OKUSA Build

[okusa]

Just another build thread...

This is actually my third tracked vehicle. Spent one day at WSIR with an E93 and, well, I was hooked. I very soon after that picked up a beautifully built Lotus Elise, but sold it after about 10 track days because I simply couldn't keep it on the track (heel toe is just not my thing). So, I moved on to my current car in 2015, a 2011.75 SSII competition slicktop DCT and my daily driver and occasional track day car.

The modding started after just a few track days. Then, in 2016, I retired the car from daily duty and started trailering it to the track. Since then, the setup has been and currently weighs 3,6311 with me in it:

Lux angel eyes
Volk TE37-SL 18x10.5 square
Apex Arc-8 18x10.5 square
Macht Schnell 3 mm spacers up front
JRZ Motorsports 12 32 3-Way adjustable race dampers with upgraded FA3030 pistons, low friction seals and Goodridge quick-release couplings
AP Racing BBK painted Lambo orange
ESS 625 kit
CSF radiator
M24 oil cooler
OS Giken Super Lock LSD
1M power steering reservoir with EAS overflow
EAS misting system with Snow Performance control unit
Powerflex subframe bushings
Powerflex diff bushings
Custom exhaust with resonators
Akra x-pipe
MFactory carbon fiber driveshaft
Bolt in half cage
Recaro SPG driver seat MS slider
Recaro SPG XL passenger seat with MS slider
Fire extinguisher mounted to driver seat
Stack Gauges (boost, Air/Fuel ratio monitor, water) mounted in MS gauge panel
APR GT-350 rear wing
Custom APR front splitter
AJ Hartman canards

For the last year plus, I have been super frustrated with the weight and tired of understeering everywhere. So, I finally decided to commit to a real build.

I have spent the past few months ordering goodies and having fun stripping the car in my garage. I am actually quite impressed with myself as I have been able to completely strip the interior (haven't touched wiring), removed the windows, doors, roof, dash and evaporator and gutted lots of smaller stuff under the hood, including removing the headlights and wipers, etc. That's pretty must as far as I'm willing to take it on my own.

The car will be picked up by RSMotorsport in the next 2 weeks for a full TIG weld Docol cage. Riley will be building the cage and installing the below components, including building custom chassis upright mounts for the rear wing. Here's the list of goodies. I know it's lengthy, but my goal it to go sub 3,000 lbs:

RSMotorsport Docol cage (full TIG weld)
Titan7 T-S5 (18x10.5 square)
Core4 hubs with 14mm press-in studs (front and rear)
HARD Motorsport Trunk Floor Filler Panel
DO88 DCT cooler
Tracspec Motorsports hood vents
Race Louvers curved fender vents
Aerocatch fender and hood latches
Slon carbon roof
HGK carbon doors (front and rear)
HGK carbon trunk
HGK carbon single hump dash
HGK carbon center console/tunnel cover
Bimmerworld carbon headlight blanks
Plastics 4 performance Lexan windows (everywhere)
Slon DCT bottom and side pan
Voltphreaks battery & power button to wheel
Kill switch
KMP removable steering wheel
AIM MXG 1.2 dash
Recaro Pro Racer halo seat
Zebulon front splitter
Zebulon rear wing with custom chassis upright mounts

That's my data dump for the moment. More to come...

Owen

[dogbone]

Can’t wait to see this one come together!!

[1FastSicilian]

lets see some pictures!

[derbo]

I NEED PICTURES. That is all.

[okusa]

Here are current track pictures. I will take and post a few of the current look this weekend. The HGK pieces (certainly the most exciting of the list) have not arrived yet and I pick up the seat from EAS on Saturday (although, it's just a seat, so not all that exciting)

[DRLane]

Subscribed

Who’s doing the wiring or is the plan to leave it in place? If you’re on the fence might be worth connecting with StripclubDJ regarding options.

[StripclubDJ]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Subscribed

Who’s doing the wiring or is the plan to leave it in place? If you’re on the fence might be worth connecting with StripclubDJ regarding options.

Im flattered

[okusa]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Subscribed

Who’s doing the wiring or is the plan to leave it in place? If you’re on the fence might be worth connecting with StripclubDJ regarding options.

I just don’t know the extent to which I want to thin it out. Definitely need the input of an expert and I’ll be at EAS Saturday morning picking up my new seat.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by okusa

I just don’t know the extent to which I want to thin it out. Definitely need the input of an expert and I’ll be at EAS Saturday morning picking up my new seat.

If you’re investing all this and having the cage work done, seems like now is the time to do it properly with wiring. Thinning it isn’t super complicated.

Also worth installing a fire auto-suppression system. I know it’s 3-5lbs of undesirable weight but shit can happen.

Very psyched and jealous for you!

[okusa]

Originally Posted by DRLane

If you’re investing all this and having the cage work done, seems like now is the time to do it properly with wiring. Thinning it isn’t super complicated.

Also worth installing a fire auto-suppression system. I know it’s 3-5lbs of undesirable weight but shit can happen.

