I’ve written but I haven’t updated. The main page says something about major mods being in the works for my car. That’s not the case. It sits idle. I tried getting the MSNS running on the weekend, but I need to do some more reading first. Something many people claim as being easy, turns out to be a little more complicated than expected. I don’t know why it’s not running yet.
I drove on the south RC on monday night. It was nice. Andrew co-drove and we were back on the 712’s because they’re almost dead, and a lot more predictable. He wanted to play with sliding a bit. I had a lot of fun. I held a really narrow line at about 70-80kph through turn 3. It was a bit intimidating putting the ass inches from the edge, and sometimes over. I’m not a good drifter.
The car drives great though, and I love it. But there are some problems. Engine is showing some bad symptoms. Lots of smoke. Out marshalling, watching Andrew drive by… there is a bit of a stink left behind. After 3 laps, water temps are getting really high and a good cool down period is necc. Something in the steering is clunking and it’s disconcerting. At least the rear end noise isn’t getting worse, and the new clutch is really dreamy in drift scenario. I can actually modulate clutch kicks and be really gentle if need be… Or sick violent in 3rd gear. >: Scarey.
I don’t think I’ll ever abandon 86, but this is a time when I am struggling in this marriage. I get absolutely outpowered everywhere by every thing. The daily drive becomes super annoying: MSNS wires in the interior, assorted panels missing for access, grabby new clutch, larger wheel/tire combo rubbing, rear STB rendering the trunk much less useful, solid mount seats make back seat nearly inaccessible… fear of motor giving up on the deerfoot at 5pm on a weekday. 😐
Given all that, the car is absolutely dreamy on the track… I have doubts about any other car ever driving like this, but there is no doubt that almost anything could be FASTER.
I’m thinking about buying something else. I’m thinking about some degree of parting out the white coupe and starting over with a new mindset on the blue coupe I have hanging around. In the mean time… 3 series BMW, some sort of Honda or maybe an FC. I also have this semi comical idea of an old 3ac tercel (mostly because I think they look really old school, and my new SSR’s would be radically hot underneath). I could build that thing up super ghetto and cheap with only suspension mods and run in FSS during the summer, and bag the hell out of it in the winter. But FF really isn’t that exciting unless your really fast, and two project type cars has never gone over well in the past. I think an E36 318 in HS would be great… not exactly an easy car to find though.