The URABUS project
 

Well it all started about 12 months ago. Dad and I had been arguing over a track car for a long time but due to a weird set of circumstances we decided to get serious. Dad wanted to go down the Caterham / Westfield road but I was more interested in the EVO / STI road.

We also looked at bringing in a Radical (think modern day caterham, rear engine on steriods) but my long term goal is to do a targa tasmania and at present you can not road register it.

Anyways, we sat down and nutted out what we wanted and settled on either a evo 5 / 6 lancer or a v5 / v6 sti.

For the life of me I could not find a lancer anywhere but I found a V5 STI type RA limited up at JWS. It had been in a bingle and had gone in reasonably hard in the front RHS. Because it was a limited it had air bags. Then the inevitable happened. A week after I got mine I found the perfect one over east that would have saved me a lot of head aches but anyway.

Why a V5 / V6? The cost of the shell is pretty irellevant when you look at the cost of everything else that you have to put in but we decided that the 150kg odd weight advantage could not be ignored. Also the GC's perceived lack of rigidity would be solved by the addition of a full weld in roll cage. NVH levels were obviously of no concern seeing as the car was never going to have carpets / underbody insulation anyways.

The engine was already out of the car and I had to strip everything out before the panel beater woud start.

Below are some photos of the car before and after I stripped it.

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures051.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures019.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures020.jpg[/IMG]

Once the panel work was done it was up to Race Torque to get a cage put in.

Below are some photos of the cage in various stages of completion

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures044.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures042.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures045.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/BrendonsPictures081.jpg[/IMG]

Once the cage was complete it had to go and get the interior painted. Once this was done the refit could begin to take shape.

Below are some photos of the interior as it was taking shape.

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/P1010247.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/P1010236.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/urabusra/P1010248.jpg[/IMG]

The car has been sign written and is now up at race torque getting autronics, a tune and a few other things.

Everything being equal I should get it back in the next day or so.

I have tried to keep the car as standard as possible with the ultimate veiw of going to Targa Tasmania where you are allowed to change very little.

In terms of mods the car is standard fare:

I.e.

EJ207
DCCD
R180 Rear Diff
No ABS
No Air Con
No Sound Deadening
Thinner Glass
Quick Steering Rack
LSD's Front and Rear

In terms of the mods I have done they have been limited to the following:

Autronics Plug and Play
Group 4 Coilovers
Front and Rear Sway Bar
Anti Lift Kit
Camber bolts
Silicone air intake
BPM exhaust / up pipe
2l Catch Can
DBA 5000 Rotors
Ferodo FS3000 Pads

The car could very easily be changed to run in Improved Production up at Wanneroo.

The immediate goal is to run at MC / Max action etc. I will be doing the Dutton and Taga West.

As soon as race torque get their ass into gear and tune the car I can get it back and get it licensed. It will be B reg only though.

The car has taken far longer and cost far more than I thought it was going to but we are nearly there. If everything goes right I am hoping to run at the drags on Wednesday 31st Jan. This might be a bit ambitious but we are getting very close.

Brendon

pics or ban. sounds good.

Good decision not to go with the Westfield for a targa car. There is little to no chance that you would survive a high speed crash with the low side walls.
Also the visability is quite poor when your low down, approaching a bend it can be difficult to see over and around it.

you chose the safer option. :)

MC days, hillclimbs and sprints are perfect for the Westfield. but a full roll cage is best for Targa.

All the best.

Well Brendon, now you have no excuse not to whip everone's arse in that lightweight weapon...just let me know which events you're doing and I won't bother to enter myself :D

Good Decision Brendon, :) I grew up in Tassie and have been itching ever since Targa Tas started to enter the event. Sadly I will have to work O/Seas for a while I think before funds allow.

Lightweight Turbo, AWD with DCCD is perfect for Targa Tas and far far safer than a powerfull RWD car especially in the wet. Targa Tas is especially hard on tyres when you really get up it and the conditions are always unpredictable. Dry, Wet, Super Wet, Ice, Snow all in the one day. that what makes it one of the Worlds premier tarmac events.

I would not mind having a yak over costs sometime when you get a chance ? PMail ?

J

[QUOTE=nauli]Well Brendon, now you have no excuse not to whip everone's arse in that lightweight weapon...just let me know which events you're doing and I won't bother to enter myself :D[/QUOTE]

I think there will be quite a few teething problems and it will take a while to get the set up right.

Also it is not going to have that much power. Best guess somehwere around 170kw atw?

