E85Forum.com

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

I blew up second gear the other day. Since the motor needs new head gaskets I'm yanking it out, too. Oh...it "needs" 14:1 pistons, new cams, in/ex, a reflash, and some other goodies too. I'll be swapping in JDM STI gears, but nothing with crazy gear ratios. Check out my blog for more details at http://www.gt-labs.net[/url]
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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

Revision · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Carol Stream, IL

14:1?
I hope you found some good engine management... Shocked

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

We'll see how the stock ECU holds up. It's actually more powerful than it has been given credit for.
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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

Boosted3Bar · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 50 Location: San Antonio, TX

That will be a killer combo!!! I would be willing to bet that with that engine you should get higher gas mileage than when on 100% petrol. In my mind that's how an e85 car should be. The only downside is no more FLEX fuel, e85 required. Now would be a good time to port those heads too!
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2003 Grand Prix GTP

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2155875

Revision · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Carol Stream, IL

I should dig up my old RS heads with titanium retainers and uprated valve springs and send it to imprezars... Laughing

Boosted3Bar · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 50 Location: San Antonio, TX

I don't know much about subaru's but I'd think that setup with those upgraded heads would be in the top ten for most power naturally aspirated. There'd be some STI's and EVO's that would be mighty confused if they ran into you, especially if you're not debadged.

Evo guy: How'd you beat me so bad? I didn't even hear your blow off valve!
imprezarsc: That's because I don't have a blow off valve.
Evo guy: Isn't that bad for your turbo?
imprezarsc: No, because I don't have one of those either.
Evo guy: huh?!?

LOL, sometimes I get a little too bored at work.
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2003 Grand Prix GTP

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2155875

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

If you really WANT to send me a set of prepped SOHC heads, go for it Laughing

. I won't object at all Wink

. Headwork is in the plans, but nothing fancy or hogged out.
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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

Would it be in poor taste to setup donations to do something like this? I can afford to do some things but frankly, I'm a quasi-broke bachelor who sinks every penny into his car. It's going to take me a few months to get all the cash together to get this done. I'm never in the habit of accepting charity and I'm proud of the fact I stand on my own two feet even if I don't make a lot of money. The risk for me would obviously be some kind of failure. What would the risks/trade-offs be for donors?

Here's the parts list:

-Crower rods ($450)
-14.5:1 JE pistons + coatings ($750)
-Coated bearings ($100)
-rings ($75)
-Delta cams ($180)
-hardened valve springs ($400)
-titanium retainers ($150??)
-new intake manifold ($300)
-head gaskets ($110)
-finish headers ($350)
-light flywheel ($300)
-new clutch ($250)
-sti mounts (complete set $700 [$80 engine mts, $200 F/R suspension bushings, $360 4 hardened strut mounts.])
-sti gearset to handle 300+hp power ($1450)

Total $5565

There always seem to be a harsh reality when it comes down to money. A $3,000 chunk is coming but won't cover all of this. The plan itself is simple enough as far as parts, but it all still adds up to about $6k total. Labor costs for the tranny and motor are a few hundred. Add a reflash for the ECU @ $400, a $75 custom bracket for the throttle body, and $350 for the Enderle scoop and custom hardware to mount it. Prices on things never seem to come down, unfortunately. The good news is, I'm pretty good about getting discounts on parts. I'll be doing all the work except tear-down and assembly of the motor/trans. Hopefully, I'll land this tech writing contract, too. The secondary income will be very helpful. I'm not afraid of working two jobs and doing most of the labor myself. A little help would get this done in about 3 months, otherwise it could take up to a year.
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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

That went over like a fart in church, huh? I had to at least ask. Would something like this ever serve as a tax deduction for anyone other than my own company? The politics were a little confusing.

Basically, how does this work:

Business owner + race car = tax deduction

I know this isn't power related. However, most guys with fast cars or are deeper into racing have seen this kind of political maneuver before.

I founded my own company as a "car company" just to get amore professional feel for things. The tech stuff and meeting new people has been fun. I just never got around to asking about how does a racecar qualify as a tax deduction for your business?

I've got my LLC license and all my taxes are up to date. Often, I've seen guys that have their own business logos and such plastered all over their race-car, and the thing becomes a huge rolling tax deduction. My profit margin is zero. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Somehow, money sunk into a race car that has your own company's advertising becomes a huge rolling tax deducution or is written off as research. Since I'm actively doing alternative fuels research, what can be written off, if anything? How does this work?

BTW, I searched and came up with this. I'm wondering if my exception of actually doing alt-fuel tuning development qualifies anything as a write-off. "Racing for free" isn't the point. I'm wondering if I can make it any cheaper.

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=831523

C/N: Can I use my company as a tax shelter/research base for building a raped-ape fast car ???

Laughing

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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

Revision · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Carol Stream, IL

Unless you make money, you cannot deduct money for taxes.
If you do make money, you can only deduct what money you made.

Otherwise, it falls under the hobby tax or whatover its called and that tends to flag the IRS who will then audit you.