New Product Release!! Mazda 3 and Mazdaspeed 3 Oil Cooler Kits

January 16, 2017 by James

Details:

Are you built and tuned? Are you a track Junkie? Are you both? Keeping the motor in your 2.3L DISI engine as cool as possible is going reduce knock and prolong engine life. Preventing the oil from exceeding normal operating temperatures will extend the life of your oil by reducing temperatures that prematurely break it down and increase engine wear. The OEM oil cooler uses a coolant based heat exchanger to keep the oil cool. Adding the JBR oil cooler will reduce the rise in coolant temperatures often seen when on track or during extreme temperature conditions.

The JBR Mazdspeed 3 Oil Cooler Kit employs a 19 row core constructed out of aluminum corrugated-fins & internal tubular plates greatly increasing both thermal efficiency and mechanical strength, so you get the smallest, lightest and more importantly, the most efficient oil cooler package.

Custom length commercial grade -10AN fittings and large ID stainless braided lines are the key to minimizing the pressure drop and making for an easy installation.

The polished billet aluminum sandwich plate incorporates an 1/8″ NPT port for additional gauges and sensors.

A custom mounting bracket and stainless steel hardware keep the core solidly mounted out front of the radiator maximizing its exposure to incoming airflow resulting in an oil temp reduction of over 28⁰F.

Applications

2004-2013 Mazda 3
2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3*

*Does not work with most conventional front mounted intercooler kits

Features:

Designed and Manufactured in the USA
Direct bolt on application
Corrugated-fin & tubular plate aluminum core
Commercial grade –AN10 fittings and large ID Stainless lines
+28⁰ drop in oil temps*

Includes:

1 Oil cooler core
2 Stainless braided hoses
1 Sandwich plate & 2 1/8” NPT Plugs
1 Application specific core mounting bracket
Stainless steel mounting hardware
2 Aluminized fiber glass heat shield sleeves
Installation instructions are available in our support section
Shipping is free in the US & our Hassle Free Lifetime Warranty is included

*Ambient temperatures, track and road conditions, traffic and driving style can affect results.

New Product Release!! Focus ST Oil Cooler Kits in Stock!

November 1, 2016 by James

Details:
Are you tuned? Are you a track Junkie? Are you both? Within 10 minutes of being on track or an evening of repeatedly putting a few car lengths on your buddies STI, the oil temperature and coolant temperatures in your Focus ST can begin to rise in to unsafe territory which can eventually lead to overheating. Either of these conditions or a combination of both will result in prolonged excessive oil temperatures that prematurely breaks down the oil and increases engine wear.

The JBR Focus ST Oil Cooler Kit employs a 19 row core constructed out of aluminum corrugated-fins & internal tubular plates greatly increasing both thermal efficiency and mechanical strength, so you get the smallest, lightest and more importantly, the most efficient oil cooler package.

Custom length commercial grade -10AN fittings and large ID stainless braided lines are the key to minimizing the pressure drop and making for an easy installation.

The polished billet aluminum sandwich plate incorporates 2, 1/8” NPT ports for additional gauges and sensors.

Custom mounting brackets and stainless steel hardware keep the core solidly mounted out front of the radiator maximizing its exposure to incoming airflow resulting in an oil temp reduction of over 30⁰F.

Features:

Designed and Manufactured in the USA
Direct bolt on application
Corrugated-fin & tubular plate aluminum core
Commercial grade –AN10 fittings and large ID Stainless lines
+30⁰ drop in oil temps

Includes:

1 Oil cooler core
2 Stainless braided hoses
1 Sandwich plate & 2 1/8” NPT Plugs
2 Application specific core mounting brackets
2 Aluminized fiber glass heat shield sleeves
Stainless steel mounting hardware
Installation instructions are available in our support section
Shipping is free in the US & our Hassle Free Lifetime Warranty is included

Free JBR Phone, Tablet, AccessPort & Desktop Backgrounds

February 25, 2016 by James

Here’s a perfect pairing to go with the parts you love. Show off your support for JBR with these free Phone, Tablet, Ford MFT and Desktop Backgrounds. From your computer, click on the image, then right click and save. From your phone or tablet, tap the image then hold down on the image and download.

Enjoy and Thanks for your support!!

Phone & Tablet Background

Desktop Background

Ford MFT

COBB AccessPort Background

Suspension Part One: The Basics

February 23, 2023February 17, 2016 by James

Let’s start with the basics. Most seasoned car guys are aware of a choice between spring upgrades and coilover suspension systems. In the most basic sense, a spring refers to an elastic object with capability to store energy. For the sake of automotive suspension, the coil spring is referenced.

The rate of a spring directly relates to its deflection in a given load capacity. To get more specific to our automotive application, this coil spring is a compression spring. By definition, as load is increased, this spring becomes shorter. This is where roll occurs in cornering. OEM applications require a spring with a low spring rate to provide driving comfort and longevity of shocks/struts.

