Rally xD Takes to the Susquehannock Trail Rally

After suffering from a grueling race at the Oregon Trail Rally earlier this month (finishing 3rd in class), the Sparco Rally xD is rebuilt and ready for the upcoming event, the Susquehannock Trail Rally.

For those that have been following, you may remember seeing some pics of the rear end with the rear twist beam axle being ripped out from both sides. Lessons learned, my friends, because they’re ready to attack again.

Where they're going, they don't need roads.... Oh wait, actually, yes, they do.

Where they’re going, they don’t need roads…. Oh wait, actually, yes, they do.

After suffering from that rare DNF last year, leaving the car looking somewhat like a DeLorean Time Machine, the crew made some revisions to the rear suspension, reinforcing some key areas as to address the axle beam fatigue that rally racing brings.

To think, previous season of racing were on a completely stock axle beam. I still find that pretty impressive, considering how many well-funded teams use some beefed up components.

Oh, and while doing some testing in preparation for this event, the team had a minor setback. Seriously,,,,,, minor

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Whoops

But the car is right side up again, running, and doing some sweet jumps

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We’re sure this time around will be just as eventful, but in a much more positive way. I expect to see this car race from start to finish, and you should too. Please be a pal and cheer these guys on directly on their Facebook page!

Susquehannock Trail Rally 2013 is May 31-June 1.

 

Update: Geoff Stoneback Drifting

Geoff has been great in keeping us up-to-date on the progress of his drift season so far, and we must say that he’s really impressing us, along with his other sponsors!

On May 18, Geoff competed in the U.S. Drift   series at Englishtown, New Jersey, a track that Geoff is quite familiar with.

According to Geoff, track conditions were inconsistent with rain imminent. The eventual downpour gave Geoff some slippery conditions. And with a vehicle’s TEIN Super Drift dampers for the highest possible grip level, Geoff put his expertise of this track to good use.

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During his first run, he didn’t score any points. With the right mindset on his second run, Geoff found himself in second position.

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Only 14 drivers qualified. Again, rain prevented all drivers from practicing tandem runs. Going right into competition, Geoff made quick work of the other drivers, securing his advancement into the Top 4. His higher qualifying position put him in lead car position as he battled for either a 1st or 2nd place finish.

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A strong first run followed by a tight tandem in the second, up until the last turn when his opponent spun out, saw Geoff sitting atop the podium. Great 1st place finish, Geoff!!!

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Follow Geoff’s progression through the year right on his Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/GeoffStoneback484drift

2012+ Honda Civic Non-Si Conversion Kit

With the release of the Street Basis and Street Advance for the 2012+ Civic’s, we found a change in the design of the knuckle assembly from the Si models to the standard Non-Si models. This change in design is new to the civic this year as previous model years shared the same knuckle assemblies between models only changing out the brake systems to a larger size for the Si models.

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This conversion kit consists of  two pairs of 14mm  bolts and eight collar washer. When installed properly this kit will convert the 16mm bolt hole on the TEIN damper to allow fitment to the 14mm knuckle assembly. Part number for the kit is SPS12-P9043. This kit is price at $146.00 and is readily available.  This kit is a little on the pricey side but would be required if the kit is to be used on a Non-Si model.

Geoff Stoneback Drifting

We’re glad to continue to participate with motorsports events in the U.S.  One of the most exciting for us has been the drifting series. Each year seems to bring a new set of groundbreaking, purpose-built race cars, and all of them keep getting faster, louder, and even more entertaining.

With a sport experiencing some accelerated levels of growth over the past few years, it brings some great opportunities for future race car drivers.

For this year, we continue to support the Formula Drift Championship series through Vaughn Gittin Jr’s Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR. But we also support the guys in the Pro-Am series.

Geoff Stoneback of Geoff Stoneback Drifting approached us last year looking forward into the 2013 race season. Fortunately, we were able to work out a package for his 1995 Nissan 240SX he’s campaigning in the aforementioned Pro-Am series, as well as the XDC (Xtreme Drift Circuit). Geoff, who currently resides in Philadelphia, PA. has the talent, and we’re glad to be on board for his racing program this year. He’s making as many appearances has he can, mainly in the East coast. So, for those out in the East, keep on lookout for this guy!

