Steamboat Ice Track Report
Hey guys!
It's been a full 2 weeks since the Kazuma install, already have logged 4000 miles, including almost 900 ice track miles. Here's the update report.
The blizzack ice tires are the eticket ride for ice and snow. They were much quieter than I expected, and the grip on ice was excellent. My truck was the only big dog amongst 22 audi quattro turbo cars, but the SC was a great equalizer at 7200ft. Without question, the 80 was the fastest vehicle on the track, chasing down all the others, including a LT1 equipped quattro, and a 430ATWHP quattro as well.
I tried the VC center with abs, and found it to be quite predictable, but the abs didn't handle the left foot braking and massive slides too well. I ended up running center diff locked all the time, and the truck was much more stable in turning and braking.
The torque of the SC really works well with the ECT in power mode, and my only real issue was my left foot braking causing the cheap pads to fade after about 40minutes of running.
I did have some issues with the fan Dan, but what I discovered was that the fan blades actually suck themselves into the radiator above 4500rpm. I ended up having to get a couple of the rows cut and blocked. The fan clipped a couple of the blades, and to keep going, we clipped to the shortest of the 2 nicked blades, then did the same 180 to the other side - worked like a charm. I made the mistake of ordering a new fan, which worked fine until I hit 5000rpm, then it sucked itself into the radiator. I ended up just pulling the fan all together and have run the last 1200 miles without it. Temps have never waivered, on track or highway. I haven't decided if I want to go electric, or replace the fan with the TRD unit...
Big discovery: Anytime I put Shell premium into the truck, she immediately bucked and snorted until I put in some other brand premium. Vpower isn't SC power? Go figure.
In terms of track handling, I'll probably be putting in a rear locker, since the balance between throttle on oversteer and throttle off understeer was so dramatic. Sliding around a multiplance ice track at 50-70mph, made for some interesting chassis dynamics. Left foot braking helped a bit, but things could still get a little hairy at all out bonzo driving. I also tried varying the effective spring rates with the air bags, and found that running them with virtually no pressure made for the best handing.
Interesting to note that there were several of the Bridgestone Winter Ice Track Instructors about, with no less than 5 of them SC equipped (mostly 4R tho). Needless to say, the 80 got a lot of attention flying around the track. All commented that the SC in my truck was much quieter than any of theirs, maybe I just got a good one.
Nary a hiccup from the engine, even runniing 91 octane at 7200feet. On Thursday, we hooked up the video camera and did some chases of the LT1 quattro, and the footage is awesome. I'll try to get some of it up on a site in the next week or so.
Still digesting how well the FZJ80 handled the ice track. Everyone was surprised how fast it lapped the track, and being one of the few with an autobox, it was the most relaxing at speed performance driving I've ever done.
Without question, the kazuma did everything I expected it to, and is an awesome upgrade to an otherwise underpowered tank.
Scott Justusson
'94 FZJ80 kazuma
Chicago IL
ya beet me to it!
This is something I'd like to see. I've never seen this type of auto racing before. When you come back home, I need to see your rig and the video. Going 50-70 mph on ice 
