Go Mifune's '97 L Wagon

[Go Mifune]

Slightly better homemade battery tie down. Still a few adjustments to make but survived a fifty mile drive today.



And as five horsepower was wanted, a sticker.

[Go Mifune]

On Friday, I got to practice with the World Racing League; not that they wanted me there necessarily. They're running 24 hours at High Plains this weekend.


The cars ranged from this Civic, which I wouldn't mind trying out...

to this BMW factory racer. At least that's the story.

Here I am.

[Go Mifune]

Episode 4 has dropped!

[Go Mifune]

My video above shows on my desktop and Kindle but this and all of my previous videos here on SLi have disappeared from my iPod. Anyone else seeing just a blank space where the video should be? Any solution? The video does show up on other sites so not sure what's wrong. Thanks!

[Go Mifune]

Still crunching data from the last track day in August.
Comparing all horsepower readings at the end of the long straight gave some interesting results.
Top pic - The day in June (77 degrees F ambient) gave an average of 121.8 hp @ 5634 rpm and 204.6 F coolant temp.
Bottom - The day in August (88 degrees F ambient)gave an average of 117.8 hp @ 5687 rpm and 215.8 F coolant temp.
This pretty much confirms that cool air equals more horsepower. Everybody already knows this but it's nice to see it in action.


Today, I found out the track is closing for the year on October 16th for repaving. This news got me hopping so EBC Bluestuff pads were ordered for one last attempt at hitting my goal for 2017. The Yellowstuff pads lasted for roughly 7k miles and four track days so I was pretty happy with them. EBC gets a lot of negative forum reviews but they worked well for me. There was no brake fade, even on the hot August track day. Perhaps the light weight and low horsepower combo made the difference. The Bluestuff are more aggressive so not expected to last as long but I need .8" badly.

Speaking of, doing side by side videos shows that I most likely lost .3" when this Miata passed me and .4" slowing for this corner. Not his fault that I backed off, I need to learn to keep my foot in it when behind people. It does give me hope that my goal is in sight. This was on my best lap of the day and my time was lackluster until after the Miata went away.



Last thing: After being away for nine days, the 9.7 pound ETX12 battery started the Legacy like brand new!

[Go Mifune]

Had to pick up the pads from Walgreens (long story) and drive down to Denver (3R Racing) for the fluid but got the brakes on today. So far they are quiet and stop even when cold. Only downer is that after taking off the Yellowstuff pads, they were in MUCH better shape than expected and easily could have done another track day. Don't tell my wife! Now to see how Bluestuff does at the track.

Update on the Grimmspeed MCB. With the old pads and my street tires, ABS engagement is there anytime you want it. Best $95 ever spent.

So far, my parts are green, gold, black, red, blue and silver. What do you think, purple?

[Somac]

The color mashups are always fun! My rear suspension was yellow, pink, blue, silver, and black for a while. It adds character, lol.

[Go Mifune]

The track is being repaved so final chance at hitting the goal in 2017.

[Chief]

Cool vid! very good quality!

[Somac]

Nice videos! Cool to see more people tossing these around some tracks! I hate that that koala joke made me laugh, haha.

[Go Mifune]

Cool vid! very good quality!

Thanks Chief! I think it's cool that someone from Moscow watched my video. I really enjoyed the pictures you posted of your road trip.

[Go Mifune]

Nice videos! Cool to see more people tossing these around some tracks! I hate that that koala joke made me laugh, haha.

I have another joke -even worse- ready if the chance ever comes along. I heard the Koala joke from an Australian stand-up comedian.

Not being an expert by any means, I'm still shocked by how well this car takes corners and how stable and balanced it feels. My 911 was an understeering pig by comparison, well...until it became an oversteering pig. The Bluestuff pads got me 75 feet further down the long straight before I had to brake; confirmed by watching side by side video. Absolutely epic!

Now the decision is if I want to toss this one around next year. The money isn't there for an engine swap so I might work on the suspension some more or sell it and get a Miata. 50/50 chance at this point.

[Somac]

For your goals, if you're serious about tracking, if it were me, I'd say forget about the Legacy and go for the Miata. They might be slow, but performance per dollar cannot be beat and they're the best way to get some real track time in. I did all handling and braking mods on my Outback so I could put it on track a few times before I save for a more capable car. Had a time attack guy instruct me and compliment how well the car handles and how he wishes his track mod E46 M3 gripped that well, but you'll always be held back by the weight and power. If you don't have any plans for an engine swap, then you'll always just be stuck in the slow group.

[Go Mifune]

For your goals, if you're serious about tracking, if it were me, I'd say forget about the Legacy and go for the Miata. They might be slow, but performance per dollar cannot be beat and they're the best way to get some real track time in. I did all handling and braking mods on my Outback so I could put it on track a few times before I save for a more capable car. Had a time attack guy instruct me and compliment how well the car handles and how he wishes his track mod E46 M3 gripped that well, but you'll always be held back by the weight and power. If you don't have any plans for an engine swap, then you'll always just be stuck in the slow group.

