What car - Race car edition

I Am Keyser Söze wrote: I would love to run a competitive domestic. just because they are cheap and the locals would love it. S/R wouldn't be allowed due to performance version prohibited rule

Most tracks wouldn't know the difference. A stock ZX2 can easily be made in to an SR. Remove the SR badge and there is no positive way to identify one. Unless you know what to look for.

What would you do that wasn't easily checked?

Put a $400 helical obx diff in a dohc neon trans, in a sohc neon(shorter gearing=noticeably stronger accel).

Honestly.. having HAD a dohc-trans'd minor-mods sohc neon.. i dont think anything else comes close. I know what a ka24 altima/stanza drives like, and it's crap.

Also, a sohc 240sx is pretty much in the same boat. Those (ka24 stanza/altima/240)would be so far down on acceleration compared a stripped, low-geared sohc neon or a prelude that i dont think they could make it up with cornering.

I DO wonder if one of those 4.10:1 geared 2.5 iron duke fieros wouldnt be pretty quick out there..but on the faster sections a neon or prelude would murder it.

But i'm still recommending a sohc neon with a sneaky diff and trans gearing. There's also the invisible ATX tb, the invisible exhaust porting, the invisible 95 oem cam, the invisible performance computer, etc.

also, i had a 2500 lb k-car with a 2.5/5spd (non turbo) and minor mods. It was a 16.9-17.0 car. It had nutso torque for what it was, but it didnt breathe well enough to be quick past ~50mph. My sohc neon never ran a 1/4 pass but would have murdered it by NEARLY 2 full seconds. Hard to make that up with cornering.. So k-cars should probably be left right off the list.

BMW 318Ti? I have an idea regarding the ZX2-S/R. Get a regular ZX2 and swap all the goody bits. There, no aftermarket anything and yet you have a bunch of upgraded stuff.

Ecotec Cavalier with a 5 spd. Won't be easy to find, but they are 2.3L if memory serves me correct.

Or Sunfire. Meets your domestic needs

spnx wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: How about a B13 Sentra SE-R? I also think that, especially if you go FWD, you will want to sneak an LSD in there.

Not a problem, since it comes with LSD stock. If you can find a used mechanical (VLSD) Nismo unit, that's a nice sneaky move. I think I got one of the last in North America though.

Sorry, I meant that in general it would be a good idea to rock an LSD in a FWD car. That said, my OEM B13 SE-R LSD does not seem to do much for me anymore...

Also, if you have a Viscous Limited Slip Diff. it is NOT mechanical, and will eventually wear out like mine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited-slip_differential

I like the sentra idea, but I like the ZX2 idea even better. The right Neon maybe a thought.

Anyone have any opinions about a non-S Mini or something from VW?

In reply to I Am Keyser Söze:

Well, I would avoid the MINI because of durability, parts cost, and relative difficulty of repair. Unless your circle tracks are very different from ours there is a lot of body contact, I'm not sure how a MINI would stand up to that.

As for VW's, I think that Mk2 and Mk3's would be pretty good, even if the GTI/GLI are out, the standard models handle better than most 90's 4-bangers. I know for a fact they are fairly sturdy, though parts would be a bit steeper than most Japanese cars, and probably more than twice what domestic parts run. Too bad the really hot motors are a V6 and a turbo...

NGTD wrote: Ecotec Cavalier with a 5 spd. Won't be easy to find, but they are 2.3L if memory serves me correct. Or Sunfire. Meets your domestic needs

There are lot's of them out there, and they are 2.2 L, but you would be far better off with a Cobalt. It would probably out handle anything on the track, and you can find them cheap these days. That motor is AWESOME.

In reply to Zomby Woof:

Which motor? I assume an SS would be out of the question. IIRC the base motor was around 140-150 hp?

I think all cavaliers from ~02 up had the 2.2 ecotec. 140hp.

base Cobalt motor is roughly the same afaik.

an old 2.2 ohv / 5spd cavalier is not much slower than a neon or prelude until about 50 mph. What are the speeds on the track getting up to?

