So.....I'll start us off. I've made a number of changes for the season and most of them aren't very big but I'm hoping they bring the car up to the level I think it can be. In prep for 2017 I've -
- I had my exhaust headers ceramic coated. This is claimed to keep the exhaust gases hotter (aiding in expulsion and power) while at the same time keeping the engine compartment cooler (again aiding power). I have no idea how much might be gained but they now look nice!
- I sent my throttle bodies back to England along with the ECU. The throttle bodies were under a recall and while they were at it they gave me a firmware update in the ECU that unlocks it so that I can make any changes I'd like. I can see a dyno session at CS Motorsports in my future to try and grab another ft/lb or two down low.
- I made a new carbon tunnel top cover for the "interior". I just didn't like the way the old aluminum looked. It took off about a pound so I guess I can claim a weight savings.

- Just today I ordered a new set of race wheels. The wheels I'd been using worked fine but are heavy. They were very cheap but unfortunately heavy at just about 16 lbs each. I ordered a set of two piece aluminum wheels that will be a solid 4.5 lbs lighter each while also being stiffer. In time I might just get down to the min weight for my class if I keep chopping away at it. I think I'll still be about 50 lbs over the min but that's not bad.
- Lastly I installed a rear differential with taller gearing to reduce the number of 2nd - 3rd - 2nd shifts I need to make on Helena courses. I was running a 3.9 gear and swapped out to a 3.62. This combined with a slightly higher rev limiter setting (9000 rpms - part of the new ECU set up) should bump my top speed in 2nd gear from 58 mph to 66 mph. On some of the more open Helena courses I was shifting more than 10 times per run so this should help with that and help keep me from bouncing off the limiter as much.
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So what are you all doing? I know Russ has a big oil change planned and Alex is moving from a turbo 4 to a NA V6. Let's hear about that oil Russ!
dave