The issue I face is that I'm racing in Improved Touring so my hands are tied when it comes to upgrading the injection system. I'm not sure about the rules for Limited Prep Production and I'm not sure I want to make that switch. I'm considered petitioning to move the car back to ITB but I enjoy racing with ITA locally.
I'm not completely writing off the car as I recently discovered a shop that actually understand CIS-E. I'm hoping they can help eke out a bit more power. I should also do more suspension tuning but that takes money that I don't have right now. Decisions, decisions... - Matthew - On Oct 1, 2010, at 13:24, Chad Rebuck <[email protected]> wrote: > Love to hear the racing stories from a vw enthusiast's viewpoint :) > > Its too bad the diagnosing these problems is so easy with aftermarket efi, > yet the half mechanical/half efi cis systems take a little too much effort > to convert. > > Before you dump the car it may be something to consider. After all, we know > our cars won't sell for enough to make it worthwhile. May as well mess with > them and make them even more impossible to sell. Megasquirt was the efi I > went with long ago and it worked out well for my needs. > > Chad > > On Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 12:27 PM, Matthew Yip <[email protected]> wrote: > >> My street 16v GTi seems to have a black cloud hovering over it - I've >> touched >> virtually EVERYTHING and yet it spites me. It starts and runs GREAT until >> it >> drops into some sort of low-power mode, sputtering and stumbling. All I >> have to >> do is cycle the key and it goes away BUT I have no idea where to start. It >> drops into that mode for no apparent reason and all temperatures although >> it's >> more "sensitive" when it's cool and wet. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Give me >> something >> broken - I abhor these intermittent problems. >> >> Matthew >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Les Noriel <[email protected]> >>> To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]>; >>> [email protected] >>> Sent: Fri, October 1, 2010 11:21:39 AM >>> Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update >>> >>> Matthew, >>> Does ITA allow for any gearing changes or do they have to remain stock? >>> >>> Over revving the motor--Many of the newer cars once again have engine >>> management limitations that prevent that from occurring on newer engines. >>> Again, another advantage to newer cars. >>> >>> >>> Regarding older cars, Rafi Kazanjian of Eurosport campaigns a MK1 here >> on the >>> West Coast. The car is almost entirely stock. The balance and lightweight >> of >>> the car (Along with his driving skills) makes him competitive against >> many of >>> the newer cars. >>> >>> >>> I had a similar electrical experience on the road with my MKI many years >> ago. >>> It did not matter what I did, the wire would dislodge from the >> alternatior. I >>> replaced the cable, used zip ties, etc. I even created a small metal >> bracket >>> and screwed it down to prevent the cable from coming off. That was to no >> avail >>> as the metal bracket broke one day while driving away from a stop light. >> That >>> car was cursed and refused to be fixed. >>> >>> >>> Good luck this season. >>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Matthew Yip <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Oct 1, 2010 6:46 AM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update >>>> >>>> It's been several years since I've written any updates. I'm astonished >> that >>>> y'all find my drivel interesting. Be honest - many of you have kids now >> and >>> need >>> >>>> >>>> something to read that will drone the kiddies to sleep. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Nothing too spectacular has happened in the past 3-4 years of racing. >> The car >>> is >>> >>>> >>>> becoming less competitive bc of new cars being classed into ITA. I'm >> not >>> pleased >>> >>>> >>>> but understand that we can't stand in the way of progress. What I am >> seeing >>> that >>> >>>> >>>> annoys me is that the EFI cars are getting all the breaks while the old >> junk >> >>>> like the CIS-E or carbureted cars are getting left behind. >>>> >>>> >>>> After 6, yes SIX, seasons, I finally replaced the otherwise stock >> engine 3 >>> years >>> >>>> >>>> ago. The "race" motor is now a .020 overviews 1.8l 16v with porting as >>> allowed >>> >>>> in IT - 1" in from the outside edge of the head. Otherwise everything >> else is >>> >>>> OE, just fresh and new. