TonyG > New Race Car Build Thread
#616
Rennlist Member
Well you're building a legendary car for what it's worth. Serious congratulations for going on with it. I know that these things grow their own momentum and there's always a case of "While we're doing this we really should do that". It's never as simple as sitting down before a spanner has been touched and planning it out from go to whoa and being given a firm cost from the builder...Never! It always takes twice as long (and then double that again) and twice as much (and double that). The most difficult thing is that once you're in deep you can't stop otherwise all the time/money/effort has been for nought. :-( It's a hard school!
#618
Tony, I am putting a Racepak IQ3 in my race car too (bought it a while back) and I am considering the Smartwire. However, regarding the Smartwire, are you going to buy two so you have one as a spare? Or, are those PDMs known to be really reliable to the point where you don't need a spare?
I am going to completely re-wire my car and I am on the fence right now between using the Smartwire or using traditional relays and circuit breakers. Part of me is thinking a simple traditional setup with relays and circuit breakers would be fairly simple for me to troubleshoot and keep spares for everything so I could quickly and easily perform repairs at the track when needed. However, if I was using the Smartwire and it started having problems (not sure how likely that is?), then the only solution would be to carry a spare or risk blowing a track weekend.
I would prefer to use the Smartwire for the increased functionality but I am not sure if I want to buy two of them.
Jeff
I am going to completely re-wire my car and I am on the fence right now between using the Smartwire or using traditional relays and circuit breakers. Part of me is thinking a simple traditional setup with relays and circuit breakers would be fairly simple for me to troubleshoot and keep spares for everything so I could quickly and easily perform repairs at the track when needed. However, if I was using the Smartwire and it started having problems (not sure how likely that is?), then the only solution would be to carry a spare or risk blowing a track weekend.
I would prefer to use the Smartwire for the increased functionality but I am not sure if I want to buy two of them.
Jeff
#619
Rennlist Junkie Forever
Thread Starter
Tony, I am putting a Racepak IQ3 in my race car too (bought it a while back) and I am considering the Smartwire. However, regarding the Smartwire, are you going to buy two so you have one as a spare? Or, are those PDMs known to be really reliable to the point where you don't need a spare?
I am going to completely re-wire my car and I am on the fence right now between using the Smartwire or using traditional relays and circuit breakers. Part of me is thinking a simple traditional setup with relays and circuit breakers would be fairly simple for me to troubleshoot and keep spares for everything so I could quickly and easily perform repairs at the track when needed. However, if I was using the Smartwire and it started having problems (not sure how likely that is?), then the only solution would be to carry a spare or risk blowing a track weekend.
I would prefer to use the Smartwire for the increased functionality but I am not sure if I want to buy two of them.
Jeff
I am going to completely re-wire my car and I am on the fence right now between using the Smartwire or using traditional relays and circuit breakers. Part of me is thinking a simple traditional setup with relays and circuit breakers would be fairly simple for me to troubleshoot and keep spares for everything so I could quickly and easily perform repairs at the track when needed. However, if I was using the Smartwire and it started having problems (not sure how likely that is?), then the only solution would be to carry a spare or risk blowing a track weekend.
I would prefer to use the Smartwire for the increased functionality but I am not sure if I want to buy two of them.
Jeff
There are a lot of people using there everywhere now and it's all been reported as good (that I can find).
BTW... Racepak was purchased by MSD.
I guess you could have a spare unit preprogrammed and just plug it in. It certainly woudn't hurt, but I just haven't heard of or been able to find any failures (except the 1) that would motivate me to carry a spare.
I will tell you... once you use a PDM, or Smartwire in this case... you'll never go back to fuses, relays, and breakers. You just can't use relays to perform the conditional logic that you can with a PDM or Smartwire. Nor can you have outputs that will reset themselves automatically, for a predetermined number if times, at a predetermined interval, etc... The list of advantages is long.
TonyG
#620
Rennlist Member
The other advantage is that if something is trying to short a connection, where a fuse would normally blow, the PDMs will keep trying to retain the connection. So you don’t necessarily just pull up to a stop mid race. It might be a momentary glitch that the PDM resets and you keep going.
