The SkylineGTRracer's 2006 build

[SkylineGTRracer]

Thanks, my truck and I have been though alot, but I'm sure other people can say the same about their vehicles. I could tell you that you are right that I had a chance of a life time and fate looked kindly on me. As silly as it sounds this truck has been a big part of my life. From making new friends, going on trips, growing as a person, too even helping me in my career path as a engineer, to now getting a sponsor. It has been a wonderful experience.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Got these awhile ago.


I'm hoping it'll tighten up the steering and get rid of this stupid noise that is pronounced on left turns and when going over bumps when the spring is compressed and uncompressed . It really only happens when I have a passenger, but very rarely do I hear if by myself during the same situations. Some of my friends suggested that it is the rubber isolator on top of the spring, which makes sense. I just need some free time from work to have down time on Lucario.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Newest mod.

 

[RPS13]

I'm kinda confused as to what these races are about. Looks like a ton of fun so I'm guessing your goal is just enjoy being on the track? The cars your up against are built for speed and the track. Either way I hope to see your Runner completely built doing one of these races soon.

Also been wondering if you do anything to reduce weight. Less gas, no other seats, remove spare tire, etc...

They're not technically races, in that things aren't overall timed with starts and things like that. They're really called High Performance Driving Events (HPDE), and they're primarily aimed at driver education on how to drive a vehicle at high speed safely. You don't need any real prep to a vehicle besides it being in good mechanical condition without any safety issues.

I see a lot of the word "racing" throw around, and it is anything but. I say this having done HPDEs for over 10 years, and instructing quite a few of those. As far as how an SUV can pass sports cars out there - in the lower groups driver skill and comfort is by far the biggest difference in performance out there. Some people are comfortable pulling say 2:00 laps in a stock Miata after a few weekends, while others might be freaking out in their ZR-1 Vette pulling 2:05s because they just don't feel comfortable pulling any lateral Gs. In general, once you get people out there in advanced groups, the skill gap closes for the most part and the cars start to behave about like you'd expect. The OP was doing ~2:00-2:05s in a couple of videos, whereas a fast C5 Z06 Vette will pull about 1:45-1:50s there depending on tires. My S13 240SX ran 1:47s in that configuration first time out there. Haven't bothered to toss my Stack beacon out any other times:

MSR-H CCW 041011 147.05 Lap.wmv - YouTube

(front sway bar ripped off a LCA, so I could not find out why it was going between under and over steer so rapidly, but still decently quick)


Can't say I've ever seen a 4Runner out there, but I have had some 4WD SUVs pass my old RSX at MSR-Cresson in the rain - as that track is slicker than any other surface I've ever driven on in the wet.

It's always cool to see anybody get into the hobby/sport, as it's a blast, and totally addictive.

OP - what groups do you run with?

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Currently i run in the advanced classes. Do you go to msrh often?

 

[RPS13]

Currently i run in the advanced classes. Do you go to msrh often?

Advanced classes of what groups? I've only run there with The Driver's Edge about 5-6 times. Not that much, since I just moved down from Fort Worth about a year ago. I personally think TWS is a much more enjoyable track.

Are these those charity runs that MSR-H puts on that have no instruction? I'd highly recommend running with a group that has instructors. If you want to go faster, you will drop so much more time by having a fast instructor giving you pointers from the passenger seat than any performance mod you'll do. I've gotten countless intermediate and advanced students that thought they were "at the limit" then we end up knocking off something huge like 2-3 seconds in only a few sessions by adjusting their line or working on something like getting on the throttle a little bit earlier.

Which speaking of that... on that configuration (CCW), you can almost not brake going into the carousel. You end up really deep and apex on the blend line curbing, then that extra speed throws you out on the very edge of the track which you then bring back for a really late apex. You can carry probably 10 mph more into the corner, then briefly dip slower than a constant radius speed, but then exit with a few mph more and gain time the whole way down the next straight into diamond's edge. Which you can actually then adjust your line to be later on the first apex and carry a bit more speed into it and out of since it sets you up better for the exit.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I've just done the charity and red meat and race from last year. So far I have run msrh 3 times. I know I am no where near the best and have lots to learn. IDK if "advanced de" means anything to you? I would love to do a drivers edu course however I feel the instructors would not be willing to lead in my truck. Any suggestions? I wanted to run around TWS at tx2k13 however they kinda left me hanging on insurance related things so I never participated. I'll give your advice a try on the 27th when I go back to msrh.

