My new ITB car.

[rabbidmk1]

I am super excited, this is going to be much nicer then my old dinosaur (sp?) mk1 :) So far I just finished the cage and painted the interior. Now it is time to work on suspension stuff!


http://photos-153.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034153_4843.jpg

http://photos-133.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034133_8005.jpg

http://photos-137.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034137_3040.jpg

http://photos-141.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034141_7072.jpg

http://photos-146.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034146_1624.jpg

http://photos-451.facebook.com/ip004/v38/159/81/13945115/n13945115_33034451_5994.jpg

[RSTPerformance]

ohhh no another one!!! :happy204:

Raymond :)

[Knestis]

Welcome to the MkIII Club. Where are you located?
K

[Bill Miller]

Nice looking car, and welcome to the VW club! :023:

The cage looks nice, but you may want to re-think the "knee-breaker" bar before everything's finished.

[rabbidmk1]

Thanks guys. I am located in Minneapolis, MN. I run in LOL region and have been racing my old rabbit for 5 years now. The kneebar is actually really high so I am not too worried about it. When in my seat, my legs are almost flat, leaving about 8 or 10 inches of clearance.

I have a really full month ahead of myself. This car is scheduled to race it's first race on the weekend of August 25th @ autobahn in Jolliet Ill.

I will keep you posted as things come together.



Aaron

[Bill Miller]

Thanks guys. I am located in Minneapolis, MN. I run in LOL region and have been racing my old rabbit for 5 years now. The kneebar is actually really high so I am not too worried about it. When in my seat, my legs are almost flat, leaving about 8 or 10 inches of clearance.

I have a really full month ahead of myself. This car is scheduled to race it's first race on the weekend of August 25th @ autobahn in Jolliet Ill.

I will keep you posted as things come together.
Aaron
[/b]

Aaron,

I understand what you're saying about static clearence below the knee bar. I would suggest that you look at some crash-test footage. You'll be surprised at how much things move around in a crash.

[mgyip]

I understand what you're saying about static clearence below the knee bar. I would suggest that you look at some crash-test footage. You'll be surprised at how much things move around in a crash.[/b]

I have about the same amount of clearance in my A2. It concerns me enough to have added padding to the bar but having seen a 944 that compressed the dashboard area about 1.5' in width during a rollover, I think I'll take that risk...

Nice looking shell.

[rabbidmk1]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I am going to take the risk on the knee bar. I was mistaken.. My first race in this car is @ Road America durring the weekend of August 26th and 27th. Is anyone else going to be there from here?

Aaron

[shwah]

There is a small chance I will be there.

I am up to my ears in planning for Treffen the weekend before, and will likely need some sort of divine intervention to get wife approval to go racing that weekend. I will definitely see you at BHF in October though. :birra:

[Conover]

Yeah, more Mk3 action! And another previously Mulberry one too!
Good luck!

[rabbidmk1]

There is a small chance I will be there.

I am up to my ears in planning for Treffen the weekend before, and will likely need some sort of divine intervention to get wife approval to go racing that weekend. I will definitely see you at BHF in October though. :birra:
[/b]


I am actually skipping treffen for the first year in a long time just so my car will be done for the race. I guess it makes it a bit easier not owning the car Jamie shot 2 years ago though...

Hope to see you on the track.

Aaron

[shwah]

I skipped it once, during a family vacation to the old country. Hard to skip when you have planned all 10 of them. I am trying to extricate myself from the process though so that I can just enjoy the weekend one year.

Good luck with the new project, it will be great to have another B car out to play with.

[Dave Zaslow]

Chris,

Having been part of all 12 Waterfests I know your pain. Helga was 15 feet from my judging HQ and I didn't get to meet her!

Having built an A3 I know that pain as well.

If you run into problems with the A3, the knowledge base is starting to get going. Just post it up.

Dave Z

[mgyip]

Having been part of all 12 Waterfests I know your pain. [/b]

You are a much braver man than I - I have yet to attend a Waterfest for various reasons - distance, maturity level, etc. However it would be fun to have a "race car" contingent at Waterfest to offset the bolt-on crowd and the "over the top, never driven, only showed" cars.

[shwah]

There will be at least 3 regularly raced cars in the show at Treffen this year.

My ITB car
Mathis' GProd car
Albin's GProd car (they are putting an open diff in it to run in Saturday's autocross too)

Sorry to highjack the thread, but if any racers want more info: Treffen Website (http://www.midwesttreffen.com)

[rabbidmk1]

More goodies just came today. A $2200 order from techtonics, my transponder, brake bias valve and all the hardlines/ rotors bearings ect.. to finish the brakes! WOO HOO, I might make it!

