ISUPAGE; Bill Luton's 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS

Bill Luton's 1989 Isuzu I-Mark RS

Missouri, USA

Description

ISUZU I-MARK MODIFICATIONS

BODY MODIFICATIONS
	Suspension
		Isuzuperformance Racing Team Al Series Front Coilovers.  Fully 
			Threaded, Adjustable Lower Spring Perch, Double Adjustable for 
			Dampenning and Rebound.
		Isuzuperformance Racing Team Front Camber Plates.
		90-91 Series Front Lower Suspension.
		AVO Adjustable Dampening Rear Shocks.
		Isuzuperformance Rear Coilover Spring Conversion.
		Isuzuperformance NASCAR/Nextel Cup Rear Sway Bar.

	Brakes
		Isuzuperformance Four Wheel Disk Brake Conversion.
		Isuzuperformance Endurance Brake Kit Caliper Conversion.
			Isuzuperformance Four Pot Front Calipers on 9.8 inch Vented Rotors.
			Isuzuperformance Four Pot Rear Calipers and 10.7 inch Disk Brakes.
			Isuzuperformance Brake Master Cylinder with Adjustable Rear Brake 
				Bias Valve.

	Wheels and Tires
		For Street, Falken Zeix 512 205/50/15 Tires on OZ Ultralaggera 15x7
			Wheels (Due To Front Caliper Clearance Issues).
		For Autocross, Hoosier A6 205/50/15 Tires on Volk TE37 15x7 Wheels.
		For Drag Racing, Mickey Thompson 22.0x8.0-15 ET Drags on Volk 
			TE37 15x7 Wheels.

	Steering
		Geo Spectrum Manual Steering Rack Swapped for Power Rack.  Modified to 
			fit 90-91 Front Lower Suspension.

	Weight Reduction
		Interior Stripped.
		Power Steering Rack and Pump Removed.
		AC Compressor and Condenser Removed.

	Body Work
		Removed Faux Driving Lights.
		1989 Geo Spectrum Grille, Customized.
		Geo Spectrum Side View Mirrors.
		Rolled Fenders.

	Lighting
		Koito Gemini Clear Corner Lights.
		Isuzuperformance Projector Headlamp Conversion.

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
	Engine
		90-91 Series 4XE1 Engine with Solid Lifters, Larger Water Pump, 
			Larger Oil Pump, and Oil Cooler.
		Isuzuperformance Racing Team Aluminum Pulley Set (Alternator and Underdrive 
			Crank).

	Exhaust
		Isuzuperformance Tri-Y Exhaust Header.  Reinforced.  Tri-Coat Ceramic Finish.
		Isuzuperformance 2 1/2 inch Catalytic Converter.
		Isuzuperformance 2 1/2 inch diameter Performance Exhaust System Two Muffler 
			System.

	Computer
		1991 Wiring Harness and Computer System Custom Adapted to I-Mark RS 
			Chassis and Electrical System.

	Ignition
		Magnecor KV85 8.5mm Red Competition Ignition Cables. 
		Torque Master Spark Plugs.  +4 HP.

	Oil Catch Can
		Isuzuperformance C6.

DRIVETRAIN MODIFICATIONS
	Engine and Transmission Mounts
		Isuzuperformance Racing Team Polyurethane Motor Mount Bushings (Race Grade, 
			85 Durometer).

	Differential
		Tracmax ATB Limited Slip Differential.

	Transaxle
		Clutch Specialties / Isuzuperformance Full Metal Plus Clutch.
		Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel.  Lightenned and balanced by Isuzuperformance.
	Axles
		Hybrid Axles.


INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
	Interior Stripped.

	Controls
		Stick Shift Raised Two Inches.

	Seating
		For On Track Use: Momo Top Nascar Racing Seat.
		For Off Track Use: 1987-89 Geo Spectrum Driver's and Passenger's Seats, no 
			other seats.

	Safety
		Bell S2R Touring Car Helmet.
		Simpson Five Point Racing Harness.
		Isuzuperformance Harness Mount.


