NASA Spec3: much more information!

[matt325]

The M3 rear swaybar attaches the same as the 325.

The front attaches to the M3 strut housing using links that are about 10 inches long with ball joints on each end.

You could also attach it to the control arm like the 325 as the M3 control arms have the hole in the same spot for the short link. But I don't know why you would do this, unless you don't have the M3 links yet, or M3 strut housings.

[mjOlson]

will the m3 sway bars needed work on the 325 without the m3 parts?
or do i need all the m3 parts first to make this sway bars work?

The key part you need to make the M3 swaybar work as designed is the M3 strut housing. Your stock 325 swaybars do work with the required M3 front control arms by reusing the existing 325 swaybar brackets. The 325 swaybars are just fine for track work if you are trying to get going piece by piece.

If you haven't already (as you are in VA), you should be in touch with my partner Barry Battle who developed the spec3 series suspension package for NASA.

RRTsuspension.com , contact info at the bottom.

[1SlowSpec3]

yeah my build has been slowed alot thanks to the stock market. its but a hurting on my avilable expendable cash.

i was trying to cheap my way into a slow suspension build, but it seems like its more or less a "all at once" type of deal.

[CMUZYY]

we have a payment plan for the suspension kit

[Niles Patel]

So we keep hearing this is going to happen, people are building cars and all that. I'm very excited about this series, but before I build a car for this instead of spec E36, I was wondering if there are any updates? Seeing it listed on the main website would be a huge confidence boost when spending build money. If it's not going to happen that's ok, I would just like to know.
Thanks for any info
--Niles

[matt325]

Just got my Spec3 brake pads from Andrew Racing (www.andrew-racing.com).

They have SPEC3 stamped in and 'NBS3R (or F) HT10' written on the the backing plate.

Even if they are straight HT10 pads, they are marked so that it should be easy to tell if people are not using the spec pads.

[speedform]

Thanks for the update Matt. So what did Andrew Racing charge you for those?

[jonmacs22]

As I promised to keep everyone up to date, here is the latest "news."
The draft rules have been returned from the National office. The comments and recommended changes are limited to language only which is great news. They are using their knowledge to ensure that we do our best to close the loopholes prior to releasing the text. We appreciate their efforts. At this time, we are addressing their comments and are enthusiastic about the turn around of the final approval.
I do not have a final date for their release. I am only saying this to alert everyone that we continue to make material progress and I am very optimistic about the near future.

Thanks,
Jon

[brianmcd]

Thanks for the update, Jon. That's great news.

[VaTechE36]

Sounds great! I look forward to reading the rules when they get released.

I have my sort of spec3 car in Richmond if anyone wants to meet up to take a look. I'll be in town today and tomorrow and then back to blacksburg.

[Niles Patel]

That's good news, thanks for the update Jon.
Any of you VA guys planning to make some mid-ohio dates next season?

Does anyone know how the prototype cars have stacked up against GTS2 laptime wise? I'm thinking if there's no spec 3's around i can run GTS2 until there are. This assumes they don't laugh me out of comp school of course. :P

[jonmacs22]

That's good news, thanks for the update Jon.
Any of you VA guys planning to make some mid-ohio dates next season?

Does anyone know how the prototype cars have stacked up against GTS2 laptime wise? I'm thinking if there's no spec 3's around i can run GTS2 until there are. This assumes they don't laugh me out of comp school of course. :P

My first time ever with the car in July, I had a blast racing against some of the GTS2 guys at VIR full. Unfortunately, with my 170k mile weak motor, I was no competition for them on the long straights. In the twisties, I did a better job of keeping up. You would be in the back half of the GTS2 crowd, but would still have some people to race with.

[jonmacs22]

Update:

It is Monday December 15th, 2008 and I have in my hands the 99% complete version of the rules. They have been vetted by the National office and now, post augmentation, are going through one last set of eyes. The goal is the posting of them onto the National site prior to the end of the week. Is this a little ambitious given the holidays and everyone's schedules, maybe, but what the hell.
Just so that all are clear, it took an extra two weeks because we wanted to adopted the recently released changes to the SpecE30 rules. These changes clarified some language, closed a couple loopholes, and outlined the compliance testing for a key component.

I am truly excited about where we are and I hope that those building are too.

As always, if there are any questions in the meantime, shoot me an email or PM.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

[DessicatorGC]

Thanks Jon

is there talk behind those closed doors about a Spec3 website in the works?
or maybe somewhere else i should be reading other then here and NASAforums MA? and maybe a ball park idea of wen said website would be up and running?


many thanks

[jonmacs22]

Ask and thou shalt receive: http://spec3racing.com/

We have James Packer to thank for this. His hardwork for this series, NASA-MA, and much more is unstoppable. The site is only in its infancy, but in my opinion, it looks top notch.

Thanks.

[B.Watts]

The site is only in its infancy, but in my opinion, it looks top notch.

Looks good...just needs a quick change to the page "title" and the page faveicon.ico file so that it's friendly to bookmark.

[jonmacs22]

Looks good...just needs a quick change to the page "title" and the page faveicon.ico file so that it's friendly to bookmark.

You are speaking a foreign language, however I will pass along your thoughts to the translator.

Thanks.
J

[B.Watts]

You are speaking a foreign language, however I will pass along your thoughts to the translator.

It's just the title that appears in your tab or at the top of your browser as well as the icon that appears beside the web address in your browser or in your bookmarks next to the page.

[Pony2bmw]

Thanks Jon. And thanks James for the website... it looks great.

Looking forward to the new class!

[brianmcd]

Thanks Jon. And thank James for the website... it looks great.

Looking forward to the new class!

Pretty much exactly what I was gonna say. Thanks guys!

[Niles Patel]

Terrific news!
Thanks for the update Jon.

[ekan325]

I can't wait for the new rule!

According to tirerack, the KONI shock is externally adjustable. Does it mean the ride height is adjustable? or it means the stiffness?
Can I do corner balance with it?

[B.Watts]

Externally adjustable refers to damping, not ride height.

[mjOlson]

I can't wait for the new rule!

According to tirerack, the KONI shock is externally adjustable. Does it mean the ride height is adjustable? or it means the stiffness?
Can I do corner balance with it?

Damping adjustability as Bryan noted. Ride height is adjustable by using combinations of the various thinkness stock spring perch pads making it possible to adjust corner balance on fixed perch suspensions.

Anything more specific/detailed, let us know: Spec3 Forum

-Matt

[dbryant61]

I am considering building a car for this series. I have a question about tires. It is my understanding that the R888s turn their best lap within 45 minutes of new and than go downhill from there. By comparison the RA-1s just got better with time. This means that we will be buying a new set for each weekend - practice on the old set, qualify on the new set and race on the same set, which will have already seen its fastest lap in qualifying.

Any chance of going to the Nitto NT01 225/45ZR-15 87Z BLK ($140 per at Discount Tire Direct)?