Making the Fast Car Faster with a Wilwood Big Brake System!

By Mike Kojima

Edik Stepanyan's Integra was already one of the fastest cars in the MPTCC series.  To make matters worse for his competitors Edik has been hard at work during the off season dialing in the car specifically for MPTCC rules.  In the previous year Edik's car was set up for NASA's H2 class which meant his car was not built to the full extent that the MPTCC's rules allow.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project 370Z - Improving Grip by Tuning a Cusco RS LSD!

By Mike Kojima

So far with our Project 370Z we have been focused on dialing in the chassis.  After some track time, it has become apparent that the rear differential is the next handicap in achieving faster lap times.  Although the Z has a viscous limited slip diff from the factory,  our testing has found it to be highly inadequate.  In fact it is hardly a limited slip diff at all, allowing a lot of inside rear wheel spin, even out of medium speed corners.  In some street tire testing at Buttonwillow our lap time was being limited to the low 2:06 range for configuration 13CW.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project GD STI - Checking Out The Development of KW's New 3-Way Adjustable Clubsport Coilovers

By Mike Kojima

A few months ago we visited KW Suspensions' factory in Germany to learn about the development of  their new 3-way adjustable Clubsport coilovers.  We feel that the 3-way Clubsport is a pivotal product for KW.  It promises the flexibility in tuning of expensive elite Motorsports only shocks that are priced out of reach of most enthusiasts in a package that is 50% less than the custom uber dampers.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project Scion FR-S: Suspension Part 1 - Getting the Basics with KW Suspension, Cusco and Race Comp Engineering

By Mike Kojima

With the FR-S engine giving us fits we decided to turn our attention to something different on the car, the suspension.  We were surprised with the FR-S, the ride in stock form was pretty darned stiff for a stock car, the car felt oversprung for the amount of low speed damping from the stock shocks but the ride felt harsh.  The car was also really tail happy, fun to drive but not the fast way around turns, especially on corner exit.  Perhaps the worst fault the car had was an odd shimmy on the freeway.  The car felt like it was following the rain grooves much like a motorcycle does.  It was a very unsettling feeling.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project EVO X GSR- More power with Garrett, Full Race and Cosworth

By Mike Kojima

In the last edition of Project EVO X, we upgraded the fuel system in anticipation of more serious mods.  Well the time for more serious mods has come and we are going to see exactly what can be done to the 4B11 with bolt ons.  In this go around, we are going to install some camshafts by Cosworth, Garrett's direct bolt in upgrade turbo and a tubular exhaust manifold by Full Race Motorsports.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project LS S13: Part 1 - Getting the Chassis Ready

By Mike Kojima

Our latest project started as an accident.  The S13 that we are using started off as Chuck Johnson's, one of our writers, daily driver.  It was a really nice S13 with a sano SR swap, built well with nice parts.  Then a lady driving a late model Acura, amazingly with no insurance, decided to run a stop sign unbelievably in her own neighborhood smashing into Chuck and taking out the front end of the S13.  Even though the damage was minor, Chuck's insurance company totaled the car.  Chuck bought the car back from the insurance company and most of the good parts were swapped into our Project S13 LSR.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Project EVO X GSR- Upgrading the Fuel System With Cobb Tunning and RC Engineering

by Mike Kojima

When we last left off on Project EVO X, we had come close to maxing out the car's fuel system with our bolt ons up to this point.  Since upgrading the turbo to Garrett's drop in GTX3071 is in the plans, we must first bring our fuel system up to snuff.  On the EVO X this is a little more involved than earlier EVO's as the injectors we chose were not an easy drop in.  Don't fear, it still was not that hard, check it out!

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

A Look Inside- Daigo Saito's Amazing Achilles Tire SC430

By Mike Kojima

After two years of rumors and plenty of gossip, it finally happened, Daigo Saito, reportedly the best drift driver in the world arrived on our shores with not just a splash but a bang.  Daigo, 2008 D1GP champ and 2011 Formula D Asia Champ came out of the gates hard at the Long Beach season opener with a third place.  Daigo has fought hard on foreign soil maintaining a solid second place in Formula D standings for much of the year.

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

Help!  Walker Wilkerson's FD LS7 Powered S13 has Been Stolen!

MotoIQ Staff Report

Walker Wilkerson's competition drift car and race trailer was stolen from an industrial storage area in Carson California. The thieves cut down a reinforced security gate and cut off the trailers wheel locks to steal it despite security cameras.  Please be on the lookout for unusual parts for sale. Spread the word!

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]

DROWsports Grand Axis Two Stroke Powered Ruckus

By Mike Kojima

The Honda Ruckus is a small 50cc scooter that has for some reason become the darling of the modified car crowd.  You would never think that car people would have become enamored of a 100 mpg, 35mph small scooter but nevertheless the Ruckus is huge.  MotoIQ has a project 50cc Ruckus that is probably the fastest stock engined Ruckus built so far.  

Of course in our circle, if some is good, too much is always better.  Andrew Horn, owner of DROWsports in Signal Hill is part of the MotoIQ crew and has helped us with many of our small powersports projects.  We helped him with the construction in his quest to build the ultimate Ruckus, check it out!

---

 

[Read the rest of this article...]