Rob's S Chassis track cars. Now with more s15 and less 180sx

[MBS206]

I find building an exhaust a really satisfying job!

Looks nice!

 

Did you consider using an oval pipe to get the same cross sectional area but keep it above the chassis rail?

[MBS206]

@robbo_rb180 do you tune your cars yourself or do you send them to someone?

If you do it yourself, do you hire a dyno, or tune it after logging it at the track?

Meaning like touch ups when you tweak or modify something a bit

[robbo_rb180]

7 hours ago, MBS206 said:

@robbo_rb180 do you tune your cars yourself or do you send them to someone?

If you do it yourself, do you hire a dyno, or tune it after logging it at the track?

Meaning like touch ups when you tweak or modify something a bit

I've looked at some oval stuff but still deciding what material to use for the back half to the muffler.

 

Yeah I do all my own stuff with ecu setup and have it sorted before generally paying someone (my old work) to do base runs and a few power runs then I'll do anything else myself at track or after review data. It's hard to find  a dyno owner these days that will hire out to random.

[MBS206]

On 7/6/2024 at 5:41 AM, robbo_rb180 said:

I've looked at some oval stuff but still deciding what material to use for the back half to the muffler.

 

Yeah I do all my own stuff with ecu setup and have it sorted before generally paying someone (my old work) to do base runs and a few power runs then I'll do anything else myself at track or after review data. It's hard to find  a dyno owner these days that will hire out to random.

I didn't realise you used to work at a place that does tuning!

I know while I'm putting the Subaru back together it'll need a remap, but I'm pondering how easy it'd be to do logging at a track day.

I've got an Innovative LM-1, and am pondering if I get a new O2 for it, or what a decent Wideband (standalone) sensor and controller is worth that I can log (And either ECUFlash or ECUEdit might support).

I was searching for hiring a dyno for DIY tuning but looks like only 2WD dynos can be hired at the moment and I need 4WD

[MBS206]

Rob,
Updates on build mate?
Do I need to drive round your way and prod you with a stick, or is work just too busy at the moment? I'm happy to write you a resignation letter if work is getting in the way of building your own car

[robbo_rb180]

1 hour ago, MBS206 said:

Rob,
Updates on build mate?
Do I need to drive round your way and prod you with a stick, or is work just too busy at the moment? I'm happy to write you a resignation letter if work is getting in the way of building your own car

I got shiny stuff (radiator and intercooler) from pwr about 5 weeks ago. Did all new bolts and orings on inlet manifold, bolted it on and started planning engine bay fuel lines.

Test fitted 350z dbw pedal, need to make a bracket to sit better with pedals.

Ordered a nismo diff through streeter and waiting on it arrive.

Hardly have any time to work on it as work is crazy busy and needs a fair bit of commitment to do well and its  proved with past few rounds with a few 10 tops and a win in Tasmania. 

I have also stopped and reassessed what I want to do with the car too. I was trying to get it to fit wtac clubsprint rules as only needs a few bits changed that are bolt on but not worth the effort so just having a good think about it. Working with some very experienced race car builders and engineers has definitely changed the way I want to put it together as well.

Some pics of test fitting rad and cooler

Work things

And also fresh turf to finish my backyard

 

[robbo_rb180]

Diff arrived from Japan last week. 

Nismo gt pro 1.5way for gtr. Still deciding whether to use 4.11 or 3.9 gears before installing. 

Spent some time yesterday going over what's needed to finish engine bay fuel lines. Got a list so will order soon. Played with radiator placement and decided on stock location with bottom spaced a bit for a small amount of angle. So ordered standard mounts and rubbers. Reason for this is the 180sx was a pain to work on any of the coolers and was also going to take longer to fabricate mounts.

Today made a bracket to mount the dbw throttle pedal. Factory location wasn't great to work with the pedal box. Luckily there's a rail that pedal box mounts too so did some measuring, drew up a design and got stuck in. 

It's made of 3mm aluminium and has a lot of strength just need some bolts, washers and nuts to finish up.

 

If I get time tomorrow I'll pull the front bar and lights to start intercooler mounting, it will be flipped under the rad support which will require some trimming. 

