Steering rack + Trackspec radiator weekend
Last weekend I tackled the steering rack. What a PITA that was. I’d like to strangle the engineer who made me drop the subframe to get the rack out and only allow about 1/32nd of a turn on the PS lines from the pump. Extra fun was the new rack didn’t come centered. So when I hooked my wheel up it was 180 off and I had to go back in and spin. Oddly the PS doesn’t work well at low RPM now. Works fine at high RPM though. Maybe a bit of air in the rack still? Seems like they shipped it completely empty. I’ll probably send the old one back to turn 1 so I have a spare. I managed to acquire a rebuilt one without a core charge, so I get to keep the original at least.
This weekend I tackled the tracspec radiator. It’s pretty massive. like 3x the stock core girth. The fans needed a little modification to fit on the new rad. While I was in there I put some more speed holes in the fan backing. I know it will reduce cooling in traffic jams, etc. However I’m not super worried. It’s not a commuter, the huge rad will probably help and I have hood vents too. If it becomes a problem I’ll probably just get some aftermarket fans too. I still kept the AC as well. It was a bit of a question mark if it would fit.
Unfortunately I didn’t get as far as I liked. I got the coolant back in, but I had to cry uncle on the integrated oil cooler. The oil block they give you really needs to have the AN lines threaded on first as they are too stiff to start without a lot of crossthread risk. When you thread them first the bolts for the oil block don’t want to go on. If they would all play nice there is plenty of room do it with the stock manifold and exhaust, just no luck.
I tried taking off the mid pipe to get myself a little more room and sheared off 4 of 6 of the manifold to exhaust studs. Grrr. For extra fun something greasy looks like it exploded inside my passenger rear wheel. The CV boot looks fine. I’m mystified. However the PO appeared to over-grease everything on this car so far. From the way it spread it has to be something near the hub.Anyhow figuring out the studs is a problem for future me. I’m contemplating just doing headers, but I don’t want another thing to do before the first event.
punchlist for the first trackday
- ~~install the new re built steering rack~~
- brake fluid to srf
- reinstall the front brake ducts
- ~~install radiator~~/ oil cooler
- change oil
- alignment
- ~~Check on the goop on the driver’s rear shock.~~
- add a long thick flatblade to the toolkit to adjust shocks.
- New cotter pins for the steering ball ends