Also I have not done anything competitively in a car since I sold my old rex very nearly 3 years ago. The ute was / is just terrible and nothing from that could be construed as beneficial seat time.

With all the sign writing etc it is not as though I can slide under the radar either. I think I need to investigate the possibility of doing some very quiet testing out at AHG.

Brendon

[QUOTE=WRXTASY]Good Decision Brendon, :) I grew up in Tassie and have been itching ever since Targa Tas started to enter the event. Sadly I will have to work O/Seas for a while I think before funds allow.

Lightweight Turbo, AWD with DCCD is perfect for Targa Tas and far far safer than a powerfull RWD car especially in the wet. Targa Tas is especially hard on tyres when you really get up it and the conditions are always unpredictable. Dry, Wet, Super Wet, Ice, Snow all in the one day. that what makes it one of the Worlds premier tarmac events.

I would not mind having a yak over costs sometime when you get a chance ? PMail ?

J[/QUOTE]

The other advantage that the rex / evo has over a lot of cars in relation to targa is that the tyres are the same front and rear i.e. you can rotate them where as the RWD cars tend to have bigger tyres on the back.

As for costs just filck me an email - [email]brendon@wintgc.com[/email] and I can fill you in.

Thanks

Brendon

One question.

URABUS? where did you pull that from? :)

Look in the mirror would be a hint....Don't tell....

Well done - is it still going to run a VF28? Did you manage to squeeze a hydraulic handbrake into it?

Still has a VF28. I dont know so much whether I am allowed to run a 34 or the like. obviously it has been homoligated but whether I am allowed it is open to conjecture. For dutton etc I am sure that it is fine but the whole car is geared towards targa tas.

I have no doubt that a hydro handbrake will end up on there but for the moment it will be oe.

I just want to get the thing up and running. It has been such a long gestation that I dont really care about the little things. Once its going then at least I have a baseline to work from.
Brendon

Mate, that gonna be a great wee ride 170Kw + with light weight body, DCCD, good brakes and coilovers etc = awesome fun, u gonna have a ball!!
Good luck

looking good brendon, when is it for completion?? btw did u get my pms??

When you get the car back, whack it on the scales.

Awesome project, should be a track weapon , and sicne thats the goal , alls well.

I do recall being told I'd have to run stock turbo if I ever ran targa, so im guessing it will be the same ruling ie stock sti ra turbo from year of car.

unsure about targa, but most of the vf2x series turbos are homoligated for GC8's, vf3x series for GD's

Is there a VF2x compressor cover that is the same size as a VF34? If so there is your solution.... :thumbsup:

Small issue of homologation papers. These give EXACT dimensions of parts used on the cars and variations of blade type and count are very easily picked up. Add to the fact that the turbo is an easily removed part for scrutineering makes it a part which is very closely looked at in post event scrutineering.

This is all hinging on the fact you actually win something. If you plan on just having fun, nothing stopping you running an EJ257 with a VF34 until you piss off other competitors and they start complaining to the scrutineers.

Gotta love rallying, it's not cheating until you get caught.

just ask atkinson!

I do wonder if the allowing of a boost controller would be in the mix of rules! I mean, it can be a stock turbo, it can have its stock properties, but who says a Boost Controller ever actually altered a turbo? Mearly just tricks the ECU into thinking its running less PSI then it really is :D

Be creative like gibson motorsport in the 80's

ie on their nissan bluebird which shat all over bathurst for something built in their time... if you flicked the windscreen wiper switch - all good it worked like normal. However, if you where to turn it .... it was a boost controller too!

you are allowed to change the ecu.. so a boost controller is fine

Just phoned RT and the car is off the dyno. I have not got the Dyno sheet yet and I will post when I get it but the car is putting out a very tidy 190kw atw on a hot day like today.

Very happy.

Off to the panel beaters this weekend to get cut and polished and then next week suspension here we go.

Brendon

The car is finished. A few little things left to do but I spose there will always be small outstanding things. Still got to go over the pits but I have a permit for Monday so I might try and head down then.

Picked up the crutch strap for the passenger seat and this is now fitted.

Here is a couple of photos up at Belmont on the weekend at Norberts Max Action. Car did alright. Heaps of understeer but way too much tyre pressure and have only just begun to play with the Group 4's and sway bar settings.

Should have some action shots shortly.

[IMG]http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g161/urabus99_photos/rexatbelmont.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g161/urabus99_photos/rexarbelmont2.jpg[/IMG]

Looking forward to seeing a heap of you at the IWRXOC cruise on sunday.

