Well just kinda curious on the del slow. i just picked 1 up as a daily/winter car and im starting to like it. Its a fun car to drive and curious to see how it would do at an auto-x.

At 2301lb's factory and stock d16z6/b16, can it be competitive even being a "convertible" with "unridged chasis"

 

What auto-x class is being considered here?

For ST2, I'd go looking for a vtec equipped Del Slo. Compared to a CRX, the Sol is heavier with a more flexible chassis, or already at a disadvantage. Power can make up for that, especially on the less grippy street tires.

 

doesn't really matter just wondering if there are any real case studies on the rigidity of the chassis or its always been "assumed"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">doesn't really matter just wondering if there are any real case studies on the rigidity of the chassis or its always been "assumed"</TD></TR></TABLE>

Remove center roof section, roll down windows.
Tape some string between the A pillar and the C pillar on each side of car.
Drive around some corners aggressively, watch string go slack (i.e. chassis flex).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its a fun car to drive and curious to see how it would do at an auto-x.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why don't you just try it and see?

If you like it and you're having fun with it, that's all that matters.

 

im going 2 try that. seems pretty bad if its that noticeable.

what about with the roof on though?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im going 2 try that. seems pretty bad if its that noticeable.

what about with the roof on though?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The roof panel isn't structural, shouldn't make a difference.
I only say to remove it, because its in the way of the string.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why don't you just try it and see?

If you like it and you're having fun with it, that's all that matters.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed!

My 2000 GSR certainly isn't a worthy competitor for STS class (which I do run in), but that doesn't stop me from having fun and learning. Its a fight for "first non-Civic" place between those of us who, well, don't have an 89 Civic Si...

 

never said I wasn't going to do it but was curious to see why people don't use it.

what about a full cage? would that have any effect on strengthening the chassis?

BTW all of these questions are purely for knowledge purpose. I have a 98 hatch that is dedicated to track only.

 

the roof certainly helps stiffen the sol, and this is testament to the EG2's flexibility. I can feel a substantial difference in mine with roof on vs. off. I track mine, but not competitively. I really want to cage it, but with removable bars along the roofline for daily use; doorbars should still stiffen it up a lot.

 

Id ask Mike Lock and Brian Zoraster....
They drove a H-22 swapped De La Sol in HC??? .....
If anyone has the 411 on that chasis, it would be them.
I have a De La Sol as a DD and when I asked him(Brian) about building a De La Sol race car, he said the rear end likes to "walk" in turns.

 

if u can drive, youll do fine....

personally i think a del sol S woudl do better than z6 or b16 delsol just cause of the weight.... i believe b16 sol comes in at somewhere around 2500? and z6 comes around 2400 and the base model S is like 2300 ... maybe the z6 too but 100lbs is alot when we are talking low hp sts hondas

and im referring to STS2 class....

i dont think they can do any damage anywhere else...

 

maybe

 

for a 94 si it weighs in at 2301 w/o driver. z6 engine 4 wheel disc brakes and power everything.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">for a 94 si it weighs in at 2301 w/o driver. z6 engine 4 wheel disc brakes and power everything. </TD></TR></TABLE>

so? its still a heavy pig compared to sts2 crx mid 1900- high 2000 lbs

 

damn should i be ashamed that i lose to a del sol in my 4door??? damn with all numbers, makes me wanna to know that a del sol can beat me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90_EX_Civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn should i be ashamed that i lose to a del sol in my 4door??? damn with all numbers, makes me wanna to know that a del sol can beat me </TD></TR></TABLE>

more seat time, better driving car isn't nearly as important as the nut behind the wheel.

iirc, caging a del slo is tricky.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90_EX_Civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn should i be ashamed that i lose to a del sol in my 4door??? damn with all numbers, makes me wanna to know that a del sol can beat me </TD></TR></TABLE>

my earlier posts...mentions if he could drive hell do fine... same goes for everyone else.. its not so much the car

 

driving skills is the most important but ultimately isn't it knowing how to handle what you got? who knows i might just beat the hell out of it at the next auto-x but i kinda don't care and want to turbo it for fun dailying.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what about a full cage? would that have any effect on strengthening the chassis?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Rear posts going to the rear shock towers are probably best off going through the rear glass. Keep that in mind when putting a cage in a Del Sol. I haven't actually seen one in person with bars to the rear, but there's provisions in the rules for it.

In case you care...

-Chris


NASA CCR:
15.6.11.A Rear Braces - Exceptions
On cars where the rear window/bulkhead prohibits the installation of rear braces
(Porsche 914, Pontiac Fiero, etc.) the main hoop must be attached to the body by plates
welded to the cage and bolted to the stock shoulder harness mounting location. There
must also be a diagonal bar connecting the top of the main hoop to the lower front
passenger side mounting point (“Petty bar”). Some cars built for racing in other
recognized sanctioning bodies may be granted a waiver of this rule, however they must
show proof of compliance with the current published rules for their class.


Honda Challenge specific rules:
13) The Del Sol is allowed to remove or replace the rear window with Lexan in order to
accommodate rear roll bar braces. This body modification is for the sole purpose of rear roll
bar brace installation.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Rear posts going to the rear shock towers are probably best off going through the rear glass. Keep that in mind when putting a cage in a Del Sol. I haven't actually seen one in person with bars to the rear, but there's provisions in the rules for it.

In case you care...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Get yourself a good cage and you wont have any issues with flexing. Here are some pics of my OPM built cage.

 

Very nice. seems like a very expensive... but well worth it... cage. I bet you could notice a difference.

 

I bought the car with the cage already installed, but I autoxed my wifes del slow and it was like driving a limp noodle.

 

haha nice. That's what i was expecting. How much does yours weigh being fully stripped of weight?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unrealwrc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">haha nice. That's what i was expecting. How much does yours weigh being fully stripped of weight?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Right around 2400 w/ driver

 

thats not 2 bad. weighted to make class or just every ounce of weight u could try and strip out safely.