You guys have convinced me to look up my local circle track and head to the races for the first time since I was 12 this Saturday. I'm taking my 8 year old. I'll let you know if I learn anything.

mazdeuce wrote: You guys have convinced me to look up my local circle track and head to the races for the first time since I was 12 this Saturday. I'm taking my 8 year old. I'll let you know if I learn anything.

Have fun I took my then 6 year old.

You will have a blast

In reply to Vigo:

It is a 4/10 asphalt oval. so they move

AEG VW. peppiest 2.slow in the vw line imo

corytate wrote: the stanza is another good idea. I would think with either a stanza or a GD mazda you would have a good chance. both small cars, the GD with the f2 is rated at about 110 stock and the stanza, as said, was about 140. get something with a decent suspension that has a super tall final gear so you can get some speed out lol. so that'd probably be a honda.

The 110hp in the GD F2 will probably be the strongest 110hp you've ever felt. For some reason the numbers mazda advertised for cars in this generation ended up being numbers to the wheels, and you can expect an honest 130wtq to go with your 110whp.

Everytime I see a cheap Infiniti G20 come up, I start thinking it would make a great car for the 4cyl class at my local short track.

I second the 2.2 mazda feeling stronger than it sounds. It's nowhere near as slow as the numbers suggest.

Anyway, i think it's funny that it was mentioned that dohc were frowned on and everyone and their mother in this thread decided that didnt fit their reality and went on to suggest mostly dohc cars.

Vigo wrote: Anyway, i think it's funny that it was mentioned that dohc were frowned on and everyone and their mother in this thread decided that didnt fit their reality and went on to suggest mostly dohc cars.

You noticed that too???

I think just finding a newer prelude may be the ticket. I like the mini idea too, despite parts cost.

Just for the record if I can't Craigslist it, I will copart it. You would be surprise how cheap you can get some of those cars.

I don't car about body, glass, or airbags since it will get beat to E36 M3 anyway.

What is the penalty for DOHC?

I get the impression it's discretionary. Which means you COULD get all the way through your build and have it rendered useless once you pull up to the track.

That's why i and a few others offered SOHC suggestions.

Yeah, don't let the rednecks have the choice. I think that is why the Preludes are so popular. I have been doing a little research and I would say they are modding H23As in those Preludes and advertising them as H22s.

200 hp engine masquerading as a 160 hp engine.

So that would be ticket, I am guess they are tuned to about 220hp.

So what do we know that comes in where I can get a 60 hp delta in power?

Can I get that in a ZX2 or a Chrysler variant?

I Am Keyser Söze wrote: Yeah, don't let the rednecks have the choice. I think that is why the Preludes are so popular. I have been doing a little research and I would say they are modding H23As in those Preludes and advertising them as H22s. 200 hp engine masquerading as a 160 hp engine. So that would be ticket, I am guess they are tuned to about 220hp. So what do we know that comes in where I can get a 60 hp delta in power? Can I get that in a ZX2 or a Chrysler variant?

Ah so you think they're putting H22 heads on H23 or F23 bottom ends?

How about an Escort GT with a 2.2 litre stroker FE3 swap using F2 crank and such. If you can't make 200hp out of that, you're doing it wrong, and no redneck will be able to tell you it looks different.

I think a lot of y'all would be surprised at how much "REDNECKS" know when it comes to racing and bending the rules...

In general, I've found the roundy-round boys to be MUCH more innovative than road racers.

The neons were cleaning up locally a couple years ago. Haven't been out there recently though. Find a 3.94 geared 5 speed and use a DOHC computer for more timing. You could also run a later magnum sohc head in a first gen. That should put you north of 160 at least. Someone told me that the four-doors are lighter than the two doors. Don't know if it is true though.

The earlier boxy se-r has been brought up but, I figure you could de-badge it and maybe run under the radar for awhile at least. Most people wouldn't know it from a sentra for the most part anyways. Not to mention I know where one is :)

racerfink wrote: I think a lot of y'all would be surprised at how much "REDNECKS" know when it comes to racing and bending the rules... In general, I've found the roundy-round boys to be MUCH more innovative than road racers.

yeah, Rednecks invented rule bending. The trick here is if they know Mazda's or not.