Car looks mint..how did u get your fog covers on? the hole in my cover wont line up with the screw that bolts the fog light into place..drill a new hole?

come to welshpool pits man and come grab me i wanna check it out lol..i work in the main building. (blokes are orite there)

[QUOTE=Wrexx]Car looks mint..how did u get your fog covers on? the hole in my cover wont line up with the screw that bolts the fog light into place..drill a new hole?

come to welshpool pits man and come grab me i wanna check it out lol..i work in the main building. (blokes are orite there)[/QUOTE]


Have you got the Bracket? It is about $10 from Amcap. If you need the part number let me know. It bolts into the bottom hole. It means if you want to you can keep the normal fog lights aswell you can.

Re going over the pits I was going to try Kelmscott. A because it is closest and I spoke to the guy there the other day and he seems pretty laid back. Also they have my personalised plates so I would have to go back there anyway to get the plates.

Almost looks as new, awesome job!
Good Luck out on the track!

AMCAP hey, ill give em a call n see whats the go..could i grab a part number? :D

Part No for the RHS one is: GE614C4B. Cost me $10.49 from Amcap. It was in stock.

weird i just called them and said that they are just wholesalers who sell out to dealers etc..he thort i was talkin bout the clear cover for my car all he knew was about the STi ones =/

[QUOTE=Wrexx]weird i just called them and said that they are just wholesalers who sell out to dealers etc..he thort i was talkin bout the clear cover for my car all he knew was about the STi ones =/[/QUOTE]

It is the STI one that you are chasing. I have an account with them but surely it would still be less than $15 from your local dealer. I would just ring them and get them to order it for you.

Cheers

ok thanks man

Quick update re the car seeing as it has been ages. I hav not entered any events so far this year because I have been working up in sunny kalgoorlie.

I have entered Dutton this year again and in the process of entering targa west. Targa is turning into a seriously expensive exercise.

As for the car I have done a few things to a) get some more weight out of it and b)make it handle / stop better.

I will post some photos up when I get home at the end of the week but young ray is now sporting the following:

hydraulic handbrake
braided brake lines
lightened flywheel
sti fuel pump / surge tank setup
whiteline roll centre kit
whiteline underbody front brace
peltor intercom with normal helmet headsets and also practice headsets.

In order to make her good for targa I will have to put a pea shooter exhaust on and install a rally computer. Obviously a retune aswell.

Also on the path for some proper front brakes bearing in mind that I have to run 16" rims.

Cheers

Brendon

With all your weight reductions are you going to have to use ballast to get back up to the homologated weight for your car Brendon?

Are you allowed to run under M2 with a hydraulic handbrake?

[QUOTE=urabus]Quick update re the car seeing as it has been ages. I hav not entered any events so far this year because I have been working up in sunny kalgoorlie.

I have entered Dutton this year again and in the process of entering targa west. Targa is turning into a seriously expensive exercise.

As for the car I have done a few things to a) get some more weight out of it and b)make it handle / stop better.

I will post some photos up when I get home at the end of the week but young ray is now sporting the following:

hydraulic handbrake
braided brake lines
lightened flywheel
sti fuel pump / surge tank setup
whiteline roll centre kit
whiteline underbody front brace
peltor intercom with normal helmet headsets and also practice headsets.

In order to make her good for targa I will have to put a pea shooter exhaust on and install a rally computer. Obviously a retune aswell.

Also on the path for some proper front brakes bearing in mind that I have to run 16" rims.

Cheers

Brendon[/QUOTE]

Brendon, for Targa West you will need to be very careful interpreting regs for the class you're entering as I've heard they are going to be a little tougher this year...eg you may not be able to run things like roll centre kit & underbrace.

[QUOTE=WRC]With all your weight reductions are you going to have to use ballast to get back up to the homologated weight for your car Brendon?

Are you allowed to run under M2 with a hydraulic handbrake?[/QUOTE]


Homologated weight for a V5 GC8 is about 1150. I am still at around 1200 so I can still cut things like the side instrusion bars etc out.

M2 says you have to run a normal handbrake aswell. I am still trying to sort ot which class I will enter as it may be easier to enter Production rally car. Trying to make sense of the regs is a pain in the ass.

Brendon

PRC means you need a restrictor yes?

Yerp.

Then whats the point? Does Jim Richards run a restrictor?

I would say that there is no restrictor in Jims car but from memory he runs in either M1 or M2 as his GT2 is nearly stock.