I want to start doing autoX and once I get used to it I want to do a DOHC swap into my ek hatch. What swap would be the best performance for AutoXing?

 

Really depends on what you are going to be doing with the car, low weight is better than high hp in most cases imho, so depending on which class and how much money you want to spend, can have a lot on which engine you would want to use.

 

No no no!!!

You are a rookie/noobie/greenhorn, just go take your car and have fun. Learn, learn, learn the first couple of years. You can dump 1000s and 1000s into your car and you will still be slower because autox is 90% driver skill.

The moment you start lowering, swapping, etc you move out of the stock class. Then you are up against dedicated guys who don't care how much they spend. Even in stock class you will get your *** kicked.

Just my 2 cents. I have an exhaust on my car, it was out of neccesity to pass inspection. I just did my 5th event on the year and I have no plans to put money into my car. I might get some tires, but thats again to conserve my street tires.

 

Yeah that's what my buddy was telling me. But I am going for wheels and suspension before or after I go to few events. I Practice autocross type roads in the country 3x a week and i've gotten to be a better driver than all 13 of the guys in our "ricer" group. So I think I've got a shot at autox. Not to be cocky or anything I just love driving. I will go autox before I get the swap As I wont be able to afford the swap maybe until Xmas. Just getting ideas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97hatchswapwishing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah that's what my buddy was telling me. But I am going for wheels and suspension before or after I go to few events. I Practice autocross type roads in the country 3x a week and i've gotten to be a better driver than all 13 of the guys in our "ricer" group. So I think I've got a shot at autox. Not to be cocky or anything I just love driving. I will go autox before I get the swap As I wont be able to afford the swap maybe until Xmas. Just getting ideas.</TD></TR></TABLE>

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Thats freaking hilarious... go to your first event and you'll get your butt spanked so bad you'll feel like you are 8 again. I used to think I was all that until I went an autocrossed, it was a humbling experience and now I realize that there is a LOT to learn.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">go to your first event and you'll get your butt spanked so bad you'll feel like you are 8 again. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Yep.

Christian, who's almost tempted to make the drive to see your first event

 

97hatchswapwishing

Where are you planning on running your first event(s)?

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

No offence, 97hatch. It's just that there are similar posts to yours in here ALL the time: "I'm about to start autoxing, and I plan on doing XYZ to my car. I'm fast on the street, so I'm going to be fast at autox, too."

The answer is always the same and always right: Don't mod the car, and don't worry about future mods right now. Just go out to your first event and have fun. You will find out that what you think is fast and what IS fast my be very different.

And you will meet a lot of cool people with well-set up Hondas who will tell you all you want to know about what mods might help you later on.

Come on out. But be prepared, the first time can be humbling.

Atlanta region SCCA has an event this Sunday. Also there are still spots open for the novice school on Saturday, which is a great way to get started:
http://www.joesvideos.com/scca_reg/


Modified by bender at 3:56 PM 5/17/2005

 

I'll chime in like everyone else. Just because you can attack the mountain roads with no problems it's not EVEN close to resembling what you have to do at an autocross. Figure your typical mountain road you are pushing your car 75-80% of it's limit on stock pressures.

As a novice you will probably be pushing your car 110-120% of it's potential, which means you will be overdriving your car and you will suck. Don't take it personally we all were like that. Once you can stay within 1-2 seconds of the leaders in your class then you should start looking into an autocross school or Evolution School where your money will be better spent than an engine swap.

Cause I can guarentee you that I can kick your butt in my 100hp 95ft/lbs 1991 Civic Si with snow tires on if you do ANY kind of swap even slap on a 300hp turbo kit too. Actually this weekend a Viper showed up with his wife driving a Hummer. Nice guy though, but I killed him by about 5-8 seconds on that course. 5-8 seconds is AN ETERNITY at an autocross.

Viper = 500+hp
1991 Civic = 100hp

 

I would recommend AGAINST a motor swap for autocross for 2 reasons

1.) You will be moved into a very UNEVEN class, for example you may be up against Vipers, Catherham 7's, turbo-charged V-6 Datsun 510's, etc.

You would be better off leaving your car alone, learning to drive for year, then consider spending money on auto-x tires. These two things will make the biggest difference.

2.) You really need to learn to drive first. You can start running marathons before you learn to walk.

Like everyone else was saying, there are slow cars with fast drivers that can beat fast cars with slow drivers. But at the auto-x there are a lot of fast cars with fast drivers and slow cars with fast drivers. Save your money, learn to drive first. You don't want to spend all this money on a swap, only to find out you are gonna be killed by faster cars or be put in an uneven class

 

i've been a/x'ing and hpde'ing for a couple of years now and i still suck.