WAITING TO BE INSTALLED
	Isuzuperformance Racing Team Polyurethane Suspension Bushings.
	Isuzuperformance / Iperformance Digital Fuel Injection System.


FUTURE MODIFICATIONS
	Accel 300+ Digital Ignition System.
	Isuzuperformance Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator.
	Isuzuperforomance Anti Reversion Plate for Header.
	Volk TE37 15x7 and 15x4 narrowed wheels for Drag Racing.
	Isuzuperformance Nextel Cup Front Sway Bar.
	1990-93 Nishiboric Rear Suspension.
	Custom Body Work to move fender lips out three-four inches (Wide Body).
	Custom Ten Point Roll Cage.
	Isuzuperformance "Red Head" Low Compression Racing Engine.
	25 PSI Forced Induction, Details Undisclosed.

This vehicles was purchased for use in the design and fabrication of Isuzuperformance parts for the 85-89 I-Mark and Spectrum line of cars. The vehicle was never intended to be put on the road, but required state registration and license plates to be legally parked within the state. The expense of doing emissions repairs and emissions exemptions for a car that was not running well enough to perform those tests, quickly made this vehicle too expensive to discard after product design is complete. Thereafter, the vehicle was built for racing and for product testing, promotion, and advertising.

Racing

From 2003 through 2006, it saw some use in D Modified class Autocross racing, finishing first in D Modified points in 2003.
The solid beam rear axle of the I-Mark and more primitive suspension design makes it somewhat poorly suited for autocross, and autocrossing a car built for drag racing is somewhat a lesson in futility, but it is an exciting little car to drive on course, easily lifting both inside tires on hard turns, scaring corner workers, and functioning as a very good training vehicle, forcing drivers to drive smoothly.

In 2008, the suspension was redesigned, and the car placed into X Prepared class autocross racing. Idiosyncratic handling issues were reduced, but driving the car on track remains just short of terrifying. Without fully sorting out all the handling issues, the car saw some impressive success, finishing first in X Prepared Class Points in 2008 (second place was a $55,000 Lotus Elise Supercharged).

For 2009, the car returned to X Prepared class, facing not only the same Lotus Elise Supercharged, but also a Factory Five Daytona Coupe. With a lot of suspension fine tuning, the car once again edged out the Lotus and bested the Daytona Coupe by .460 seconds, taking the 2009 X Prepared Class Points Championship.

For 2010, the I-Mark returned to battle the Factory Five Daytona Coupe and Lotus Elise Supercharged, with additional competition from a Lotus Exige, Lancer Evo, Impreza STi, and a race prepped Ford Taurus SHO. Without any suspension or engine changes, the I-Mark was taken through a range of alignment adjustments, and by the end of the season, was handling much more competently, though still with a touch of terror as the transition from neutral to oversteer was a little too large of a step. The I-Mark once again took first place in XP Class Points Championship.

The 2011 season began with a radical redseign of the rear suspension, after the custom made springs were measured and found to be about one third the stiffness that had been ordered. The corrected rear spring rate drastically improved the handling, and, after resorting rear swaybar size, the transition from neutral to oversteer much more gradual and controllable. Unfortunately, it took half the season to sort the suspension, and the Daytona Coupe owner had been making equal leaps forward in suspension tuning as well as driver skill. So, with the I-Mark handlling more like the race car it was always intended to be, attention was turned to driver training and increasing engine power. Time to train the driver to shove the I-Mark up against it's new handling limit, and add some power adders, like aluminum pulleys, header, and ignition system.
But the Daytona Coupe owner had built up a substantial lead by mid-season, and without only five events left, there just weren't enough opportunities to beat the Daytona Coupe owner. Two first place finishes and two additional finishes ahead of the Daytona Coupe owner just weren't enough. The I-Mark took second place in the XP Class Points Championship, between the Factory Five Daytona Coupe owner (first place) and co-driver (third place).

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