The AWD4KICKS reputation?, This is getting rediculous... Options

[awd4kicks]

I've been hearing a lot lately that I'm getting a reputation of breaking all my parts all the time. I think a little insite into the method of my madness is in order!

Sure, I admit when I'm driving, I drive to win knowing that parts are replaceable. Please take into consideration that the number of 10 year old, well used DSM parts I have broken is in direct correlation to the amount of racing I do. I may not be able to claim the most races on this board and surely not more than anyone in the area, but I may hold the record number of AWD launches on a single stock tranny. And almost all of those I hang with that are quicker than me have NEWER turbos that don't create or see as much heat. Lets see if I can summarize:

Transmissions:

Stock transmission: lasted 2 years and included low 13 second lime slips with a stock clutch and as many years practicing launches as well as speed shifting. The stock clutch finally started slipping and second gear began to grind so much that I pulled the transmission for a rebuild prior to any breakage.

Shepard Tranny: I had John Shepard rebuild my transmission with a GVR4 1st gear (5MPH taller), billet shift forks, and a double synchro second. This tranny only held up for three months before I shatered the GVR4 1st gear. I later found that the hard core racers feel this first gear is to brittle for launching on. I also found that Shepard rebuilds his transmissions after about every 9 trips down the track! I put roughly 70 launches on that transmission in three months including the 12.67 ET quarter run. It's amazing it lasted that long considering the ferosity of some of those launches.

Third tranny, due to lack of funds I had a used 1st gear installed into my transmission with no other upgrades or fixes, noticing that the center diff was getting gauled from the launches. This transmission failed 3 months later also, but it was due to the ACT 2600 clutch fraying at the center and peening over my throw out bearing shaft. This ruined the case and hence the transmission.

Current transmission: This tranny is working great and has lasted roughly 6 months so far. It is a 93 unit with nothing special except a trash filter and a TRE spool along with the stock double synchro second gear. Dare I say that I launch a lot less now and my launches don't have to be over 4500RPM to break the tires loose with the spool in there, but when I race it's all out or nothing. On a side note the Spool is peening over the splines of the transfercase and maybe the axles during slow in-town turns, but they have held up so far and I'm not afraid to run them until they break. ( The damage is allready done to them)

Turbos:

Initial stock turbo lasted for about 2 1/2 years and went through some major porting as well as 20psi runs at the track. After searching for a power loss I found that my turbine housing had torched a hole through one of the cracks that propogated through the housing.

Second turbo was a 'JDM' unit that I got from josh at SloPony. Sure it was still a 14b, but on race gas it allowed me to run that 12.67 at 24 psi. That's cooking in more than one way! This turbo recently grenaded (seriously) a few months ago.

third Turbo was a used 14b that felt tight that I bought from Josh again. The next day the tighness was proved to be from coking around the turbo shaft as it blew a major oil leak. (Junk turbo)

Current turbo: This turbo is holding up better than my engine, and it has also proved to run 2-3 tenths faster than my last turbo with the current mods. Keep in mind this is yet another 10 year old (not rebuilt) stock mitsubishi 14b turbo. It will break too, it's the law of nature.

Engines:
My initial engine lasted 50,000 miles of my racing and driving without a problem. My extreme push for fast lean burning mixtres finally paid it's toll and burnt the #1 piston after a little over 2 years of service.

The second engine was a $300, 10 year old engine that again was not rebuilt. It was the mill that turned my best quarter mile time and is still in the car todat still able to beat 99% of the Hondas on the road with it's three cylinders. It finally gave up it's #1 piston a couple weeks ago at Cordova racing against a Mustang with my boost and fuel levels in need of tuning.

The third engine is in the machine shop and due to be installed within a month or so with measures to counter as much knock as possible.

Heads:

My first stock head was the first part to go. Apparently it's original 80-90K miles had warped the valves a bit allowing air to seep by a bit too much when I added my cat back and bumped the timing. I ended up burning a couple valves, but keep in mind a good stock head would not have had this problem. I have not destroyed any heads since and have never blown a head gasket. Knock on wood.

So I know I will break stuff, and I know that I increase these chances when I use OLD stock equipment that has not been rebuilt, but that happens to fit my shoe string budget and still gives the thrills. However, I've never broken any suspension components or wheels but I've got a very quick and loving gardian angel! Suffice it to say...It's easy to save parts if you don't race

[JBone]

Lets see if I can summarize:

I would have hated to see the long version.

I believe of all the people that have reputations of breaking things, I have never considered you to be a dreaded "parts breaker," just the meanest DSM launching mother-shut your mouth

[AWD DSM 1]

I've always been curious how many pieces you've acutally been through. Unfortunately, it's more than I thought! I agree with you though. Pushing any machine will always make the weakest link break.

One philosopy that I've been mulling over lately, though... Is it better to keep replacing stuff with old, worn out parts that are garunteed to break again, or spend the money now to do it right, and not have to worry about it for a long while? I think the jury is still out on this one...

[wortdog]

Hah, I just got done pulling my tranny out tonight after one of the bellhousing bolts sheared in half.

At least the tranny is fine though.