Ok, so I am planning on starting to do some of the HPDE's later on this year. I am going to be using a 92-95 Civic Coupe as the track car. Suspension is key and i want to make sure im setting things up right and the way they should be set up. Also, i have a plan for a motor build but am not quit sure if its best for the track. Here are my plans:

Suspension:
Coilovers (need help/views/opinions on which to get)
Energy Suspension Bushing Kit
Suspension Techniques sway bar kit
ASR lower subframe brace
D2 Control Arms
Cusco Strut Bar

The engine plan is to swap in a B18C1 motor and boost it (gt37r). Of course i would start out driving the car on the track with the stock single slammer to get used to driving, then try it with the swapped engine, and then turbo. I do not plan on jumping out there with a boosted car and trying to drive it without any experience. Please help me with what i should do motor wise as well as suspension wise to get ready for it. I dont want to get "ok good priced" parts but i dont have the budget to spend 2000 dollars on coilovers. Im only 19 in school and working, but i dont want junk either.

 

don't get anything to start, well except for the basics. Change all your fluids, and a good set of brake pads, i would suggest hawk hp+. Get a good set of tires and go have fun. Then upgrade the car once you understand what's going on and where you can make it better. If you are starting to notice understeer, try to fix that problem and so on. Good luck.

 

Just get tire and brakes for your first track day and move on up from there.

 

What tires are you guys running? Should i go and get the full upgraded bake kits or just pads/rotors/steel brake lines?

 

just pads (hp+, axxis ultimate, gt-sport) and good fluid (ate super blue, oem ford, motul, ect) and some decent tires (azenis, hankooks, re01's, ect) and go enjoy the track and the experience.

 

Thanks for the help, do you guys think boost is good for a track car?

 

before you start boosting you car learn how to drive it when it is stock one you get use to how it handles they you can start to upgrade stuff

 

yeah i understand that im just saying ive heard that most prefer all motor over boost on the track because of spool issues with turbos

 

You have a while before you should consider engine swapping or boosting. At this point, you should concern yourself on getting the basics for your car and prepping for the track event.

I am a big proponent for planning, but don't get too far ahead of yourself.

m-

 

yeah it will be awhile before i go swapping and everything like that. What i will do is take the single slammer out there for awhile with the upgraded tires/brakes/fluid like these guys mentioned and get used to it, then go from there.

Do you guys suggest putting the tires on stock honda wheels or getting a lighter aftermarket wheel to use for the tracks?

 

The only things that you should be doing to your car at this point are making it reliable.

Stay on street tires.

Get some good brake fluid.

Your main concern for the first year is getting as much seat time as possible.

Spend all your money on safety, reliability and entry fees

The next upgrade would be brake pads, tires, suspension

 

Ok, so now onto safety.

What would be the best bet as far as seats/harnesses. Ive seen the submarining of the 4 point harnesses so most have suggested 5-6 point. I was thinking maybe TenzoR seats and Sparco harnesses. I also want to get a roll cage installed as well. Helmets?

Reliability:
I think driving it like that would cause harm on the engine cooling system, so should i get a better radiator/fan combo better than stock?

 

In your first post, you said "as your track car." Does this mean you won't be driving it on the street, or at least very few times?

With the amount of money you're talking, maybe you should just consider buying something after you've given the whole HPDE thing a try with your stock car.

Don't worry about the radiator fan. You'll be moving quick enough the air will cool it just fine. Even if you do get a bigger fan, unless you hard wire it the fan won't be on until you come to a stop. Add some Redline coolant additive if you'd like.

 

I'm no fan of 5-point belts without a proper cage or rollbar. Other's may have experience with available bolt-in stuff. I do not. Sparco harnesses are fine but I don't think they offer re-webbing. If you think that will be an issue (for passing tech if you eventually want to use them for racing) go with Safe Craft, Willans or Racetech.

Plenty of good helmets out there, I've always used Bell. Get the best you can afford that fits well. Just be sure it has the latest Snell sticker, below:

 

The car will be street driven also, but it wont be a daily driver. Probably 1-2 times a week, basically if the weather is nice.

newb question: rewebbing?

 

SFA certified belts are only good for racing use for two years. After that, they can be re-webbed with new belt material (called webbing) and recertified. If you're not racing, don't worry about it.

 

ok and with helmets, where do you buy yours from?

I do want to go all the way through the HPDE's and everything like that, and im really serious and interested in the racing

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lo-Buck EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just pads (hp+, axxis ultimate, gt-sport) and good fluid (ate super blue, oem ford, motul, ect) and some decent tires (azenis, hankooks, re01's, ect) and go enjoy the track and the experience.</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly !!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok and with helmets, where do you buy yours from?

I do want to go all the way through the HPDE's and everything like that, and im really serious and interested in the racing</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not trying to be a ***** or anything, but you ned to do a little searching on this site and on google,yahoo, etc. Do you expect to be spoon fed everything?

And as already stated, just go and hpde with your car stock - with the exception of good brake pads, fluid, and good street tires. Ask these questions down the line as you progress

 

The 19th post in the thread and your the only person thats gave me the search crap. No i dont expect to be spoon fed, and i dont think this is hardly it. Im trying to get opinions from people that have done it before, and by "searching" (if thats what you want to call it because the search sucks on this site) all you get is questions other people ask which arent the questions i want to ask.

Ive searched, just to make it clear.
"Where to buy helmets" came up with zero results
"Helmet recommendations" came up with a massive 1 result
"civic coupe" came up with nothing at all, which is the platform im using
"suspension" gave a bunch of results where everyone said OMG SEARCH!
*just to name a few*

If you dont want to contribute and help me out, like everyone else in this thread did without a problem, then dont say anything to me at all.

