Vorshlag Blog

This blog post should have been posted a couple of days ago, but we have been having some problems with our website and the Vorshlag Forum was down for a bit. Luckily we had a window open on the build thread edits and managed to get the forum build thread update posted on other forums today (edit for 10/17/2015: Vorshlag Forums are back and the C4 Project update has been posted there).

We got the rebuilt motor back (after 5 months of waiting) but after it went in the car some new computer gremlins popped up. Our crew fought this for days, as did the guys at True Street.

After days of testing, parts swapping, and diagnosis we came to the conclusion that the engine control module (ECM) is bad, causing intermittent starting issues and burning up TPS sensors. The 25 year old engine computer is unavailable, but we explain the fixes we have planned in this post. Thanks for reading.

This round of updates on the C5 “Track Rat” included some repairs after an off-track excursion – at an autocross – by the car owners co-driver. Instead of just doing the minimum repairs, Mark brought the car back to Vorshlag, where we replaced the broken body parts and did some significant suspension and tire upgrades.

The whole nose assembly was replaced with new parts, and while it was apart we slipped in a massive all-aluminum DeWitt radiator. After replacing the tie rods, updating all 8 control arms to poly bushings, and spherical bushings in the rear lower shock mounts, the tires were changed…

The Forgestar 18×11″ CF5 wheels are now wrapped with 315mm BFGoodrich Rival-S tires, to allow Mark to compete in Optima, Goodguys and SCCA CAM-SS classes. He’s loving the new tires and suspension tweaks we made in this round of mods and repairs. Look for this car next season tearing it up in 200 treadwear track and autocross competition. Again, you can see the details of this stage of work starting here.

Finally made time to write Round 3 of the 69 Camaro Pro Touring Track Car build thread. You can read this entry starting here.

This covered work through June and July of 2015, with with accomplished on the steering column, cowl, dry sump tank mounting, steering rack, the roll cage, and more. The bulk of this update is the roll cage, which was rather extensive for this tube framed car. Again, this update starts here.

BMW’s E46 generation of the 3 series is a crazy bargain right now, and with 4 million built its no surprise that it is a popular choice for racers and daily transportation as well. Once again another E46 has entered our stable here at Vorshlag (we’ve got 3 E46 shop cars at the moment), with this build thread explaining what we have planned for this 325Ci. This Vorshlag shop car will be what so many of our customer’s build: a Dual Purpose Daily daily driver + Track car!

We always caution people that this “double duty” brings compromises, but you guys do it anyway. So we’re going to test this out and see – can keep a car that can be driven to work, has working AC, passes urban Texas emissions, and is still make it competitive on track? Race wins and track records will be our metric. The budget for both time and parts will be shared in every post, so you can keep track of what it all costs.

This time we started with a high mileage 2002 BMW 325Ci coupe 5-speed, and we will document all problems, repairs, upgrades, weights, and races in this car over the next few years. This one started out a little rough, and with several “whiskey dents” along one side we decided to name it Project #JackDaniels. If this build sounds like something you want to follow, check the forum build thread here. Thanks for reading!

Two new forum updates linked here can help you get caught up on two of our projects. First up was more coverage on the tube framed 69 Camaro Pro Touring / Track build, with work completed from late May to mid June shown in this update.

We also have some updates on our NASA TTC classed 1992 Corvette we call Project #DangerZone – that we hope is at NASA Nationals East in 2 weeks… if the rebuilt motor ever arrives?

Everything we’ve done over the last 3 months is shown in this update. (note: the link was wrong but it has since been updated, TF, 8/27/2015)

Thanks for reading!

We finally took the time to write and publish the first installment of the work going into the tube framed 69 Camaro build that Vorshlag is building for a customer.

This first forum entry is showing the work we started in May 2015, mostly tear-down work. Our next installment will show the frame and suspension being built in June. Stay tuned!

There’s a new pair of posts just added to the Forum Build Thread for the 1992 Corvette we built for NASA’s TTC class, the car we call Project #DangerZone. The smokey motor is out and off to the engine shop!

We also address a 5-part “internet protest” that was thrown our way recently. We show what was called out, document some things in question, and show how we’re going about fixing the other small items in question. We don’t necessarily agree with all of the rulings but we’re not going to fight it. We are making this car squeaky clean legal – and will still monkey stomp the TTC class at Nationals. Oh yes, I just went there!

So if you want to read up on what’s going on, start here. Thanks!