[robbo_rb180]

Been over 2 months since I have done anything on the S15 and had a day off today so got stuck into mounting the radiator and intercooler. I ended up using factory bottom mounts as bolted in and I did order some gktech top brackets but didn't work with the PWR radiator so made up some with aluminium flat bar. Spent way to long on them but pretty happy how they are.

Next job was the intercooler. Used some more aluminium flat bar and did the bottom mounts first. Top was easy as just one long piece and 2 90 degree coming off rad support and welded them on. The bumper support required some notching to let the outlets sit where I want so will add some reinforcement later to strengthen it.

I have also bought ecu and waiting for it to arrive. Went with a Link g4x Xtreme but will be adding a ptmotorsport expander to add a few extra inputs over CAN. Went through a few different configurations on pclink to get what I want to allow future expansion for sensors and gearbox upgrades.

Ordered gktech rear arms but looking at the hardrace lower control arms to have some extra adjustment too will see how the alignment looks after first setup.

Got 2 more weeks of work before shut down and will have almost 4 weeks to work on this so planning on hopefully firing up mid January.

 

Also bought a 2015 brz with a heap of good gear, did noosa hill climb a month back. Owned it for 3 days changed alignment and sent it. Finished the weekend 2nd in class and only .3 off the 180sx best time last year.

MCA Red coilovers, gktech rear lca, bolt on lock kit and tie rods, whiteline toe arms, cusco 1.5way diff and 4.5 ratio, endless brake pads, headers, exhaust, perrin intake and e85 tune. Electronic steering adjustment, nankang crs with koya wheels 17x9 +35.

Have bought rear traction arm and relocation kit, extended studs and v3 tie rod kit. Planning on also getting flex tune as lucky to get 300km a tank with e85 and short ratio. Car is a heap of fun to drive and super easy to work on. AC in the line up at Noosa was mint in 35degree weather.

[MBS206]

Did you get any down time over Christmas, or have you had any since to play with this?
Or have you given up and are trying to get yourself a second hand V8SC instead?

[robbo_rb180]

33 minutes ago, MBS206 said:

Did you get any down time over Christmas, or have you had any since to play with this?
Or have you given up and are trying to get yourself a second hand V8SC instead?

had 4 weeks off over xmas and well did some stuff to the shed and BRZ, well short of is I don't work full time in supercars anymore as of yesterday.........

[MBS206]

10 minutes ago, robbo_rb180 said:

had 4 weeks off over xmas and well did some stuff to the shed and BRZ, well short of is I don't work full time in supercars anymore as of yesterday.........

It seems this could be due to a restructure/team direction change...

Or... You're working with a different category of vehicle...

Or you've decided you'd rather be able to play with your own cars again...

 

I'm hoping the latter...

[robbo_rb180]

On 3/8/2025 at 8:55 PM, MBS206 said:

It seems this could be due to a restructure/team direction change...

Or... You're working with a different category of vehicle...

Or you've decided you'd rather be able to play with your own cars again...

 

I'm hoping the latter...

A bit from column A, B and C. Mainly C

 

Update time, after deciding it was time to tick off a bucket list goal I finished up full time at MSR and have gotten back behind the wheel and making progress on the S15.

Goal has been to drive Bathurst at an event and I have had my entry accepted for Challenge Bathurst in November. Since I don't want to go unprepared I need it running to test and get comfortable. 

Been chipping away at it and started by stripping inside, getting it all cleaned and sealing some holes up.

With stripping inside I removed the whole wiring loom and found a few surprises.......... its pretty butchered and shit branching and I'm not a fan of the haltech fuse boxes so it's all out and trying to come up with a plan to rewire it all either new fuse/relay box or pdm. 

I haven't been happy with how I did the intercooler mounting and been wanting to tuck it up under rad support. O e issue with that is headlights will need a decent trim or get replacement covers.

Took the time to mount it with some stand off's and new hardware.

Stands are some m8 button bolts, washer, aluminium tube and factory radiator top mount rubbers. It's nice and solid also stiffens rad support which still requires some trimming. Bonus of factory rad mounting is used all factory hoses just need to weld a pressure cap to radiator now.

Got sensor block and fuel filter mounted.

Plan today is to get vac lines all sorted with push in nylon tube and design oil cooler mounting solution. 

