Items in car on track

[Jeff]

I know you must remove "loose items" from the car on the track. If I am using a lap-top to display EGT and A/F can it be in the car if it is mounted?

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.zeitronix.com/">http://www.zeitronix.com/</a><!-- m --> makes a meter that displays a bunch of values on a laptop or on an optional ($150 extra) LDC panel. I know from the post on gauges on here and some contacts I've had with a 2.2L pro that a reliable A/F and EGT are needed for the mods I am making.

[.RJ]

track = dragstrip or track = road course?

[Nick325is]

I believe he means road course.


Nick

[Jeff]

yes...this project has shifted from drag car to (road course) track car because of the great time at VIR and the expense of a monster turbo and corrisponding engine for a drag car. I will do one for drag later...I'm gonna be that crazy old man with 6 Omnis...

[JohnC]

I doubt a laptop would pass tech. Would probably make an instructor nervous too. I'd go with that smaller unit (or some other dedicated gauges with warning features).

[Mike]

i 2nd that i don't think a lappy would pass tech. gauges or nothin.

[BLINGMW]

people might think you're a little nuts, but I can't imagine it being a problem if you have it mounted well. Kaan?

[Evan]

depends on how you plan to mount it. If you want to mount it under the seat or somewhere out of the way to do datalogging, it wouldnt be a problem as long as its secure. If you want to mount it so you can check your manifold welds while driving, there really isnt any safe way to mount it, especially since you will have an instructor.

the small LCD monitor mounted on the dash wouldnt be a problem


keep in mind that at an HPDE, you will be focusing on you and your driving, not the car. It is best to set the car up to a safe tune, forget about the car, and focus on yourself.

[Jeff]

Point taken Evan. Once you tune the thing to the right amount of fuel and boost to prevent detonation you really don't need it. I still have the drag racing mentality of "take it to the track and work on it." Even the guy at Forward Motion told me "you don't go to the track to work on the car, you go to drive it." Just a question, could EGT rise outside of a safe temp while on the track even with a proven tune? I noticed an old DSM at VIR had the monitor mentioned earlier right above his steering wheel.


However, for conversation, I was planning to mount it on top of the cup holders in front of the shifter (the same way they mount them in the stores, bar across the top), but the more I think about it, you would have to take your eyes off the road for too long to look at it (drag racing again).

[white_2kgt]

Here's a track tip. Don't tune the motor 'on the edge' for track duty. Tune it SAFE and leave it alone as long as it is running fine. 20 or even 50hp on a 300 hp motor is not going to make that much difference. Just tune it reliable, and NO you do NOT have time to 'work on it' at the track. Between class and your drive sessions there is barely enough time to get water.

--chad

[.RJ]

Just a question, could EGT rise outside of a safe temp while on the track even with a proven tune?

Yes, happens all the time - especially with the Evo crowd where the motor is pushing quite a bit of boost from the factory and there's lots of easy power to be had. It looks safe on an intertia dyno with a nice fat a/f ratio on a cool day. But, take it to the track, running it hard for 30 minutes at a time, in summertime heat, around other cars (blocked airflow) and you have a disaster waiting to happen. I would suggest tuning it on a loading dyno, and heat soak the motor and then see what kind of ignition knock and a/f ratio comes along... and then when you go to the track, add some 100+ octane fuel in your tank as well (or make your own w/ toluene) as a buffer.

[KPWSerpiente]

If you want to keep track of certain engine variables then purchase the proper gauge.

If you want to accurately record that information...then purchase some sort of logging set up.

You will not have even have half a second to glance at a laptop screen while on ANY track.

But...having the laptop properly secured will still be an issue...mine is not tied down as of yet and about half of my runs have the recording stopped seconds into them because the launch is too violent.

-T

[Evan]

try marine velcro or heavy duty velcro. that stuff is amazing, but still removable

[Jeff]

Man...you guys know your stuff. I will most likely get the little display before I start tracking it. On that note, where does an EGT probe need to be monted? On the swing valve, on the manifold (which runner?), or on the down pipe?

[JohnC]

Man...you guys know your stuff. I will most likely get the little display before I start tracking it. On that note, where does an EGT probe need to be monted? On the swing valve, on the manifold (which runner?), or on the down pipe?

Most of the Z folks put them on the manifold, right before the turbo flange, in order to read the highest temperatures. Don't get a cheap EGT probe either, it would suck to spit that through a turbo :?

[CaptainHenreh]

Alot of people also put it in the "hottest" runner, usually cylinder number's 2 or (more often) 3. I've only heard of a couple of people putting it post-turbo, because the turbo cools the exhaust so much.

Buy a wideband 02 first.

[Jeff]

Buy a wideband 02 first.

Its all in one unit. You just get the EGT probe to add it to the display, same thing with the boost if I wouldn't have bought the gauge :roll: . But I like an Analog gauge better anyway. Which is why I was considering a Mopar EGT as well...but it is stupid to buy a $160 gauge when you can just add a $60 sensor and have less clutter.