The OEM shocks and struts are hydraulic dampers. The job of a hydraulic damper is to control inconsistencies in form of oscillations of the spring. Lost yet? Think of it like the spring being a coarse control, while the damper is a fine control. The damper utilizes a piston with an orifice to transfer a gas or fluid through a piston chamber. The energy created from movement is converted to heat, which is dissipated through the gas or fluid. In an OEM application, this orifice is usually a fixed size. The size determines the rate at which the fluid transfers. The rate of fluid transfer relates to the rate at which the damper moves.

A spring upgrade is an inexpensive solution to accomplish a limited goal. Changing your coarse control value gives you an easy performance gain. By stiffening the spring and causing the OEM damper to sit at a more compressed average position cornering performance will be increased, but excessive load will be caused on the damper. Because of the fixed orifice, the damping and rebound rates are also fixed, which limits your fine control.

Upgrading the suspension as a whole will net the best performance gains and long-term reliability. This is where options of a coilover suspension system come into play. The top level systems are designed with every control parameter in mind. Rather than limiting the setup with a fixed orifice, variable orifice valving is used. This allows adjustment. For the best control over your suspension, independent adjustable damping and rebound are desirable. This, in simple terms, means that user inputs allow both the up-stroke and the down-stroke of the piston in the damper to be controlled independent of one another.

In a street application, comfort is obviously going to be a concern. Though springrates are fixed in suspension systems via the compression spring earlier discussed, the damping and compression values are able to be changed. By setting these to softer settings, the dampers will absorb more road turbulence. This allows the cabin to be more level and comfortable.

In a track application, the only thing to be worried about is performance. Setting the damping and rebound to a stiffer setting will net the least roll in and allow for best cornering performance. This holds true until a stiffness is achieved in which rather than the body roll absorbing the sideways movement, the vehicle starts to slide. This is all dependent on road conditions, vehicle setup, etc. This is why adjustability is key.

Next in the series Suspension Part Two – The Breakdown

Like the information in this blog? Check out the James Barone Racing line of aftermarket performance parts!

JBR Featured Owner #2 – Jeffrey Sachse – 2014 Focus ST

February 23, 2023January 5, 2016 by James

In our last Featured Owner blog post we Focused largely on vehicle performance. The following post is going to have a heavy emphasis on using that performance to its potential. Autocross is a great entry into the world of racing. With as few safety concerns that you can have while pushing the limits of a vehicle and a relatively inexpensive fee, you are able to begin your path to acquiring a well-rounded set of driving skills. Some spotlight has been drawn to a few Focus and Fiesta ST drivers in the autocross world, mainly because of their great potential in this event.

One of the drivers in the spotlight has been Jeffrey Sachse from Appleton, WI. Jeff has been around cars his whole life and continues to evolve as a performance enthusiast, ranging from all types of tracks to drag racing. Wanting a daily driver with some spirit without breaking the bank, Jeff found himself contemplating between a Subaru BRZ and the ST we all have come to know and love. We think he made the right choice. With a background in racing Jeff wanted to use the Focus ST in some fun and competitive events. Naturally, having purchased a hot hatch, Jeff found himself chasing gates through cones in parking lots.

Documenting his rookie season in AutoX this year with a blog (which can be found here), Jeff managed to pull off a very successful season taking on the G Street class in the Fox Valley Sports Car Club. Capping off his stellar season, Jeff was awarded the SCCA Milwaukee Region Rookie of the Year. This class has strict rules limiting modifications and is compliant with SCCA classing (for more info on SCCA classing, visit Sports Car Club of America‘s website).

Due to these strict regulations, Jeff has kept his ST relatively stock. If asked, he will point his first and most important modification directly to tires. Choosing the correct set of tires for your application is paramount in performance- both on the track and off the track. Many may think that fitting the largest tire possible on a wheel is best. While this may ring true for some straight-line performance situations, it is definitely counter-productive when you hit the twisties. Finding a balance between soft compound and rigid sidewall is key, as well as a proper size to balance grip and tire roll.

Another key component in Street classing is an aftermarket sway bar. Street class only allows for one upgraded sway bar. Our recommendation is a stiff Rear Sway Bar for improved vehicle rotation and decreased body roll. If one is looking for optimal performance and has no concern for SCCA classing, the addition of a Front Sway Bar will balance the car very well. Following the sway bars, another upgrade that can improve handling and maintain Street classing is a set of aftermarket shocks. Aftermarket springs or coilovers are not allowed within this classing, though if one is looking for optimal performance a set of fully adjustable coilovers is recommended along with Adjustable Camber and Toe Arms and a performance-oriented alignment. These components will allow fine tuning of the suspension to optimize cornering potential.

Once handling has been addressed and higher corner entry and exit speeds are achieved, Focus ST drivers will find additional performance to be desired in the stopping category. The Focus ST is in its first purpose a street car. With this in mind, Ford engineered a braking system with common street car problems at the forefront. Brake noise and dust were primary concerns. To curb these potential issues, optimal performance was thrown on the back burner. For most enthusiasts, a set of brake pads and a fluid change will deliver all of the desired results. Some will choose to have dedicated street pads and track pads. For those that do not want to go through the hassle of changing pads every time they hit the track, Hawk HPS Front and Rear pads are highly recommended with performance in mind. If brake dust is a concern, and you do not plan to track often, then a switch to the Hawk Performance 5.0 pads are a good compromise. Once these pads are installed, braking temperatures will boil the OEM fluid. An upgrade to Motul DOT 4 RBF660 is highly recommended.

