Eli's orange drift TG - now 4ZE1+T, massive update P16

This Forum is here for each member to post pics of his/her Gemini’s. Keep it to one thread per car.. if you get more pics etc, add them to your existing thread, DO NOT start a new one
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geminilover3236
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Post by geminilover3236 »

Good on ya guys, loved it. representing the gemi!
that guy managed to stuff up your name almost every time.
orange_gem
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Post by orange_gem »

hey man good to see. 1 of the things all the boys up ere are found out in the season of drifting is finding a constant tyre to use (size, tread and how it is on the car) these are things i was trying to find out with the 13's i felt they have too much tyre flex. one of my mates runs 15's as he has 3 full sets of them. im thinking of running 205/40r17 still trying to find a good set for the fronts, nothing to handlely (re001, v700).

great work though mate cant wait to get mine back on the track. ill take footage of the boys up here as they have a drift on the 19th or something
Keepin it sideways in the territory
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

Yeah you're dead right orange_gem, it's about finding a tyre you like and sticking to it, you can't throw a car around unless you have a real good feel for it's grip, and with the constant tyre changing from new to old to retread to s*#t to uneven, I just had no feel for it. I kept "almost" doing great, but screwing it by the tiniest bit! Frustrating stuff, but it really motives me to get back out there. And I've got the best Dad ever, he just got me a pair of Sonar 155/80R13's for my birthday! They were my favourite tyres on the last two days, can't wait to skid these ones from new for a whole day!

Well, at the end of the last Tailem drift day, I started it to put it on the trailer, and it started clacking like mad. I thought I'd spun a bearing... And after the way I'd been treating the old girl, I couldn't even feel disappointed... It put up a great fight and lasted longer than a tired old motor should have. So I got it home and pulled it down. Seems the motor hadn't even been cracked, all bearings were STD, along with the bores and pistons. Head gasket may have been done, not sure, but apart from that it was all factory. Well, all of the bearings were nearing their end, but none had actually gone... However I noticed a whole lot of little chips and scratches on number 4 piston's crown, and in the combustion chamber...

Weeeell, seems one of the carby nuts had gone for a walk, found it's way past the [wide open] butterflies, past a valve (without hitting! yay for bigger cams!) and rattled around like mad in the chamber before embedding itself into the head. Besides minor chipping, it actually didn't do any damage... at all... But the engine needed a build, I had it out and figured I may as well. I do have a 4ZC1-T for this car, but it's a looong way off and needs lots of money spent (ECU, turbo etc, possibly a whole new crank), and I think I as a driver have way further to come with this setup... After all, the good drivers got good by drifting low powered cars at their absolute handling limit... So I decided to stay with what I know, build the G180Z and drive that for 6-12 months while I take my time building a mean C1.

I've been busy as hell these last 3-4 weeks doing that. I'm now using a 161 head from my last build, which had lots of money spent fixing corrosion, straightening it, putting new valves in etc etc... And also has a substantially lower chamber CC to the original un-shaved head. I CC'd them both, and it worked out to being about 9:1 on the original (including piston dish and HG) and 9.85:1 on the new head, BEFORE the final face. Should give me a bit more poke, and still take the more volatile (and cheap) 91RON.

I'm also using a balanced crank now (cheers Tyla) freshly ground to run 20thou O/S bearings - ACL. Rings are moly, and an Asian brand that actually look quite reasonable. Bit peeved I couldn't source ACL moly, but oh well. To keep costs down (and to test my abilities) I stuck with the original pistons, after measuring the bores with my new digital verniers (a lesson learned from last time...) and honing them myself, before re-measuring and a fairly rigorous cleaning of all engine components. Ring gaps are good, bores are very very slightly flared at the top, but not enough for me to justify new pistons. The crosshatch is really good for a home job - whilst I'm a supporter of machine shop hones, I really want to test my abilities and find out what a home job can and can't do.

Cam is the Crow 2507 previously fitted in the other head, electronic ignition will still be used, along with the 32/36 weber, and extractors onto relatively standard system. I have a Lukey 2.5" system, but I think performance gains would be so negligible as to be offset by weight, and for the sake of moving it on and off trailers and around on my block, I don't want to piss off my neighbors with a sewer pipe drone just yet..