A/X requires a very particular and specialized skill set, something that's unlike anything you'd ever encounter on the street and even an open track event.

that said, "run what you brung", crappy tires and all. it'll help you accelerate your learning curve and make you a better driver. on top of that, in an a/x the driver really is the most important mod.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crazydave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would recommend AGAINST a motor swap for autocross for 2 reasons

1.) You will be moved into a very UNEVEN class, for example you may be up against Vipers, Catherham 7's, turbo-charged V-6 Datsun 510's, etc. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Excellent reason, but I'm just nitpicking... Vipers and Caterhams are in SM2. The biggest thing he'd need to worry about (aside from all the better drivers) are things with lotsa boost and awd or M3s Not saying it can't be done (Rodney serves as proof), but it's one heck of a hole he'd need to dig out of.

I've gone the swapped civic route and now that I'm too deep (IMO) to turn back I wish I would have gone more slowly. I'd highly recommend getting something that is competitive in its stock class, run it there for a year with all the upgrades, and then maybe bump up to STS. The car I'm talking about? An EF hatch

 

Thanks for all the ecouragement ***. I appreciate the hep and all but go about it a little more nicely and be less of a *****. My buddy umair set up cones around my uncles huge parking lot and it's similar to the track in atlanta. Im just saying I've been practicing with somebody who does autox. Never said I was best or anything. Just wanted you're reply on the swap being good or bad. Not how good you were thanks.

 

Yelling at people who are giving you advice is a GREAT way to get started in autocross...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crazydave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would recommend AGAINST a motor swap for autocross for 2 reasons

1.) You will be moved into a very UNEVEN class, for example you may be up against Vipers, Catherham 7's, turbo-charged V-6 Datsun 510's, etc.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not true. For the most part, our original poster will be up against similar modded street cars driven by people who are just looking to have fun. I started out running a chipped 1.8T GTI with stock suspension and street tires in SM and I usually finished around mid-pack in the class locally. Nationally competitive street mod cars make up a small percentage of cars that are regionally entered in the class.

If you want to become a good autocrosser, hold off on touching the car. The seat time will be worth more and being around more serious autocrossers will give you a better idea what mods you'll want. If you want to mod your car and have fun, mod your car and have fun.

 

We told you a swap was bad. Many of us have 10+ years experience in autox. I am a noobie in autox, but you don't see me whipping out my check book and writing a check for a new motor. Instead I use it to pay for events, the more time you get on a course the faster you will be.

Get there early, help set up the course. Run with the veterans riding shotgun, ride shotgun while a veteran drives your car. Those will make you much faster than any mod you put on right now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97hatchswapwishing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My buddy umair set up cones around my uncles huge parking lot and it's similar to the track in atlanta.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Let me give you the response you want to hear... A swap is a must for any serious autocrosser, and they won't let you on-site without at least a new suspension and slicks for tires.

(copied from his other thread... don't want him to miss it)

 

The best way to get ready for autox is just go out there, do a few ride alongs with those who have experience and pay attention to those running fast times. Then get in your car and give it ago. Get used to driving and try to improve on your previous times. For example, i went the route of doing a swap in a civic, etc etc, auto x tires. and i still cant drive it near as well as I should. Just focus on the fun of it and meet new people.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97hatchswapwishing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the ecouragement ***. I appreciate the hep and all but go about it a little more nicely and be less of a *****. My buddy umair set up cones around my uncles huge parking lot and it's similar to the track in atlanta. Im just saying I've been practicing with somebody who does autox. Never said I was best or anything. Just wanted you're reply on the swap being good or bad. Not how good you were thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmm, I think I just decided I'd like to attend your first event. If you could please update us on when and where, that would be excellent. Xian, RacerJon, and myself will happily watch from the sidelines.

 

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

Hmm, I think I just decided I'd like to attend your first event. If you could please update us on when and where, that would be excellent. Xian, RacerJon, and myself will happily watch from the sidelines.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hell yeah! I'm up for a road trip

Jesse, I went ahead and bought an ITA track car... I'm planning on dragging it out to the upcoming Bucc event are you going to be there?

Christian

 

I will be in Sanford NC this weekend (I hope) and then it looks like a night series event in Asheville, NC on Tuesday the 24th.. then there is an Event in Columbia, SC on the 4th, then a Rock Hill, SC event on the 5th... (the next weekend I willbe in Wisconsin autocrossing, but I doubt you want to make that trip)

Come on out to one of those events, I will probably be in a DSP class Impreza RS, but have spent the majority of my autocrossing in a CRX, so I will help you out as much as I can if you would like. (and I am being very serious, I enjoy helping introduce people ot the sport, and helping them get off on the right foot.)

Jon K
http://www.seat-time.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PseudoRealityX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmm, I think I just decided I'd like to attend your first event. If you could please update us on when and where, that would be excellent. Xian, RacerJon, and myself will happily watch from the sidelines.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ooo, ooo, can I watch too?!?!

Karen
slowest time of the day at my first autox!

 

&lt;Paul Simon's voice singing&gt;

"me an' Umair down at my uncles parking lot..."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just go take your car and have fun. </TD></TR></TABLE>
which car are you going to have more fun in:

2000lb car w/ 150whp

or

2000lb car w/ 80whp


if you take longer than a second to think about this, you have obviously not driven a 2000lb car w/ 150whp.