CTSC track reliability

[VintageracerNYC]

Hello everyone! First want to wish everybody a great holiday..secondly am in the process of acquiring an NSX to make into a Ferrari, Porsche, Vette killer...was curious if anyone out there has an opinion on the the relibility/ feasibilty of the Comptech superchargers for extended track use? Also the difference between the old and new style they now have available?
Thanks
Jerome

 

[NetViper]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

Hello everyone! First want to wish everybody a great holiday..secondly am in the process of acquiring an NSX to make into a Ferrari, Porsche, Vette killer...was curious if anyone out there has an opinion on the the relibility/ feasibilty of the Comptech superchargers for extended track use? Also the difference between the old and new style they now have available?
Thanks
Jerome

MarkB tracks his 03 with a comptech more than anyone I have ever heard of and to my knowledge, he has had no problems with it.

I am not sure it is a "Ferrari" killer. Depends what Ferrari you want to kill. I don't think any CTSC will touch the new F430.

The the AEM and other supporting mods, you should be pretty close to 380-390rwhp.

 

[VintageracerNYC]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

thanks for the info...I have always had underdog cars that I was generally faster with then more powerful cars driven by less talented drivers...400 reliable rwhp would make me VERY competitive with a LOT of cars!

 

[DDozier]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

thanks for the info...I have always had underdog cars that I was generally faster with then more powerful cars driven by less talented drivers...400 reliable rwhp would make me VERY competitive with a LOT of cars!

Are you building a track rat or a driver? You should not have to many problems with too many cars if you strip the car down to fighting weight and get to 400RWHP. If you have not tracked a NSX yet you should see if someone will let you drive one on a track. It has to be the easiest car to drive fast that I have ever tracked, on the other hand some will find it less demanding than say a 911, so depending on your driving style and what you want to get out of the car you may want to track a freinds car first. If you push a NSX to the limit and can get all it can give I am not so sure you will be an "underdog".

Dave

PS. if you plan to track a CTSC at the limits, do the car a favor and put in the AEM and supporting mods, also if you will track in warm climates add a oil cooler and upgrade the radiator.

 

[VintageracerNYC]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

what is an AEM and its supporting mods may I ask? And the car will be a weekend driver with some part time track use as well...who has the best company for mods? Comptech, Dali..?

 

[surferX]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

SOS (Science of Speed)...do the 3.8L stroker motor with weight reduction and you will have an NA monster!!! Dali has good deals too...I've never had a problem with them, but some other have.

 

[OLDE GUY]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I was at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) two weekends ago and an NSX with Bosch supercharger blew its head gaskets. A common problem if you seriously track the NSX, I understand. Talking with Maria Hicks, they had the same issue. The superchargers are fine for street driving but, if you want to track the car hard, then you will need to use a different head gasket. The fundamental problem is that the NSX uses only 4 bolts per cylinder to tighten the head and head gasket around each of the 6 cylinders. Motors with 5 bolts per cylinder are better able to tolerate the increased pressures.

If you are serious, try to talk with Rob Morrison after the Holidays.; he actively campaigned his supercharged NSX that past two years. I'll send you a PM with his phone number.

 

[NetViper]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I was at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) two weekends ago and an NSX with Bosch supercharger blew its head gaskets. A common problem if you serious track the NSX. Talking with MarkB, they have had the same issue. The superchargers are fine for street driving but if you want to track the car hard then you will need to use a different head gasket. The fundamental problem is that the NSX uses only 4 bolts per cylinder to tighten the head and head gasket around each of the 6 cylinders. Motors with 5 bolts per cylinder are better able to tolerate the increased pressures.

If you are serious, try to talk with Rob Morrison after the Holidays.; he actively campaigned his supercharged NSX that past two years. I'll send you a PM with his phone number.

Which car was this that blew the head gaskets? How much boost was it running.

If it is a 3.0 car, they used crappy graphite composite head gaskets to begin with. They are not very good for FI at all. I have holes in mine! The 3.2 cars used a multi-level-steel design which is much stronger.

When my HG went, I upgraded to cometics and used ARP head studs to hold it all down. I should not have a HG problem ever again. Plus i am running 10lbs vs 12 lbs now and using the AEM.

Remember that most CTSC set-ups make under 6psi. Probably fine for track use because it doesn't make THAT much more HP. Comptech doesn't warranty 9psi setups or have an intercooler to keep the IAT down.

 

[NetViper]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I was at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) two weekends ago and an NSX with Bosch supercharger blew its head gaskets. A common problem if you serious track the NSX. Talking with MarkB, they have had the same issue.

I would also imagine this will be a concern with the new SOS setup also.

 

[OLDE GUY]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

Which car was this that blew the head gaskets? How much boost was it running..

I didn't get to meet the guy. He was at the CHIN event with several guys from Atlanta including Don Nowak (DONYMO). Rob Morrison was discussing it with the owner and explaining about the number of head bolts on the NSX being a weakness. Maria Hicks was discussing their head gasket problem with Gary Yates (NCDOGDOC) and me. NCDOGDOC would know.

 

[NetViper]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I didn't get to meet the guy. He was at the CHIN event with several guys from Atlanta including Don Nowak. Bob Morrison was discussing it with the owner and explaining about the number of head bolts on the NSX being a weakness. Maria Hicks was discussing their head gasket problem with Gary Yates (NCDOGDOC) and me. NCDOGDOC would know.

Sorry to hear that.

I read Rob's post on head gaskets for the NSX and I did pretty much everything he suggested, so I am hoping I am ok.

 

[Dimer]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I am not sure it is a "Ferrari" killer. Depends what Ferrari you want to kill. I don't think any CTSC will touch the new F430.

I am pretty sure you can 'kill' a F430 if you prepare your NSX well. My dad (GerardvanSanten @ forum) racet against track prep. Porsches GT3RS' and he was quicker around the track. He could even stick behind a Porsche GT, so I don't think an F430 would be a problem.

 

[|Adeel]

Re: CTSC track relaibility

I am pretty sure you can 'kill' a F430 if you prepare your NSX well. My dad (GerardvanSanten @ forum) racet against track prep. Porsches GT3RS' and he was quicker around the track. He could even stick behind a Porsche GT, so I don't think an F430 would be a problem.

Maybe it was because your dad actually CAN drive and the Porsche/Ferrari/Whatever drivers weren't as good as him? I always see "rich people" with fancy cars that just can't drive fast around a track. Sure if you give a Ferrari to a Ferrari testdriver the others will not stand a chance, but I often notice that those people who can afford really nice cars perhaps can't squeeze the full potential out of them.


I know about a man, about 50 years old, who has a Subaru (Impreza?) stationwagon with 150 hp (at flywheel) only, and new suspension of course, and he's been driving for 20 years on track (as a hobby, not pro) - he simply kicks ass! He knows exactly where to break and where to hit the gas around corners. I mean, he drives from cars with 3 times the power...


Experience matter more than the car, in my opinion




Sorry about the off topic :redface: