153 replies to this topic

[leon r]

Thank you, deepsouth! To me, it looks the same as US spec bar! So they are equally as weak . Time to make it stronger!

[jack be nimble]

Get 2 bars and double them up (weld etc as required)
Even space them apart a bit then box them out.

[leon r]

I have seen this "doubling" done for Galant VR4 bars. However, I am very weight conscious... I can't bring myself to nearly doubling the original bar weight.

My plan is to weld in "T bar" section and maybe even "H-bar", depending on calculations. Being mechanical engineer, I design things like this for a living

[deepsouth]

No worries leon, happy to help, i'd be interested to see how the redesign works.

[leon r]

Thank you, deepsouth! To me, it looks the same as US spec bar! So they are equally as weak . Time to make it stronger!

 

Actually... looks like it IS thicker than US spec bar!  Notice how it does NOT have a stiffenning feature in the middle?  But getting my hands on one around here will be nearly impossible...  It took me weeks to find a replacement in US   and this is how I streighened it:

 

 

 

Weight went from 9 to 11 lbs.  I can live with that

 

 

[leon r]

I had another fun day at the oval track!  This time I tried higher tire pressure in the rear, to counter the untersteer.  That helped, I wish I would have done it sooner! 

 

 

In the last race, the Camaro had me stage way up in the marbles… that really messed up my launch.  I should have forced him to stage lower.  Oh well, I was happy with the 3rd place!  First time that was done in a minivan .

[Django]

Great stuff, the bar looks great, should do the trick for you. I reckon if you weren't right up on the edge on that last run there you would have easily had him off the line! what a shame but still a great day by the looks of it, well done.

[leon r]

A lot has changed since I originally upgraded my Summit’s suspension.  First of all, stock EVO8/9 suspension has a punishing ride!  So much so, that my kids named the Summit “the bumpy car”.  This wouldn’t be so bad if it gave Summit amazing handling, but it didn’t.

 

 

In search of more front camber, I installed some EVO8/9 TEIN coilovers with camber plates!  I had to do the same modification done on stock EVO8 strut conversion: welded on washers on the bottom).  That improved front end ride quality and handling, plus it gave me an adjustable ride height (not to mention shedding off around 2-3 lbs per side!)  However, rear end was still unbearably bumpy!

After some research, I determined that 2G DSM rear Koni shocks should work on the Summit, so I took $230 gamble… and it paid off! 

 

 

Top and bottom:  EVO8 modded for 1G DSM/Summit (assembled and bare) Middle:  2G Eclipse Koni (spring purch omitted)

The fact that you can just leave out the bottom spring purch on 2G Konis make this install even easier! Otherwise, you have to cut off DSM or EVO lower spring purch.

 

 

The fit was perfect!  But this shock is shorter, so it will not work if you have stock height spring.

 

In the rear, I am using stiffer (7 passenger van) springs (450lbs/in vs. sock 400lbs/in), which have 1.5 coils removed.  The reduced spring length, should bring the spring rate to around 600-650lbs/in.  To help stiffen up the springs even more, I installed PRC rubber spacer inside the spring.  I am not sure if it is helping much (or at all), because it is loose when van just sits there, so it needs around 1” of spring compression to truly engage the rubber spacer.   I suspect that those only help only at extremes of suspension travel.

Edited by leon r, 21 November 2013 - 02:39 PM.

[Hyper_Mike]

This car just keeps getting more awesome!

[leon r]

Thanks, Mike!

Here are a coule of shots friends sent to me after this year's DSM Shootout:





I think that a repaint is the next major item on my Summit to do list. Oddly, my 13 year old son doesn't want me to do it, he likes it beater image. Even when I point out: "aren't you embarrassed to be picked up in such a junky looking van?" He replies: "I am more embarrassed about your Isuzu VehiCROSS" (he really hates it ). Kids these days...

Edited by leon r, 21 November 2013 - 03:01 PM.

[Hyper_Mike]

Hahaha nice. What colour would you paint it?

[leon r]

I am going to keep it blue, but not stock blue.  I really like:

 

Ford Cobalt blue:

 

 

Or Mitsu Blue By You (BBY):

 

 

Cobalt is closer to the original color, so it should look better (since I am not painting door jams).

Edited by leon r, 22 November 2013 - 03:27 AM.

[penngwyne]

I think that a repaint is the next major item on my Summit to do list. Oddly, my 13 year old son doesn't want me to do it, he likes it beater image. Even when I point out: "aren't you embarrassed to be picked up in such a junky looking van?" He replies: "I am more embarrassed about your Isuzu VehiCROSS" (he really hates it ). Kids these days...

 

Yes I agree with your son. Looks pretty cool as a beat up SUV.

[leon r]

I get it, after all, that is the look I wanted. But five years of driving it like this, I am ready for a change

Plus, most people in this area know this van, so I am no longer surprising many people with this "discize".

[leon r]

I have had several requests for the interior photos, so here they are:



These seat are comfy but offer ZERO lateral support . The arm support between the seats is temporally removed, for 2.5kg weight savings.











Sorry for the mess in the rear, I just finished racking the leaves and taking them to the dump. Summit offers the most utility space out of my fleet of SUVs (Ford Flex and Isuzu VehiCROSS)

Edited by leon r, 22 November 2013 - 06:24 PM.

[leon r]

Back to the track with FP Red turbo



Slightly improved my ET and Trap sped to 11.74
@118

[jack be nimble]

Sweet as, I love this bus

[Geo&Kez]

Such good launches.

[leon r]

Thanks guys!

Those were 6500 rpm stutter box launches! I noticed that I was actually bogging a bit, so I reset it to 6750, but the track workers re-treated the surface, making it even MORE sticky! So I bogged even more! I guess I should have had it set to 7000!

Not bad for an open rear end!

[Benzo4gT]

This car is such an inspiration to me for my build

 

Whenever I get the shits with the time and work I put in I'll pull your clips up and re-establish why I need to keep going.

 

Very impressive