TitaniumTT's I hope I make it to DGRR '09 Build

[Brent]

Car looks great!! Would love to see some more pictures of it.

[lt1_fd3s]

this car is beautiful!!! i'm in love with it. and Brian is an awesome guy! the car made the trip down, it only started having issues the last hour or so (?) but he got it fixed over the weekend and it made it back home for him...

hopefully he will chime in

[Nutsid]

I was really curious as to where you went to, Brian. I'm really glad I came over here to see the pics from DGRR. I actually saw pictures of your car and without even knowing it was yours I thought to myself, "The amount of detail and craftmanship that went into this car definitely looks like it is Brian's." Absolutely amazing job. Absolutely beautiful.

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by misthael

I wish I could be at DGRR just to see this car. What a build. Good job.

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by rotarybeat1287

working w/ a couple more right now but here is a teaser! Love the car man. Super nice and I was blown away at the detail in person! Congrats and major props! Very well done!

I was trying for a while to get some nice shots but was being REALLY careful w/ the tripod and flash to not get in the way of everyone and watching out for the cars.

That is an incredibly cool picture, thanks for the compliment

Originally Posted by Herblenny

The car was VERY well put together and thanks for coming out to the event!

Thanks Phil, and thanks for having the event. I had an AMAZING time despite the problems. SOOO looking forward to next year,

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by Nutsid

I was really curious as to where you went to, Brian. I'm really glad I came over here to see the pics from DGRR. I actually saw pictures of your car and without even knowing it was yours I thought to myself, "The amount of detail and craftmanship that went into this car definitely looks like it is Brian's." Absolutely amazing job. Absolutely beautiful.

Thanks Dustin. Glad to see you on this forum

Originally Posted by Brent

Car looks great!! Would love to see some more pictures of it.

Think you! I don't think I have anymore that I haven't posted up yet, we have a few action shots from Sundays Dragon run that I'll be posting soon. There are a few in the DGRR pics thread, it's so wierd to see pics of my car that I didn't take.

Originally Posted by traynham

this car is beautiful!!! i'm in love with it. and Brian is an awesome guy! the car made the trip down, it only started having issues the last hour or so (?) but he got it fixed over the weekend and it made it back home for him...

hopefully he will chime in

Thanks Tray, well the trip down was "interesting." The plan was to spend Wed night finishing up a few things and to get my new tires mounted, get the emmisions done, and blast out of dodge around 1 PM Thursday. After an allnighter Wed I drop my rims and tires off ~9:30 Thursday morning and then head over to the emmisions test station. First thing they did was back the car into the machine dinging the drivers door right on the lip, this is with me screaming at the guy to "MIND THE F*@&ING DOOR!!!!" So they get it on the rack and start the test. The test is a 25 MPH rolling test and the tester is holding it @ 25mph............. in first gear.......... running about 120psi. He pops the oil line feeding the turbos and oil starts pouring all over the turbo's smoking like a bejezus. I jump over the counter and run into the test area screaming, "SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I looked at what was going on and found 220* oil and water temps that quickly climbed to 250* once the car was shut down. SHe wouldn't start hot and all kinds of words were exchanged....... the adjuster is coming tomorrow.

So I drove the 1/2 mile home, got there ~ 12:30..... 1/2 hour before we're supposed to leave and call the pres of the co that did the test. An hour later we've got an agreement and now I'm at a crossroads. I don't give up and I don't know when to quit so @ ~ 1:30 The people that I was supposed to meet later that day are on thier way to my house and parts start flying off the car. By 3:30 I've got the broken line in my hand and I'm out the door to get it repaired, pick up my rims/tires and a new waterpump. My VERY good friend decided to come by after work and help out. He was hoping to attend DGRR but his fiance started working that week so she really couldn't take the time off... too bad. So by ~ 5:30 we've got the line repaired and all the parts that we need and it's all elbows and and wrenchs flying all over the place. Fixed the line, re-installed basically the entire turbo system, replaced the waterpump, checked all the fluids, bleed the brakes and now it's time for a comp test..... VERY low compared to what she was making when she had 50 miles on the motor.... as far as I'm concerned Hank Mays, the guys that did the emissions test & overheated her owe me a motor.

So decision time. It's 11 o'clock Thursday night and I've been awake for 40 hours strait now.... no joke.... and we go for a rip around the neigborhood. Everything looks and sounds good and there's still enough power to break the tires (Azenis RT-615 in a 255/40/17) loose in 2nd. Eff it, I've worked too hard and have wanted to go to this event for 2 years, we're outta here - 11 hours late, we get on the road @ midnight.

By 4:30 in the morning I have broken my record and have been awake for 44.5 hours - I'm done and we trade off and I sleep for 3 hours riding shotgun. Ever sleep in a corbeau seat? I don't reccomend it

We made it to the hotel @ 7:30 in the morning, took an hour nap, took a shower, had a conti breakfast and got back on the road.

