Found a box of stuff on the porch today!

[Beauwulf]

TSW Nurburgring

[bossbunny]

Originally Posted by Beauwulf

TSW Nurburgring

Been looking at some TSWs myself. Good looking wheels.

[Beauwulf]

Well, it's time for another mod for "Roxy"!

Kenji with B&M has, very generously, provided a set of the Hurst shifter paddles to install and test. See thread:

http://camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114657

Here's a photo of the unit before installation.



I have it installed (took about 20 mins) and went for a ride... My initial impression was one of quality (even though this is one of the prototype units) and it does function as advertised! The turn and washer stalks are fully functional though they do touch the paddles slightly when pulled back.

The adjustment of the "throw" on the levers is done to taste. To give the best feel, the levers should be adjusted till they just touch the buttons. This gives the best feedback through the lever and you can feel the "click" of the button. If adjusted too loosely, you will first feel the lever making contact with the button, then you get the click.. that felt sloppy to me! Too tight on the adjustment and it becomes too sensitive and can activate the button accidentally when turning if your hand brushes the lever.

The activation works best if you press the lever near the center but, it feels 95% as good at the upper or lower ends... which is better than I thought it would do!

I had 2 minor critiques of this system. First is that you have some interference with your fingers when you shuffle the wheel around and let it "free return" after a turn. That's just something that I need to get used to.

The second required a little tweaking. The return spring for the lever was not fully retained as delivered (it popped off when I was examining the unit out of the box) so I adjusted it a bit and reassembled it for positive retention (I hope you don't mind Kenji... I am a natural born tinkerer! hehe!).

Here's a photo of the modified spring. It is now between the lever and the forks wrapped around the pivot bolt verses being outside the fork in the first photo.



There is one other detail that will require some adaptation. Access to the menu button and selection collar on the left hand stalk will require you to reach them from above the stalk. It can be done, but it takes a bit more dexterity to do it.

All in all, this works very well and has the feel of quality! It is not as flimsy when installed as it might seem. I think this will help those who want to do track events be it autocross or road course by allowing you to keep your hands in the proper position (10 and 2) and still shift. I can recommend it for that reason alone! Then you add the aesthetics and "cool" factor for the icing on the cake! This is a really nice mod! "Iiiiii Like it!"

P.S. I'll do a track review after my TD at Sebring on the 29th... with video!

[BaylorCamaro]

Very interesting, I look forward to your track review.

[Beauwulf]

Got a new install going on today on Roxy! The BMR strut Tower Brace.



Trial fitting revealed that the air box (Airaid) was in the way...



A little cutting on the box solves that problem!



The fixture they are using to build this is a little bit off it would seem. The forward arms don't go quite far enough down and are also a little too close to the retainer ring arm. This requires a bit of pushing and pulling to get the brace located properly.



Welder's clamps are a must to hold the brace in place while you drill.



The forward arms must also be pulled down in to place and required a little ingenuity to get it done! I had to use a ratcheting tie down strap to pull it down far enough! Nothing like building a "spring loaded bear trap"!



I'll let you guys know how it works out after Sunday's TD at Sebring... I'll have several reviews from this track day.

[jagan323]

Sweet looking Strut brace brother!

[Beauwulf]

Here's the finished product...

[Rogan]

Originally Posted by Beauwulf

Here's the finished product...

Ah..there you are. Didn't know your username on the board or if you were even on here.

Photo of your car I took at the BankAtlantic Center Parking lot a couple months ago.

I'm looking to get some cooling to my brakes as well.

[Beauwulf]

Originally Posted by Rogan

Ah..there you are. Didn't know your username on the board or if you were even on here.

Photo of your car I took at the BankAtlantic Center Parking lot a couple months ago.

I'm looking to get some cooling to my brakes as well.

Thanks for the photo M8! She sure is purdy when she's all dressed up for the track!

[BaylorCamaro]

Beawulf, could you tell at all if the strut brace had any effect?

[Beauwulf]

Originally Posted by BaylorAirForce

Beawulf, could you tell at all if the strut brace had any effect?

Yep, Sebring was the perfect place to test it and it made a noticeable difference there! Turn 17 wasn't nearly as scary....

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by Beauwulf

Yep, Sebring was the perfect place to test it and it made a noticeable difference there! Turn 17 wasn't nearly as scary....

Glad to hear it made a noticeable difference. I hear a lot of people say they cannot tell a difference (with other cars).

[Beauwulf]

Originally Posted by BaylorAirForce

Glad to hear it made a noticeable difference. I hear a lot of people say they cannot tell a difference (with other cars).

Well, it is a 9/10ths kinda mod. You have to be really pushing the car to get the strut towers to flex in the first place. You also need to be... aware... of exactly what the car is doing when your near the limit. Your suspension and tires need to be able to transmit that information to the driver too. There are many factors in suspension setup that can mask the effectiveness of this brace.

[PercyJWellingtonIII]

Originally Posted by Beauwulf

The next install starts this weekend (if I don't have to work)!



Intake and brake ducts going in under the front of the lower facia along with some extra supports for the splitter. Hope I can make it all fit! LOL!

Did those come off of an Electrolux or Hoover vac?