Joe's NA6

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:55 pm

Kinda wish I had of know that before I bought this one, but meh, I'm sure I'll cope. It arrived a few weeks back but I ahven't even looked at installing it yet, way too busy recently.

In other news I picked up my new FM butterfly brace brace today and the install should start tomorrow.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:02 am

Could always resell it and spend the cash on something else?

Dann

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:04 am

NitroDann wrote:Could always resell it and spend the cash on something else?

Dann

I agree with Dann, take the cheap way out and put the money to better use

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:59 am

Meh, it was $60.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:09 am

Good price.

Dann

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:57 pm

Right, update since I just came inside for lunch. I always knew my chassis rails were bent but damn, never noticed just how much until I tried to put the frame rails on. I took some photos to demonstrate their 'bent-ness' but you really can't see much.

Overall installation seems fairly straight forward but I have got better acquainted with my selection of hammers. Doubt I'll get it finished today as I've got training in about an hour an a half, but I should be most of the way there. Been going since about 1130, so roughly 1.5 hrs so far.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 3:34 pm

Thanks for thinking of doing a DIY for all us Plebs

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 7:58 pm

I spent less than three hours today and the frame rails are in. Getting the brace in really doesn't look that hard, just hold it in place, bolt in loosely, adjust and tighten. I however slept in pretty damn well this morning and had training at 3, so couldn't spend a whole day on it.

A good 30-45 minutes of that was me trying to bash my chassis rails back to something like straight so the frame rails would fit, so if yours are in good condition expect to take significantly less time. If you had access to a hoist I'm sure it would be easier, but it honestly wasn't that bad with just the jack stands. Another inch or two of height would have made my life much easier, just so you could get more strength behind the drill. Holding the fuel rails out of the way while you drill isn't particularly fun, probably my least favourite part of the day. Now that I think about it, my favourite part was that you really don't need to remove all that much from the interior. Seats are 4 bolts each, the bottom bolt for the seat belt and four screws each side for the door sill trims and then just pull the carpet back. I was expecting centre consoles and full carpet out, so that was a nice surprise.

Tips!
Don't try to fit the drivers side rail without pulling the fuel rails out of the way. They are there and they're quite important in the grand scheme of things really.
Hammers are your friend.

Pictures from where I'm up to now...
Parts!

Stands!

Bent rails!

What it looks like from the inside!

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:02 pm

Finished the install today.

Had my house mate help me with the install of the brace. Having another person with me probably would have made the frame rails install a little easier but certainly wasn't necessary; the brace however would have been absolute ass on my own. Trying to hold everything in place and bolt it in at the same time would have been terrible, particularly on the drivers side as the fuel rails most certainly get in the way. Having said all that, it really wasn't that bad. I'm sure a pair of people could punch it out in a day with no troubles.

And now the fun part!
Didn't even finish before I took the car for a drive, put the drivers seat back in and went for a drive. Now I know people have said you could feel the difference just backing out of their drive way, well I could see the difference lowering the car off the jack stands. Initial impressions are pretty well what was expected; the added stiffness is incredibly noticeable through corners with an elevation change and it's far more likely to spin the inside rear wheel. Have a 2 lap hillclimb event this weekend so I'll get my first test in anger on Sunday.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:25 pm

Hillclimb on the weekend! Specifically a two lap event.

Overall the day went pretty well. It was quite cold but it stayed dry. I only came off once and even then not that badly. I actually had another person in my class for the first time in a while and Stephen in his NB proceeded to thoroughly thrash me, being almost 6 seconds quicker than me by the end of the day. My best time ended up at 90.89, with a time of 52.60 for the first lap (PB is 52.2, I think? 52.something lower than .6 regardless).

Going back to stock seats blows. I can't wait until my new Recaros get here

I copped a little bit of flak from one of the scrutineers regarding the height of my roll bar, I started to explain my case but another scrutineer stepped in and told me not to worry about before I got too far. However, after seeing the photos taken my my housemate, I can kinda see where they were coming from.

Photos from flag point two!

But what you've all been waiting for, more words on the butterfly brace. Basically, it delivers everything it promises. The car feels significantly stiffer in everything it does. It is a different car.

CoffeeBoss · Postby **CoffeeBoss** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:05 am

Jeo wrote:...more words on the butterfly brace. Basically, it delivers everything it promises. The car feels significantly stiffer in everything it does. It is a different car.

It's true! I've dríven a couple of examples before/after now, and particularly jumping from an NC to a stock NA8, then into the same NA8 with the butterfly brace fitted, you really feel the difference throughout. Highly recommended, and forced me to reconsider braces for my NC!

Have dríven past that hillclimb track a few times over the years, what's it like? Do you need to be affiliated with any clubs to run there?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:15 pm

Matt, according to the entry form the hillclimb is only open to SDMA members, but you can purchase a day permit for $10 if you are a member of another CAMS affiliated club. Entry costs $90 to run in the hillclimb. Day permits are limited to two events in any 12 month period. Beyond that you might as well pay your $50 for full membership.

http://www.sdmahillclimb.com/