"Bastard Child" VDPA 2012 build!

[driftfcbuckey]

I applaud big kids stuff, you know school, careers, etc.

and this build looks promising because my car is in the background.

As do i! None of this clutter should be in Robert's thread though.

Keep up the progress Rob. It's definitely 1 of the best builds over the past few seasons.

[Exiled Lakai]

My S14 front hubs just got in after waiting since the 9th. During the wait I stockpiled, S14 lca ball joints and SPL shanks. My new Feal Suspension gets here today. I can't wait. They're S14 coils with 8k front, 5k rear spring rates and Feal's reworked valving.  This was my last big part to get before the car could be completed. Now its downhill until a practice session slated on the 11th. I can't wait. I'll get a picture update together soon.

[Exiled Lakai]

For Immediate Release

January 26, 2012

Robert Strohmeyer Racing Announces Sponsor H1 Performance

Robert Strohmeyer Racing would like to announce H1 Performance as a sponsor to their 2012 Vegas ProAm season efforts.

Eladio Rodriguez at H1 Performance brings a wealth of chassis tuning experience to the team.  Forward grip settings will be vital to Team RSR’s S13 chassis.  The type of asphalt environment at the Vegas ProAm FD Back Lot events will be challenging. Tire management is important for the overall success of the program.     

“I’m super stoked to have H1 Performance onboard for our 2012 season. Being able to adjust the chassis on demand will benefit our car and take it to another level. I can’t wait to drive at a practice session with Eladio working his magic, getting the car dialed in just right,” said Robert Strohmeyer, owner/driver of Team RSR.

“We are extremely excited to finally work with a team like RSR.  Their drive and commitment to the Vegas ProAm series is something we admire. As a local, Las Vegas based business, we are proud to support RSR.  We are looking forward to this venture,” said Eladio Rodriguez, owner/president of H1 Performance.

Team RSR is nearing the completion of the car just in time for testing early February. With the help of H1 Performance the car will be ready to compete by the start of the Vegas ProAm series mid February 2012.


   For more information contact:
   Robert Strohmeyer
   Stroh.rob@gmail.com

About Robert Strohmeyer Racing

Robert Strohmeyer Racing or Team RSR is a grassroots level drifting team entering Vegas ProAm 2012. The team’s sights are set high for the season. The goal is a Formula Drift license for owner/driver Robert Strohmeyer in order to take the team to the next level.

About H1 Performance

H1 Performance is a Las Vegas based business specializing in automotive performance upgrades. Providers of chassis tuning services for vehicles competing in road course, drag, drift, and time attack racing. For more information, visit www.h1racing.com

[Exiled Lakai]

Alright so this update starts with the head in pieces on DDS's work bench.  The motor has since been put back together and its awaiting transport back to the house. I keep forgetting to take pictures of it together.


I took a welded diff over to DDS to replace it with a kaaz. I didn't have the air tools needed to do the job so it was nice to head over there and get it done.


I pulled the the diff out and made sure to keep the shims in the right order.



This is the result of an about 45mins of hard work.


The welded s13 diff I bought to use the casing did not come with a cover. So I pulled the cover off my VLSD and swapped it over.


All buttoned up a ready to go into the car.


Moving on to the S14 LCAs. I painted them black and pressed new ball joints into them.


UPS finally got around to delivering my S14 hubs. It only took them 12 days...   So  I slipped them onto the DW spindles and tighten them down.


Then the LCAs and Spindles where joined.


I couldn't wait to get them one so I started putting them on as soon as I got home but I only had a few minutes before I had to leave again.

[Exiled Lakai]

This morning the FedEx driver brought a box of happiness. My new Feal Suspension S14 coil overs. I have to give a big thanks to Odi from Feal Suspension for building a shipping these out in one day so I had them the next.


Now the reason I went for the S14 coilovers was to close the gap in height adjustment with the drop spindles. One little oversight I had was the upper hat on the S14 rear coilover is bigger then the S13 chassis mount holes. So Odi is modding two S14 rear upper hats in order to fit the S13 chassis.

Since I wasn't able to mount the rear coils. I took a pic of a cool perk to the Feal coils- a camber adjustment slot on the lower perch.


This is where the day got rough. I must say even though I know the DW spindles are going to be pretty nuts. The over all quality leaves something to be desired. The power coat is caked on so heavy it cracks/chips if you look at it hard enough. All the bolt holes have to be reamed out in order to accommodate the bolt. Even if all the paint is out of the bolt hole the tolerances are so close that the bolt by itself has trouble going through the holes.  I had to hammer the lower shock mount bolts in and I slipped a few time and hit the coilovers and they came out without getting a scratch while just tighten the bolts cracked the DW spindles.

caked


cleaned- and you can see the chips on the DW spindles and that's from tighten the ball joints in.


There is also now the problem of having S14 Tein inner tie rods with SPL outer tie rods. It seems with the added DW spacer the adjustment is to much that the inner and out combo is too long. In order to remedy the situation I had to order Z32 inner tie rods because they are shorter which will be here in a few days. This means I have a set of brand new S14 tein's for sale. 