 

[RPS13]

Most organized clubs that run at tracks have instructors that ride with you until you're really aware of flags, everything on the track, and can drive at a fairly high pace consistently and safely. The no instruction events are pretty scary to me personally. I've instructed people who have had probably 12+ weekends and still couldn't pick up on flags all the times.

You should run with a group like The Driver's Edge or Performance Driving School(TWS only). The instructor rides along with you with a two way communicator, and talks you through things. It's not a lead and follow situation.

Some clubs have a no SUV/truck policy, but TX is pretty lax overall on things (convertibles having aftermarket roll bars is a big one in other regions).



I was under the impression you had a little more seat time than you do. Just be smooth and consistent now, the speed will come later. You can see how much the car moves around when you go into the carousel at probably 105-110 mph from my video (excuse the poor quality, but the camera I was using was not a fan of the vibration in my car, solid mounted everything).

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Time for a little update. I recently fixed a weird clunking noise coming from the passenger side of my truck, turn out to be the lower ball joints.

On the left was the driver side which was in decent shape. On the right is the passenger side which was shot. I can press and pull it and have a little bit of play.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/data/500/liveE9RCRE.jpg
So I these raybestos ones because they are blue, like Lucario, and that they have a polyurethane boot as well as a zerk fitting.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/data/500/liveqbZjEL.jpg
So far I like how my truck drives, hopefully I can get a good feel at the next autocross event.
In the hunt for the noise which was the ball joints I took my coil over assembly off and had a chance to compare the TRD bilsteins to the regular toyota ones. picture shows the difference in diameter clearly.

Then I went off to race at MSRH and had a blast.
Calm before the storm was the thought in my head when I snapped this picture, however, I did not meant it literally.

As it turned out it rained on race morning. Still lucky for us it turned out to be a nice day for racing.

1st heat in the rain.

If you can see the Mclaren mp4 you can see it has a flat tire. I do not remember if it happened in the 1st heat or the 2nd but it never raced afterwards. In the end a tow truck came to get it. After this Lucario started to act weird there was much more roll and understeer on right turns, turned out that endlink feel out. My fastest time was around 2:01 so I was unable to best my fastest time but with the complications of a powersteering leak (overfilled do to cavitation and trying to disperse that with powersteering fluid) and a suspension issue (the endlink) still it was fun racing with my friends and learning new lines. At least now I'm that more prepared and more knowledgeable in clocking a lap of under 2 minutes.
Getting race gas......

And this bee was chilling on my hatch for a hour or so after the event ended.

So time for more mods. Well after dealing with the lower ball joints and assuming the same fate for the uppers I'm buying this many for the much more robust joint and the dust cap for added protection, plus it looks sexy.

But my next mod, besides new speakers, is this BBK from tundra racing.

I really wanted to buy the TRD FJ bbk but I'm tired of waiting because on the stop sale as the result from the recall. I might get into contact with them and see if they can implement the stoptech trophy caliper with my set. Also I can't wait to get my catch can from the 42DD gb. I also saving up for more go fast goodies.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Small update, fixed my rear brakes and also installed a 70mm throttle body from the dual vvti 1gr. Both are good mods.

 

[emelianenkov]

What are the benefits of the dual vvti throttle bodies?

I remember that was a big thing with the "new" 1GR-FE

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I wouldn't call the throttle body a "big" thing compared to other things with the new 1gr but it is a nice evolution in design that can be used on the single vvti 1gr. Think of it like this. The intake tube diameter on my afe is 70mm and the inlet on the intake manifold is also 70mm. However the diameter of the normal throttle body is 65mm. So with that in mind your only as big as your smallest opening.

 

[emelianenkov]

Hmmmmm. On the list!

I'll be down at the end of October. I wanna see that truck in action

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Not much to see but your welcome to look and go for a ride.

 

[emelianenkov]

I'm in for a ride lol. Visiting elderly family. They sleep most of the time

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

well, I think the upper ball joint is starting to act up. Just when I was gonna pull the trigger on the bbk and new wheels. Guess it cant be help. I have two option either go ahead and get the icon uca or just get new ball joints. At this point I'm leaning towards new ball joints.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

So I started installing my oil cooler.



The above photos are to give an idea on how I will route the oil lines.
The way the Greddy sensor fittings come are not 1/8 npt but rather 1/8 pt which is narrower. So I had to tap those.

^pre tapped 1/8 pt

^tapped to 1/8 npt

That is the Greddy oil cooler adapter that has a built in thermostat.
I will finish this mod up either today or friday and then race at msr once again on saturday.

 

[zonarunner]

What oil cooling kit did you get from greddy?