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Geoff chose our Super Drift coilovers for his machine. Already familiar with the TEIN brand (he’s used our Type Flex coilovers, Geoff seems to already have the car dialed in pretty well with the new dampers.

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We’re glad to be supporting privateers such as Geoff. At 27 years young, he’s got a great future ahead of him, and he’s certainly showing that his skills out on the track will only get better, and we’re proud to be a part of that! Along with Kenda Tires, Geoff has the backing to show that he can do the job.

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We wish Geoff and his crew the best for the 2013 Drifting season. We look forward into watching him progress through the series!

Geoff and his crew also put out a great video on Vimeo

Please be sure to follow him through his website GSDrifting.com

You can also find him on Facebook

Going JDM!!

For a while now I’ve been an American muscle type of guy.  I’m talking Camaro’s, Mustangs, Challengers, Novas, Chevelle’s, etc.  I’ve owned both a Chevy and a Ford. I mean, who doesn’t love the sound of a Flowmaster muffled muscle car when flooring the pedal on that v8?!  I was also a fan of big rims, bright lights, ear drum popping bass, and eye sore-type paint jobs. But, maybe working here at TEIN has shoo-ken my head and opened my eyes  to a new scene.

I’ve always liked imports, but never enough to buy one. This time around I decided to go “JDM” and join the club. I figured, shoot, I’ll give it a try.  This time around I picked up an Altima Coupe. Nothing to make you jump out your seat but definitely something different than a Chevy.  And yes of course, I’m going to slam it on TEIN!!! I’m not the type of guy to keep a car stock. They’re like toys to me. I’m sure many of you out there will agree. So I’m definitely upgrading what I can. Like, OMG, who keeps their car stock??(lol).

Below are some slammed A/C’s out there.

 

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Altima Coupe 4Cyl Testing

Attention owners of 08-12 Nissan Altima Coupe with 4 Cylinder models! Your wait for lowering springs is almost over.

 

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We will be testing the S.Tech lowering springs on the 4 cylinder model coupe for fitment and ride height confirmation. Coilovers have been confirmed fitment as the suspensions ride height can be adjust to compensate for the weight difference of the 6 cylinder model. We will keep everyone updated with the findings of the testing.

 

 

A Hard Fight To The End

Hats off to the Scion Racing Rally xD team once again. A great result for a less-than-perfect event.

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For those that have not been following the Rally America series, the TEIN-sponsored Rally xD has been leading the 2wd pack, taking back-to-back wins in its last two outings.

This time, however, proved to be a true challenge for the crew. Mechanical woes hampered their performance for most of the event. As we understand, boost related problems were later resolved during the last day of the event. Through the final day of the event, a blown head gasket threatened to take the team out of the race entirely. Enough time for driver Andrew Comrie-Picard to make his push for yet another podium finish (3rd place). Well done, ACP.

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As has been mentioned several times before, rally racing ain’t easy. Parts will break and driver and co-driver will be tested. But, persistence is key in getting everything in running order.

As the famous Rick Mears saying goes, “To finish first, you must first finish”.

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Let’s look forward to their next event (Susquehannock Trail Rally starting May 31).

Until then, great job guys!

Pics sourced from scion.com and from Rally xD’s Facebook page.

 

 

Vaughn Gittin Jr’s Formula D Ride for 2013

Once again, we are glad to be a part of the Formula Drift series supplying Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR. Whew…. quite a mouthful of words.

It sports a great livery for this season, even more popping to the eye than his 2012 season ride.

In case the sponsor names didn’t catch your attention, you’ll notice he’s got a new tire sponsor- Nitto Tire. For years, Falken has been backing Vaughn. But now, Vaughn has decided to venture out on his own and prove his worth.

Other than that, he’s paired with the engineers at Autosport Dynamics once again to create a truly competitive Mustang, using much of what has worked for them in the past, and combining some new ideas to keep them podium worthy. We’re definitely excited for this new season.

To date, Vaughn has placed 2nd at the inaugural event in Long Beach, CA. Great finish for what is essentially a completely new team.

Get some more information on the driver and the team on his site vaughngittin.com

We grabbed these photos from his page for your viewing pleasure

Getting ready for some practice runs

Getting ready for some practice runs

Seriously loving the new livery.

Seriously loving the new livery.

