Above: Project Low-Buck being prepared for the Ohio DSM Shootout

Above: Project Low-Buck makes a pass at the Texas DSM Shootout

The 1995 RT/TT Stealth was originally purchased from a private party in Florida over the Internet in January of 2001. Matt had his brother who lives in Orlando, FL pick up the car in Boca Raton. On the way back from getting the car, about 100 miles outside of Orlando, the motor threw a rod. The car was under the factory extended 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty --- just barely, at 98,400 miles.

The car was towed to a local dealership where a new factory shortblock was installed. Matt drove down to pick the car up and trailered it back to New Mexico. Upon returning to New Mexico it was discovered that the tranny was also failing. Back to the dealership it went where a new transmission was installed (also under warranty). A short list of modifications was then installed:

Stillen air intake, Stillen down pipe, Blitz DSBC, Unorthodox Underdrive Pulley.

The car was driven this way until early June, 2001. It was expected that the silver car was going to go to the DSM shootout. Two weeks before the shootout rolled around and it was decided that the red car would instead be thrust into that position.

So with only two weeks and no time to spare modifications had to be installed quickly. The following mods were installed:

DR-650 Turbo Set, ATR exhaust, ATR downpipe, Split Second ARC-II with 87mm MAF, 720cc injectors, Denso fuel pump, Kenne Bell Boost-A-Spark and Boost-A-Pump, RPS MAX Series 6 puck sprung hub clutch, Fidanza flywheel, Unorthodox Racing Cam Gears, GReddy 60mm EGT gauge, GReddy 60mm Boost gauge, Magnecor Spark Plug Wire set, Alcohol Injection Kit.

The mods for the car were completed the same day that Matt left for the shootout in Ohio.

Retail pricing for all of the above mods was ~$8800 added to the $10,000 price paid for the car gave a  total investment of ~$18,800.

There was no time to have a G-Force ECU upgrade completed. At the shootout Matts first two passes went through first gear so fast that it was hitting the rev limiter before Matt could shift. A G-Force ECU upgrade with an 8300 RPM rev limiter was borrowed from Terry Bosserman Jr. (Thanks Terry!) for the remainder of the day. This solved the rev limiter problem and thank god, because the very next pass 4th gear went out and Matt was going to need every one of those RPM’s in third at the end of the track.

Not having fourth gear forced Matt to run the car in 3rd gear way past its usable power band for the stock cams/heads. Matts best time of the day was an 11.50 at 119.7 MPH riding the 8300 RPM rev limiter in third for the last part of the track.

It was still enough to allow Project Lowbuck to take home the win in the 2001 DSM Shootout, 3S class. Not bad for lowbucks hurried, first trip to the track.

A few months after winning the Ohio DSM Shootout, Project Low Buck made its second trip to a track at the Texas DSM Shootout, held at River City Raceway, held outside of San Antonio Texas.

Some slight mods found their way onto the car during the downtime between races. They include: DN O2 Eliminator Housings, NOS, Racing Seats. A new transmission with a working 4th gear was also installed.

This trip to the track netted a best run of 11.009 at 128 MPH (click for video), with a very badly slipping clutch (this was the same RPS clutch that was in the car for the previous DSM Shootout) All in all, Matt was very happy with the performance at the event. The event served as an excellent learning experience on NOS. The use of the nitrous did not improve times much, as the power level of the RPS clutch was finally reached. The NOS caused the 60’ times to rise, which negated its performance increase.

A total list of mods on the car at the time of the Texas DSM Shootout were:

Blitz DSBC, Unorthodox Underdrive Pulley, DR-650 Turbo Set, ATR exhaust, ATR downpipe, Split Second ARC-II with 87mm MAF, 720cc injectors, Denso fuel pump, Kenne Bell Boost-A-Spark and Boost-A-Pump, RPS MAX Series 6 puck sprung hub clutch, Fidanza flywheel, Unorthodox Racing Cam Gears, GReddy 60mm EGT gauge, GReddy 60mm Boost gauge, Magnecor Spark Plug Wire set, Alcohol Injection Kit, DN O2 Eliminator Housings, NOS, Racing Seats. -- Stock Motor, Stock Cams, Stock Heads, Stock Side Mount Intercoolers, Stock Intercooler piping.

The next evolution for this car added GT-368SX Turbos, GT-Pro Front Mount Intercooler, DR Street Spec Cams, 93mm Bore Ross Pistons, Pauter Chromoly Rods, RPS Carbon/Carbon Twin Disk Clutch, Tein HA Suspension.

Running with the above modifications back at high altitude (3600 ft. elevation) netted the first ever 10 second quarter mile pass for any 3/S without the aid of nitrous. Severe ignition related problems limited the amount of boost that could be run. The record setting run was made with 22psi of boost, no nitrous and came in at 10.956 at 129.96 MPH (click for video) -- Additional 10 second passes were made during the day to back up the time (click for video).

Runs on the above setup using nitrous were greatly affected by the ignition problems, limiting the boost level to 18psi with a 70 horsepower shot of Nitrous. This handicapped combination yielded a best of 10.88 at 129.19 MPH (click for video).

After these record setting runs, a decision was made that the car was getting away from its role as “Low Buck Monster” -- To maintain the ‘bolt on upgrade’ approach, a move ‘back to the basics’ was in order.

The built motor, front mount, cams and nitrous were removed. Stock IC piping was put back on, upgraded side mounts, and the original factory shortblock (The same motor in the car during the Shootout) was reinstalled with an addition of Dynamic Racing Stage 2 Ported Heads.

Dynamic Racing was also asked to test out a prototype Front Limited Slip Differential from Kormex Trans Parts, always willing to test out a part for the community, Dynamic Racing was more then happy to put the LSD through the paces.

This setups first trip back to the track in Roswell, NM at 3600 ft. elevation running 24psi netted a best pass of 11.17 at 127 MPH. (Click here for video of all 4 passes)

After the shake down runs in Roswell, the long road trip to defend Matts title at the Ohio DSM shootout began. The 1600 mile trip went smoothly, the car was unloaded at the hotel and driven to the track for test and tune on Friday night. The cars first pass yielded an 11.12 at 124.9 MPH at 20psi of boost (click for video). Pass number three at the same low boost setting of 20psi gave Matt an 11.06 at 124 MPH. Not wanting to break anything before the race the boost was never turned up, and the car was driven back to the hotel.

The day of the event came and Low Buck again returned to the track to run its first shake down pass during qualifying to the tune of 11.11 at 127 MPH at 21psi of boost with a 1.59 60/ft (click for video). Confident that the car was tuned properly for the drastic altitude change, the next qualifying pass finally saw a higher boost setting.... unfortunately, the 120,000 mile transfer case was not not (click for video). Instantly upon launch, the wore out transfer case sheared a large number of teeth off. Good thing a trailer was brought to the event. Project Low Buck was pushed onto the trailer, and the weekend of fun was over. Along with Matts best 60’ ever (Thanks to the front LSD) Matt also ran the quickest pass for a 3/S at the event, with the previous 11.06 run.

Matt didnt get to take home the win again, but a Dynamic Racing customer (Aaron Eckhart) did! Congratulations Aaron, excellent driving!

More to come!