Kind of what I was thinking. I've been looking at Spec Miatas, not that I want to go racing but just trying to figure out why they are so quick. They're basically stock except for suspension and head work and 14 seconds per lap faster than me. Some of that is driving ability of course but no denying the Miata has much more potential. I had a '95 Miata -all stock- and it was the most fun I've ever had (alone) in a car. In the Legacy's favor, the other drivers get a real kick out of my wagon and not in a laughing at it sort of way. Also, today I added up everything spent on this car so selling it would be painful; plus a Legacy is much better for going to Costco. Since I just plan on continuing with the open lapping days and have no real goals either way, it's more of an emotional decision. Who knows?

[Chief]

Thanks Chief! I think it's cool that someone from Moscow watched my video. I really enjoyed the pictures you posted of your road trip.

Keep doing vids! Yeah, its cool that Subies bring together people from different continents! Thank you!

[Go Mifune]

Until further notice, I'll be keeping the Legacy; so the question is what to do for the next mod. The 2018 goal is to drop lap times by two or three seconds. The new pavement is supposed to help, so I'll be brave and commit to three. That would net a 2:22.2 driving a 2.2 NA.

1) There is an aluminum control arm kit sold by Superpro that gives extra caster, 20 mm wider track, bushings and ALK kit included. It fits the GC chassis so it should fit the BK? The down side is price - $650, plus would still need the bump steer kit, an alignment and probably a front fender roll. Let's say $1200 all in. I could do all the bushings and kits and just forget the alloy control arms but what fun would that be?

2) EL headers. The wagon desperately needs horsepower, even if it's only five. Would headers be good for five hp at the wheels on an EJ22? Much less expensive than the control arms and much less work. Downside, if there ever is an engine swap, the single port headers will end up on Craigslist. I want to mention Delta cams but I'd have to pull the engine, install the cams and put it all back without leaving extra parts. Nobody wants that!

3) 4.11 gears. On one of those Engineering Explained videos, Jason said that the increase in ratio equates to an equivalent increase in torque. So going from 3.90s to a 4.11 would be the same as a 5% engine torque increase. Cuts top speed slightly (don't care) and fuel economy (only 4000 miles per year, so don't care) plus higher revs on the highway and one more shift on the track but 5% isn't much and lots of work only to find my new junkyard tranny/diff. is garbage. There is the 4.44 but IIRC, it has different 1st through 5th gears which give not as big an improvement as it would suggest.

4) At the track, I asked Isaac -who has a time attack Corvette- about a front splitter for low horsepower cars. He pointed at an M3 behind me and said that they benefit from a splitter even though they're only putting about 200 to the wheels. I asked "What about 88 to the wheels?" He gave me a look that combined pity and boredom. Maybe not a splitter.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Go Mifune]

Here's a teaser from the free track day last week. This is Daniel in the S-2000 and Brian in the FR-S. We're all running on street tires. The track is green, dusty and cold so no reason to wear out good tires. My video should be up by tomorrow.

[Go Mifune]

This should be my last chance to complain about having only 137 HP, as my Inferno Fabrication headers are on the way. So 140 HP?
This track day was stupid fun but also stupid slow due to the track conditions.

[kcowles]

This should be my last chance to complain about having only 137 HP, as my Inferno Fabrication headers are on the way. So 140 HP?
This track day was stupid fun but also stupid slow due to the track conditions.

Inferno Fab headers are awesome. I've got the stainless steel ones on my wagon for almost 3 years now. Bolt right up, no complaints. I got the UEL's they sound amazing!

[Go Mifune]

That's good to know. I was wondering how you are as you don't post much lately. Welcome back!

I'm desperate to lower lap times and thought these were worth a try. Mine will be equal length. I'll know if they make a difference because my car always (with good track conditions) does 94 mph on the long straight. Anything higher than that and I'll probably start weeping with joy. Did you wrap them and do you have to pass emissions?

[Tylerhartman]

I feel like you should have decent luck finding a 4.11 Ratio Transmission in good shape, just use the logic me and my friends use. If the car is wrecked, chances are it was running when it was wrecked Besdies there's quite a few 4.11's floating around

Loving the build so far, I love MX5's but this is just begging for you to save some pennys for a few years and throw an EJ205 Swap in it.

or a High Comp 2.2L with Cams, Etc..

[kcowles]

That's good to know. I was wondering how you are as you don't post much lately. Welcome back!

I'm desperate to lower lap times and thought these were worth a try. Mine will be equal length. I'll know if they make a difference because my car always (with good track conditions) does 94 mph on the long straight. Anything higher than that and I'll probably start weeping with joy. Did you wrap them and do you have to pass emissions?