I've also ditched the 5spd which was starting to sound a tiny bit unhappy, for a disposable 4spd out of my TE. Plus, that's like, 1kg saved, right? Not like I'll use a 5th at the track.. That'd involve going past 180km/h. Not likely. The clutch was actually an aftermarket "standard" component that just happened to have a freakishly good bite and feel, and although I have a second hand Xtreme clutch, I'm going with "if it 'aint broke..." - don't fix it. I'll run this one until I have a reason not to.

Finishing it off, I've given the engine a nice clean and paint, gloss black on sump and rocker cover, heatproof matte black on the block, and the head, timing case and gearbox clean(ish) alloy. I like the understated, down-to-buisness look, especially since it is essentially only mildly tweaked from factory. I'm hoping I'll get the extra 10rwkw I so desperately need from the rebuild. The engine made good power before, but hopefully the increased static CR, as well as fresh piston rings, balanced crank and fresh head will push a few more ponies out. It was right on the edge for third gear before - hopefully this will have just enough to spin it a bit more freely and allow me some control over third gear power-overs.

My private day at Tailem finally seems to be going ahead on Monday the 4th (the coming Monday public holiday), so I have to get the engine into the car, running and preferably bedded in by then! Thankfully I have Fri-Sat-Sun off to get it done!

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My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

So we had the private day, and the track car didn't work - had a few issues. First of all, plugs were 180 out because I put the oil pump in the wrong way (didn't bother checking), then it missed under power, and the starter completely died... So I skidded Ethan's stockish TD instead :D Cheers Ethan!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic_lR45hV90

And also got to skid Benny's set up 4age KE70!! That thing's amazing!!! Total sex to drive - although I reckon my car has more lower end ;)

Anyway, I fixed my car yesterday, turned out the miss was due to weak spark due to dud ballast resistor and/or coil - but I bypassed the ballast and now all things are good! Tested all my starter motors and found one good one out of three... So I cleaned it up and put it in!

Now some of you guys might have heard of the King of Drift comp coming up this Saturday. I called them first thing this morning and said "Hey, it's Eli.. So I know it's the eleventh hour.. but are there any spots left?" The guy (in Qld) said "Eli.. where have I heard that name..." I'm like "Orange Gemini!" He's like "Ah yes! Which class did you want to go in?" I say "Well, I was going to go street again.." He said "Nah, I think you're more like level 2... If you're ok with that!"

So yeah! Took that as decent praise, although I don't feel that good.. Only been to three track days, and driven my drift car twice! And I'll be against a whole bunch of guys who've been doing it for years and have 200rwkw... And it'll be door to door tandems (theoretically), which I haven't done much of either. Can't wait, but sooooo freaked!!!

Car's running sweet as now. Electronic ignition's the goods, sitting at about 11deg BTDC at the moment, ran some carby cleaner through, changed the break in oil and filter, fixed some more dodgy wiring. Running a 4spd now for lightweight staagggiioouu, and also because the 5spd was sounding a little ill, and it'd be a waste to break it drifting. Not completely satisfied with how the locker's holding up, hope it lasts. Might even go a Kaaz/similar LSD soon, it's running the early BW so they should be available from real early Escorts, Datsuns etc.

So excited for Saturday! Shiiiiiittt, rolling with the big boys now. With ~70rwkw hahaha... :shock: Wish me luck!
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
orange_gem
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Post by orange_gem »

good to here man. cant wait to have mine out again. were nearly finished up here so jan ill have it out. good luck man. cant wait to see some footage. its gonna be easy for you out front cause your setting the pace so they wont be use to the slower speeds. just gotta get some pace and not fall to far behind them
Keepin it sideways in the territory
orange_gem
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Post by orange_gem »

hey man hows the gem going? We hit the track up here end of feb hopefully its still raining :) love liquid horespower. You have any luck with more steering lock?
Keepin it sideways in the territory
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

Hey man, I've got a spare steering rack (well, Ethan dropped one off for me... champ) up at Garage 7 in Mount Barker. Declan, the guy that runs the place, is a top bloke and a friend of my girlfriend and myself.. He's running ideas off of a few people, might go with a bolt on style lock spacer, or something else entirely! I'll report back, and if they're any good as I'm sure they will be, I'll put them up for sale.

