Who actually autocrosses here?

[Doomed2Walk]

As it says, I'm just wondering who here actually autocrosses and if they have any advice? I'm looking to start next season and so I'm changing the direction of how I want to build my car. Anyone have advice on suspension set ups, what to modify first, recommended tires? Please don't give me any extremes, as I want to learn my car and what those upgrades will do first. Also, since my 240 is my only car, it must double as a daily driver. Thanks guys. Just trying to absorb as much free knowledge as possible.:EDIT: I also here the SCCA is pretty strict with regulations on cars, my suspension is stock right now, but I do have a SR like it says in my signature, what class can I expect to compete in and what are the common cars in that class?

[93sleeper]

I'm also looking to try autocross; I've done a little research online and found this to be particularly helpful:http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/faq/auto.htm

Now all I need is my car...which happens to be 3000 miles away at the moment....

[Doomed2Walk]

Thanks for the link. Just trying to see if anyone has any helpful tips and how to go about modding suspension, wheels and tires.

[The Mic]

youll most likely be in the modified class because of your sr, thats an anything goes kind of class. so dont think you suck if you lose the first several times =P. as far as tires go, you'll need get wider tires, around 225-235ish. You have 15s or 16 in wheels, you might have to get 17 in wheels. And as far as building up goes; get sway bars, adj. shocks, springs, end links, strut bars etc... basicly reinforcing the chassis.

[Hijacker]

you don't need 17s. i run 15" old z car wheels with kuhmo Ecsta v700 tyres. Most of the people in Street Modified seem to prefer the ectsa v700s as well.

As far as suspension setups go, that depends on your driving style, your experience, and the general style of track your region sets up. I run with a set of KYB AGXs and Tein S tech springs. The dampers are set 2/6 front/rear, and if I seem to be oversteering a lot, I up the front dampers to 3. This setup seems to be the best for me, and as I get more comfortable with racing, I get faster, and I'm sure that my suspension will continue to evolve. Soon, I'm gonna start messing with sway bars and settings (once I get my whiteline bars ordered for next season)

[underground57]

I'd say aside from maybe upgrading your suspension, save up. Wait until you've driven a couple courses to see how your car reacts. Figure out how you want the car to react differently. Then tune accordingly. I know a good setup is a good setup and you can't break the laws of physics, but everyone drives a differently and therefore likes slightly different setups. Find out what works for other people then tweak so it works for you.

I don't suggest getting wheels and tires right away until you feel comfortable driving in that condition. Then when it feels natural and you're pretty happy with your setup, go ahead and drop some change for wheels and tires. Depending on your driving style, you might run through those tires pretty quick. If you have the space, keep 2 sets of wheels/tires, one for street and one for autocross. That way you can get stickier tires and not have to worry about wearing them out with daily driving and going to and from the autocross. You can change your tires when you get there before tech inspection.

Oh, and buy a helmet, because the course you go to might not have loaners.

I'm a novice at best, so this is just my two cents. Btw, I just moved from FL, so I've never been to any IL autocrosses. Where do they normally hold them?

[navysnail]

http://www.240sx.org/faq/artic...s.htm

[Doomed2Walk]

Thanks guys The thing is my rear left strut is going, so if I can find an OEM replacement cheap I will or else I will go with some sort of strut/spring combo. Also, tires will probably need to be replaced soon, they are crappy mud and snow tires and I've had them on for 2 plus years. Any suggestions for either?

[Axel Grungy]

just get some agx with some eibach or tein springs. i run 205/50/15 falken azenis in autox and they do awesome (for s13 btw) next on my list is swaybars. id just find a cheap extra set of 16" se alloys and put some falkens on them. HTH

[Doomed2Walk]

I was thinking Koni Yellows and Eibach springs. Tires, still have to look into depending on what wheels I can afford.

[TurboTuli]

Auto-x is ALL about tires. Get a decent shock/spring setup and some sticky tires. They shouldn't be too pricey for 15s...

[Doomed2Walk]

Anyone know how the Nitto 555Rs are? They're dual purpose tires correct? From what I've read in the magazines, they seem like an amazing tire. I wonder what the life span on one of those are for dry/wet/snow ones (as I live in Chicago and we have all four seasons in extremes). Can anyone tell me? Just wondering, I'm sure they're expensive as hell and wear out quickly.

[Type X(J)]

relocate u'r battery to the rear... shifting the weight helps turn the car. summitracing sells a kit for around $45. find a spot in the rear opposite the your drivers seat closest to the rear struts - best spot to even out weight. also folding down the rear seats help.