Though a Focus or Fiesta ST is an absolute blast to race in stock form, once these areas are addressed, the Focus ST is set up perfectly to hit the track or AutoX course. Classing only allows for certain guided modifications, however, if AutoX classes are not a concern other areas can be addressed as well. After tires, suspension and brakes are upgraded there is a proper foundation set to start increasing power with engine performance parts and a tune.

If you would like to be featured in our blog, send us an email and tell us your story.

JBR Featured Owner #1 – Adam Clover – 2013 Focus ST

November 18, 2015 by James

Being the Ford Focus ST is a cross between domestic economy and European hot hatch performance, the market spans a wide demographic. This unique cross creates a very interesting community that is different than all others. We see owners from [as jealous as I am to say it at that age] high school students in their first car all the way up to middle-aged performance enthusiasts.

At James Barone Racing, we have observed that with the wide demographic, there is also a great acceptance and warm welcome to new owners. This community is a great place to be and the owners are really a whole different breed than most car enthusiast groups. We’d like to introduce the community to some of these members that stand out the most to us. We would like to introduce our first JBR Featured Owner, Adam Clover.

Living in Green Bay, WI; Adam is a member of Wisconsin ST Club. The Wisconsin community has a strong level of respect for all types of enthusiasts. Adam came from a family background of car enthusiasts. His grandpa restored old cars, and since Adam was 5 he loved to help. While he was helping, he learned a lot along the way. We all know that once cars get into one’s blood, it never fades.- the passion that drives us all to tinker, to love and appreciate the machines for the true beauty they possess.

Starting off with a 1990 Honda CRX, Adam had some work to do for his first project car. Rust plagued the rear of the vehicle, and as a true car guy Adam realized that needed to be addressed. To fix the problem, he bought a second donor vehicle and cut both vehicles in half. He then proceeded to use his fabrication skills to do some surgery and stitch the two back together.

A few vehicles later, Adam found himself with the Focus ST we all know and love. There are corners of the community focusing (no pun intended- ok maybe a little) on aesthetics; performance; autocross events; road course racing; and even the simple utilitarian nature of the ST picking up the kids and transporting snowboards, skis, bikes, and more. Adam happens to have a mixture of a few of these interests.

Adam started by addressing the aesthetic shortcomings of the ST. Starting with a set of Eibach Sportline lowering springs. Shortly after, he dug into the head unit to replace it with a Nexus 7 tablet. Being a maintenance mechanic by trade, Adam has some fabrication skills. He eventually graduated into a few custom cosmetic modifications including wing risers, a custom grill, and a custom crash bar; Adam made his ST one of a kind.

After addressing the cosmetics, Adam moved on to performance. Realizing the hunger for a large amount of power, Adam went for everything at once. Adam’s Focus ST features the following performance modifications:

Custom Cold Air Intake
Custom 3” Side-exit Exhaust
OCD Downpipe
ATP GTX2971 Turbo Kit
Stratified Xtra Fuel Kit
Cobb Accsessport V3 w/ Stratified E42 Tune
Cobb Rear Motor Mount
JBR 80/88 Duro Side Mount Package
Boomba Short Throw Shifter + Bushings
CX Front Mount Intercooler

Adam’s favorite modification to his ST has been the Stratified E42 port fueling tune. This is a great bang-for-your-buck modification on every level of ST, from stock form to big turbo. It cannot be stressed enough how a proper calibration is key to getting the most our of your driving experience.

We spoke with Alex at Stratified about the tuning process…

“There are several important aspects to consider when building a car. It is important to know how the car will be used in order to determine the power level needed and the modifications needed to get to that power level reliably. With modern turbocharged vehicles it should always start with a tune. We use the COBB AccessPort for its capabilities and versatility and the excellent support.

Adam’s car was a joy to tune. He spent the time and decided on the direction he wanted to take with the car. When he came to us we were able to address those needs with an ATP GTX2971 big turbo kit, Stratified Aux Fuel System, and full custom tune. He had the supporting modifications needed and since he purchased quality and proven parts as part of this kit, he was able to reach his power goals of 400+whp reliably quickly. Adam was also very quick to respond with data and feedback during the E-tuning process and this allowed us to progress quickly towards his goals. The advantage of coming to us with a clear goal and getting the correct parts and tune is that we can address those needs without having to go through several setups, kits, and headaches that can leave a lot enthusiasts disappointed and cost a lot more in the end. If you have further questions regarding tuning and setting up your Ecoboost Focus don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

This past year has been a lot of preparation on the ST, and now that things are where Adam would like them to be for the most part he plans to enjoy it in the coming Spring and Summer. He would like to use the well-built machine to get some track time under his belt. We hope to see you at the track alongside our test vehicles this year, Adam!

If you would like to be featured in our blog, send us an email and tell us your story.