Been driving BRZ a heap and went out to Morgan Park for time attack and went pretty well for a wet day.

https://youtu.be/gAlQgcQpWj4?si=kojOAOjhhX_X3AXR

Getting pretty comfortable in it now and want to do a few more bits to it but restraining myself as don't need 2 race cars at the moment. 

 

[robbo_rb180]

Also did some work to the shed and a massive clean out of stuff. It's now got a small fab/dirty room and has helped keep shed cleaner. Built some new work benches and re organised things also got a TV out there so good having something playing while working on the cars. Got a pedestal drill and linisher off a mate that need to pick up too.

 

[MBS206]

That shed is wicked mate! I should come for a drive out to see the setup one day!

Maybe you can give me some pointers to improve my terrible TIG welding while I'm there! Ha ha ha

 

Nice to see some work on the 15 happening

[robbo_rb180]

A little more work this week. 

Fitted astra power steering pump in the boot with a lowe fabrication bracket. Gave the pump a good clean, fitted Anderson plug and high pressure fitting.

With the intercooler being flipped under rad support factory headlights weren't going to work. Ordered a set of origin battle lights, they arrived so got them test fitted. Will require some fiddling to fit nice but was an easy quick option for now.

And today we pulled out the manual Rb gearbox and test fitted a ZF 8HP50. It will fit with some casting tabs cut off and small tap of the tunnel with a hammer.

Pick up the adapter plate Wednesday so hopefully all bolted in Friday and measure for tailshaft which will be a 2 piece.

Been doing a lot of ecu, pdm and tcu loom design so when comes to wiring it in a few weeks will all go smoothly.

Edited April 27 by robbo_rb180

[robbo_rb180]

So left off with high hopes of having a gearbox in pretty quickly........

Got the adapter plate that week and had to chase a few threads and work out how/where everything goes as no instructions. Got the adapter fitted, test fitted gearbox and found had to cut and shave a few things.

Tunnel required some hits with a decent hammer to give some clearance on passenger side but it fits with no problems,  could fit a 8hp70 with a little more work.

For a cross member I wasn't going to spend $1100 on so shiny machined piece. Went through a few designs and remembered I had a gktech s chassis to cd00# cross member. Fitted that and found its close enough with a few extra bits welded so have gone that way and still a work in progress. 

After this got into modifying the intercooler with some bends and clamps. I was procrastinating on this as was not keen to cut up and weld it myself but happy with the outcome. 

Onto the radiator shroud and oil cooler mount. This thing took way longer than I thought it would but having to add an extra oil cooler for the trans and wanting everything within the chassis rails its good enough for now. It mounts to the chassis and gives plenty of room for lines and pipes. All the coolers are rubber mounted and sealed the shroud on the top and sides, will use some tape to seal the bottom gap of about 10mm.

 

Next job was to build the new diff and after a delay with a friend got built this week. I ended up putting it all together with supervision and was good to learn how to set one up correctly. I ended up going a 3.69 ratio, nismo 1.5 way gt pro with gtr Axel's. Stripped it all down, gave all the parts a good clean, pressed on new bearings and set backlash. Was good working in a clean assembly room with all the gear. Once got home wire wheeled the case and hit it with some rollbar/chassis black paint.

Got a few more bits done but will leave them for the next update.

[GTSBoy]

I take it that you bought the centre to suit the GTR axles? As in there was a plan, not just somehow lucky that it worked?

It all looks excellent, by the way.

[robbo_rb180]

3 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

I take it that you bought the centre to suit the GTR axles? As in there was a plan, not just somehow lucky that it worked?

It all looks excellent, by the way.

Yeah was planned, cheers.

[bcozican]

On 16/05/2025 at 10:55 AM, robbo_rb180 said:

Yeah was planned, cheers.

Same diff setup i have in mine. S15 casing too with GTR axles (just with Neat Gbox crown n pinion) I havent broken mine yet so yours should go good ! 

[robbo_rb180]

19 hours ago, bcozican said:

Same diff setup i have in mine. S15 casing too with GTR axles (just with Neat Gbox crown n pinion) I havent broken mine yet so yours should go good ! 

Sweet, yeah hoping stock gears will hold up. May use the transbrake feature on hill climb starts so that will test it.