Preparing a Solara for the Bonneville Salt Flats

[funboy102]

yeah... this sounds seriously interesting... some of us SG members already hit the governed top speed of 137 mph on the gen 1 V6 solaras (myself included )... it seems like 150 is ONLY 13 mph away... it seems so doable... so good luck getting it done! make us SG proud

[sealy]

There appears to be a scarcity of performance parts for the Solara, probably as it was not intended to be a performance-oriented car. I have a cold air intake on order, and have purchased some iridium plugs as a starter. Some cross-drilled rotors are coming as well. Performance exhaust systems are no problem. As I previously mentioned turbos are out, as the engine must be aspirated as it came from the factory. The above modifications should certainly give me a bit more horspower.
I am looking for a throttle body with larger inlets, and again having difficulty locating one. Perhaps a local machine shop could do the job with the stock throttle body, providing I can get the specs. TRD may have one, but they have so far been non-responsive to my inquiries. Larger venturis will offer a significant boost in intake air, and a consequent boost in hp. It will be interesting to see how these relatively minor modifications affect horsepower and torque.

[SpikedMantis]

There appears to be a scarcity of performance parts for the Solara, probably as it was not intended to be a performance-oriented car. I have a cold air intake on order, and have purchased some iridium plugs as a starter. Some cross-drilled rotors are coming as well. Performance exhaust systems are no problem. As I previously mentioned turbos are out, as the engine must be aspirated as it came from the factory. The above modifications should certainly give me a bit more horspower.
I am looking for a throttle body with larger inlets, and again having difficulty locating one. Perhaps a local machine shop could do the job with the stock throttle body, providing I can get the specs. TRD may have one, but they have so far been non-responsive to my inquiries. Larger venturis will offer a significant boost in intake air, and a consequent boost in hp. It will be interesting to see how these relatively minor modifications affect horsepower and torque.

Good luck with the throttle body - someone tried that already. The site is maxbore.com, and they won't do our throttle body. Let us know if you do find a shop that will bore out the throttle body.

[sealy]

I will definitely inform everyone if I find someone who is willing, and able to do the work I require.
Meanwhile, I have found out that Bonneville has 2 classes where an 6 point roll cage (and the consequent gutting of the interior of the vehicle) is not required - the 130 mph club, and the 150 mph club. In the first, all that is required is that the driver wear a Snell approved crash helmet, have a small fire extinguisher installed in the vehicle, and have the appropriate speed rated tires. The vehicle must make 2 passes at between 130 and 140 mph. Exceeding 140 mph will result in disqualification.
The second requires a 4 point roll cage, a fire extinguisher, helmet, tires and some fire-approved clothing accessories. 2 passes must be made at speeds between 150-160 mph. Exceeding 160 mph will result in disqualification. Sounds intriguing.

[Midias]

You should ditch the CAI and get a tunable CPE intake you will make a lot more power.

[sealy]

Midias:
Can you enlighten me on the benefits of the plasma booster ignition amplifier?

[sealy]

I've got the iridium plugs, and some NGK plug wires. I initially ordered 2 sets of wires, not knowing that the engine operates on 1 set - 3 wires. The miracles of modern engineering. I'm obviously showing my age. Oh well. The Injen intake should be here in the next couple of days. I have looked high and low for a throttle body, and a performance intake manifold. No luck. I have contacted TRD and asked them to make me one. Will they? I'm not holding my breath.
I may get a local shop to fabricate some headers, as it looks as if it would be prohibitively expensive to have some shipped north of the 49th. First step, though is a peformance muffler. I definitely do not want the type that gives off a loud blaat!! There must be quieter performance mufflers.
Tires will be no problem. Some W rated Bridgestones should do the trick. I'm a big fan of Bridgestones. I think they are the best all-round tires on the market. My car is currently wearing Potenzas.
The roll cage is beginning to drive me batty. A 4 point cage is necessary in order to run in the 150-160 mph class. I can't find a shop that is enthusiastic about welding one in. Most of them deal with frames and doubt that a unibody will be a strong enough platform for a cage without considerable bracing. One shop suggested bolting it in place so that it can be removed. I'm not sure the Bonneville braintrust will go for that. I'm going to have to recheck the regs regarding rollcages.

