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Spent some time over the past few weekends performing routine maintenance and making some key upgrades to the GRM Project Spec E30, including tie-down loops and an oil pan guard from Factory 3 Performance.
Read all about it:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/news/042008/pre-season-upgrades-and-maintenance.php
Didn’t you know? The season starts when I have MY first race. I’m the main character.
(humor.)
Haven’t had a chance to make it out yet, but I’m happy to be pre-registered for a few races already. All my digits are crossed in the hopes that the car will be a willing companion this year instead of the automotive equivalent of one of those CPR dummies that you try and try to revive with no result.
There’s a thread on this forum in the Car Prep category about this same topic, but I posted a pic of the scales from the most recent weigh-in here:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/news/052008/weight-a-minute.php
Those cross weights are terrible. Take a spring pad out of the left rear and add it to the right rear. You need to be within a couple ticks of 50.0% There are several factory thickness pads you can swap in and out to balance the car.
Yet another update. Say hello to the ultimate spare, the Thugnificent Chromepocalypse.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/news/052008/chromepocalypse.php
OMG Scott, you’ve really become “ONE” with the SpecE30 state of mind.
Now THIS is really a fine piece of engineering.
ctbimmer wrote:
[quote]OMG Scott, you’ve really become “ONE” with the SpecE30 state of mind.
Now THIS is really a fine piece of engineering.[/quote]
Do you really believe that Chuck?
Am I being crazy or am I the only that thinks that is stretching the limit of the spare tire rule a little? I don’t believe that’s what the rule as written intended.
If that is a spare tire I challeneg you to bolt it up and run around on it;)
Based on how they now word the sway bar rule, I would say it is a streach and the wording in the rules will change requireing you to mass produce your spare and make at least 15 a year.
Keep in mind you can always fine a very heavy batt. I found one at around 60# but did not need it as I left the sound deadening in my trunk.
Very creative anyway. I see no problem with it if they don’t change the rule.
Michael
#36
FOR SALE, Custom 22mm non adjustable sway bar, one of a kind.
I can just see the next mid-season rule change - qualifying must be done on your spare tire. I think it’s pushing it as well.
bruce
Clearly a violation of 9.3.13.2 unless you plan to mount this spare tire forward of the passenger seat.
I did something similar with the Panther, but I started with a steel wheel off of a dually and simply coated the rim w/lead weights 
I found that the center bolt+bracket are not made to handle that much weight* and had to resort to removing it and getting a long grade 8 bolt thru one of the wheel stud holes.
*a few off tack excursions and the welds broke from the bracket
Technically it’s not ballast, it’s a spare; the decorative components on the face of the wheel are both welded and bolted to the wheel itself, so it’s all one unit. Therefore, it complies with rule 9.2.2 pertaining to the addition of weight:
“A car found to be underweight after a qualifying session shall (3.1) have securely mounted ballast installed in the passenger compartment to meet the minimum weight requirement without exceeding the maximum ballast weight allowed. Alternatively, a spare tire may (3.1) be placed in the spare tire well and appropriately secured.”
As for the matter of it being appropriately secured, the spare has two big hoking 1/2-inch carriage bolts going through the lug holes and the floor (plus big washers) in addition to the stock spare mounting point. Safety first!
This is my overt way of regaining the nearly 50 pounds in axle weight we lost upon removal of the trunk’s sound insulation to clean up some rust. Since these cars are nose heavy already, adding more weight to the passenger footwell wouldn’t do us a lick of good, and it sucks to be effectively penalized for cleaning the car’s interior. If the ballast rules are going to be so restrictive, we’re going to have to get creative to meet the minimum weight and stay (theoretically, at least) competitive.
There are a dozen ways we could have achieved the same result covertly, from adding sand or water to the spare to filling the rear downtubes of the cage with lead shot, but why be sneaky when you can be blatant and comical. All you naysayers are just jealous of our super sweet bling-tastic Chromepocalypse!
I think it’s a great wheel, although I still think you should’ve put the decorative weights on a spinner B) now that would be uber-kool. B)
Gasman wrote:
[quote]GRMScott wrote:
Bullshit, and Bill Clinton did not have sex with that woman. :laugh:[/quote]
It all depends on what your definition is…
based on the evidence, he had sex with a blue dress :blink:
Scott, You get points for being creative but all kidding aside, Show me in that rule where it says a spare can be “modified”.
Well if you want to intrepret like that then let’s interpret to the letter of the wording. Its say its legal to use a spare tire not a spare tire and wheel, so based on that its illegal.