[nsrZ32]

Well there's a couple things you'll want....

-definately a set of track wheels-some R compound tires-a good set of brake pads with some serious bite-Suspension work if you can afford it, its amazing what a good set of sway bars does...

I love auto-x. Truly a blast. Just need to get some new race wheels/tires for the Z and I'm good to go. Probably will need a roll bar now as well with all the power mods I've got done.

[240marcuSX]

first id say get some decent tires, maybe azenis, while youre still beginning, (like me) but then as you progress, (im talking at least a couple seasons) move up to victoracers, and then finally up to hoosiers. use small wheels, 15's or so and you should be fine

and dont be surprised when some stock miata with race tires owns you and your sr.

[Juujai]

advan neova and heavy spring rate is what i go by, wide tires as the other guys said is good. Of course nothing is necessary you can go bone stock but this is what "I" feel makes it better/easier to control. An LSD is also good that's my advice. I haven't been to a real public autocross I just go to my friend's back yard he has a grip of cones and a football sized backyard it's a lot of fun there

[jmauld]

I'm just wondering who here actually autocrosses and if they have any advice?

When you get to the event, introduce yourself to people and ASK for help! Don't spend any time by yourself or with any of your friends that are also novices. When you do the coursewalk in the morning, introduce yourself to someone who has been doing it for a while and ask them to explain the coursewalk to you. Then find someone to ride with you on every one of your runs! (again, not your friends if they are also novices)

The eibachs are too soft for serious autocrossing. Try the Koni/RS*R setup. I've been fairly pleased with those.

To be honest you should run your car as stock as you can for at least a year. The stock suspension is extremely forgiving and provides lots of feedback to what is going on. With a good driver a stock 240sx is an extremely capable car at autocross. Since you have a blown shock, you can go ahead and get Konis to replace what's on there. I ran Konis and stock springs for the first year while my wife was learning how to Autocross. After the first year, I added the RS*R Race springs and Tein camber plates to the Konis. It's a good compromise between being stiff for autocross and comfortable for daily driving.

As for tires, those are also something that you should not jump into at first. Just get a set of agressive street tires and stay away from the race tires for a year. Race tires don't give a lot of warning before breaking away, and require that you do a lot of work before the event starts, which is time that can be spent on coursewalking and learning from others.

[The Mic]

ah well thats what I am planning to doing to my car for my next session. O yeah and you need a helmet, like $150. they need to be DOT approved, which is ghey.

[Doomed2Walk]

This is good stuff guys. Yeah, I know about miatas and what they can do. I assume any car that weighs under a ton would be a killer. My battery is already relocated to the trunk ^_^ Yeah, I'm probably going to change my struts though because like I stated, my tires are going too, but I think I'll just get a decent set of all season tires and learn off that. I don't want to mod my car like crazy, then start autocrossing having no control over my car. I plan on modifying my suspension pretty slowly.

[Ligouri Rd]

Quote »I was thinking Koni Yellows and Eibach springs. Tires, still have to look into depending on what wheels I can afford.[/quote]-let me warn ya about one thing with Koni Yellows, the rears are ONLY adjustable when completely removed from the car. I.e. take the strut off the car, take off the spring, push the strut rod all the way in and turn to adjust, now put back to gether. Remember (at the Hooter meet) how I was sayin I got Koni's on the front and Kyb on the rear. To make the koni's stiff enough for autox would make for a horribly stiff ride daily. I am going to send my rear Koni's out to have them made externally adjustable. Unless ya wanna do that right off the bat, I would suggest getting Kyb's. Another thing, Koni front struts are cartidges. They require you to cut appart your oem struts and put the koni strut inside. Its not too bad of an install, but the higher price of the Kyb's will make up for your lost time. my $.02

By the way your SR will at the least put you into the Street Mod (SM) category , but every one in that class is limited to street tyres anyway. A set of Falkens or Kumho's should do well.

Current Autox setup: Koni yellow Front/Kyb Agx Rear, H&R springs, Cusco RUCAs, Cusco camber plates and strut bar, Whiteline rear sway bar, Gram light 17x7.5 F/18.5R, Falken Azenis 225-45R17.

[Axel Grungy]

and dont be surprised when some stock miata with race tires owns you and your sr.

miatas are awesome, they whup on me all the time. definately will be the next car i get.

[ZeroS13]

Great thread guys! I too will be autox-ing once I find myself a base model coupe.