EFI_LC Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 And then the other part of the Project was a Trailer.... I have a Donor for Springs, lights, couplings and few other things, I was going to use the axle and hubs but as its Ford Pattern I decided not to and bought brand new HQ Hubs as I have heaps of wheels here. It will tip amd double up as somewhere to work on the underneath of any cars. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 I am going to use some builders scaffold planks recessedfor the car to sit on. I will also tilt it using some old Holden Suspension arms, then the lights I got off the old trailer, I picker up a Jockey wheel from Supercheap, I also grabbed a 3000lb electric winch just in case and I have a transporter for under $1k. Steel was less than $400 Hub kit was $109 Winch $87 Wheels free, and I have spares Donor Trailer $150 (Lights, axle(used the drawbar), springs, coupling and wiring) Planks $44 x 3 = $132 Bolts to hold the planks $25 Channel Iron for under the Planks $18 from the scrap merchant. Tilt mechanism free Gas and wire for the MIG Still got a bit to go but I reckon it should be worth 3 times that when I paint it up 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share Posted May 7, 2015 Trailer all finished and wof and rego. Since these pics I added a few things like tie down rails underneath, spring locks and a couple of pins to hold the ramps in place. I have now started on my Narrowed Estima Diff with Nissan GT Brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 I have some welding to do over the weekend. Once I have the Diff back together then I jack up the car level, then position and measure the diff weld the bottom mounts then work out where I have to cut the new holes and mounts for the coilovers on the diff and the body. I plan to have a single centre adjustable top mount and Watts Linkage similar to the bottom sketch except replace the panhard rod and the coilovers will be a bit high mounted 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 Got the mounts on for shocks, bottom arm and springs today after spending some time making sure all the angles were good, Still to do: The brakes don't quite slip over the axle wheel mounting plate so they need a mm or 2 taken off them and modify the brackets to suit. The top adjustable arm needs mounting after the adjustable Panhard rod is mounted which also needs me to fabricate a chassis mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 It was good to be working on the Starezza again. I have a bit more to do, top arm and otherside brakes but Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 I was held up working on this full time as real life gets in the way like trips away and going to Drag Racing, Circuit Racing, and all the other stuff, but I am now making a push to finish. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1267176186641889.1073741898.612338512125663&type=3 I had never finished the diff as I had no room for the single top arm and I made a temporary setup but I am now putting them through the wheel wells and they can then mount on the roll cage base plate where I can brace the front mount to the cage. I have oodles of room in there as the wheels are pushed out wider. The wiring under the bonnet is now done and the engine runs on its alternator now and has an Evo 4 Alloy radiator. Rear disc brakes are done and plumbed and can still just fit the 13's on the rear. Once I fit the GTR fronts I will need to run 15's 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 More work completed in between other things, I am getting ready to test drive soon, I may need to make some clearance around the front of the diff as its tight in the tunnel. Things to do: Finish wiring in switches and kill switch Plumb gauges if I can Bleed the brakes Check diff and gearbox oil and radiator levels Wire the electric fan Remount Seat Buy and mount Belts Mount fire extinguisher Hang fuel line from rear to front. Check clearance of sump on the cross member. Sort wheels and offset and clearances on guards Driveshaft hoop Make spacers for the suspension arms and setup Tighten the diff and suspension bolts etc. Paint and tidy the body and wash. Remount the rebuilt rear calipers Make a Handbrake set up Finish hanging the exhaust (needs a front mount) Check for any holes in the firewall and floor and weld up. And I am sure I have a few other minor things to do but if the test drive in my driveway goes ok I will be wanting to take it for a test sometime. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 So 11 months on and a Trailer built as well I am nearing completion, hopefully ready to test sometime next week or week after if I can hook up the oil gauge. Waiting on a phone to turn up so i can make it my obd2 logger system. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 I am now in the final adjustment and tweak mode with the car, I tried the 13" rims and they wouldn't fit over the rear disc callipers so made them fit today. The offset puts them just outside the rear guards but my calculations they should hit the stop before they rub. A few other minor things needed. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EFI_LC Posted January 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2016 Well the Starezza had it's first run at Ruapuna this morning in a Test session, I mainly wanted to check that it kept cool and the handling was ok with the additional weight and make sure everything was working as planned. Not that impressive times but I was taking the braking a bit easy and not pushing too hard in and out of some corners with the open diff. Only thing to go wrong was an exhaust gasket blew at the first collector where it goes from 4 into 2 After doing 6 or 7 laps I came in to do some checks and dropped the tire pressure which I will play with over the next few sessions. Engine temp stayed at 180-200 all the time. Right rear tire just rubs slightly on the bump coming out of Pot Hole, easy fix. The single spinner diff didn't help for drive out of the corners and the rear brakes were still bedding into the rusty 35 year rotors. I had a front straight drag with a