OOPs forgot to mention the goal of this car too... I am trying to build a WINNING ITB mk3 for $10k or less. So far the grand total is @ $7725.09

I will keep you all posted and take more pictures as the project progresses..

Aaron

[Knestis]

A commendable goal.

I'd like to figure out how to build a winning ITB driver on a budget, please. :)

K

[rabbidmk1]

Well to build a good driver, in my case I ride my bicycle about 150 miles a week and eat well. I also went to skip barber racing school about 5 years ago, racing a few of their series races since then..

I am guessing I will have about 15k into the car all said and done.



Aaron

[rabbidmk1]

Well, I guess my deadline of August was a little off. I am now to the point of purchasing wheels and tires. Since we can now run a 15" rim, and my budget seemed to fall apart, I am looking at these.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/ssr/swap/ssr_comp_sil_ci3_l.jpg


In a 15X6 Tire Rack claims they only weigh 8.8 lbs :happy204:

Kumho will be supplying the tires (thank goodness for Kumho contingincy bucks!) I am going to run the V710's in a 205/50-15

[Knestis]

We use a 14x6 Kosei K1-TS (like 9.5#?). If the 15s are a big money saver, maybe but I'd be hard pressed to believe at this point that the additional inch is a benefit.

K

[racer_tim]

Aaron, just because you CAN run the 15" rim, take into account the overall diameter of the tire, and fender clearance. Also, what is the availability and size of tires your looking? The 205-55-14 is a pretty popular tire, Toyo, Avon, Hoosier, and Kuhmo all come in that size.

Looking @ the 15" specs from TireRack, the Kuhmo only comes in a 225 but the Hoosier and Avon do have a 205 in the 15" diameter.

[stevel]

Aaron, just because you CAN run the 15" rim, take into account the overall diameter of the tire, and fender clearance. Also, what is the availability and size of tires your looking? The 205-55-14 is a pretty popular tire, Toyo, Avon, Hoosier, and Kuhmo all come in that size.

Looking @ the 15" specs from TireRack, the Kuhmo only comes in a 225 but the Hoosier and Avon do have a 205 in the 15" diameter.
[/b]

205-50-15 is an extremely popular size and you will be able to find all tires in that size. SM runs that size in the Toyo RA-1, so you can get Hankooks in that size also. And the Kumho's are available in that also, not to mention the Hooser, and Avon.

s

[rabbidmk1]

My main concern was the weight. Also, I wanted to have a shorter side wall, we have the car sprung pretty stiff. I dont have the literature in front of me, but the 205-50/15 has the same overall height as I believe the 205-55/14. The 15's really are not a money saver, they are $300 a piece. I have not looked into the koseis yet, but i am sure they would save me some $$$.


Thanks for the input!

Aaron

oops, one more thing. BSI is not into the VW's as much anymore so where can I get a decent fuel test port?

Thanks!

[racer_tim]

http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/sccafuelports/page3.html

and

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp...upID=FUELSAMPLE (http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=FUELSAMPLE)

[Eric Parham]

I think the 15s are worth their weight in gold, especially if it's negative ;) In years past, I found only a differece in feel between the 13s and 14s, but this year found over 1/2 of a sec when I went to 15s :)

[racer_tim]

Eric, did you change your R&P too?

When I went to the 20x8x13 slick on a 13x6 rim, I actually started using 5th gear because of the reduction of overall diameter compared to the 205-55-14 Toyo's that I used to run in ITB.

My 3.94 now feels like a 4.25 with the smaller diamater tires.

[Knestis]

... The 15's really are not a money saver, they are $300 a piece. [/b]

Ooch. The Kosei's that I use are like $118, shipped. Do a search by size (14x6) for a Civic. They don't come up when you put in "VW" at TireRack 'cause Kosei wheels are too ricey. :)

K

[JamesB]

http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/sccafuelports/page3.html

and

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp...upID=FUELSAMPLE (http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=FUELSAMPLE)
[/b]


exactly, unlike CIS where its a very high pressure, you can actually tap the rubber lines on a mk3 VW motor without issues. So any fuel sample port that can just be clamped will work or using some AN lines and that fitting to replace the OEM rubber in the engine bay would do the trick.

[Fastfred92]

All you mark III guys make me miss my old car............ Kirk, Aaron et al good luck! BTW here is the car that made the mk III go from ITA to ITB !
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/Fastfred92/MVC-002S.jpg

[rabbidmk1]

I almost bought that car off of ebay! That car was the reason I decided tolook into a mk3 to build instead of a mk2!

