Modding my T/A for Auto-X Options

[BottleRocket]

My last car was a '91 Mustang coupe. It had over 500 rwhp and it was a blast at the 1/4 mile, but on the street it was a pain in the ass. The reason for selling it was to get a car that would have very good street manners, which is why im looking into an M6 T/A. But I was wondering how well this would work out. I've been looking at alot of the photo albums on here of people that race in NASA and SCCA and their cars have no interior except dash and a seat with a 12+ point cage and no creature comforts. I wanted to make a nice street car that was fun to drive around town but would still hold it's own at the track. is this possable? im not planning on going for national titles or anything, but just be competitive locally. I wanted to have a system and full interior in my car to keep it enjoyable for myself and all of my friends, but at the same time i want to be able to go out to the speedway when SCCA shows up and make a few laps and do well. is this possable or just a dream?

[sgarnett]

Yes, it is certainly possible. But first you mentioned autocross, laps, SCCA, and speedway. Are you intending to run laps on a speedway or autocross (course laye dout with cones).

It isn't unreasonable to set up a suspension that will do both well, but one big difference is brakes. Autocross brake pads work well on the street (and strip). Road course / speedway laps require higher temperature range pads that DON'T work well on the street, so most people swap brake pads for track day.

On autocross, there are different classes that allow different levels of modifications, from stock to fully gutted and built race cars. Stock is of course the smartest choice, and ESP is one step up and allows quite a bit but you can still keep the car streetable.

[trackbird]

If you are new to autocross. The first thing to "fix" will be the driver (I'm still working on that one). The best car prep in the world will only get you so far (and kicked into a class with guys who have been at this a long time). But, if you are going to do it for fun and to learn, it's not such a big deal. However, in most cases, you'll have the best chance in the stock classes (in my opinion). I used to run a 2000 GTI VR6 in G-stock and trophied regularly. My Camaro and I have not seen a Street Mod trophy thus far (I think I'm going to fire my driver... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) ).

But, yes, you can have a fun street car that handles very well and keep your interior, ac and all.

My thoughts.

[sgarnett]

I've thought about firing my driver, but it's my pit crew that's always in danger of getting pink-slipped (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Cal]

Where I autoX, there's a guy that drives a very cool '68 Camaro. It is completely gutted, side windows and bumpers removed, has a custom four link rear suspension and a 500 hp, NA SBC that he turns to 7,000 rpm with a 250 degree gear-drive cam. Also has huge Hoosiers on all four corners. I love the sound this beast makes every time he runs, but I only see him come in the middle of the pack for raw times, and worse than that in PAX. I'm sure this thing would absolutley kill on a big track . . .

[trackbird]

On a big track it may. For reference, I actually was slightly slower at my last event (super tight, very slick/pea gravel track) than a Ford Focus???? I was running close to the WRX in my class (for a while) but a Focus? It would seem ludicris to be slower than a focus, but on that course, I wasn't too suprised. Of course, he has much less weight to toss around than I do and it was a "slidefest" in my car. Most of our courses are built for Miatas and it is a trick to thread an F-body though them. Of course, it could be that I'm just slow (though my codriver and I ran nearly identical times in my car at that event).

[LT4Firehawk]

I actually was slightly slower at my last event (super tight, very slick/pea gravel track) than a Ford Focus???? I was running close to the WRX in my class (for a while) but a Focus? It would seem ludicris to be slower than a focus...

That's why I really don't autox much anymore. When I first got involved with racing, it was 1/4 mile, which was a lot of fun. Then I tried autox and had even more fun. Of course, you know what the next step was, yep, a track day at a roadcourse. When you look at the amount of time I get to spend on track (five 15-20 minute sessions a day) versus the time spent on course for autox, it just doesn't add up. Plus our cars are much better (and more fun) on roadcourses than tight little autox courses. At the roadcourse, I walk all over those little Miatas, focuses (foci?), WRXs, etc that are so fast on autox courses. Besides, I'm a speed freak and I can go a lot faster on a roadcourse! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Now, back to your original question. Yes, it is very possible. There are quite a few examples on this board of very comptetive autoxers that still have cars that are very liveable for everyday use. By the same token, you can also find examples of cars that are very fast on a roadcourse and are still very comfortable. Since I'm a roadcourse guy, I'll talk about mine. I was running times faster than stock C5s (and within 4 seconds a lap of my Z06 times) with just front Koni DA shocks, LS1 front brakes w/ Carbotech XP race pads, and Nitto 555R II tires. Of course, I started with a car that was a little better than a stock TA, but it wouldn't take much to bring a stock TA up to the same level.

[00 Trans Ram]

As a current 2000 Trans Am auto-xer, I can say that these cars are very good to have as auto-x / street cars. Now, as stated before, first thing is driver . . . but I can't help with that one. What I can help with is car.

I have done every suspension mod possible, except replace rear springs. I have dedicated race tires and wheels, keeping very reliable (read: "long life") tires on for the street. I have removed my exhaust, up to the stock headers, which is a bit loud for the street, but gives me a bit more high-end HP (no dyno proof, just a feeling - it is debated as to whether or not this actually does anything). I have done most of the mods allowed to intake, except for a new intake manifold. The only interior mod that I did was to install a 5-pt harness (lap belts bolt to the back two front-seat bolts, sub belt is bolted under the seat, shoulder belts use a D-ring to clamp to the "baby-seat" loops on the rear deck - the shoulder belts come out for the street).

Best finish thus far is 2nd in unadjusted time (got that in the last 2 events) and 2nd in PAX (last time - got 5th in PAX time before that). The car is very quick and nimble. Since putting in the suspension and tires, I've only lost to 1 Miata, but I beat him last time.

As well as this car responds to HP mods, I believe that it responds twice as well to suspension and tire mods. I went from the handling of a '80's station wagon, to a first-rate car that will corner well, accellerate great, brake well, and transition well.

If you go to Delta March Results you'll see that I was 5th, while the top 11 cars were all small-engine, light-weight cars. And, Delta April Results shows that the top 8 positions were all small-engine, light-weight cars (except me and Jason Blitz driving a BMW M3). I'm not posting these to brag - just to show that a properly set-up F-body can win an auto-x. Of course, I have to thank Sam for most of my setup - he is instrumental to my car being as good as it is.

Sorry for the long post (I find that most of my posts end up long), but I hope it is helpful!!

[prockbp]

it's definately possible to be competitive in local autocross events with a street car..

Stock Class has very limited mods.. if you're into modifying the car then stock class isn't going to be much fun

Street Prepared lets you change a few things though.. you can use any springs, swaybars, panhard bar, torque arm, intake from the heads up, exhuast from the heads back, clutch and any size wheels.... of course all the stock mods are allowed in esp

some engine work is also allowed in Street Prepared.. you can port match the heads up to one inch into the ports, balance and blueprint, machine the decks up to .010", poke the cylinders up to .046"... of course the engine can be machined in any way that is within factory specs

[bowtieboy]

Yes, they can be made competitive locally, if you can keep the damn thing running.

........I'm learning that oil starvation from a high G left hand turn is an ugly thing (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Good luck !

[prockbp]

........I'm learning that oil starvation from a high G left hand turn is an ugly thing (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

hehe.. that's the exact type of turn that i was in when the IROC gave up...