Very psyched and jealous for you!

I agree and very much appreciate the thoughts and insight. I am mostly concerned about chasing gremlins, so I am simply wary about removing too many things and then one day someone simply says, "sorry, you should really just go to a motorsports ECU" and that's just not a place I'm interested in visiting, especially with the supercharger.

[DRLane]

You’ll end up with more gremlins that you can’t identify when you have endless error codes stored for disconnected modules and wire groups you can’t easily diagnose or visualize. Plus propensity for random ground or damaged wires that sends you into the unknown. Will be a bitch managing those one a cage is in the way.

Again, food for thought.

[okusa]

Let's file this one under...oh wait, wrong thread. I've clearly been spending too much time in dogbone's thread over the past few years.

I spent the last 2 weekends finishing up the dash cleanup and man was that a lot of work. However, I'm super proud of myself for taking it on and accomplishing what I never imagined I'd be capable of. It was important to me to do it though because I want to feel like I participated in this build in a meaningful way.

roastbeef mentioned in a recent post that there is a lot of sound deadening behind the dash. Well, he wasn't kidding. I was able to get it all out and I saved all the pieces so I can weigh them. I will try and do that sometime this coming week.

Anyhow, enjoy the pictures (or don't)...

Also, since my car gets picked up this week to start the cage build, I picked up the new seat and mount yesterday from EAS. LFG!

[roastbeef]

its not a high tech fire suppression system, but a pretty good option for weight and cost is elemeny fire extinguishers. Its not automatic, but its light and compact.
https://elementfire.com/

i'm still keeping an eye out for a single hump dash... they are hard to come by.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

its not a high tech fire suppression system, but a pretty good option for weight and cost is elemeny fire extinguishers. Its not automatic, but its light and compact.
https://elementfire.com/

i'm still keeping an eye out for a single hump dash... they are hard to come by.

I keep seeing these referenced as an option for a race car?

What’s the intent of caging a car? Safety is probably top of the list, no? Which in turn enables additional speed based on the assumption you could sustain an impact and survive. Unfortunately it will also make it harder for you to get out (under your own efforts or in rescue).

Again, given the investment of building race cars in pursuit of speed (and safety), how can anyone trust the Element Fire stick? I’ve seen a car burn on the street, from a seemingly innocuous low speed crash. It’s insane… There’s little to no chance that stick would’ve prevented anything even at the signs of first smoke.

I’d strongly encourage y’all to read up on Mark Petronis. He sat unconscious in his caged C6 with a manual suppression system that couldn’t be activated by the safety crew. Pretty horrific!

Is it common? Nope. Is it possible? Yes. If one is investing in a cage, it’s insane not to invest in an auto triggering suppression system. The 3-5 lbs and $1500 might be your life. Definitely as valuable as a carbon dash (albeit less sexy).

[okusa]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i'm still keeping an eye out for a single hump dash... they are hard to come by.

https://www.hgkshop.com/collections/...ts/dashboard-6

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by okusa

https://www.hgkshop.com/collections/...ts/dashboard-6

There’s a company that makes a more “oem” looking carbon dash. I can try to find it if that’s if any interest to you.
You’d still have to custom fit the oem cluster if you want to keep it.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

There’s a company that makes a more “oem” looking carbon dash. I can try to find it if that’s if any interest to you.
You’d still have to custom fit the oem cluster if you want to keep it.

I actually ordered the HGK one. I don't care about OEM. Just need to fit the AIM dash.

[reidetailing]

Originally Posted by okusa

Also, since my car gets picked up this week to start the cage build, I picked up the new seat and mount yesterday from EAS. LFG!

Pics of the seat?!
Excited to see this car get all buttoned up.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by reidetailing

Pics of the seat?!

Here you go

[okusa]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I’d strongly encourage y’all to read up on Mark Petronis. He sat unconscious in his caged C6 with a manual suppression system that couldn’t be activated by the safety crew. Pretty horrific!

Is it common? Nope. Is it possible? Yes. If one is investing in a cage, it’s insane not to invest in an auto triggering suppression system. The 3-5 lbs and $1500 might be your life. Definitely as valuable as a carbon dash (albeit less sexy).

Okay, you got me. I will be ordering this: https://www.bimmerworld.com/Safety-R...-System-2.html

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by okusa

Okay, you got me. I will be ordering this: https://www.bimmerworld.com/Safety-R...-System-2.html

I ordered the same! I do want to figure out an auto deployment add-on but I’m not sure how to figure that piece out. The cleanliness of Novec means I won’t hesitant to pull the trigger if needed. Just refill the canister and go.

As a fairly diehard backcountry skier I’ve gone through so many airbag backpack systems and those that are easy enough to repack ready to redeploy are the best. Because you’re not afraid to “waste” it. Can’t add doubt based hesitation. James Clay has a video of deploying the system while in the pits and being able to finish the race. Pretty cool!

I think after becoming a dad in 2021 I’m a little more sensitive to trying to be around (ideally not disfigured either).

[StripclubDJ]