Structural Integrity

[Silvia_Drift]

Hey guys,

I would like to say that I searched for this already but did not find any relevant topics.

With that out of the way, I am planning on buying a really clean vert soon but my friend is kinda scaring me outta it. I plan on swapping over my mild KA-T setup (around 240rwhp) and a few suspension mods like coilovers.

The purpose of the car is to be a nice daily driver but I will also be taking the car autocrossing and to the track on weekends. My friend told me that the vert chassis is extremely flexible, and it will handle like crap. He even went as far as saying that the chasis will twist if I turn the boost up to 10psi with around 300hp.

To those who have owned a coupe/hatch as well as a vert, do you notice a significant difference in the car's handling? And are my friend's claims right? Thanks guys.

[madcowvert]

that guy is a f@#King Idiot . the verts have a stronger chassis the all the s13's..

i can find that damm picture that shows you but i'm sure someone will post it.

[wirelessalpha]

MadCow - I agree on the bull**** about twisting with 10psi boost, but as far as handling goes...well, the dudes friend is kinda right.

Look - I agree that the thing flexes like all hell. I track my car every month at a local drift event I go to and let me tell you....it's got a long way to go.

The vert does not handle better than a coupe or hatch-but with a little work, it can match it or beat it. dude, thats the price you pay for looking hot - and for me....it's worth it.

[94_240sx]

Look - I agree that the thing flexes like all hell. I track my car every month at a local drift event I go to and let me tell you....it's got a long way to go.

The vert does not handle better than a coupe or hatch-but with a little work, it can match it or beat it. dude, thats the price you pay for looking hot - and for me....it's worth it.

Mine's got much better after some suspension upgrades. Among those, I think best bang for the buck was aluminum subframe collars. Those small things completely changed my car. They are not going to hurt your car at all, so I recommend to everyone. They give you somewhat harsh ride, but stiffen up the rear end pretty good.

[madcowvert]

i had a fast back before my vert and i have to say that the vert dose feal alot more ridgid. but that IMO..

It just bothers me that people think that just becasue the car has no roof the car will fold in half.

[jamesblonde82]

the vert is the heaviest car out of all the 240's. does that tell you enough to know that it's been reinforced like a mofo? it has been reinforced, it does have a stronger chassis, but it still flexes a little more.

i need a tan, i think i'm going to go for a ride

[Silvia_Drift]

I mean, I know that the vert will flex more than my coupe, but will it be absolutly horrible on the track? I am used to a Coupe with significant rust issues btw lol.

[ishkabibble]

If you're not looking to be ultra-competitive, it should be fine. It is a sports car, after all.

However, I don't understand the people who try and make verts into hardcore race cars. It's not nearly as good of a foundation as a coupe due to added weight and flexing.

[aKa_KaZa]

If you're not looking to be ultra-competitive, it should be fine. It is a sports car, after all.

However, I don't understand the people who try and make verts into hardcore race cars. It's not nearly as good of a foundation as a coupe due to added weight and flexing.

I agree, I bought my vert to just have nice Sunday cruises, its not a race car and not really meant to be one, lets say your going down the track, lets say you have some decent hp into that thing 300-400, you catch air and flip, your a gonner unless u install a roll bar or roll cage in a vert which would look kinda silly imo and have no daily driver advantages...

[droptop-sr20]

If you're not looking to be ultra-competitive, it should be fine. It is a sports car, after all.

However, I don't understand the people who try and make verts into hardcore race cars. It's not nearly as good of a foundation as a coupe due to added weight and flexing.

I am personaly trying to make my vert a hardcore racer! I originaly had a fastback with all my mods crashed and totaled it and i put all my salvageable parts in the vert! I honestly looked for months for a straight rust free coupe or fastback and couldnt find one under 3000$. So i picked up my vert for 400$ from some old guy running and driving. When i owned my fastback i drag raced every friday night then drifted every last wenesday and im not going to stop the fun i had because my car doesnt have a roof!

[onosqv]

However, I don't understand the people who try and make verts into hardcore race cars.

People w/o 240's don't understand why anyone even fixes up an economy car aimed toward secretaries into a hardcore race car...

Why a vert? Bcs I can, hahaha.

When you are just getting into racing (I'm saying the first 2-3 years AT LEAST), it doesn't really matter too much what you drive or how you setup because there is so much more to improve on the driver than the car.

Go out to a track, autox, hpde, whatever - you'll see guys who have been doing this for 20-30 years before even building their "true race car". It's just a matter of personal preference.

The convertible, despite all the extra chassis bracing, is no where near as stiff as the coupe stock for stock hands down. I own both a coupe (w/ sunroof) & a vert - the coupe is way more solid. I've also ridden in all sorts of 240's & other verts. Given that, the 240 vert isn't a bad platform as long as you don't expect to be ultra-competitive, like ishkabibble said - but don't expect to be ultra-competitive in a 240 in general unless you have a decent amount of money to throw at it - that goes for almost any older car.

The coupe and fastback are RELATIVELY light. Want to be ultra-competitive? Get a miata - that thing weighs half the stripped coupe.

Just for example btwn just 240's, I came back from autox event this past weekend...

All cars have at least coilovers, and all running at least relatively decent tires -

A buddy w/ S13 n/a (cams, etc), ra-1 tires I believe, been doing this for 4 years: 64.5xMy friend w/ S14 ka-t (superb driver): 66.1 lap timeMy friend w/ S13 sr20: 70.xx laptimeMe w/ S13 convertible stock except cat & exhaust: 71.6x lap timeMy friend w/ S13 ka stock: 73.x (got a 69 in s13 sr20 car above, haha)Another guy w/ S14 sr20: 73.xAnother guy w/ S13 sr20: 75.xAnother guy w/ S13 sr20: 77.x

Driver makes a big difference.

From another event (but same setup):