in the pix to come that I do let my TL roll a fair amount through the corners. And if you track your TL as you say, I'd like to see your setup and see where we differ.
What I have done to the car is some hillbilly stuff, but it worked very well. First off a good friend of mine owns a machine shop so this was fairly simple. Here is when I'm going to get some shit. We took a set of bomz racing coilover sleeves for the 03 TL, so they said. 75.00 bucks. Took the sleeves and measured everything out in the suspension and started to cut the fronts down to fit correctly. I cut the strut hats down and a few other things and measured a little more and everything went together well the rear I knew I wanted a rake as IHC commented a few posts earlier. This was accomplisged by tiggin a 2 in collar on the end and machining it with the thread to match the nuts. Again the hats were cut down a little and things went together well. It is springy in the back we are working on that since it is a little bit above the stop. I have a adjustable strut back there right now but still could use a little work, but none the less it does work well. Tire combination is 275/40/17 BFG g-force on stock wheels. I will be going to a 16 in the front so I can lower the back further down on the stop and still keep the rake. All of my sway bar bushings are new and over tourqed for a good tight feel. Small trick I learned from an old volk guy who auto crosses. Coolong ducks to the brakes and a very very healthy engine. The wheels are also spaced 1/4 in. Might just be all in my head but it felt like it made the butt have a little less roll. The interior bar is from the seatbelt bolts cross wise to the floor seat belt bolt if you follow me. That is as far as I have gotten. We will see if I go any further I like where the car is for now and it still scares me sometimes, so until I have learned the car completely............... Cant wait to see the vids.
What I have done to the car is some hillbilly stuff, but it worked very well. First off a good friend of mine owns a machine shop so this was fairly simple. Here is when I'm going to get some shit. We took a set of bomz racing coilover sleeves for the 03 TL, so they said. 75.00 bucks. Took the sleeves and measured everything out in the suspension and started to cut the fronts down to fit correctly. I cut the strut hats down and a few other things and measured a little more and everything went together well the rear I knew I wanted a rake as IHC commented a few posts earlier. This was accomplisged by tiggin a 2 in collar on the end and machining it with the thread to match the nuts. Again the hats were cut down a little and things went together well. It is springy in the back we are working on that since it is a little bit above the stop. I have a adjustable strut back there right now but still could use a little work, but none the less it does work well. Tire combination is 275/40/17 BFG g-force on stock wheels. I will be going to a 16 in the front so I can lower the back further down on the stop and still keep the rake. All of my sway bar bushings are new and over tourqed for a good tight feel. Small trick I learned from an old volk guy who auto crosses. Coolong ducks to the brakes and a very very healthy engine. The wheels are also spaced 1/4 in. Might just be all in my head but it felt like it made the butt have a little less roll. The interior bar is from the seatbelt bolts cross wise to the floor seat belt bolt if you follow me. That is as far as I have gotten. We will see if I go any further I like where the car is for now and it still scares me sometimes, so until I have learned the car completely............... Cant wait to see the vids.
#40
Safety Car
I use Vegas Pro 8.0.
Fairly intuitive for basic editing chores. Very popular program. So, it is easy to find help on the internet on how to do stuff with it.
Free Trail Download (click here)
To save for YouTube -
File > Render As > (use settings shown below)
Fairly intuitive for basic editing chores. Very popular program. So, it is easy to find help on the internet on how to do stuff with it.
Free Trail Download (click here)
To save for YouTube -
File > Render As > (use settings shown below)
![](http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL836/1216349/23495320/392425113.jpg)