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While you may think Vaughn’s hands are full with just the 2013 Formula D series, he’s also going overseas to compete in the World Drift Series. So be sure to follow him as he lays his patch of rubber all around the globe on his quest for multiple podium finishes!

 

 

Oil Catch Cans. Do you need them?

We’ve had this question several times before, and it’s a pretty good question for us. It tends to go without explanation in magazines. Instead, you get an article on a car build and see a shiny can sitting in an engine bay that you’d love to have. But, what is a catch can there for?

The main purpose of the oil catch can (sometimes referred to as a Catch Tank or Air/Oil Separator)  is to collect oil and carbon sludge that comes from the combustion cycles your engines go through. It’s not that the vehicle manufacturer’s are not aware of this issue. In fact, many cars already have a form of recirculating these blow-by gases from the cylinder head and crankcase PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve.

Blow-by gases are harmful to the engine in many ways. The combustion chamber isn’t perfectly sealed. Whether its the rings around the piston, or the valve guides in the cylinder head, there is still a chance that the gases coming from the combustion cycle will escape elsewhere other than the exhaust system.

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Recirculation of blow-by gas is done to help reduce emissions. Back in the day, and still common among the hot rodders, valve covers were vented with an awesome looking filter (basically a mini conical or cylindrical intake filter). This allowed the blow-by pressure to vent freely into the atmosphere. But, as has been a concern since the introduction of the catalytic converter in cars these days, we’re trying to reduce the output of harmful gases that affect our air quality.

By being able to recirculate the gases, it has a chance to go through the combustion process once more to be burnt completely and pass through the the exhaust as it is intended.

The problem is that not only gases get recirculated. Oil and carbon sludge also gets recirculated. And while that may seem to be okay, this can leave a nasty residue in your intake system, all the way through the intake manifold. Also, the recirculation of the oil and carbon sludge can reduce your engine’s power output and performance.
So, adding a catch can into this recirculating system helps by allowing the heavier oil and carbon sludge to fall into the can, while the lighter gases can continue their flow through the intake system. *Yes, that means the catch can must be oriented in a specific way to be able to trap oil/carbon. Basically, tilting the can at an angle, or positioning it sideways will not effectively trap the oil/carbon, especially if there is a lot to be collected.

Do all cars need an oil catch can? Not really. Although every gas powered means of transportation experiences gas blow-by, not all cars have it so badly. However, engines that experience high combustion pressure are more likely to suffer. Turbocharged vehicles also may exhibit more blow-by. So an advanced system to trap the oil and carbon sludge is a good idea, if the car doesn’t already have one. Track cars benefit from catch cans because they constantly see high rpm engine loading, easily increasing the amount of blow-by.

It must also be noted that the reason one end of the recirculating system connects to the intake side is that the vacuum created by the intake cycle helps to pull in the gases more effectively. Make note of that, turbocharged or supercharged car owners. We once had an instance where a customer hooked up one of our Carbing Oil Catch Cans to his supercharged Acura RSX. One end of the system was hooked up properly to the port on the valve cover, while the other end was hooked up to the intake manifold, after the supercharger. That is the incorrect method. You see, if the cylinder head will experience pressure build up, that means pressurized gases are escaping through the valve cover, where a port is already fitted. If you hook the other end up to the the pressurized side of the intake manifold, where boosted air enters, you basically are pressurizing the catch tank from both ends, which does nothing to catch oil and carbon. Although having a supercharger or turbocharger doesn’t mean that highly pressurized air is constantly being fed into the engine (partial throttle, off-throttle coasting), it can be disastrous to the recirculating system if both ends are pressurized.

Again, one end must be pressure fed, while the other is vacuum fed for the system to work properly.

Carbing’s Catch Can is designed to hook up to the factory recirculation system. So, no major modifications are required to install this item, since it replaces one line and links the catch can in between to trap the oil and carbon sludge.

A nice feature of the Carbing Catch Can is that it also has a clear tube gauge to show how full the can is. This comes in handy if you know how often you’re emptying out the can. If you haven’t changed your driving style much, but have to empty the can a bit more frequently, it may mean that you are experiencing some other engine problems. So, it’s a nice safety measure.

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For more information on the Carbing Catch Cans, please check out the following link

Carbing.co.jp

TEIN.com

And of course, if you are interested in getting one for your car, but need to find out which size you need, please don’t hesitate to contact us!