About an hour out from Nantahalla Villiage my fuel pressure light starts flickering..... interesting..... starts getting worse so we pull over and check the fuel pressure and it's low.... interesting.... adjust the FPR and get back on the road and it seems to be doing ok. So we get into some twisties and as soon as I get on boost or the secondaries kick on the fuel pressure drops to ~15-20 psi - very not good. I can hear the pump SCREAMING bloody murder and I think ok, I HOPE it's the fuel sock and the pump is cavitating. So she gets nursed around and after dinner and after getting pulled over by a cop we get directions to Wal-Mart to get a can of acetone. We make it back to the cabin and pull the fuel pump and let the sock soak overnight in a tub of acetone. The next morning we put everything back together and head over to the car show. Still doing it. The pressure is better, the noise quiter but the problem remains - great - fuel pump failing. One of my friends that helped me the night before suggested hitting up one of the vendors - great idea and probably saved the w/e. So after many dealings with Brian from Rotorsports Racing I finally got to meet him and he thought the same thing I did, fuel pump. Luckily he had one Cosmo Fuel pump left. Out came the crackberry and a few minutes later he had a paypal and I had a new pump and sock.

So right there at the entrance to the lodge myself and three friends yank the pump again and replace it. Set the pressure and viola!!! The noise is gone, pressure is great, lets go for a rip down the dragon! Before we even got to 28 the problem was still there.... now I'm annoyed but the pump is still silent so we know that was one sympton killed. We head back to the cabin and check the last two things - FPR diaphram and the mail fuel filter. My filter is the Marren replacement with the paper cartridge not the washable stainless and it's NASTY and basically clogged. WONDERFUL. So a couple friends drove me to the neareast Advanced Auto to look for a filter. We leave with a ford truck EFI filter because it has the 3/8" "barbs" then we went to Lowes to get the parts I needed to adapt the -6 line to a 3/8" hose. Back to the cabin we go after a stop for some large quantities of alcohol.

With a friend of ours holding the light and Tray doing unmentionable things behind me we jury rig the filter and fire her off. Start heading towards the village for the banguet and YES!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Fuel psi rises with boost as opposing to falling to 0!!

At the banquet I was really surprised and actually honored with Best FC considering some of the other cars there, really, thank you all. We headed back to the cabin for the last night. Woke up the next morning, added a friend who drove from TX and the lunatic who drove from San Fran to our caravan, ran the dragon and headed back home. Both the new additions are actually sleeping in my quest room right now. No issues at all on the drive home thankfully!

So that's my story and I cannot wait for next year's event. Before the banquet while Tray was helping me with the filter he said something interesting, he said, "I hope this doesn't discourage you from come down again next year." My reply was simple, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! I've had an amazing time and by next year I should hopefully have all these little issues sorted out and actually be able to enjoy the car as opposed to working on her." All the time and effort was worth it to get down there to enjoy the cars, the event and the company....... and Tray grabbing my ass to wake me up in the morning.... that was probably the highlight. I will definately be back next year and actually have some plans for the car over the winter. Nothing drastic, but a few things. A new 6-spd tranny is one thing for the winter.

[Nutsid]

What six speed transmission are you going to be using, Brian?

[lt1_fd3s]

well, you yanks just need a good molesting when you come down to WNC!!!

[My5ABaby]

I was very close to stealing your car...

[classicauto]

Brian, was great to meet you at the gap, too bad I didn't get to chase you through it - the event is always so busy, but was a treat to see your ride and chat a bit - you definetely deserved that award my friend, that car is automotive/rotary ART - you da man.

[Fidelity101]

pics! or vids...

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by Nutsid

What six speed transmission are you going to be using, Brian?

Rebuilt and Modded RX8 6-spd. The ratios are about perfect for the engine when revving to ~7.5 and I'll be setting the rev limiter to ~8 in few weeks

Originally Posted by My5ABaby

I was very close to stealing your car...

Did we at least get to meet and chat? That's one of the greatest things about these events. Sadly though I didn't get a chance to really chat with many people as I was late getting there then had to find parts The new fuel system that I'm going to start this weekend should be Armegeddon Proof though. Next year I'll give ya a ride

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by Fidelity101

pics! or vids...

I'll get some more up soon

Originally Posted by classicauto

Brian, was great to meet you at the gap, too bad I didn't get to chase you through it - the event is always so busy, but was a treat to see your ride and chat a bit - you definetely deserved that award my friend, that car is automotive/rotary ART - you da man.

It was great to meet you too Joe. Your car is just stunning. I did take the time to examine her, twice and you did an amazing job with her. It is a shame that I spent more time chasing my own tail than chasing you through the Gap, but there is always next year.

Thanks for the compliments Joe, coming from a body guy to someone that painted thier own car, that means alot.

Originally Posted by traynham

well, you yanks just need a good molesting when you come down to WNC!!!

Well I do have a purty mouth, but my goateeeee is fuzzy like one of dem verginas you WNC boys seem to avoid so I may be ok. /southern accent

[TitaniumTT]

Some Pics


Working on the Fuel Pump no doubt


Definately working on the fuel pump here



















Yes, we ran the Dragon Sunday morning in the rain





















Probably one of my favorite pics

[vex]

I def need to make it up to your place sometime and have you teach me a lot of fab stuff.

[TitaniumTT]

Get here in the next few weeks. I'm re-doing my intank fuel setup. I'm going to use the Cosmo pump that I bought @ DGRR as a lift pump (total overkill but I needed the pump to make it home, plus it's really quiet) with a Bosch 044 as a pressure pump, WEMA sender and a built in surge tank. Everything will drop in as one unit with two lines to connect outside the tank and one wiring connector. Should be fun.

I also still need to build a belly pan but I tend to think that's a rather large undertaking.....