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The results of the fresh engine amazing. All that time spent trying to >> eke >>> out >>> >>>> momentum paid off. The engine was worth a good second PLUS it as great >> to >>> final >>> >>>> motor past other cars on the straights. >>>> >>>> >>>> 2 years ago, I finally ditched my ancient Koni single adjustable for >> some >>>> Bilstein Race shocks. Again, what a HUGE difference. The car actually >> stuck >>> and >>> >>>> I found myself gaining in otherwise faster cars in the twisties. >>>> >>>> >>>> The past years have had a few "moments" as well. >>>> >>>> The last race of 2007, a car spun on the first lap in T9. I spun to >> avoid or >>> I'd >>> >>>> >>>> have shortened his car by several feet. I took out the tyre wall with >> the LF >>> but >>> >>>> >>>> the car was unfazed. Unfortunately, going down the front straight, I >> saw a >>> flash >>> >>>> >>>> of orange which told me that the hood pin had come loose. Worse, >> entering T3, >>> >>>> the car go loose on me, I jumped the inside kerbing, giving the car >> behind >>> me, >>> >>>> the SAME that that I'd spun to avoid, a great view of the underside of >> the >>>> General Li as I balanced the car on the RR tyre. I slid to a stop in a >> cloud >>> of >>> >>>> >>>> dust, heard squealing tyres and WHAM - Earl's 240 pummeled the driver's >> side >>> of >>> >>>> my car, side-to-side. I restarted my car and left the scene in a hurry >> to >>> avoid >>> >>>> >>>> having other cars find me in the fog. Ducking into the pits, I >> frantically >>>> motioned to some friends (I still don't normally travel with crew) to >> take a >> >>>> look at the hood - they gave me a "Come back in 2 laps" signal. 2 laps >>> later, I >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> returned and they graciously taped my hood shut and I returned to the >> melee. >>> >>>> >>>> The final outcome wasn't pretty but it wasn't hopeless either. The >> drivers' >> >>>> side of the car was beat up and the rocker panel was bent at the >> trailing >>> edge >>> >>>> of the door BUT the car was still running without any pulling, rubbing >> or >>> fluid >>> >>>> leaks. Earl's 240 went back to the paddock b/c of a bent tie rod - >> Germany >>> 2, >>> >>>> Japan 0. >>>> >>>> Over the winter, I replaced the fender and Auto Expectations (owned by >> the >>>> former owners of Datsun Dynamics) pulled the major dents in the LR >> quarter >>>> panel. I retained the door and the dents in the rocker panel for >> asthetics. >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> For the first race of 2008, we raced in a misty pseudo-rain. A few >> laps into >>> >>>> the race, I was running with Doug's MR2 and eating up the track. In T7 >> on >>>> Summit Point, Doug started a rather lurid spin - anticipating that he'd >> spin >>> off >>> >>>> >>>> to driver's right, I hit the grass on driver's left. Nope - wrong idea >> - >>> Doug's >>> >>>> >>>> car instead came back to driver's left and found the RF of my car. I >> tagged >>> the >>> >>>> >>>> RR of his MR2, spinning both of us surprisingly quickly. Per usual, I >> drove >> >>>> away, bouncing off the rev limiter in the grass. Doug got the short >> end of >>> that >>> >>>> >>>> contact with about 6 degrees of toe-out in the RR - Germany 3, Japan 0. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The rest of 2008 went well with some oddities starting show up as the >> car >>> ages. >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> In particular was an infuriating miss during hard right turns - this is >>>> indicative of fuel starvation so I started adding more and more fuel to >> the >>>> car. The problem persisted and I started wondering if something in the >> fuel >> >>>> system was starting to fail - I HATE intermittent problems with a >> passion. >>> Then >>> >>>> >>>> Brian, my crew and now fellow competitor (or maybe it was Bob, one of >> my >>> other >>> >>>> crew and Brian's Dad) who noticed that the main electrical connection to >> the >> >>>> alternator was broken. The tab was completely broken away BUT because >> of >>>> metal-memory, it touched the connector. However, under hard right >> turns, the >>> >>>> connector was "pulled" away from the alternator - since the voltage was >>> marginal >>> >>>> >>>> (thought the alternator was just junk), the car WAS cutting out in hard >> right >>> >>>> turns but it was electrical, NOT fuel. Ugh - problem solved although >> we >>>> encountered the same problem in 2009. At least we'd seen it before and >> Bob, >> >>>> whom we all refer to as the Mad Scientist (Think Dexter of Dexter's >>> Laboratory) >>> >>>> was prepared with a full electrical kit including lugs specifically >> sized for >>> >>>> the alternator. >>>> >>>> >>>> As a whole, 2008 was an exercise in frustration - the car is just as >> fast as >>> it >>> >>>> was in the past 1:31-1:30 on Summit Point Main but the new cars are >> getting >>>> significantly faster. The lap record on SP Main is now in the 1:26 >> range >>> (might >>> >>>> >>>> even be in the 1.25s - I try to put that out of my mind or I'm just >>> depressed). >>> >>>> >>>> Starts are still my favorites, especially charging down the middle, >> scaring >>> the >>> >>>> daylights out of the smaller cars. At the end of 2008, Ryan, my other >> crew >>> and >>> >>>> soon-to-be Brian's brother-in-law, thanked me for not making him do >> bodywork >> >>>> over the winter - that's gratitude for you...<G> >>>> >>>> In Fall 2008, Brian, my crew member, decided to go racing and I offered >> him >>> the >>> >>>> General Li for School. He took to the car like a duck to water which >> was bad >>> >>>> for me. Actually it was amusing to watch the car going around the >> track >>> without >>> >>>> >>>> me driving. Some of my fellow competitors mentioned that the car >> looked fast >>> - >>> >>>> probably b/c it was at least 50 lbs lighter without me driving. I >> reminded >>> all >>> >>>> >>>> of them that my bumpers are both big and strong. During the race and >> the end >>> of >>> >>>> >>>> Driver's School, Brian and Jesse, son of one of my ITA competitors, >> were >>> running >>> >>>> >>>> inches apart. As they came thru T10, we only saw the General Li - poor >> Todd, >>> >>>> Jesse's Dad exclaimed "Oh, no - Jesse must have gone off". About the >> same >>> time >>> >>>> that he said that, Jesse popped out from behind the General Li and >> suddenly, >> >>>> there were 2 cars...very, very cool. >>>> >>>> 2009 was another exercise in frustration - Brian's car wasn't completed >> so we >>> >>>> shared the General Li during the season. At the first race, we had >> shifter >>>> problems and ended up changing the clutch. That wasn't the problem and >> at >>> VIR, >>> >>>> the issues just got worse as the trans had no interest in finding >> gears. >>> This >>> >>>> made for interesting racing since gear changes had to be very slow and >>>> deliberate. This relegated me towards the back of the pack and made >> racing >>> more >>> >>>> >>>> of a chore than a fun competition. When we (actually just me) returned >> from >> >>>> VIR, we (this time ALL of us) pulled the trans and sent it to a buddy >> who is >>> a >>> >>>> VW Master Tech and a transaxle guru. The verdict was that the 1-2 >> slide had >> >>>> worn along with a clutch disc that delaminated - something about an >> over-rev >>> on >>> >>>> downshift - couldn't have been me <G>. >>>> >>>> Once the trans was fixed, the light at the end of the tunnel started >> getting >> >>>> brighter although racing a now "vintage" VW has many challenges. >> During one >> >>>> race, whilst racing with a pack of cars, the car just shut off - the >> coil >>> wire >>> >>>> popped off - something that happened many years ago so we zip-tied the >> wire >>> in >>> >>>> place - apparently that wasn't enough. Scratch one DNF into the books. >>>> >>>> Updates for 2010 to follow shortly. >>>> >>>> - Matthew - >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> a2-16v-list mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >>>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> a2-16v-list mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> a2-16v-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >> > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above.