I chose not to wrap the headers. I have heard stories of people wrapping headers and they crack months later with heat and moisture getting trapped. I have to pass emissions but in Maryland, they just look for no check engine light, which headers shouldn't affect.

[Go Mifune]

I feel like you should have decent luck finding a 4.11 Ratio Transmission in good shape, just use the logic me and my friends use. If the car is wrecked, chances are it was running when it was wrecked Besdies there's quite a few 4.11's floating around

Loving the build so far, I love MX5's but this is just begging for you to save some pennys for a few years and throw an EJ205 Swap in it.

or a High Comp 2.2L with Cams, Etc..

Thanks Tyler! I'm hoping to swap the transmission later this year. Unfortunately, all of my suspension bushings are original with 135k miles so I think that's my next project. Well, once the headers are on.

I'm still thinking I might get those Superpro control arms mentioned in post #166 above. I'll have to see how the cash situation looks this spring.

[Tylerhartman]

I know the feeling Mines at 137K and the frontend is pretty fresh with WL Rack Bushings, LCA Bushings, New Ball Joints, Sway Bar end links, etc... The rear needs attention though. I can't decide if I want to do WL Adjustable lateral links or just get some Fresh bushings and refresh what I've got here, or just pickup a lightly used set of JDM STI pink links with the upgraded factory bushings.

If you end up not doing the Superpro arms, Not sure if you've seen the mod to the STI Arms to add more castor, plus STI arms will add 10mm total track width as well and would be way cheaper then the SuperPro. You could get an STI Subframe, Alloy Arms and maybe even a steering rack for 650 if you found a good deal and felt like doing the install work and would be closer to Turbo EJ swapping at some point Plus the STI Subframe suppodely is braced better, no idea if it's true i've never looked into it 100%


Also Sidenote, Wrapping headers scares me a little. Although I keep my cars in decent check I feel, if your pan gasket or cam gear started leaking oil and didn't know I'd wick into the heat wrap you'd have a bad day My Up pipe is coated with a ceramic coating and my DP I heat wrapped since it's farless likely to get oil spilled onto it

Thanks Tyler! I'm hoping to swap the transmission later this year. Unfortunately, all of my suspension bushings are original with 135k miles so I think that's my next project. Well, once the headers are on.

I'm still thinking I might get those Superpro control arms mentioned in post #166 above. I'll have to see how the cash situation looks this spring.

[Go Mifune]

Now with part numbers in hand, the Superpro arms, an alignment and all other pieces will run about $1250. Keeping my arms will be less than $700. Going the cheaper way will allow me to afford the header ceramic coating so I'll probably just do that. I'll have to think about the STi alloy arms a bit more. Tomorrow, I may have a completely different opinion:-)

I don't know enough about the rear adjustable arms to say anything intelligent about them. My rear suspension doesn't seem to be the problem, even with the old bushings.

[Go Mifune]

Update-Can't decide on my control arm dilemma so ordered steering rack bushings and the Whiteline bumpsteer correction kit KCA313 to hold me over.
There are two sizes made for the passenger side rack bushing. If it measures 25mm wide like mine (apologies for my rack looking so grungy), you want Whiteline KSR200. If 30mm wide, KSR202.

[ctbrighton]

the top of those bolts are pretty exposed so expect a good amount of rust, ie use an impact gun.

[Somac]

Honestly, I'd save yourself some money and skip getting any fancy header or wrap or coating. You really won't see any kind of improvement compared to spending money elsewhere. If they were some Killer B or Tomei ELHs I'd say yeah, but otherwise, refreshing your suspension will be a better idea.

I have the BH5 aluminum front LCAs that are the same as the GC STI arms and I'd definitely recommend them for the price compared to a $650 kit.

[Go Mifune]

Actually, the Inferno Fab headers have a very strong reputation among engine builders; and they are equal length. Just don't know if any headers on an EJ22 will help. The wrap or ceramic is more to pass emissions. Colorado is pretty tough and I don't have any info on pass/no pass with headers.

Does the BH have aluminum control arms? I didn't know that. I still haven't decided on the alloy arms -and will probably just get my bushings replaced- but it gives me something to worry about until spring when it's warm enough to work in the driveway:-)

Meanwhile, I picked up a 2003 WRX shift linkage with the Kartboy short shifter; also not getting installed till spring.

[Somac]

I should have specified I was talking about extra pricey turbo ELHs in a higher power setup where you'd see a bigger benefit from the coated/wrapped parts and can justify 'balling out' on them. Not knocking Inferno at all, but rather just balancing cost vs. benefits. Headers won't really do much for you, unfortunately.

JDM 3rd gens have aluminum control arms identical to JDM GC arms that will work for you, too. Just as an alternative to an aftermarket brand. I've still got mine sitting here while I decide on getting the Whiteline ALK or not and I'll swap everything at once.