Autocross build up

[garrett21]

Just wanted to see if there are many people who have set up a 1g for autocross. Drag racing is awsome but drag racing is for fast cars and autocross is for fast drivers. Basic rules are i can run unlimited boost with stock internals and stock turbo. . FMIC are ok. Any ideas!!! Thanks.

 

[wret]

Read the autocross rules and do some long-term planning. Once you start modding, you may find that you are less and less competitive due to being bumped to classes with stiffer competition. If you are just in it for the fun and experience, than the class you are in and the times of your competors won't matter much. It's hard to suppress the urge not to be last in your class though.

 

[sccrAdidas15]

I was thinking about doing this too! I want to keep my 1g for a long time and since I'm only 19 once I get out of collge I will buy a new car and keep the 1g, thinking bout building an autocross car just for fun, for the weekends or whenever. Anyways are the any get sites or articles on this site or others that shows how to build a 1g DSM autocross car? That would be cool. Later.

 

[Talesin]

If you're going for AX, horsepower upgrades aren't going to help you as much as handling. Check your rules for aftermarket suspension... especially adjustable shocks, 'sport' springs, upgraded swaybars, strut tower bars, and replacement mount/bushing sets. Rollcages too, if you have the money... they do really help keep the car from flexing and screwing with the geometry mid-turn.

If possible, an antilag system is also helpful, though not really needed.. the 14b is more than enough for autocross, and spools quick enough. You should definitely read the VFAQ article on modifying your power steering pump, if you intend to retain it. Cutout at high RPMs is a big problem while doing things like speed slalom... but there's a fix. Alter the restrictor.
I just replaced the PS rack with a manual, myself. With good tires and a good alignment, it's just about as responsive, and gives a LOT more feedback.

You don't need to worry about doing the big-brake upgrade with the 92, but you might think about stepping up to Powerslot rotors and Metal Master pads, with high-temp brake fluid. Being able to brake as late as our cars can without trail-braking is a BIG advantage, and definitely not one to overlook.

And remember. It's not how fast you move your hands and feet. It's how well you choose your line, keep it smooth, and keep your exit speeds up.

 

[eclipsh]

FWIW, in my region, you can modify your intake, exhaust and suspension without any serious penalties.

With my list of mods they've got me placed in the Street Modified class (SM) which you probably want to avoid competing in. Last event I was classed with a late model turbo Supra amongst others. Needless to say it wasn't an even playing field. The moral of this story: do lots of research like everyone else is saying.

 

[JPGRL]

The rules change year-to-year, so make sure you're looking at current information. If you plan to run with SCCA, here's a link to their rules page: http://www.scca.org/Solo/Index.asp?IdS=0185A2-FE47500&x=050|070&~=

If you're running with another (local) club, some have no "classes" and run with a handicap system, so find a club and ask about classes and rules.

Other than that, don't concentrate too much on modifying your car. Your first season you'll gain enough in experience alone -changes to the car will only take away from the driving skills you'll be learning. Changes in tire pressure alone can make a big difference. If your local club is anything like the ones around me, you'll find that the members are generally really good about helping newbies out. -If you're willing to say you're new and open to their help, you'll improve that much faster. Watching some of the old hats is downright humbling.

Fast or slow, at the end of the day I always have a big grin on my face. Autocross roks.

 

[mavisky]

I'll just repeat what others are saying. Check into what you want to do. Do you want to have fun, or do you want to be competitive. You may find that in your region you're most competitive in the stock glass.

I built my car for fun, but use it in autox too. The turbo's too laggy, there's no lsd in the car, and I can't get enough camber to really be competitive but I do have lots of fun. I'm in street mod myself right now and luckily in our region it's not super fast there.

One thing to keep in mind is that something as simple as a manual boost controller will bump you into SP or SM.

 

[garrett21]

From what i know from talking to people in my region is that to run in stx (i think) the motor has to be at stock boost but some things in the engine department are allowed. In SP they are now letting turbo cars have unlimited boost and i was planning on going for this because the 4g63 can take the boost, with fuel mods, and with some nice coilovers, it would do well, and some slicks. But i am going to take eveyones advice and go out and run the car first before i get to deep into the money pit. I understand that the dsm's have the power steering problem and that will be first on my list. Thank You everyone!!!!!!!!!

 

[mavisky]

I've actually not run into the power steering problem yet, but that doesn't mean I won't.

STX doesn't allow slicks, must be treadwear of 180 or higher I think. Street Prepared lets you run a boost controller, but you can't change the stock turbo.

 

[JPGRL]

I haven't run into the power steering thing either. It happens when your RPM's are high, which they usually aren't while turning... If you find you have the PS cut out on you, try shifting up a gear in that section.

 

[garrett21]

I've actually not run into the power steering problem yet, but that doesn't mean I won't.

STX doesn't allow slicks, must be treadwear of 180 or higher I think. Street Prepared lets you run a boost controller, but you can't change the stock turbo.

Hey Mavisky, I was wondering if your car is a contender in you class and area, and was wondering what are the dominant cars in you class, so i would know what i am up against and how a dsm compares.
Also good to know about the ps cut and that is is not really needed in autox.

 

[mavisky]

Hey Mavisky, I was wondering if your car is a contender in you class and area, and was wondering what are the dominant cars in you class, so i would know what i am up against and how a dsm compares.
Also good to know about the ps cut and that is is not really needed in autox.

I've never finished out of the top 5 in Street Mod locally, but then again I've never won either. My car's fwd so it hinders how much power I can put down out of the corners effectively since I'm on street tires and an open diff.

The top cars in our region for last year in street mod weren't really crazy, we're a smallish region and alot of the street mod cars are just street cars, not the wildly tuned cars it would take to win nationals with. I was running against the following last year: WRX's, STI's, a swapped 2.5RS, EG hatchback, Mustang, Turbo Maxima , SRT-4, and a couple other random cars that got bumped up due to ill-planned modifications.

 

[eclipsh]

MR2's and Miatas rule 'round here, stock SP and SM Classes.

 

[garrett21]

Mavisky, thank you for the info, hope you can get a win now that, some of the cars got bumped.
Also Mavisky, it says u have eibachs?, have you upgraded from them yet? What size tire are you running?

P.S. Miatas are fun, in fact i was sliding one around a couple of hours ago, and MR2's are alittle twitchy, for me.

 

[mavisky]

Mavisky, thank you for the info, hope you can get a win now that, some of the cars got bumped.
Also Mavisky, it says u have eibachs?, have you upgraded from them yet? What size tire are you running?

P.S. Miatas are fun, in fact i was sliding one around a couple of hours ago, and MR2's are alittle twitchy, for me.

Actually we're creating a street mod street tire class within our region for this year.

Still have the eibachs, waiting to get a set of ground controls for the time being. Ideally later I'd like to jump to jic's but these will do for now. Tires right now are 205/55-16 Falken Azenis RT-215's or 225/50-16 Khumot V700 Victoracers.