At King of Drift I did pretty s*#t, few good runs and a couple of awesome pics but all in all I spun a lot. It was wet and slowly dried up, then it spat and then it went completely dry... Total f**k to drive in, initiating in the rain at 80-90km/h was so sketchy, I tried scando's and would go past full lock every time just before the final apex of the first corner... mostly wouldn't spin, but scrub all speed out. Neeeeed lock spacers! So the only thing that worked was doing the tiiiiiniest little flick of the steering wheel and lifting, the car would natural gradually through the whole first corner, was hard keeping it out without a straighten or spin, but on good runs could come into the S across the skidpan with a bit of pace. I was cursed by my miss all day, it wasn't bad, only at high RPM, but it killed my power and I could barely keep any wheelspin going in the dry, even in second..

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Anyway where I stand now is, the other day I changed the ignition coil, fairly sure the old one was rooooooted, so I'm HOPING it'll fix the miss, if not it could be the carby, as I used a very suspect carby cleaner (later revealed to say "for external use only" - WTF!!) on two cars, one's the track car, the other one's lost the secondary altogether since using the s*#t...

I've decided my rears are nowhere near tough enough (I think only around 220lb/ft - 250lb/ft) so I'll be cutting my toughest wreckers special aftermarket Commo rears, should double the spring rate at least. Double front sway should follow soon after. I've bought a whole bunch of tyres, including two pairs of 155/80R13's on my little meshies in 4x114.3, so will be run with 35mm bolt-on spacers on either side and look tough!! A mate also gave me a pair of 14"s with near new decent skid tyres, reeeeal ugly steel wheels but 114 also, so with bolt ons should look alright.

I'm keen to head out to Mallala soon, if the miss is sorted I'll go to the next event. I was going to wait for lock spacers but it's taking too long! I want to get back out there!

Keep on me and I'll post some of the better pics from King of Drift! Got to take the gf for a skid, she loved it, had an awesome time... Drove way better with her in the car somehow!
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
BlueGem
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Post by BlueGem »

Is the coil you have in there meant to be run with a resistor? If so, coilcould be stuffed causing your miss.
AKA Project 64/Stock TE
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

BlueGem wrote:Is the coil you have in there meant to be run with a resistor? If so, coilcould be stuffed causing your miss.
Haha yes definitely. The coil in there is an original style coil designed to run like, 5-7 volts. When I bought the car the ballast resistor was "pass-through"/stuffed and wasn't doing anything, and the alternator regulator signal wire wasn't even CONNECTED!! So the whole car ran 18 volts for like, two track days before I voltage tested the coil...

Now has a 12V electronic ignition coil, bypassed ballast resistor still but the alternator charging issue's resolved and the car now runs a healthy 13.8V.

Haven't had a chance to test it as yet!! Still waiting eagerly for these lock spacers, but I neeeeeeeed new front wheels with better offset!

Considering:
SSR Mk2's
Equip 03's
Equip 01's
S1 Meisters
SSR Mesh
or cheating and running whatever 4x114.3mm fronts with my +35mm bolt on spacers...
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
geminilover3236
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Post by geminilover3236 »

Got to take the gf for a skid, she loved it, had an awesome time... Drove way better with her in the car somehow!
Yer, I have found that having a passenger makes a hell of a difference. I'd say it's to do with the weight. I do the other way around though. Better on my own.

VIDS, PICS :D
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

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Those were from King of Drift, when I drove sucky and the car ran crap. Those are from good runs haha. I reckon I was running too much rear tyre pressure for a cold wet track - I picked that day to try ~38 psi cold, and it was skittish as hell. Was trying to reduce sidewall flex and firm it up, I think it did that but it also killed any rear end grip at all. Might be good for wheelspin on a dry, warmer day, but yeah.
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
geminilover3236
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Post by geminilover3236 »

Ahhh, very good man. I don't think I could ever get sick of looking at a Gemini sideways!
geminilover3236
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Post by geminilover3236 »

I'd be very interested to see how your new suspension setup handles.
orange_gem
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Post by orange_gem »

when your season start again? First meet is the 20th then night meet on 5th of march. Car gets tuned on friday cant wait to see the new figure.
Keepin it sideways in the territory
archangel62
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Post by archangel62 »

Ok lads, just a quick post before much-needed shuteye, there's been a bit of progress.