Toyota 86 race car who was on my tail coming out of the sweeper and it took the entire straight to get beside me so power to weight feels great and the gearing is amazing, I was hitting max revs in 5th down the straight so will be using all 6 gears once I have some drive out of the corners. Power doesn't feel wild but very controlled, I guess typical street tune but I plan to change this in the long term. All in all a happy first up test and I will looking to sort out camera etc for the next one. It was good to hear a few people reckoned it looked quick 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted January 27, 2016 Author Share Posted January 27, 2016 2nd time out never went so good. I blew a head gasket. I have pulled it apart and I cant see much so maybe an air lock or blockage. I will pull the cooling apart as much as I can to check and while I have it in bits I will make some alterations to the cooling and check its circulating good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EFI_LC Posted February 13, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 13, 2016 Well after the hiccup with the head gasket I repaired it and then took it to the Drag racing yesterday. Off the trailer it ran a 14.1 @ 97mph with a 1.97 60ft - I was like sweet that launched and no spinning I then ran a few 14.0's while I tried to work out my shift light and that pushed me into 13.9 and 13.8's. I DYO'd 13.85 and buttoned off at the line until a Skyline beside me pushed me hard to the line and I ran 13.7 but because he red lit I won The last couple of runs I couldn't get traction and the track was going off as others had similar issues, the weather had a lot to do with it. I was so impressed with this little car and so many others 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 I actually found an incar video against a quick Holden ute where i hit 3rd way too early. I think this was my 3rd run and I sorted the shift light after this run. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 I scored 6 good usable slicks for my Starlet and I have been thinking of getting some wide rims made for the rear and also now have 3 wide slicks for them as well now with another 2 to pickup. Maybe someone could help, can I get 6" mags and widen them or should I talk to someone about steel outer rims and get them to add my offset & pattern? Or buy a pair of 8"x13" mags? Next question, Formula Ford tires, are they ok grip compared to say a dot track tire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 First race and ran a best Lap 1:46.6 and a few within a second of this. Qualifying I ran best 1:51 and was a little disappointed and I dropped a little from the tires afterwards as working it out and also tried to work out the brake bias, still a bit unsure so will do some testing in the garage. R1 I launched from near the back and it went sideways grabbed 2nd and went more sideways, I was snaking up the middle until I caught up with the main pack of cars and then about half lap I tried an overtake before the carousal and pushed it a little harder through the previous corner and hit the marbles off-line and spun out, 2nd lesson. R2 saw a less sideways start but still a bit sideways and I caught up to an inside car but soon after found myself drifting back and eventually, My exhaust had came very loose at the collector and was like a tractor so never went out for R3 as not much room under there and called it a day. Happy with R1 but need some work on the brakes and a few other things. This the lap data after I spun around in and then the next was my fastest. Timing said 1:46.69 (Track Addict 1:46.65) http://vid53.photobucket.com/albums/g52/kiwigraham/Starezza/Untitled_zpst4za2g38.mp4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 I have entered for a trackday in a couple of weeks. I needed to fix 4 issues which were pointed out in scrutineering. 1. Fuel overflow, catch/splash tray. Bought a cake tin from Briscoes and it had a raised centre which when I cut it out was the the exact hole size I needed for the fuel cell 2. Drivers Door card - Scrap Metal down the road had ally sheet which I bought some time ago for the price of scrap and I have been using it for all sorts of things, 3. Firewall holes, went over it with fireproof sealant and now sorted. 4. Seat was flexing the mounts a little so welded some 3mm plate to strengthen Other things I am doing. - Front wheel had a slight flat spot and was causing huge shake at speed, in getting it sorted and should get it back tomorrow - Exhaust came loose - need to add another mount close to the front to take weight. - Remove diff head and add more weld as it has some movement. - Electric water pump should be here be early next week to help circulate the water - Repair the front spoiler as its worn about 10mm off the right side. (end of the straight left hander is bottoming out. - New shocks & springs to limit the body roll and high speed front dipping (stop above and pic from happening) When I saw this pic it confirmed how much the additional weight of engine and me were affecting the handling so I think a 1:46 was ok and hopefully can pull 2-3 seconds a lap from that. The right tire also tells the story and after this I will be looking at the entire geometry of the front end. Anyone in CHCH that has done this stuff or has springs shocks etc I would be keen 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFI_LC Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 So I am sorting the front end out and should have it 80% sorted by the end of this weekend. I bought some Tein Adjustables for $50 at the same time I bought the car and will use a gas Celica insert for now until I buy a better insert later as these are actually for another project. All in all I would say the car will sit slightly higher at the front and will be much firmer and I am hopeful this will help the roll center. I know one thing it will help loading and unloading the car as the spoiler touches without using some wooden planks at the moment I removed all the mounts and crap 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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