How's this for an auto-X set up??

[Crazy91GSX]

Hey guys.. I have a 90 laser rs turbo - fwd. Instead of building it like i would a awd, for drag, I wan't to make a very good auto cross car that i can reliably drive everyday. Here is what my plans are..

Power:
- rebuild w/ 2g pistons and 1g big rods
- uicp/licp/big sidemount
- intake pipe
- full 3" exhaust
- ported evoIII manifold/o2 housing
- 190lph pump/550's/safc-II
- mbc ~15psi
- underdrive pulley
- balance shafts removed

susp/brakes/driveline:
- front and rear upper strut brace
- front lower strut brace
- front and rear sway bars
- full bushing kit
- kyb agx struts front and rear
- tokico springs
- brand new moog brand ball joints/tie rod ends/end link kits
- quife lsd diff.
- short shifter
- big brake upgrade - front
- drilled rotors/ceramic pads - rear

everything in bold is already installed/performed on the car. Any comments/suggestions?

 

[jtmcinder]

Any comments/suggestions?

You are going to the tar beat out of you, since you will be in Street Modified (driving a wrong-wheel drive pig), so my suggestion is to either get used to losing or start over with either a lighter FWD car or an AWD car.

Sorry if that was blunt, but a 3000# FWD car has no chance, even if you're Daddio.

- Jtoby

 

[Crazy91GSX]

You are going to the tar beat out of you, since you will be in Street Modified (driving a wrong-wheel drive pig), so my suggestion is to either get used to losing or start over with either a lighter FWD car or an AWD car.

Sorry if that was blunt, but a 3000# FWD car has no chance, even if you're Daddio.

- Jtoby

One thing: I looked up and read the specs on the 90 laser rs fwd and it showed to be ~2580lbs. Add me in, and it'll be about 2800.. before i do weight reduction.

 

[Dallas J]

The thing about autocross is that since the course is short and turns come up real quick, its more benifitial to apex late. This is because it will essentially make that part of the straight longer and give you more acceleration distance/time. This means that you are really turning fairly hard in the middle of the turn, and also starting to get into the throttle.

In a FWD car, especially with a bit of power, this will translate into wheels spin and terminal understeer.

You can do it with your laser, but the class youll be in (SM) you wont win. Well, I cant say "wont" win, but if their are other good drivers with better suited cars then you probably wont win.

I may be biased, but FWD belongs in their stock category classes, and some ST classes.

-Dallas J

edit: I forgot to add that their are cars out there that will do great with a FWD, but they usually are the people who have been Autocrossing for years, and have an extremely light car. The CRX, Civic, VW, Old sentras...ect. Those are the FWD cars that are generally fast.

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

I'm sorry to say it, but the only FWD car that I think is worth racing is maybe the 1985 Honda CRX HF. The wheelbase is very very short, and curb weight is 1,500 lbs stock. I've seen them down to 1,300 lbs when stripped. You'll have a hard time beating one of these in the stock class, and in SM.
Also, use this as a reference for autocross rules, and modifications allowed in each catagory.

http://www.sff.net/people/dburkhead/prepcompare.htm


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In anycase, if you do intend to autocross your FWD, the first thing to do is forget adding more power mods. The next thing is to stuff more tire under your wheel wells. (I.e., R compound 245's.) Next, learn how to drive your car again, and find its' transitional point from steady state turning to understeer. You'll find that your lap times will decrease if you spend more time studying your driving and the course, than adjusting your engine mods.