Same reason I didn't. In theory I should just be able to drive the plug right on through and the bore should be good as new.

 

Took the Cobalt on a 10-hour trip and was completely trouble free. Longest trip I have taken in a very long time. Hit 210F max temp on the way down with outside ambient temps around 97F averaging 85mph. Didn't get over 190F on the way back as it was cooler today. Ran the AC the whole time and averaged 27-28mpg. Overall was pleased with the car as she didn't let me down whatsoever.

 

Nice!

 

sweet. its always nerve racking taking a project car on a long trip for the first time.

 

 

Don't you run on E85? If so you really get 25mpg on E85? If so that is very impressive. Also, when you roadtrip I assume you travel in areas were E85 is easy to find or do you bring fuel with you?

 

 

 

I get like 17 on e85 lol

 

I think I get 16 max

 

Ouch

 

Double digit mpg numbers? Whats that like?

 

Happy to be able to make it out to this months "local" autocross. Missed last month. Felt a little rusty yesterday. Had trouble doing all the sections without significant errors in at least one of them along the way as you can see below. For my fastest run time (the first run in video) I screwed up the first slalom entry and it threw of my cadence for the section. For my last run I nailed a cone right off the start so I just hammered down and went through the rest of the course pretty good until the slalom right before the finish line where I came in too hot and overshot it.

 

Same location as last time. Seems like the organizers weren't feeling real creative because course was very similar to last time. Still fun though.

 

 

Those poor focus ST's

 

Lol yeah I caught the one that placed 21st Raw looking over at my car when I crossed the finish line with a WTF look on his face.

 

Also, its funny that the Gstock focus is faster than the SMF cars. Driver mod?

 

Could be but sometimes one certain mod, that doesn't really make much of a difference, will bump them into SMF. This is my first time running with these SMF Fords here so don't really know much about the drivers or cars honestly.

 

Im pretty sure any sort of tune puts you into SMF so that could be the case.

 

I'd say I got most of the goody out of my RE-71R tires this autocross season. I flipped the tires on the wheel about half way through the season because FWD, with only ~2 degrees negative camber, wears the outside edge of much faster than the inside edge. You may also notice there are some flat spots on the tires and I think that mostly happens when my rear drum brakes lock up, under hard breaking or when one back tire is in the air from tripodding(locks then skids when remakes contact with surface), as I don't have ABS. The rear wheels become light under hard breaking and that is why I am reluctant to swap to discs in the rear because I don't need anymore rear bias. The significant disadvantage of drum breaks is they don't dissipate heat as well as discs and performance drops of when they get very hot. On a road course it would definitely be an issue but for autocross I haven't noticed any degradation on successive runs yet. I think I need more front bias. I'm considering throwing LSJ disc brake setup on the front but I'm assuming I will still need a proportioning valve. Anyone know if LSJ disc brakes will clear the base model 15" steelies?

 

I don't believe they clear.

And I re-plumbed my entire brake system with nicopp line and incorporated an adjustable bias valve. Nicopp is extremely easy to bend and flair, and wont ever rot out. you can form it around a radius by hand, and the whole job goes surprisingly quick. having only worked with steel lines before, I was dreading doing it. The nicopp is the bees knees and easily cut the working time in half.

 

What bias valve did you use?

 

wilwood. 2 in 3 out. only one line runs to the rear with a Tee in back

 

I used the summit brand bias valve that looks exatcly like the wilwood. Havent tried it out yet but my system is set up the same as mikes.