Its better for me to ask questions then to sign up and show up at an event completely clueless as to whats going on. You have to start/learn somewhere, and all the Nasa/SCCA websites have general info, but here i can ask people questions and get responses, not general details.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ive searched, just to make it clear.
"Where to buy helmets" came up with zero results
"Helmet recommendations" came up with a massive 1 result
"civic coupe" came up with nothing at all, which is the platform im using
"suspension" gave a bunch of results where everyone said OMG SEARCH!
*just to name a few*

If you dont want to contribute and help me out, like everyone else in this thread did without a problem, then dont say anything to me at all.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


Try changin from "Recent content"
to "archived content"

This will give you a metric **** ton of results.

 

yes, on other parts of the site that dont apply, but under the road racing/autocross section, which is where i have questions, no results come up.

The topic isnt searching, help me if you want, or dont.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, so I am planning on starting to do some of the HPDE's later on this year. I am going to be using a 92-95 Civic Coupe as the track car. Suspension is key and i want to make sure im setting things up right and the way they should be set up. Also, i have a plan for a motor build but am not quit sure if its best for the track. Here are my plans:
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hold your horses..... get a bunch of experience first
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Suspension:
Coilovers (need help/views/opinions on which to get)
Energy Suspension Bushing Kit
Suspension Techniques sway bar kit
ASR lower subframe brace
D2 Control Arms
Cusco Strut Bar
</TD></TR></TABLE>

1st spend money on a helmet.. then on track time...
then start replacing things as you need to.

Coilovers...you don't need these now
DONT buy the bushing kit. wait until you start racing, and even then people either use sphericals or stock bushings
ASR brace & Sway bar.... don't need them yet... wait till later
D2 control arms... don't need them at all. Nothing wrong with stock si arms
cusco strut bar.....totally unnessary...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The engine plan is to swap in a B18C1 motor and boost it (gt37r). Of course i would start out driving the car on the track with the stock single slammer to get used to driving,
</TD></TR></TABLE>

why do you want swap boosted? Boost is not good for reliability.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

then try it with the swapped engine, and then turbo. I do not plan on jumping out there with a boosted car and trying to drive it without any experience.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Again come to the track..... and visit with people and see how many are boosted. Then compare their times to the Honda Challenge guys..

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Please help me with what i should do motor wise as well as suspension wise to get ready for it. I dont want to get "ok good priced" parts but i dont have the budget to spend 2000 dollars on coilovers. Im only 19 in school and working, but i dont want junk either.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here is a little reality check on HPDE.

I usually spend around $600 per event for the whole weekend.
If you want a good suspension, plan on spending a $1000-$2000 for a track-only suspension.

GC/Konis will set you back $1000 alone, plus if you want the proper rates, it will cost you another $500 to get them revalved.


Like I said... spend all the money on a helmet and entry fees, this is the only thing that will improve your ability at the moment.

Then after a year or so of serious HPDE, then re-evaluate your situtation.
Is this something you like doing, is your car the right car for this, what can you do to improve.

Usually the first mods are brake fluid, pads and tires. Theses are the most important things.


But the most important thing here :

LOSE THE ATTITUDE and the ego

people here are willing to help..... But when they give advice, you need to take it and use it. Don't bitch about.. They are right. You ARE NOT THE FIRST PERSON to ask these questions, and they have been answered several times.

 

-Good street tires on stock wheels.
-Helmet: somewhere close to you, so you can try them on. Start with the Yellow Pages.
-Turbos are bad m'kay? DEFINITELY bad for a noob for more reasons than spool or power, and overall fairly problematic. There are a handful of people here who have done it successfully, but not without problems, extensive planning, and a decent amount of money.
-Try searching more comprehensively, and for less specific terms. "Coilovers" isn't a bad start, but we don't call them "coilovers". Try "shocks", "spring rates", "helmet", etc., and make sure to select the "Archived content" tab. Searching for "Civic blah blah blah" is silly, because 85% of the people on here drive Civics, and the principles are close enough between all the FWD Hondas as to be reasonably comparable.
-You're 19 and money is tight. You need to research and think about the expenses involved with doing this stuff. Starting off with buying parts isn't a good way to begin. Stick to tires and brakes. Rollcage? Forget it. Seats and harnesses? Forget them too. Stock seats and belts will work fine for awhile.

Lastly, you're on the HT RR/AX forum. You will get teased, flamed, insulted, etc. If you can't take that kind of behavior, you should probably look elsewhere for help, or stick to reading and searching rather than posting. -DC4-'s comment was made in a respectable way, and was not off-base. I personally know all the information (short of a specific store to buy a helmet at in NC) is available in the archives. I know because I've answered your questions before, and searched myself. Consider this a friendly...warning, from one of the forum's less tolerant veterans

Edit:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaVTEC1993 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The topic isnt searching, help me if you want, or dont.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Attitude will get you nowhere. Can it if you want answers. Remember, you're asking for OUR help, and we're DONATING our time to you. In other words, show some respect to people trying to help you out.


Modified by Stinkycheezmonky at 4:50 PM 3/17/2008

 

you guys are helping me out, alot, and without the advice ive been given in this thread id be lost. I dont have an attitude at all, i just want help, and i appreciate your time and help, but like the first guy that mentioned the search and then just said what everyone else said, whats the need for it? thats all i was saying. Thanks alot for the help, ill have to check the dates on the website and see whenever i can actually get some track time and get the feel for a car on a track. Also, im not going to be using my Si, i plan on using a 95 bodystyle coupe. The si is my daily. Also, whenever it comes to spring rates and things like that, i really dont have a clue about the differences between them. I will search and see if i can come up with anything


Modified by HondaVTEC1993 at 8:08 PM 3/17/2008