Tweaks Re-build thread

[nitrofarm]

^ Thats the best post ever!
Charlie could you please take the time to explain your process for determining the correct axle length once you have your trans where you want it? Like do you leave the upper strut bolts out and see how much neg camber you can get with the axle installed etc. Thanks-

[shadetree]

So how much was the new manifold ? Where did you find one ?

[Advancedynamix]

Sorry I missed all these posts guys (and the very nice compliments on the previous page). I didn't see them till now. Thanks for all the kind words! This car has renewed my passion for cars and motorsports. I was burned out from a decade of building other peoples dreams and ignoring my own.

Charlie.
Do you think the charade front bumper has enough space to hide a decent size intercooler?

I'm going to run e85 to keep things cool. But was still hoping to have an fmic there somewhere in case I have to run standard fuel. One big enough to make a difference

Sent from my Agora Quad Core using Tapatalk

No, there is less room in this bumper than in the stock one, but it's very light and I like the extra ventilation.

great job charlie! new wheels?

Thanks Danny! Team Dynamics made these for me a little over a year ago. Unfortunately I raced with them 1 time last year and blew Tweak up, so they sat unused for a year.

What turbo are you running charlie? Is it the stock vj16?
Sent from my Agora Quad Core using Tapatalk

The engine and computer are both stock b6t. My head isn't even ported at all. I have a 1mm (stock) cometic head gasket and arp studs. Turbo is stock vj14. With the Methanol injection I'm boost creeping to 15psi, but it doesn't seem to mind and has plenty of fuel. I ran the car last year with a G-force ECU, Vj14/11 hybrid and 16psi of boost and I blew it up (broke 2 pistons and destroyed the turbo).

Saw you run firebird last weekend. Have to say I was completely blown away when I saw you out there. I stopped and talked to you for a moment but you were really busy, never got a chance to make it back over. My uncle was in the white vett he said you were up on 3 wheels through a couple corners, and you were the only person to pass him All day when you dove down in the first turn. Keep up the good work.

I remember talking to you, I think I was right in between run groups. Come say hi again if your in town for the January PAS event!. Thanks for stopping by Fordfestiva.com!

^ Thats the best post ever!
Charlie could you please take the time to explain your process for determining the correct axle length once you have your trans where you want it? Like do you leave the upper strut bolts out and see how much neg camber you can get with the axle installed etc. Thanks-

If you locate the tranny properly, you wont have to do anything to the axle length. I centered my engine/trans so my passenger axle was too long. I shortened the outer CV joint by re-machining the seal land back .100" and then I machined the seal land on teh inner CV .150" and shortened the end of the intermediate shaft .150" to allow the inner CV to slide on further. This all equals a 1/4" shorter axle on the passenger side. Again, not necessary if you mount the g series very close to the drivers side frame rail.

So how much was the new manifold ? Where did you find one ?

My Mazda supplier found it for me brand new, I'm not supposed to tell how much I paid, but retail is around 450 bucks. There was one more left, after this one, in the country according to him. He offered to get me both of them, but I couldn't justify spending that much money.

[Advancedynamix]

I hate double posting stuff, but including this video on this thread seems appropriate. This sums up why so much attention has been put towards this car.

[scitzz]

That was a fun watch! Thanks!

Correct me if I am wrong here, though. I am not in the car, I have no real experience, and I could be talking out my butt. However, while watching this from the POV of the Miata, I couldn't help but think he was late getting on the throttle out of the turns.

Not criticizing, just wondering why he waited to jump on it? Could the setup not handle it? Was there too much torque from being blown for that?

Thanks in Advance!

Get it? Advance?

[Advancedynamix]

Good observation. Carl (owner/driver of the Miata)is a pretty conservative driver, but I'm able to get on the throttle much earlier than him because I've got front wheel drive pulling me out of the slide. It's hard to see in the video, but we are sliding through each corner, and our average speed around that track was 78mph. That means we are taking some of those corners at 90+ mph. Getting on the throttle too hard, too early in that miata will cause disaster, getting on the throttle too early in Tweak isn't a problem. The Miata is a fully prepped race car, it has a custom built RS Tranzilla gearbox (basically a beefed up t56) and a built rear end. The engine is fully forged and dry sump. The car is tagged (a requirement for this type of competition) but is never actually driven on the street. The night before this footage was filmed I was underneath that Miata, changing an o2 sensor, trying to get the car to run right. We got it sorted and this was the first time both Tweak and Carls Miata could go head to head. I beat Carls fastest time by .2 of a second. Basically, we are about even when we both drive flawless.

[moz]

The engine and computer are both stock b6t. My head isn't even ported at all. I have a 1mm (stock) cometic head gasket and arp studs. Turbo is stock vj14. With the Methanol injection I'm boost creeping to 15psi, but it doesn't seem to mind and has plenty of fuel. I ran the car last year with a G-force ECU, Vj14/11 hybrid and 16psi of boost and I blew it up (broke 2 pistons and destroyed the turbo).

You must be psychic also. Because you answered all the other questions I had. Lol

[scitzz]

For some reason, I wasn't even thinking about the fact those are RWD, and that makes sense, pushing through the turn, he jumps on too fast, and WHEEEEE, he spins, right? Conversely, is he able to enter the turn at higher speeds, thus still exiting the turn at about the same speed as you did?

[Advancedynamix]

In theory I can enter at a higher speed, carry more speed and exit under harder throttle, but he has almost twice the rubber on the ground, so we are about even. The difference you see in speeds is mostly an illusion because we are taking drastically different lines. I tend to early apex and pitch the car, the miata works better with a traditional late apex. Carl also takes a few lines that only he seems to use successfully, but I am known for doing a bit of that myself.

[Advancedynamix]

You must be psychic also. Because you answered all the other questions I had. Lol

Haha. I just like to be thorough.

[moz]

For some reason, I wasn't even thinking about the fact those are RWD, and that makes sense, pushing through the turn, he jumps on too fast, and WHEEEEE, he spins, right? Conversely, is he able to enter the turn at higher speeds, thus still exiting the turn at about the same speed as you did?

As far as rwd goes (from my own experience), you need to transfer the weight to the front wheels before entering a turn. So you must hit the brakes hard enough for the weight to transfer and you must be careful not to lose traction as you apply power.

So overall fwd wins.

[Advancedynamix]

^ This!

[defprun]

The downside to fwd is the weight transfer off the front wheels and weight itself. On the Festiva both of these things are kept in check very well with a proper setup.

[Flyin4stroke]

So what happens to a Festiva with the engine in the back on a road course? Does it hook up better?

[moz]

^2 things can happen. Slooowwww lap times. Or a tonne of under steer. Or both.

Kamikaze drivers should expect lots of time spent on the gravel.