Track car advice

[tkxrs]

Hi Pelicans,
I'm looking for some general maintenance requirements for a track car. I bought a 75 911 track car with a 3.4L (more specs below) and a G50 trans. It used to race in the GTS class in the 90's and early 2000's. For the last 12 years it has only been run in DE's and that is my plan for now. Here is more info on the motor.

3.4L, 110 leaded fuel required, pauter rods, dynoed at 307 RWHP at 7200, Haltech fuel injection management system, full dry sump with a large cooler in the nose of the car. I finally tracked the car last weekend and the shift light comes on at about 6500 rpm and i plan to keep it there to make the motor last longer.Here are my questions:

How often to change the engine and trans oil?
How often to adjust the valves?
How often to replace the ignition components - plugs, cap, rotor, wires?
Tire pressure recommendations? the tires are 225x45x17 and 315x35x17 Hoosier R7's
Any way to determine how loud it is? I would like to run it at Laguna Seca where they sometimes have a 90db limit. I believe its way past that and just ordered some ear plugs after last weekend!

I already plan to do a full inspection of the suspension, wrench on all fasterners, cleaning, etc and appreciate any input.

thanks much
tad

[white85carrera]

I have an 85 3.2L 964 cams, slightly tweaked and chipped for 100 octane. Also ran GTS3 in NASA but just instructing now.
how often are you planning on tracking the car? 2-3 events over the Summer I change oil at least once a year but have done it as many as 4x at the peak of 40 track days. tranny fluid at least 1x per year or when the 915 gets finicky. not insight on the g50. valves seem to work out to 1x @2-3 years but depends again on hours. not much help on sound, running phase9s and never had a problem, find our where they set up for the db check and point the exhaust tip the other way.

[Mahler9th]

Tad:

Please feel free to send me a PM. I am in the SF Bay Area (nearly 30 years now). Likely I know the car and/or builder. I have a '75 911 race car, (3.6 with Haltech) and have a lot of experience and an extensive network I am happy to share. Easiest by phone.

So please feel free to send me a PM.

[Mahler9th]

By the way, I have extensive experience with making sound at Laguna Seca. So again, please feel free to send me a PM and then we can connect by phone.

[Locker537]

The car sounds awesome from the description. Good luck!

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Set yourself up first:
1. Nuts & Bolts - Using a paint pen, mark all the nuts & bolts on your suspension so you can see if anything is coming loose.
2. Check for debris within the area by your pedal cluster and along your oil lines.
3. Empty brake fluid puke bottle and top off brake fluid, Change fluid once per season
4. Check rear deck lid and wing for cracking by mount points
5. Change engine oil every 10 hrs. & filter once per season
6. Change transmission oil @ 100 hrs.
7. Check lower ball joints
8. Torque CV joint flange bolts
9. Check your 6 point belt harness attachment points
10. Tighten up side mirrors
11. Check your Helmet and Hans hardware
12. Get set up sheet & scale you car once a year to see if anything changed
13. Check both sets of wheels & tires for anything not good

[Sboxin]

" Tire pressure recommendations? the tires are 225x45x17 and 315x35x17 Hoosier R7's ? "

We use hot 30 front 33 rear A7s - - cold 25/27 . . .

Regards,
Roy T

[tkxrs]

Thanks to all for your comments. This is a great forum!
Tad

[Dan J]

All good advice Refreshing to hear of someone that actually wants to go to the track!

[GH85Carrera]

For old air cooled 911s you can have a real blast out on the track. As we all know they are 100% driver's cars. No computer nannies, all controlled by the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

Do NOT expect to be fast. Any water cooled 911, Boxster or Cayman will be much faster, just let them by and keep having fun. The new cars are fast, but ABS alone is a big help. And the extra HP they all have.

Avoid the red mist, there is no prize for going fastest, and a big penalty for going too fast through a corner and hitting the barriers.

I am going to Eagle's Canyon in Texas tomorrow. Never been there before, it should be a blast.

[FrenchToast]

Likely not what you would want to hear, but, engine and trans are the easy part. A few things I can think of off the top of my head - it is definitely not a comprehensive list.

Magnaflux front knuckles (requires stripping and repainting), including spindle, tie rod, ball joint area
New OEM front hubs* with bearings installed per factory manual.
Magnaflux or replace (new OEM) rear hubs*, new rear bearings installed per factory manual
New wheel studs and nuts all around
Replace control arm bushings
Inspect/Magnaflux control arms
Inspect tie rods and steering connections
Inspect all suspension pickup points and local sheetmetal
Throw out the wheels unless you want to have them fully crack-tested (requires disassembly if multipiece)
Inspect entire electrical system. If original, it's pretty poor.
Inspect oil lines
Inspect rollcage, have qualified engineer provide opinion on design/installation
Replace seat
Replace belts
Flush all fluids
Inspect all brake hard and soft lines
Inspect all brake pedal and MC connections
Inspect fuel tank and all fuel lines
General inspection of entire bodyshell, all moving components, torque of all critical hardware; everything

*Someone more knowledgeable than I can judge whether it is better to crack-test the existing hubs, or replace them with new OEM units. I would think newer pieces have improved casting designs but do not know.

I would never trust records for a track car. I would want to meet whoever built and worked on it. Otherwise, it's a gamble IMO. You need to inspect everything. I really do mean just about everything.

[Mahler9th]

"Do NOT expect to be fast. Any water cooled 911, Boxster or Cayman will be much faster, just let them by and keep having fun. The new cars are fast, but ABS alone is a big help. And the extra HP they all have. "

That just makes no sense. Depends on the air-cooled car.

[Mahler9th]

I responded to your PM. You can give me a call.

[ted]

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

"Do NOT expect to be fast. Any water cooled 911, Boxster or Cayman will be much faster, just let them by and keep having fun. The new cars are fast, but ABS alone is a big help. And the extra HP they all have. "

That just makes no sense. Depends on the air-cooled car.

even a fast ac car its Driver dependent.
like swinging a backwards hammer.