Aaron

[Fastfred92]

The guy that bought it from me ( when it was still ITA ) sold it on ebay after he did his schools and it became more valuable after it was moved to B

[rabbidmk1]

After having a day off of work and school I was able to work on the car a bit more. Here is a picture I took with my phone last night...


http://photos.pe.facebook.com/v48/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35000422_5999.jpg

[rabbidmk1]

Well now the car has it's exhaust. The Techtonics header looks and fits awsome. Also after a long battle with leaking brake lines, the bias valve and brakes are all dialed in!

Aaron

[rabbidmk1]

On with the Pics!

http://photos-713.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v47/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35093713_4332.jpg
http://photos-714.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v47/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35093714_5157.jpg
http://photos-715.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v47/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35093715_5961.jpg
http://photos-717.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v47/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35093717_7632.jpg
http://photos-757.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v47/159/81/13945115/n13945115_35093757_241.jpg

[RSTPerformance]

sweet!!!

[Bildon]

Very nice. Now all you need is the blue paint on the rear to match the official factory race cars. :023:

[rabbidmk1]

yeah I was thinking about the blue paint. I havent quitefigured out what the graphics will look like yet but they will be blue.

:023: Aaron

[psykokid]

It fits the old country specific colour code just just the way it is :) . plus being a lighter metallic colour it will refelct more heat. BBS rs's are a nice choice, forged centers and if you bend a lip or barrel it can be replaced fairly easily. Looking good!

[rabbidmk1]

I did some research on the Kumho tires that we are going to run and I decided to go with the 15" for sure. After the decision was made I experienced the luckiest day of my racing life... I picked up an almost new set of SSR competitions in a 15X6 ET 38 for $600! Here are the specs for Kumho V710's in 14 and 15".

14" 15"


Tire Size & 205/55R14 205/50R15
Service Description

Rim Width 5.5 - 7.5 5.5 - 7.5
Range
(inch)

Overall Dia 22.9 22.9
(inch)

Section Width 8.4 on 6.5 9.0 on 8.0
on
Measuring Rim
(inch)

Tire Weight 18.7 18.2
(lbs.)



The overall diameter is the same and the 15's weigh a 1/2 lb less! Wheel and tire combo is right at 27 lbs ea.

[shwah]

That is a SWEET deal on wheels! Congrats.

I am really looking forward to seeing you at the track Aaron. I just hope I can get my winter projects done before the winter is over myself... :eclipsee_steering:

[rabbidmk1]

I am really looking forward to seeing you at the track Aaron. I just hope I can get my winter projects done before the winter is over myself.. [/b]

Same here... It feels like the list of things to do is never ending. Though the car is on the ground we need to pull the trans to build it (VWMS content..), finish the endless wiring (I bought the car as a bare shell and pieced the harness together from misc. 1994 cars), the shocks need to go to Bilstein and I need to order my new springs. Not to mention the car still needs it's inital tech inspection and be issued a log book! But hey April is still 4 1/2 months away!

Thanks for the comments, Aaron

[rabbidmk1]

I just made a list of the bare minimum I need to finish the car and there was almost nothing left to buy!!! :026:


Here is what is left!

Positive Battery Cables for the disconect
4 heavier rate springs for the PSS9's
Coolant hoses
Tires
Fuel test port
Driver Side headlamp


It is actually looking like I am going to make it to the April Quad @ BlackHawk to debut the car!!!

[RSTPerformance]

I just made a list of the bare minimum I need to finish the car and there was almost nothing left to buy!!! :026:
Here is what is left!

Fuel test port
[/b]

On the Audi's the fuel injection unit has a fuel "test" port built in, just need an extra line to screw in... Do VW's have the same thing?

Raymond

[rabbidmk1]

On the older VW's that used a fuel distributor that was possible. The Digifant managed cars startimg with the g60 Corrado in the late 80's- Early 90's were fully electronic as are all of the cars after that point in the VW line up. For Mine I am just tapping into the fuel line with the "T" that Pegasus racing sells.


Aaron :023:

[gran racing]

For the fuel test port, this was well worth the small price tag! One less thing to worry about.

Fuel test ports (http://www.fuelports.com)

Man, I wish my to-do list were that small.

[JamesB]

yeah the cis banjo port is in my car, I hate messing with that system.

[itracer]

yeah the cis banjo port is in my car, I hate messing with that system.
[/b]

BSI used to sell a longer banjo bolt with a port for cheap $$. I don't know if they still have it since they went over to the dark side.

[JamesB]

Thats what my car has on it. i still dont like messing with that system cuz it leaks so easilly.

[zracre]

I went to Home Depot and got a ball valve (3 ports brass), 3 nipples, hose clamps and some clear tubing. I installed it on the return line (Spec Miata) and voila! $25 fuel test port.

[Conover]

For the Mk3 just use this on the sender line:
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/sccafuelports/images/fuelfitting1.jpg

It has the added benefit of letting you hook into the line for easy fuel pressure measurements.