The Red Drift ///Machine - 2026 NASA TT4 adventures

[bigjae46]

So I’m using heinzboehmer’s strut bar design to learn how to cast molds and also add some front end stuffness.

Huge thanks to Mr Heinzboemer for sending some 3D prints of the center mounting!

It is mildly mindbending to think in reverse of the reverse of the actual part.

First, need to prep the plug to cast. Can’t have any negative or 90 degree angles! Create a draft angle at the base, seal and release and then make a fence.


pour the casting resin



flip it over, pry out the base, release and pour



Done!







Chop up some carbon, mix epoxy and you have a carbon copy!

[bigjae46]

The plastic end gets worn out and allows the butterfly to chatter - at least that is what I'm told.

[maupineda]

How would those rods would affect AFR?

[bigjae46]

Carbon hood V2 is done! It is 3.5lbs heavier than V1 but far stiffer. Twice as thick and a larger underside. Don’t think it will lift along the windshield which adds a lot of drag…I think. Not perfect. Supplier sent different epoxy. I thought it would be ok but it made infusions really challenging. Learned that there is a big difference in epoxy quality.

It worked out in the end. Sexy spread tow fabric with a rattle can 2k clear finish.



Upgraded from the bathroom scale 🤣



Replaced the dogbones on the throttle bodies. Randy from Epic saw a flutter in AFRs (I think) in the mid-RPM range and said I should replace these. Getting the ITBs off are a minor pain but it is an easy DIY otherwise.

[bigjae46]

The dash is done! 3.3lbs full size, 3lbs trimmed to fit around the roll cage. I think this will be 10lbs of weight loss.




The dash has the OE texture so it comes out dull. Just can’t sand it or really do anything to keep it not shiny. I used a dash with some sort of cosmetic issue above the center vents. Got it cheap and its for a track car.



working on a project for someone so I had to take off my fenders. The OE fenders are 6.6lbs. Should be able to make a 2.5 to 3lb carbon version.


Made a carbon center jack pad. Failure…it is 6 grams heavier than the OE part. It was something easy and small to learn how to cast molds with.

[bigjae46]

Trying out the M color stripes. Its a total pain in the ass but it looks cool!

[bigjae46]

Carbon hood #2. My supplier shipped me different epoxy which is turning out to be mildly disastrous.

My hood did not fully infuse so I am having to do a bunch of post work which is in progress and not looming forward to.





Also got my ass kicked making a dash with this f’ing epoxy! Yeah, this one ain’t gonna work 🤣!



Made some adjustments and the next one was better.

[bigjae46]

I installed a ground control front sway bar. I know some mentioned it interfered with the splitter. It barely clears mine.

OEM bar w/bushings, housings, and bimmerworld endlinks - 15.6 lbs

GC bar - 12.6lbs.

3lbs of weight loss!

[bigjae46]

Carbon fiber racing seat floor mounts! The backside didn’t go as planned but they turned out great otherwise! 2.25lbs for the outer and inner. 90% Carbon and 10% kevlar. These will be a mutha f’er to drill. Have to figure that out. Might have to outsource that.

[bigjae46]

How come you ended up going with a OEM slicktop vs doing a CF panel?

Would love to PM you about an inquiry for a E91 CF roof, but I’m on ICE for 30 days so I’ll participate responsibly. 👀

I installed a CF roof panel. Forgot to post it.

[Igor_M5]

How come you ended up going with a OEM slicktop vs doing a CF panel?

Would love to PM you about an inquiry for a E91 CF roof, but I’m on ICE for 30 days so I’ll participate responsibly. 👀

[Slideways]

Finding out the E46 poses a lot of challenges with splitter tunnels. The tunnels go right where the most common mounting location is under the frame rail. Then I lose a lot of area under the engine.

I can make a bracket to go over the tunnel for mounting. I will develop a brake cooling deflector plate to work with the tunnels. Last piece of under car aero is making a flat bottom thrust plate.

Doing my first cast molds. If this works, it will enable me to make small carbon parts relatively fast. I can make the mold in a couple of hours and then cast a carbon part in a out an hour or two. No hunting down vacuum leaks, and closely watching infusions although it is oddly exciting.

Floor mount adaptors and Heinzenboehmer’s strut brace mount.

For the smaller parts, would it be possible to create a 3D printed mold?

[Lavatoad]

Falken RT660 review

These are great budget tires that I think are faster than Toyo RRs. 275/40R17 set me back $1026 plus tax.

First, definitely takes an extra lap to get them to temp. My hot target for RRs is 30psi which puts me at about 22-23psi cold. I bumped these up to 24psi which got me to about 31psi. I will try higher pressures to see at what point it gets worse. I think I'll settle around 32psi.

First, they are the opposite of the RRs - stronger front end with a weaker rear. Once they were up to temp, the front end had more bite and feel especially under braking. Braking is the RR's biggest weakness. The rear end felt vague with the Falkens. It was more difficult to throttle steer. Maybe slightly higher pressures in the rear could help with this. I'm guessing there is a difference in sidewall stiffness.

I have 12 heat cycles on them so far and the wear looks minimal.

So far these are relatively faster 200 treadwear tires for a budget and seem to last. Looking like a great DE tire.

Good write up. Looking for a new tire to try on the cayman.

[bigjae46]

Finding out the E46 poses a lot of challenges with splitter tunnels. The tunnels go right where the most common mounting location is under the frame rail. Then I lose a lot of area under the engine.

I can make a bracket to go over the tunnel for mounting. I will develop a brake cooling deflector plate to work with the tunnels. Last piece of under car aero is making a flat bottom thrust plate.

Doing my first cast molds. If this works, it will enable me to make small carbon parts relatively fast. I can make the mold in a couple of hours and then cast a carbon part in a out an hour or two. No hunting down vacuum leaks, and closely watching infusions although it is oddly exciting.

Floor mount adaptors and Heinzenboehmer’s strut brace mount.

[bigjae46]

Bought an AiM ACC2 to get brake pressure data.



I am using this guide to tap into the existing brake pressure sensor wiring

MK60 Brake Pressure Sensor Data – GSR Motorsports

I had to pull out the ECU and box to get to the wire. You have to dig down in there because the sensor wires head down towards the ABS unit, not towards the ECU. Tapped into the black/violet wire.



The I bought a 4m 719 patch cable from Pegasus. The blue wire was pin 1. Not sure if this is the same for all of the Pegasus' patch cables. Routed it to the center console area through the firewall. Would have been fine with 3m.



Bad news...I have an old AiM Solo DL. A new sensor has to be programmed in Race Studio 3 so I need an Aim Solo 2 DL. I am debating on whether to go with an AiM dash or a Solo 2 DL. More of a reminder for me, the AiM dash was attractive because it would allow the addition of the brake pressure data. I can do that with the Solo 2 DL...so I should go that route.

I've made a commitment to keep my hobbies revenue neutral. I have to make money to spend money on my hobbies - cars and ice hockey. So the Solo 2 DL will have to wait until the summer. Just bought tires and lots of carbon fiber stuff.

Tried to get some aero data from around the wheels. Didn't work out because my hood is too flimsy. I could have tried to mount the gopro on the windshield. It was last minute and I was too lazy. Maybe next time.