#racefix86 (V1) - feature
I got into an 86 knowing it was a great platform with a massive following, heaps of aftermarket support and a tonne of knowledge surrounding it but I didn't understand just how capable this thing would be around a racetrack with basic mods. The more I read on the internet from 86 owners that were taking their cars to the track was just how much money people were spending on unnecessary sh*t to try and get their 86/BRZ lapping faster with less than ideal results.
I set myself the challenge to try crack a 1:10 at Wakefield with basic mods (and factory power) and this is what “phase 1” of #project86 looked like. We ended up getting down to a 1:10.1 on this exact setup. I’ll list the mods below, why I did it and if I would do it again.
Most of the products below are hyperlinked to help you find the parts you need!
Lets’s get started with the engine mods. These 3 things were installed purely to help the motor turn laps all day long. I’ve done 15 trackdays in this car (12 in the version 1 configuration) in the past 6 months of ownership without a single mechanical issue so far.
Engine Mods
I picked up the Beatrush/Laile catch can second hand for an absolute steal from the Race Division team and it’s definitely something I would do again. The fitment in the engine bay is awesome and it’s got a huge capacity.
The oil cooler I bought direct from Sydney Motorsport Engineering as at the time I thought one of their turbo kits was in my future. If I was to do it again I would spend the extra cash on a HKS cooler that sits behind the front grill. The SME kit works great but it wont fit with a stock airbox (I had to “massage” my airbox with a heatgun and a mallet to make it fit, not ideal) and I love the simplicity of the HKS kit.
The Morosso sump baffle I picked up from Neal Bates Motorsport. It’s great and cheap insurance in my eyes. This was the second mod I ever did to the car!
Suspension & Chassis
The MCA blues were on the car when I bought it. They can be a little harsh at times but I can’t really fault them otherwise. They’ve proven to be a bullet proof coilover that has performed super well for the money.
The Hardrace rear LCA was from JDM Yard/Hardrace and probably not necessary for this phase of the build. They do look pretty though!
The Jordy Cox alignment. Need I say more? It’s magical. Jordy is an awesome mechanic, friend and mentor and he’s got this little car doing amazing things. His setup and shop is bullshit free and his success is driven by results, not a pretty facade. Definitely do yourself a favour and see Jords if you’re in Sydney. I won't share my alignment details here as I believe that's unfair to the time Jordy has put into his craft.
Brakes & Tyres
We’re currently running a set of 245/40r17 Zestino Gredge 07RS, you can read our full review here I ended up getting 7 trackdays out of this current set before destroying a front left last week. The value for money is so hard to look past with these boots and I stand by everything I said in my original review.
The zestinos are wrapped on a set of 17x9 +35 Enkei RPF1 because RPF1 is ALWAYS the answer. Light weight, cheap and strong. Sign me up!
I did a full write up on the stopping package for phase 1 here but i’ll go over it briefly again.
Ferodo DS2500 front pads
OEM rear pads
Brembo slotted brake rotors
Goodridge braided brake lines
AP Racing brake fluid
I have recently been testing a set of Circo and Winmax pads which are definitely more at home on track but are a compromise on the street with noise and dust. An indepth review of that setup coming shortly.
Interior
IRP short shifter
This is where the magic happens. Ergonomics is everything in any car let alone something you’re trying to drive on a knifes edge. None of these individual parts will shave time off your lap times but they all work together to create a comfortable and confidence inspiring environment.
Velo GP90 XL, it’s great. I’ve had this seat for over 3 years in various cars now and I love it. Australian made, ADR approved and super comfortable. I know the racetech offerings from V-Sport may offer more support so it might be something I look into in the future.
The seat base I made with the help of my friends at Flux 3D. You can find out more about the setup here. If there’s enough interest we may look at making some more.
I picked up the trackart harness bar cheap on facebook marketplace. It’s got awesome build quality, stays up and out of the way so you still have great access to the boot and back seats and once you’re done at the track the backseat folds back up. I absolutely love it and I would recommend it in a heartbeat if you want to run harnesses and still keep it low key on the street.
One of the last mods for phase one was an IRP short shifter. It rattles like hell (even with the rattle fix) but feels great on track. It’s a great bit of kit but i’ll be spending some more time trying to keep it quiet in 1-4 gears.
The last 2 small but significant mods are this OBD reader which displays all the vitals from the car through OBD and this homemade fire extinguisher bracket I made because EVERY track going car should be equipped with some form of fire suppression.
So that’s that really, version 2 will see us further develop the car in a slightly less budget focused way to start knocking on the door of some NA 86 records and getting the car dialled before we have a run in the Zestino NSW super sprint next season. We won’t be reinventing the wheel, merely building on the recipe we have already followed making #racefix86 go, stop and turn better whilst keeping the FA20 unopened and normally aspirated and with any luck, beating some records that have been set on Slicks and race rubber on a humble road tyre! In saying that we will ofcourse jump on the fast rubber bandwagon but we’ve got some work to do on road tyres first!