Mikes Extended, Full Frame Goblin - 2009 Cobalt LS with 135k donor

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mike_sno

Goblin Guru
First time auto cross today. Very interesting experience. Definitely had a lot fun. Pretty much all 2nd gear besides the start. Speed of the gopro is somehow way off.

Orientation was really difficult for me. Break zones and even which way around the cones... Lol all safety guards survived :)

Time was 50.5s some NA Miatas were in the 38s. I was in the first heat pretty early, no grip on the tracks and tires cold. Was running 10 and 15psi frint/back.

 
Rttoys

Rttoys

Goblin Guru
Some of those cones could have been labeled better :confused: Good run. Keep your eyes up and look ahead. Glad you had fun :cool:
 
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mike_sno

Goblin Guru
Heart rate was ok. Little surprised in the first round how little grip I had. Speed was I guess around 50mph, judging from the engine RPM and the few times I looked at the speedometer.

I don't have a brake proportoning valve. I think I need one, but don't want to mess with the brake lines....I also have all the parts for counter balancing, but have to put it together. I feel like the front left locks up first.

Reare tires were also pretty blank. I really need to get new ones.

A friend of mine, (former Nascar mechanic from NC) joined me. He will help me with the setup a little bit. The suspension on my car was all the way soft and then 4 clicks towards harder. Not sure how you explain that. I think I will try to play around with it a bit more and see how the car reacts differently. I will also see if I can make the gas less agressive to kick in. I had a hard time finding the sweet spot between acceleration and wheels pin. Which came with all other kind of shenanigans.

Rund 6 was the most fun one, even if you don't see it in the video, around the slalom parts the rear of the car was sliding a bit. Did not need to counter steer as it got back in line. This at some higher speed was definelty fun. I have to build my own 700x350ft parking lot. LOL.
 
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mike_sno

Goblin Guru
I tried to do different lines. 6 runs were for me just to less to find out the best way around the course. I feel like in the last slalom before the finish line others were a lot faster! I had a hard time getting the steering wheel turned fast enough.
 
A

ah.b.normal

Goblin Guru
mike_sno said:
Rund 6 was the most fun one, even if you don't see it in the video, around the slalom parts the rear of the car was sliding a bit. Did not need to counter steer as it got back in line. This at some higher speed was definelty fun. I have to build my own 700x350ft parking lot. LOL.
Click to expand...
"If you build it they(me) will come", and park my RV on it all winter!;)
 
A

ah.b.normal

Goblin Guru
mike_sno said:
I tried to do different lines. 6 runs were for me just to less to find out the best way around the course. I feel like in the last slalom before the finish line others were a lot faster! I had a hard time getting the steering wheel turned fast enough.
Click to expand...
If I was a betting man(I'm not) Toe is off(either way) making turning the wheel "harsh" initially and tire pressures are a little low. Brake proportioning valve sure will help! And tires with tread go with everything!
I shall anxiously await the next report from our man on the Space Coast, Autocross Impresario, M. "Cone Dodger" Snow.:cool:o_O
 
SmsDetroit

SmsDetroit

Goblin Guru
mike_sno said:
Heart rate was ok. Little surprised in the first round how little grip I had. Speed was I guess around 50mph, judging from the engine RPM and the few times I looked at the speedometer.

I don't have a brake proportoning valve. I think I need one, but don't want to mess with the brake lines....I also have all the parts for counter balancing, but have to put it together. I feel like the front left locks up first.

Reare tires were also pretty blank. I really need to get new ones.

A friend of mine, (former Nascar mechanic from NC) joined me. He will help me with the setup a little bit. The suspension on my car was all the way soft and then 4 clicks towards harder. Not sure how you explain that. I think I will try to play around with it a bit more and see how the car reacts differently. I will also see if I can make the gas less agressive to kick in. I had a hard time finding the sweet spot between acceleration and wheels pin. Which came with all other kind of shenanigans.

Rund 6 was the most fun one, even if you don't see it in the video, around the slalom parts the rear of the car was sliding a bit. Did not need to counter steer as it got back in line. This at some higher speed was definelty fun. I have to build my own 700x350ft parking lot. LOL.
Click to expand...
The proportion value is a game changer in Autocross. Highly recommend it
 
Rttoys

Rttoys

Goblin Guru
Yep. The prop valve is a must, next will be better tires, then you won’t worry about the twitchy throttle, because the back end will stick.

I run my shock adjusters about half way up in the rear and almost full hard up front.

oh and you said you looked at your Speedo? Ya. Don’t do that. There’s not enough time, you have to keep your head up and look ahead.
 
Rttoys

Rttoys

Goblin Guru
mike_sno said:
Ordered the valve and the short line someone mentioned in another thread. Hopefully I have it installed soon.
Click to expand...
DF’s setup is pretty good because you can adjust the valve easily from the cab. If you bend the lines yourself, it’s not real hard to do. Use tiewire to make a mock up, then bend the real stuff. Everything can be found at any auto parts.
 
M

mike_sno

Goblin Guru
ah.b.normal said:
If I was a betting man(I'm not) Toe is off(either way) making turning the wheel "harsh" initially and tire pressures are a little low. Brake proportioning valve sure will help! And tires with tread go with everything!
I shall anxiously await the next report from our man on the Space Coast, Autocross Impresario, M. "Cone Dodger" Snow.:cool:o_O
Click to expand...
Well, I wanna say it was more that the ratio of the steering wheel wasn't enough. I had this impression when I very first drove the goblin almost 2 years ago and this time it really noticed it again. I just have for my taste to much spind on the steering wheel in compare to degree movement of the wheels.
 
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mike_sno

Goblin Guru
Now I'm all excited for the break proportion valve. I always thought the brakes of the goblin were really good...but it sounds like I only had front wheel brakes :) I really liked driving around town and approaching a car in the other lane from the back, brake late and stop just right parallel. Never thought I would need more.
 
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mike_sno

Goblin Guru
I believe that the brake lines on the Goblin are Steel. I would like to avoid mixing different metals, but there are unions made of brass, steel,... same for brake lines and fittings. Google doesn't really help. Anyone an idea about the truth behind this or is this the typical I see it to detailed and complicated...
 
Markm

Markm

Well-Known Member
I’ve never had an issue with different types of metal in brakes lines causing an issue. Do not use compression fittings on brakes cause they can either leak or come apart. Always double flare brake lines. Regular copper line is not good for brakes cause it can burst. Nicopp line is easy to flare and bend and doesn’t seem to rust. Stainless steel lines look nice but are difficult to work with. The lines that come with the goblin are steel.
 
SmsDetroit

SmsDetroit

Goblin Guru
mike_sno said:
Part of owning a Goblin is doing something you have never done before.
Click to expand...
I would agree. I did my own own lines at first and it was mounted under the hood. Once I started autocrossing I wanted easier access to the valve to adjust so that when I changed to the DF lines
 
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