I decided since I couldn't get the steering set I'd get the front Evo brakes on. Even then I ran into a problem of the bolts of the mounting bracket when fully tightened touched the brake rotor. I went down to Ace to pick up a few washers and finished the job.


I took another shot to showoff the new coils. 



up next is the wiring, overfender instillation, and engine/tranny drop in. Check back soon. 
 
   

[Melonburst]

Looking good dude!

[driftfcbuckey]

Rob do you need the front spacers/ 12x1.5 lugs up front?

any way i can buy them back? let me know! i can buy you brand new matching 12x1.25 30mm front spacers - i mainly need the lugs to complete my set for my FC.

[Exiled Lakai]

Yeah I defiantly need them b/c of my knuckle set up. If you can get the same spacers but in the right thread pitch and the same lugs I'll straight trade. I'll pay for the ten none used lugs off you for my rears. LMK

[driftfcbuckey]

Yeah I defiantly need them b/c of my knuckle set up. If you can get the same spacers but in the right thread pitch and the same lugs I'll straight trade. I'll pay for the ten none used lugs off you for my rears. LMK

they will not thread on unless you swap studs. i think i only have like 6 of the R40 lugs. forrest taxed me on a 4 lug set. your best bet would be to swoop a full set of 20 without locks from Mackin. think they wanted like $180 + shipping.

[Exiled Lakai]

I'm working on a rather big post. The car has come a long way since my post. The car should start and get tuned this morning.   

[Exiled Lakai]

Alright, this update starts with some much needed engine shots.

A pic of the HKS GT2540R. I'm more of a response guy versus peak horse power so this little turbo will do the trick.


I'm really glade I had already panned on swapping out the S13 pick up to a s14 pick up because when the oil pan was cracked open this was the first then seen. I'm glade that I didn't oil starve the engine during Best of Vegas event.


S14 pick up installed and ready for the greddy oil pan installed


During best of Vegas we noticed a small leak from the back of the engine. It wasn't the rear main seal but the rear main seal housing leaking. So it was pulled cleaned and resealed with a new rear main installed as well.



DDS also rerouted the rear water lines and closed off any unneeded openings


After the work was done I loaded the engine into a buddy's truck and took it home. Mods, Freddy pulleys, PE headgasket, Greddy oil pan and ARP headstuds. Completely stock motors usually hold together really well so I hope to get a lot of lift out of it and about 300whp.


The next day I bolted up the ACT lightened flywheel, HKS clutch and stuck the tranny first time.


Completed and ready for drop in


Feal Suspension sent their fix to the s14 top hat problem. They redriled and cut the ears off the hats so I could bolt it to my S13 chassis.


bolted up and looking good. I think odi might start stocking S13 top hats for people like me ordering S14 suspension to compensate for drop spindles that way he doesn't have to cut s14 hats.


So with the rear suspension figured out I started to bolt on the new rear hawk HPS pad but on of the welds on the DW knuckles was in the way of the rear caliper from fully tightening down so I made some room.


Now was time to drop the engine in.


shortly after that the glass guy showed up to put the windshield in and it started to really look like a car.


I started to wire the rear of the car. Here are two shots of the fuel relay and solider joint.



I also bought some reman axles which carry a lifetime replacement guarantee which I hope I never use but its there to save me money later if it does happen.
 

Tired from a day of abuse I finally had everything on the car I needed to get it off the jack stands
 

[Exiled Lakai]

This last Sunday I got the car over to H1 Performance to get some work done and set up the initial alignment specs.

First off was rolling the fenders to avoid having to deal with cutting them for overs.


After that we noticed the SPL shanks where rubbing the rim slightly so we cut them about a 1/4 inch in order to clear the wheel





Another problem was the taillights. The lights that came with this hatch shell did not have the outside studs on either corner. Danny figured a quick fix to this and drilled out the hole and put anchors in.
 

These pictures are to showcase the Feal suspension and all the components together as one to give the car one hell of a set up.




Now it was time to get the car corner balanced and aligned 


Eladio and the crew looking at the scales while I'm in the car. Car weighted 2451 we me in it!


After the corner balancing was done Eladio broke out the baller mobile laser alignment machine and went to work.





At the end of the day the back put of the car was fully wired, brakes bled, suspension aligned and corner balanced. That allowed me to drop it off at DDS to get the headlights mounted and fully wired I hopes of dynoing Tuesday(today)



Fast forward to the end of Monday looking good. I hope to watch it get tuned tonight.



Time to get ready for testing this coming Sunday! 

[ihatecfinch]

I didn't know you were gonna turn that thing into a 4x4!

[Exiled Lakai]

there is rake involved. The front fender is sitting on the tire in that shot and still needs to be raised a little. It has soft suspension so under power it will be tucking the rear wheels.

[s13yaobling]

I didn't know you were gonna turn that thing into a 4x4!

lol