Intro and Update: Slugmobile and Mean Mini! (long read, but worth it)

[wheming]

I am definitely going to use this new part # when i buy shocks for my van.

They look like they will work with a bit of a drop too.

[wheming]

Got the helper coil spring reassembled and reinstalled on the passenger side.

[2.216VTurbo]

Maybe I missed it but is there just one helper on the passenger side only?

[wheming]

Maybe I missed it but is there just one helper on the passenger side only?

No, each side has one.
There used to be a poly air bag inside the spring, but they were all dry rotted and falling apart. They never held air since i got the van. Gus would pump up the airbags at the track or when hauling cargo to stiffen the rear.

[wheming]

MeanMini update:
Wow. No update here yet this year.
So alot has been happening since Jan 1.
I've been out racing several times, and the season starts early here in NC. For those that keep up with those race invite/results threads i won't totally regurgitate everything.
But here are those individual race event discussions...

Racing updates:

Well, it might be here Sunday 1-15-2017 the start of Test & Tune - Fayetteville, NC
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81222

Fayetteville Dragway, moved to 2/19/2017 Test&Tune. MeanMini Record attempt take 2.
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81351

Sunday 3/5/2017 Test&Tune Fayetteville Dragway
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81470

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81470

Sunday 4/30/17, Fayetteville Dragway Test&tune
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81720

Freaky Friday, 6-2-2017: Fayetteville Dragway MeanMini results
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81880

My current record with MeanMini stands at 11.77@113mph set on 1-15-2017. On 6-2-2017, came very close to matching or beating it with my best ever launch to date, a 1.779! But sadly i shifted to 3rd too early by about 300rpm, and only managed an 11.79@111.6mph

Other spin offs for addressing various issues:

Messing with wastegate actuator,
And wastegate actuator and boost control issues, Kinugawa actuator testing, fitment, modifying for two port control, and testing of same.
In the end, i am now using a Garrett 430099-034 large can actuator, the TU wastegate bracket, and an HDi SBC-D-SE electronic boost controller.
I can't remember if i posted pics of the boost controller installed, so here are a couple. Wiring still needs some tidying up.
Attachment 60938
Found my wire harness had different wire colors than the instructions. Luckily the instruction wire colors were also printed on the board, so i made a cross-reference on my printed instructions.


http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81556
Suggestions?- Tight squeeze turbo oil fitting help

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=80541
Is anyone using a dual port wastegate actuator (internal w.g.) with a MBC?

Fuel tank issues, low fuel level cavitation of fuel pump.- No baffle tank.- Thoughts on modifying and upgrading to jet pump action fuel pump module from newer (1994ish) van.
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81152
Minivan fuel issues (tank baffles/ jet pump/reservoir /94 style pump hanger walbro 255

And now, for the first real update that isn't anywhere else yet. I had posted about some 1.05 transfer gears a while back, since i wanted to test with some before i get my next set of slicks. (Special thanks again to MILKCARTON, for the assist.) Yes, i've been racing on this same set of slicks i bought several years ago, and first used at SDAC25. They are 23x8.5x15 M&H Racemasters. I'm trying to see if i should step up to the 24.5" or just keep using 23".
The ring & pinion is 2.86:1 so the .91 transfer gears give me a 2.60:1 overall final drive. The 1.05's will put me at 3.02:1, so i am anxious to see how it affects my 60' and my trap rpm. I can't do much about my excessive converter slip right now, but with some new data hopefully i can get a more appropriate converter match.
Before (.91's):
Attachment 60936

After (1.05's):
Attachment 60937

Not sure if I'll be able to test before SDAC27. I still need to get a front end alignment to correct some launch disturbance. And i'm contrmplating swapping in some other shorter struts for testing. I guess if i need an alignment anyway, it might be best to try. If i don't like how it is, i can put the koni's back in before getting the alignment. I just hate having to rush just before the event.

[wheming]

So because i didn't have enough to do, i figured with needing an alignment anyway, i would swap in these new AA strut cartridges to see how much drop i get. Might leave them in for SDAC if everything seems good.
I'll have to figure out how to best reuse the konis. Maybe the coilover sleeve mod, or to try cutting the coil.
But i need to get some drop on this van. The frontal area is already disastrous for a 1/4 miler, so hopefully trimming some height will reap some improvement.
Before shots:
Attachment 60962
Right side
Attachment 60963
Left side
Attachment 60964
Got the right side in before had to leave for church, then nightshift
Attachment 60965

Have to do the left side tomorrow afternoon when i get up before work.
Attachment 60966

Alignment scheduled for weds. So I'll have time to swap the konis back in if i don't like how it goes.
This is going to be over 2 inches drop, from what i can see already. Also i loosened the control arm bolt and will only tighten that down once the weight is back on it after the bounce test.

And i started this with the van in that unleveled spot, so we'll see exactly how it looks when i finish up tomorrow.

[Force Fed Mopar]

Invalid attachment...

[wheming]

Invalid attachment...

There was a snafu and i need to try and re-add all the pics into that post. Tapatalk doesn't let me do it for some reason.
But, here is a couple before/after pics



And again, different parking position

[wheming]

It only looks like about 1- 1.5" right now. It should settle more as it gets driven.

[Vigo]

Even with 23" tires and 3.02 gears you still have tons of MPH headroom. I don't think there's any good reason to go to bigger slicks (which eat more power) given that you know you can do 1.7 60' with your weight. Smaller slicks are going to give more total gearing advantage. I don't see any reason to change them.

[wheming]

Even with 23" tires and 3.02 gears you still have tons of MPH headroom. I don't think there's any good reason to go to bigger slicks (which eat more power) given that you know you can do 1.7 60' with your weight. Smaller slicks are going to give more total gearing advantage. I don't see any reason to change them.

