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Our new "One liter can of whoopa$$"; Our LeMons racecar build
Topic Started: Mar 21 2010, 12:50 PM (18,499 Views)
DrDomer
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Hey guys.. Sorry for being away... Lots has happened since I last checked in. We have done a LOT to the car, and more is getting done this week.

I plan to do a large formal update with pics this weekend. I will say this.. the car has spent an hour + on the track at full speed. The engine and tranny ran flawlessly. Oil and coolant never changed. The suspension needs firming up... A LOT! We've cut one coil off each spring which helped get rid of the positive camber, lower the car a little, and firm up the ride a snitch. We'll need to firm it up a lot more. I think we're gonna need new sways and sway mounts and sway bushings. Thinking of using some of our remaining budget on new dampers and springs, but need to do some research first.

We're open to suggestions. Thanks!

Oh.. first race is Last weekend of August at Mid America Motorplex in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Details can be found at www.24hoursoflemons.com.
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mcmancuso
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Check out the info in this forum over at teamswift. Its probably got the most actual experience with different suspension setups. You can refill the struts on the car with fork oil to stiffen them up. Maybe that's an option?
http://teamswift.net/viewforum.php?f=10
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DrDomer
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DrDomer
Jun 10 2010, 10:50 AM
Hey guys.. Sorry for being away... Lots has happened since I last checked in. We have done a LOT to the car, and more is getting done this week.

I plan to do a large formal update with pics this weekend. I will say this.. the car has spent an hour + on the track at full speed. The engine and tranny ran flawlessly. Oil and coolant never changed. The suspension needs firming up... A LOT! We've cut one coil off each spring which helped get rid of the positive camber, lower the car a little, and firm up the ride a snitch. We'll need to firm it up a lot more. I think we're gonna need new sways and sway mounts and sway bushings. Thinking of using some of our remaining budget on new dampers and springs, but need to do some research first.

We're open to suggestions. Thanks!

Oh.. first race is Last weekend of August at Mid America Motorplex in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Details can be found at www.24hoursoflemons.com.
Well, our left rear strut is shot... so struts will have to be either replaced or re-done, but the springs are still too soft and the sways are garbage. I've re-read this thread, and have again looked at options for our suspension. I'll be combing over the teamswift site, again. The difficulty with further cutting our springs will be that they will become fully unloaded should a tire drop (for whatever reason).

Here is a teaser of how the exterior of the car looks now...

Posted Image
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Coche Blanco
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I love those wheels.
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mcmancuso
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:thumb Looking good!
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nerys
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Grr

I heard somewhere here or somewhere say S10 springs will fit and be stiffer?
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DrDomer
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nerys
Jun 11 2010, 01:47 AM
I heard somewhere here or somewhere say S10 springs will fit and be stiffer?
Interesting. One of our big "problems" is that the car is soooo friggin' light. We haven't weighed it yet, but it has to weigh around 1400lbs!!! So, has anyone had experience with cutting more than 1 coil off each spring in a lighter than stock car? As you cut springs you obviously increase the spring rate, but also decrease the available travel, and you run the risk of overloading the dampers... I guess we could just cut a quarter coil of each spring and test, but gee whiz that's alot of trial and error. :ermm:
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Coche Blanco
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You can cut off more, since it will be a race car. Put limiting straps on them to keep the springs from popping out.
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DrDomer
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Coche Blanco
Jun 11 2010, 10:45 AM
You can cut off more, since it will be a race car. Put limiting straps on them to keep the springs from popping out.
I've read some of the discussion on replacing oil in existing dampers... I couldn't find a good DIY with pics... anyone know where I could find this? If we increase spring rates and put on limiting straps then we'll need beefier dampers.
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3tech
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I would take another 1/2 coil out of the front, and another 1/4 coil out of the rear.

Drill a hole about 1 1/2" - 2" down from the top of the shock body, drain, and fill the fluid there. Figure out how you're going to cap the hole before you drill it.

You can always double up on rear sway bars. The front one should be plenty stiff.

If you want an advanced timing sprocket for your car, PM me your address, I'll ship it out Monday. I have lots of that style right now. It will help.
Edited by 3tech, Jun 11 2010, 02:21 PM.
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mcmancuso
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Here's a quote from over at teamswift, I'm looking for pics now :)
"I've done the shocks. i drilled and reoiled with 30w fork oil. its way to stiff for the street. I've been living with it but wouldn't recommend this mod to anyone who is going for a daily driver setup. for racing it would be amazing, my car has no body roll and just hugs corners like its on rails. " The popular method for closing the holes seems to be a self tapping screw with epoxy on it lol
Edited by mcmancuso, Jun 11 2010, 02:33 PM.
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DrDomer
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mcmancuso
Jun 11 2010, 02:31 PM
Here's a quote from over at teamswift, I'm looking for pics now :)
"I've done the shocks. i drilled and reoiled with 30w fork oil. its way to stiff for the street. I've been living with it but wouldn't recommend this mod to anyone who is going for a daily driver setup. for racing it would be amazing, my car has no body roll and just hugs corners like its on rails. " The popular method for closing the holes seems to be a self tapping screw with epoxy on it lol
I read that too... I'm dumb.. Need pics..
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DrDomer
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3tech
Jun 11 2010, 02:19 PM
I would take another 1/2 coil out of the front, and another 1/4 coil out of the rear.

Drill a hole about 1 1/2" - 2" down from the top of the shock body, drain, and fill the fluid there. Figure out how you're going to cap the hole before you drill it.

You can always double up on rear sway bars. The front one should be plenty stiff.

If you want an advanced timing sprocket for your car, PM me your address, I'll ship it out Monday. I have lots of that style right now. It will help.
Nice... We definitely need to reattach the rear sway (rusting away) but replace it with a stiffer one as mentioned before... The car is at the cage builder this week, and then at the painter next week... So, I have a few weeks to come up with a "suspension plan". I will talk with our "chief mechanic" :hmm about the drilling of the dampers. I think we need to at least try this, as it sounds superior to aftermarket replacements for stiffness.
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DrDomer
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Well... this thread is back from the dead... Here's a teaser. Car has been painted yellow and then decorated with all the kids handprints.

Posted Image

Here's the car with some of the kids we'll be supporting with our funds being raised.

Posted Image

Both of my computers at home (where most of my pics are) have been destroyed by a dreaded Vista update (thanks Microsoft), and are finally going to come back to life
this weekend. I'll get all details on here soon.
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l7productions
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First time owner, experienced learner
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That's awesome... car looks great! Glad to see you get the kids involved.
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