-Front guards are now spaced out. Removed some of the bolts, and used a reasonable rubber swaybar link bush as a spacer on the upper of the two main A-pillar mounting bolts, and two stuffed rubber link bushes on the bottom. I had to remove the absolute upper bolt and bend the tab out of the way to clear the door happily. Apart from that (and a slightly awkward access to the driver's upper bolt) it was all smooth sailing, I have extra wheel clearance and it looks tough!

-Maxed out standard front camber adjustment (negative of course). Still seems like bugger all..... Might have to drill 'em out a bit.

-Slotted front brakes have been fitted, had them lying around so yeah... Also removed the shrouds since they're doing nothing but ruining heat dissipation, not that they get hot drifting anyway. I'll just have to remember not to drive through a lake with glowing discs. Bugger, there goes that idea.

-Bolt-on +35mm spacers have been fitted up front, will be going rear too when I finish this pair of tyres off

-Bought me two extra pairs of 155's on 13", and was given a pair of 175's on 14" non-directionals at like, 95% tread. Should keep me busy for a while.

-Cut and fitted some late live-axle Commodore heavy duty springs in the rear - they seem to be about exactly as tough as the Lovells using a "push test" - perhaps a smudge tougher, but only track time will tell. The Lovells weren't tough enough!

-Fitted nolathane front swaybar-body bushes (links are already nola). Should help a bit, since I'm still running a stock front sway. Wouldn't mind going double or HD, but it can wait.

-Booked car in for a dyno tune by an old car wizard from Wednesday night. He'll re-jet the carby, remove the dizzy, spin it up and measure its advance through the range, modify and re-fit, then put the car on a dyno, all for $450!!! Sounds too cheap! I told him to take his time and get it just right and I'll pay him a bit more. This car needs all the ponies it can get!

-Checked front wheel clearance with the spacers - I reckon I can get about 10mm more travel at the tie rod ends before anything will hit, BUT to achieve this I need lock spacers AND to grind down the lock stoppers on the LCAs. The latter's no big deal, I've figured out how I'll do it, but the former's proving a pain for the moment.


...
There was a practice at Mallala on Saturday night, I was soooo keen to go, but the car just isn't ready. It's making no torque, and will need much more to be fun. The dyno tuning shouldn't take more than a week, so I should be ready for the kick-off of Stadium Drift down here! The first Stadium practice is March the 5th I believe, so that's my goal. I want to be out for that!

Current issues are:
-Need gauges including temp and oil pressure switch! I have NOTHING!
-Need to replace the front heater hose fitting on the head, it's corroded to hell
-Need to fit a coolant overflow catch can, the last Stadium I got told off for not having one
-Need to double check rear wheel clearance with the spacers on. I need to run spacers for three of the four pairs of skid tyres I have (due to stud pattern change on the spacers) and the springs aren't anywhere near as tough (or high!) as I'd hoped. May have to DIY roll the guards, or cut another pair a tad higher. I was saving the Commo Kings to be cut for the Piazza, but...
-The shocks (oldddd Monroe's) aren't great, not urgent but I'm sure they're not helping
-Front end could prob do with a wheel alignment, appears to be toeing out a ton, and I want to see how much camber I have as standard maximum seems like bugger all
-Brake balance is forked, if I need to stop in a hurry I'm screwed, especially if the rears are bald and/or hot
-Need to change my awesome steer tyres over onto the new 4x114 fronts that I need to fit the spacers. Tyres on there would probably do the job, but why run mediocre front end grip when you can run awesome front end grip?


PICS SOON :)
My Gemini drift videos: http://www.youtube.com/PandamoniumDrift
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PandamoniumDrift
Current tally: 5 Geminis and a Piazza
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