[Midias]

Midias:
Can you enlighten me on the benefits of the plasma booster ignition amplifier?

It is simialr to the MSD ignition it gives a longer apark duration. Check the links
http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/100202.html

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002 ... mabooster/

http://www.ignitionsolutions.com/

[sealy]

The problems with installation of a 4 point roll cage may be a fatal blow to my hopes to run in the 150 Club at Bonneville. I will not gut the comfy interior of my car for the sake of a cage, so I will have to instead take a run at the 130 Club, where roll cages are not necessary, and speeds of up to 140 mph are permitted.
Interestingly enough, one would think that 130 mph would be easy to achieve. On pavement it is, on the salt it is not. Shelby Mustangs, Porsche Boxsters, and the like have fallen short on the 1 mile course, mainly due to traction problems, especially at the start. Wide tires are no good on the salt, so I am looking at the skinniest speed-rated tires I can fit on 16 in. rims. Apparently the salt surface can be quite slick, which may add a certain intimidation factor as well. I am still waiting on the Injen intake. A local welding shop is going to customize it for me, so that I can draw air from the front of the car.

[sealy]

While awaiting the arrival of the CAI, I decided to see what the car could do in the 1/4 mile (.4 km in Canadian lingo). With a friend in the car to check the trip meter and myself watching the speedo, we found the perfect stretch of flat road. When the trip meter turned .4 km, my friend hollered and I checked the speed. Not very scientific I realize, but the results should have been fairly accurate. They were certainly surprising. I did not monitor elapsed time, but indicated speed was 150 kph with the car in 4th gear.
Huh...!! That works out to 94 mph, with an auto transmission. Is that possible for a dead stock engine? Even alllowing for a bit of speedometer error, speed was probably well over 90 mph.

[Sebas007]

I think it is possible since Patrick car's run a 15.2 sec 1/4mile ath those speed but he is manual tho.

G-Tech Unit man...it's the tool you need !! I've one since few weeks...I'm waiting to test it at the track. I got the RR model...but SS should be fine for your needs !

http://www.gtechpro.com/prod.html

It's an "accelerometer" that take 4000 measure by second. So you have to calibrate the thing to get 0G lateral and so on...and enter your car weight...than by knowing every parts of second, what is your current speed...it calculates the distance (so 1/4 mile run) your trap speed, it also calculate your horsepower and torque (the torque needed to push or pull XXX pounds at XX G...HP = (RPM * TORQUE) / 5252 )

[crispone]

Sealy has become our own "Burt Munro" of the Solara...



This is FASCINATING! I have ALWAYS wanted the 200mph "T". I expect to do it on a MOTORCYCLE one day, however... although FAR from any records... it is a PERSONAL objective in life.

Please continue!


-crisp

[JMSinMaryland]

I have looked high and low for a throttle body

a performance intake manifold.

I may get a local shop to fabricate some headers

First step, though is a peformance muffler.

1. Contact TRD4Life (Gabe)

2. TRD Supercharger

3/4. JPP Performance Headers/Y-pipe/exhaust

with all of the above you're looking at bumping close to 100 hp. You need to talk to Paladin, JoeB, Shishoda, TRD4Life and a handful of other guys that have paved the way, they might even be able to put you in the proper direction. p.s. there is an extension to the Injen available that will make it a true CAI.

[crispone]

^^^ I believe EITHER turbo OR supercharging is out from what he has said... I agree with you, Jon, but I think he has to go it "N/A".


VERY interesting, however... can't wait!


-crisp

[JMSinMaryland]

Didn't see the NA part in the first post, maybe he could go NA but borrow my plates just for fun