Gtr 4wd Controller

[maccattack]

Some of you may have read about Paul Ruzic (MountainRunner) building and (now selling) four wheel drive controllers for GTR's. I purchased a unit from Paul and was "testing" it in the car on yesterdays Time Attack day at QR. I thought I would provide some feedback for anyone pondering a purchase.

May I first start by saying that I drive my car fairly hard on track days but by no means would I consider myself a fantastic driver. In honesty, I have trouble being able to really tell the difference between various sway bar and suspension settings, tyre pressures etc. I tend to check the tyres before I go out and then drive it like you stole it. My Kahunas aren't big enough to take corner one at the speed I think it should be taken at.

The controller allows you to store and use (through a toggle switch) 2 seperate "maps". These maps are variations on the way the car normally responds to the signals comming from the G sensor. Because you have so much variation, it is somewhat overwhelming as to what maps to use.

I started with an aggressive 4WD map (say map 1) and a map which is slightly more aggressive than the way the car reacts as normal (map 2). I perhaps wasn't using the toggle switch as much as I should beacuse once I had started driving the car with the system using map 1, I got so used to it, and liked it, that I didn't want to play with the toggle.

The car still switched between 2 wheel and 4 wheel mode, but it switches to 4WD so early and seamlessly that you don't even feel the transfer. Corners, both low and high speed, became (for me) much more controllable. I used to come onto the straight in 3rd gear feathering the throttle to maintain boost, basically streering with the back wheels. Now you can come onto the straight in a full 4 wheel powerslide and you can "feel" exeactly what the car is doing.

Paul wanted me to try toggling more. My initial thoughts were that I would use less agressive 4WD in high speed sweeper corners an more aggressive in the low speeds. Pauls idea was the exact reverse so I hooked throught turns 1 & 2 using map 1 and then switched to map 2 for the "flip flops". I was so used to driving the car in its new configuration that I lost the back end as soon as I went into the corner. Straight away, I went back to map 1 and full controll.

As it turned out I shaved a second off my times for the clubman and national circuits. Admittedly I changed back to a tyre I preferred, but I am sure I can keep the times coming down.

As an overview, so far as the controller goes - I'm wrapped. I still have a fair bit of mucking around to do to really get to know it but the level of 4WD controll is awesome. Whilst I can't drift my car, I can pull off some awesome power slides at the moment.

If you are looking at a 4WD controller for your car, DEFINITELY consider Pauls unit. You are more than welcome to check out the quality of the unit in my car.

The more I use it the more info I will post.

Cheers

[Col-GTSX]

Wish i had 4wd...

Thats awsome Peter, which 33 was yours... So many people there yesterday i got so confused i even missed Azzurra once yesterday, passing him off as some smuck...

[9krpm]

have you got any pics of the setup in your car?

[Blitz_R33]

hi maccattack, Was that you Black R33 with the white Work rims? Also how much do these units go for?

[maccattack]

Hey guys,

Yeah I'm the black '33 with the white workies. I'll take a couple of photos and post them up for you. Probably best to speak with Paul (Mountain Runner) re pricing as I'm not sure if he has upgraded the unit already or not.

[Col-GTSX]

Arhhh you were No.1

Nice GTR... I saw you pulling your exhaust out and replacing it with a side pipe... It was loud from the tower...

Your GTR and that M3 were the 2 loudest cars by a long way...

[MountainRunner]

Thanks for the comments maccattack, I was very pleased with the results.

The unit is $659.00 inc. If you want full details send me a PM and I can email you out the instruction manual and discuss.

Paul

[maccattack]

Arhhh you were No.1

I saw you pulling your exhaust out and replacing it with a side pipe...

Unfortunately I crushed my side pipe (I think when I went over a ripple strip) and went from about 3 inch diameter to about 1 1/2 inches. No doubt it was doing wonders for back pressure. Didn't know until I took it off.

No idea exactly when I did it though.

Love the colour of your car - the yellow looks good.

[MountainRunner]

We have done a write-up on maccattack's car at:

http://www.timeattack.com.au/feature_cars.php

[r33_racer]

Nice write up on the car and it looks the goods too. With all those rebuilds and work done it must owe you quite abit. Also a 58 around the sprint circuit isnt bad for a street reg car, thats very respectable.

[maccattack]

Thanks Michael,

Yeah - unfortunately it probably owes me way too much. Mind you, I'm sure most GTR's with a power increase suffer from the same fate.

It is however my every day driver but adapts nicely for the track.

[hrd-hr30]

I used to come onto the straight in 3rd gear feathering the throttle to maintain boost, basically streering with the back wheels. Now you can come onto the straight in a full 4 wheel powerslide and you can "feel" exeactly what the car is doing.

I wish I had the power to do that on 255/40*17 semis! very jealous!

[J-Boy]

Nice..manz ure really fast around the track peter...was nice to meet ya, hoped i had a chance to speak more with ya if i didnt have all that oil overflowing from my oil catch can that kept me busy...think i may need one of those units of yers soon too Paul..i still cant put power down all the way coming out of the last corner and it seems like my M's TSC is not helping me cuz i cant find the adjustment for it yet and ive no idea wot % im outputting front n rear at the moment...hope to be able to chat up more with ya the next time Peter~

[T04GTR]

hmm. im very interested.

so.. it is a unit similar to the bee r one and the field ets?

or is it a crude switch type that just locks up the transfercase a cirtan amount?

[MountainRunner]

Hi,

The unit is much more than a switch.

A previous discussion thread is at:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...126694&st=0

Something maccattack and I started to work on was its ability to setup two different styles that can be selected at the flick of a switch while racing. If you read is comments above, he was running one setup around turns 1 & 2, flicked the switch on the way to turn 3 and then back again after exiting turn 6 approaching turn 1 again.

Each of the 5 maps in the unit can be vaired to fine tune the performance. For example, one map is the same as the usual dial you get and the adjustment of that map is like turning the dial. The other maps vary the performance based on the cornering loads. Check out the manual I have attached for a full description.

It also has a datalogging output of the longitudinal and lateral G forces as well as the percentage of torque split seen on the gauge on the dash.

maccattack will have some pictures up of the install in his car shortly. A few guys at track day had a look as well.

I'm pretty excited about the development of the project and the good results we have had so far. I mean maccattack took almost a second off his lap times on his first outing with the unit. I think there is definately more to come !

Paul

4WD_Controller.pdf

[T04GTR]

coool. thankz

[maccattack]

Thanks Jyo,

As you say - hopefully catch up next time.

I have attached a couple of photos for you all.

Sorry about the quality - I'll upgrade them soon.

Peter

[MountainRunner]

Just bumping this thread as a few people asked about it last night.

Paul