#621
Rennlist Member
I will tell you... once you use a PDM, or Smartwire in this case... you'll never go back to fuses, relays, and breakers. You just can't use relays to perform the conditional logic that you can with a PDM or Smartwire. Nor can you have outputs that will reset themselves automatically, for a predetermined number if times, at a predetermined interval, etc... The list of advantages is long.
TonyG
TonyG
I wanted PDMs and wish I could have afforded it when I did my electrics. That's why I put all my fuses and relays in the dash right in front of me. I keep a soldering iron near the gearshift in case I need to do some mid-race electrical work.
#623
Rennlist Junkie Forever
Thread Starter
Not sure if will work with your particular model or not, but that's the interface for you to research.
TonyG
#624
Rennlist Member
What kind of sensors are you looking to hook up? Racepak is a great value, especially if you're not looking for gobs of customizability or sensors and mostly just want a dash.
If you want to have a sensor for literally everything, Motec and AIM can't be beat. I haven't had as great luck with getting the engr analysis out of Racepak equipment.
If you want to have a sensor for literally everything, Motec and AIM can't be beat. I haven't had as great luck with getting the engr analysis out of Racepak equipment.
#625
Rennlist Junkie Forever
Thread Starter
What kind of sensors are you looking to hook up? Racepak is a great value, especially if you're not looking for gobs of customizability or sensors and mostly just want a dash.
If you want to have a sensor for literally everything, Motec and AIM can't be beat. I haven't had as great luck with getting the engr analysis out of Racepak equipment.
If you want to have a sensor for literally everything, Motec and AIM can't be beat. I haven't had as great luck with getting the engr analysis out of Racepak equipment.
The main problem with AIM is that there are no outputs which means the AIM can't control anything. It's purely for lap timing and data logging... that's it. It can't run the car or turn anything on or off.
The Motec does it all. But by the time your done, it's a $15k-$20k solution.
TonyG
#626
Three Wheelin'
Now ontopic.. Please give us more pics! You just keep amazing me (and all the others from the Netherlands i showed this topic to, 944 lover or not)
#628
Rennlist Junkie Forever
Thread Starter
Both the transfer pump and the main fuel pump are external.
The filter is external and is just before the main fuel pump.
TonyG
#629
Rennlist Junkie Forever
Thread Starter
6/19/13
The dash is mounted with removable passenger side to access the all the stuff between the main fuel cell and the engine firewall (dual fire systems, Smartwire, ECU, Battery), the Racepak IQ3 is mounted, fuel gauges about to be mounted, electric power steering pump plumbed, all Racepak Vnet Sensors installed (oil temp, oil press, water temp, trans fluid temp, fuel pressure, front and rear brake pressure), modifying radiator outlet ducting, installed new 996 GT3 MK2 Brake Calipers with yellow pagid pads, installed seat....
Still need rear sway bar, new JRZ's, Genesis Dual 5-way sway bar adjuster and some radiator outlet ducting, and some brake ducting. And from where we've come.. the list is finally getting down to just a few things left.
Some day I'll drive this car before I die.
TonyG
The dash is mounted with removable passenger side to access the all the stuff between the main fuel cell and the engine firewall (dual fire systems, Smartwire, ECU, Battery), the Racepak IQ3 is mounted, fuel gauges about to be mounted, electric power steering pump plumbed, all Racepak Vnet Sensors installed (oil temp, oil press, water temp, trans fluid temp, fuel pressure, front and rear brake pressure), modifying radiator outlet ducting, installed new 996 GT3 MK2 Brake Calipers with yellow pagid pads, installed seat....
Still need rear sway bar, new JRZ's, Genesis Dual 5-way sway bar adjuster and some radiator outlet ducting, and some brake ducting. And from where we've come.. the list is finally getting down to just a few things left.
Some day I'll drive this car before I die.
TonyG
#630
Three Wheelin'
Have to change the slogan on the back of the car: "Life's too short to build awesome race cars"
Seriously though, great work, keep it up!
Cheers,
Mike
Seriously though, great work, keep it up!
Cheers,
Mike