Tim's 944LS1 track car build!

Spent the weekend at Barber, this was the first real test of running the car in HOT conditions. Temps were nearing 100 and it was blazing hot. Oil temps were fantastic, never got above 220, but can't say the same about my water temps which reached 230. I currently have a huge oil cooler sitting directly in front of my radiator, my plan is to move it to get better flow through the radiator. Hope fully that will help. I'd rather have my water at 220 and my oil at 230.

Hey Tim, if you still have the NA front valance, remove the cross brace/plastic, it makes a huge difference on cooling.

I'd be pleased to only see 230 in water temps. I was at High Plains Raceway this past Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was 92 degrees with a 30-50mph wind. I saw oil and water temps of 260. The altitude doesn't help any.

Sunday it wasn't nearly as windy was around 80, temps were closer to 230 that day...

xschop wrote:Hey Tim, if you still have the NA front valance, remove the cross brace/plastic, it makes a huge difference on cooling.

Guess I could give that a try, I'd likely replace the plastic cross brace with a wire to maintain rigidity of the valance.

docwyte wrote:I'd be pleased to only see 230 in water temps. I was at High Plains Raceway this past Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was 92 degrees with a 30-50mph wind. I saw oil and water temps of 260. The altitude doesn't help any.

Sunday it wasn't nearly as windy was around 80, temps were closer to 230 that day...

Not sure I'd stay on track with a water temp of 260, that's hot!

The 260 oil would not bother me as much as long as you are running a high-quality synthetic.

Yeah, but there's nothing more I can do about it. I'm running a new radiator, have cleaned out the AC condenser, extended the under body tray, etc.

Until someone makes a direct fit larger radiator that actually works, I'm stuck with what I have.

docwyte wrote:Yeah, but there's nothing more I can do about it. I'm running a new radiator, have cleaned out the AC condenser, extended the under body tray, etc.

Until someone makes a direct fit larger radiator that actually works, I'm stuck with what I have.

Call Griffin and have them make you one in whatever size you want. Prices are very reasonable, likely cheaper than a new 951 radiator.

Well that's just the issue, I don't have a lot of additional space. I still have the AC condenser, factory fans, etc, etc.

I just don't really have room for a longer, taller, wider radiator in there. It would be nice if the inlet/outlets were placed in the proper places for our swaps, then I wouldn't have all these radiator hoses crossing over all over the place...

There is a factory metal hanger that attaches to the lower portion of the valance that remains for rigidity when the flat panel is removed. Eric's NA bumper cleans up the area really nicely too.

Tim, do you have a belly pan? My spec racer came to me with a nice plastic belly pan that extends from below the radiator to the engine crossmember. Granted I'm at sea level and haven't seen ambient temps above 80, but my water was a solid 160 F for a 1 hour long session. I'm running this low temp thermostat.

Rich

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I'm not sure that putting a lower thermostat in will make much of a difference in my running temps. Might take it a bit longer to get to 230, but I believe that it would get there eventually.

I am in the market for a decent 45o swivel water neck so that I can have a straighter connection between the radiator and pump.

Last night a drilled 4 large holes in my fiberglass bumper and will be ordering a smaller oil cooler that I can place up high and therefore not block as much of my radiator. Should be good to go for my next event in less than two weeks.

Tim,

If you block the bypass in water pump and remove the thermostat it will reduce the water temp. The bypass does not need to be completely blocked and it is best if you leave a small 1/4" hole at the 12 o'clock position where you block it so the system can easily bleed air. I made an aluminum plug and had it tig welded to the pump. This mod reduced restriction/pressure in the cooling system and increases the flow rate through the engine.

PS. I am moving back to B'ham got a great career opportunity out of the blue!

Tom

968LS3RS wrote:Tim,

PS. I am moving back to B'ham got a great career opportunity out of the blue!

Tom

Welcome Back! Give me a call when you get a chance.

Will do!

968LS3RS wrote:Tim,

If you block the bypass in water pump and remove the thermostat it will reduce the water temp. The bypass does not need to be completely blocked and it is best if you leave a small 1/4" hole at the 12 o'clock position where you block it so the system can easily bleed air. I made an aluminum plug and had it tig welded to the pump. This mod reduced restriction/pressure in the cooling system and increases the flow rate through the engine.

What kind of reduced water temps did you see?

Andy

10-20 degrees typically. The cars I have done this on did not run condensers or oil coolers in front of the radiator. Make sure coolant/steam line from top of heads is plumbed to the overflow/expansion tank and not to the top of the radiator.

968LS3RS wrote:10-20 degrees typically. The cars I have done this on did not run condensers or oil coolers in front of the radiator. Make sure coolant/steam line from top of heads is plumbed to the overflow/expansion tank and not to the top of the radiator.

Thanks. Are these track cars or street cars?

[edit] with no AC condensers, I assume track cars?

One was track only one was street and track. I have done it on my personal car as well.

Ran at Road Atlanta today; track temps were 145 and air temps of 98. Water temp stayed at or below 220 at all times and oil temp never got above 210. All this while setting my personal best of a 1:36.5 Brakes are finally working as they should, great day at the track, can't wait till tomorrow.

Have not been here in a while so just a quick update. Car ran great all fall, everything has come together and laps times are dropping quickly. Turned my best time ever at Barber during the fall PBOC race (1:36.7). As far as I can tell, that's a track record for any 944 variant at Barber. Videos of enduro here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

NASA has changed the ST class structure for 2013 so I took the car to the dyno a few weeks ago to get a couple optional tunes. Turns out the that car was down on power by 40 rwhp since building it 1.5 years ago. So I'm currently rebuilding the engine, hopefully it will be back together within a week.

Did you do a leakdown and compression test? What was the issue?

Yep, low compression in #6 as well as leakdown. Compression went up with addition of oil to cylinder. No apparent problem with cylinder, all were still in spec. Oil ring on #6 did not move freely and there was lots of buildup behind all rings. I did not rebuild the bottom end when I got the ending 1.5 years ago, just did the heads.

Tim,

That was a great clip. Great driving. Barber looks awesome.

Good luck.

Marc

Congrats on the class win and overall podium. Great racing, inspirational to watch. And best of luck with the rebuild and re-tune.

Rich