Hello, I have never drag raced before. I have a pretty extensive auto-x background in hondas. This year I'm planning in running the Grassroots magazine $2005 challenge. The idea is to build a car that competes in a 1/4 mile drag race, an auto-x, and a concours event. The car must be built for 2005 dollars (this includes recouping prices for items sold off the car entered). I really don't know where to start setting up a car to drag race. I'm confident in getting the car real quick on the auto-x course but the drags area different story. Here is what i have to work with.

I recently purchased an 88 crx hf that is completely gutted with the stock motor w/ header full exhaust, etc. It came with some drag cage that isn't welded in yet, couple apc race seats, body kit mugen harness, etc. It also came with a brand-new (uninstalled) t04e turbo bought from xs engineering (guy claimed it was a turbonetics turbo?) (the turbo has "turbo zy <WL> A/R .50" cast on the side as well as a M12) and Also came with a nitrous guage and dry cell battery relocated to back and a walbro 255 fuel pump. I also have a SOHC vtec d16z6 motor/tranny/ecu/harness etc from a 94 civic ex that can be used. This motor I recently rebuilt the top end (decked 10 thousands, valves ground, seals, head gasket, time belt etc. No grinds in tranny. I figure I can sell the cage, seats, front bumper, and recoup the full price of the car (700 dollars). and have about 1700 dollars to play with and stay in budget. About 1100 will go towards tires, shocks, rear sway, coilovers, lexan for side windows, brake pads, etc. That leaves about 600 dollars to put into going fast in a straight line. I know that is a minuscule budget for some of you guys but remember I am working within rules and I'm not looking to go 10 seconds. I have a fields vtec control sitting around the house as well.

In you guys opinions, I'm assuming I should swap the d16 into the car? Will the turbo that came with the car A) mount up to the d-series and B) be driveable in an auto-x? Would it be better to sale the turbo and stick n/a for the auto-x and then run a home-built nitrous set-up. I have the ability to port and polish the head, intake, and have full access to a race specific machine shop. None of the motor work is that daunting to me. I don't know much about Nitrous or turbos so a lot of this is new too me. I also should have some real cheap time on a dyno to adjust mixture, timing, etc. I definitely plan on throwing some cheap drag radials on the front of the car for the drag event. If any of you guys are interested in throwing around some ideas on making this car go somewhat fast in a straight line post here or email me at dvot@riseup.net

I have access also to at least one full d16y8 head and various d-series trannys and older non-vtec motors. I'm not too worried about great reliability but the car has to be very driveable in the auto-x as this is where we as a team plan on doing pretty well. And if you don't know Nitrous is not allowed during the auto-x. THanks for any answers.

 

No one has any information or wants to shoot ideas on set-up. Was my post confusing?

 

HOMEMADETURBO.COM

Quite a few "budget-oriented" DIYers in there

 

Yea homemadeturbo.com would be a good resource for you.

The GRM challenge is getting uber competitive anymore...you might want to think along the lines of swapping in a junkyard v6 and converting to midengine or something. I have seen some of the plans for the upcoming GRM cars and they are nuts.

Sorry I don't have tons of advice, but you might want to also check the RR/AX forum...they will have plenty of info on what will work as far as powerbands go. In fact the GRM editor posts in there on occasion.

Since the challenge this year has the autocross and drag times added together it looks like you might want to focus more on the handling (and your driving). Since a lightweight CRX should do well in the autocross you may not have to be quite as focused on the 1/4 mile (as in years previous). Good luck either way.

Please update this thread with pics

Edit: looking at last years results, 4th place overall was a crx (with a v8).

 

this sounds like a very interesting project.

kinda reminds me of junkyard wars.lol

where can i read more on this ?

 

http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/challenge.php

They do it every year...the dollar amount is the year of the contest (so 2005 = $2005 budget).

There are a lot of loopholes tho...and most of the cars that win are done by super fab shops...but I hear they are trying to level out the playing field by charging market rates for labor.

Its a cool contest for real though, I would love to participate someday.

 

10 second NOVAs pwn"d ME!!!

 

Thanks for your replies guys. I have read all of home-made turbo. Good references. I also read the rr/auto-x forum religiously (have for several years). I have found some real good information on the d-series specific forums. We're not going with the idea that we are going to win just to have fun and hang out with some real cool car nerds. We figure a well built crx will be very auto-x competitive and then the drags will be all we can get. If anyone else has any ideas how to make an hf crx with a d16z6 go fast in a straight line on a budget, keep replying. Any links to home-made Nitrous set-ups like home-made turbo.