I hope that is the case, because i have no time to get new slicks before SDAC now.
But the only variable is the torque converter slip. I'm calculating i should go through the traps now around 6100 instead of 5300.

[wheming]

So between commenting on FB and a few other replies, i forgot i never made any updates here where they really belong.

SDAC27 was a great time, but i honestly expected much better from Mini and myself. Although having raced at an 1/8th mile track the week before SDAC and finding my trans slipping, I still expected to do better than i did. We had some of the best racing weather i could ever hope for at the end of June, but sadly it was spoiled by minimal if any track prep. My 60's were crap, but so were most everyone's - so at least we all had the same playing field.

In the weeks before, i did notice i had to charge my battery after taking it racing. I figured it was on the way out, and thought i would get a new battery after SDAC, and after i could find which lightweight alternative i would go with. Well, Murphy struck of course. I spent all SDAC jumping the van with a little booster pack.
Added to that and possibly related to the battery, i had issues with the mpscilink device. I was having issues with connecting and getting logs. I even used it to reflash my ecu since i was trying to make some adjustments between runs and discovered a bug when changing more than one table. Of course i only found the issue after having a crappy run, and being elimimated from further Quick 8 rounds. (Not that i would have beaten the GLMF anyway...)
And, also the slipping trans issue reared its head again badly on my last pass, but by that time I was well past my patience threshold.
I was especially disappointed to not make a record given TU's generous offer to discount some key parts to folks if i did make a new best.

Since SDAC, the van has been dropped off at SloweSpeed for several items, the biggest concern was trans inspection/assessment & refresh.
Also on the agenda is resolving the coolant push, headgasket/head inspection. And resolving the low fuel level loss of fuel pump prime - possible fuel pump upgrade.

I received a call today from Brian with an update that the trans rebuild is complete. I'll have a small collection of worn bits that he replaced. The van has been in service for 3 seasons and had about 65 passes on it, plus a bunch of daily driving miles.
I had to smile when he told me his helper was pretty impressed with how it pulls on a test drive. Maybe we'll convert him to be a turbo-mopar guy yet! Brian says the trans feels good and shifts solid again.

So now he'll switch to the headgasket/ coolant push issue.
Interestingly Brian had performed some initial check-in wellness diagnostics.
Compression test and leakdown test. All values looked to be in good shape.

Cyl. 1 2 3 4
comp. 155 157 157 157
L/D 4% 6% 6% 5%

I'll update again when i know more.

[cordes]

That's some good news in my book Wayne. Cold weather is just around the corner, so you're perhaps going to be just in time for a run at the record before the year closes out.

[wheming]

That's some good news in my book Wayne. Cold weather is just around the corner, so you're perhaps going to be just in time for a run at the record before the year closes out.

That is exactly my hope. I want to be ready for a record attempt at Cecil. Looks like we need to decide on a date to invade, and i already planned on 2nd weekend in Nov.
I'd like a bit of wiggle room to get some local track test runs in to try and dial in a bit better.

My half baked plan is go try and get a new PB, then regroup back to ground zero with my cal and try to set everything right.

[masterjr33]

if you are still looking at batterys.
I love my odyssey PC680. I had one in my stealth. my wifes WRX . my old cobra. and when this van needs a battery its getting on too.
http://www.3si.org/forum/f6/my-pc690...nstall-545832/
http://s789.photobucket.com/user/mas...?sort=3&page=1

are you using a front spoiler on the van> any idea which one. or did you put it on or gus?

[wheming]

if you are still looking at batterys.
I love my odyssey PC680. I had one in my stealth. my wifes WRX . my old cobra. and when this van needs a battery its getting on too.
http://www.3si.org/forum/f6/my-pc690...nstall-545832/
http://s789.photobucket.com/user/mas...?sort=3&page=1

are you using a front spoiler on the van> any idea which one. or did you put it on or gus?

I had a PC680 on my Evo VIII and it worked well except a very cold spell in winter (although wi ter here usually isn't very cold). But for the van i was looking at even lighter options. But i did consider it.
There's no additional front spoiler or lip on the van currently, just the stock lip trim piece that doesn't extend much lower than the metal behind it.

[masterjr33]

I had a PC680 on my Evo VIII and it worked well except a very cold spell in winter (although wi ter here usually isn't very cold). But for the van i was looking at even lighter options. But ilL did consider it.
There's no additional front spoiler or lip on the van currently, just the stock lip trim piece that doesn't extend much lower than the metal behind it.

braille? ya down here in florida we dont get cold enough to ever hurt a battery.

I picked up a S10 blazer front spoiler . I see others have used it in the past. Might help some with the areo you are talking about.

[wheming]

I was looking at some lithium battery options. But when i read closely the specs it said maximum temperature environment was like 120 or 150? With the battery right behind the radiator in the vans, figured it woud get warmer than it wants. Plus hood down on a 100+ deg day in NC would have it beyond its spec.
Didn't really want to deal with relocating it, because longer battery cables would offset the weight savings.

[cordes]

I was looking at some lithium battery options. But when i read closely the specs it said maximum temperature environment was like 120 or 150? With the battery right behind the radiator in the vans, figured it woud get warmer than it wants. Plus hood down on a 100+ deg day in NC would have it beyond its spec.
Didn't really want to deal with relocating it, because longer battery cables would offset the weight savings.

Could you just tuck it behind the fender in front of the front tire?

[wheming]

Could you just tuck it behind the fender in front of the front tire?

I suppose so, but would need some tray mounted, and still would need to extend cables and get a jump point.
And then there's the battery disconnect needed if relocated? I don't know what the rules are.