02 SI coupe question

[paulneartarga]

Hi all,just signing in from the East Coast...St John's,Newfoundland.I was wondering is anyone running a 7th gen Civic at Autoslalom?

I'm preparing mine for next season and wondering how it will do?

I have done a couple of mods(mostly just for fun street driving)so it looks like I'll be in FSS(?)based on....short ram intake,lightweight underdrive pulleys,lower springs,adjustable struts,poly bushes.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l123/WRXabbott/Picture002.jpg

Any suggestions for a couple of more "little" mods that will make the car a bit better for Autoslalom?

I'm planning on a set of Bridgestone RE01-R's,a set of sway bars and maybe a new seat and some belts to hold me in place.

Paul

[TAO]

Working with in the rules is critical ... and not knowing what classes / rules you are working with I will ignore them, and just list the best bang for the buck

-Good Rubber (as wide as you can) on the widest / lighest rims you can afford

-Two front camber bolts (Crash bolts) and dial in as much negative camber as you can (-2.5 would be awesome) ... you will have to get an alignment after though. The Mac Strut crs NEED camber to work right

Big rear swaybar ( Progess) to help rotation

...After these you are starting to talk about big bucks ... coil-overs, camber plates, etc.

Moose

[BBQMAN]

I agree with Moose on that.

Afterwards better shocks and possibly brake pads.

In FSS you can use R compounds and the R888 is possibly the best route if you want to keep it simple yet effective.

Also, plan to take a trip to MSCC to participate in their events....seat time is everything and the more the merrier.

Say Hi to Paul(WRX) for me if you see him around. I know the rock is big but the racing community is small!

[bsclywilly]

I'm planning on a set of Bridgestone RE01-R's,a set of sway bars and maybe a new seat and some belts to hold me in place.

Paul

Great choice of street tire! Another good street tire to look out for next season is the Yokohama Advan Neova AD08's. Available sizes should be similar between the two once the AD08's are released next spring. I've used the BS Re-01r for the street and a few ax's and track.

[Slowpoke]

Say Hi to Paul(WRX) for me if you see him around. I know the rock is big but the racing community is small!

Very small! Paul Abbott sold his WRX and has entered the Honda world. :D

[paulneartarga]

I agree with Moose on that.

Afterwards better shocks and possibly brake pads.

In FSS you can use R compounds and the R888 is possibly the best route if you want to keep it simple yet effective.

Also, plan to take a trip to MSCC to participate in their events....seat time is everything and the more the merrier.

Say Hi to Paul(WRX) for me if you see him around. I know the rock is big but the racing community is small!


Hey Carl,say Hi to Bruno for me.

How are you and that white thing holding up?You must have over 250000KM's on it by now.

PS Targa was a BLAST,the Town Stages were like big,long Autoslaloms

[paulneartarga]

Very small! Paul Abbott sold his WRX and has entered the Honda world. :D


:DStill have the WRX,but the local club is considering banning Suby's or me,so I'm switching to my Honda before it happens:D

Just kidding....I had a good run for the past few years in the Suby,but I'm ready to move upwards and learn/find more speed.So with that in mind I want to try a season in a lighter,front wheel drive car on "street" tires.I've had the Civic since new,but not sure how it will respond to mods with respect to Autoslalom,and there is NO ONE here on the Rock racing a Honda....till next year:)

[TimS]

I have a 7th gen as well...i haven't auto-x with it...just did 4 lapping days this year...as moose and the others said; good tires, proper alignment, thicker rear bar and adjustable shocks will give you the best bang for your buck...

When i first went out i was running 23lb 17' wheels and crappy street tires...i had a bit of camber dialed in with only one crash bolt (-1.5)...i sold that set up and picked up a set of lightwieight (13lb) 15' rota's with a wider track off of a HADA member (thanks Chris!) and wrapped them in falken azenis...i maxed out the camber with 2 crash bolts (-2.4 on one side and something like -2.48 on the other) and had 1/16 total toe in the front...the difference was night and day...the tires are so much grippier, the alignment was really pulling me through turns and the smaller diameter and weight loss helped me gain speed on the straights where i was very slow, still am but its better :D

I love my koni yellow's too...there worth every penny and the adjustability allows for comfortable street driving and improved performance at the track...i'm itching to get that 22mm progress rear bar in my car but funds are tight and i spent a lot of money on track time and gas this year...i was lucky enough to pick up a dc5 sway bar for $10...its 19mm vs the stock 12mm...it makes a big difference...the 22mm would be even better...it will probably be my first mod next year...

Oh yeah...don't forget to pick up a set of HP Plus pads and some motul rbf600

[s2kobsessed]

Oh yeah...don't forget to pick up a set of HP Plus pads and some motul rbf600

HP plus pads have received horrible reviews. I would surely look into that and other comparable pads before making the purchase. Check out Carbotech xp8 or xp10

[TAO]

HP plus pads have received horrible reviews. I would surely look into that and other comparable pads before making the purchase. Check out Carbotech xp8 or xp10

Well I have had the complete opposite exprience having used HP+ for my street / AutoX cars for over 10 years .... I have tried other and have allways come back to Hawk.

In one example I tried Carbotech Panthers and Bobcats ... Hated the pedal feel and They distroyed my rotors in a few events.... NEVER again will I use them

Moose

[TimS]

HP plus pads have received horrible reviews. I would surely look into that and other comparable pads before making the purchase. Check out Carbotech xp8 or xp10

i can't comment on the pads you mentioned...this past summer was my first year tracking the car so i've never used anything but HP plus...despite the embarrassing noise associated with daily driving i really love these pads...the initial bite is awesome, they're cheap (and we only have to worry about the fronts!) and they held up very well over the course of 4 lapping days this summer...i'd be really surprised if the OP used these on his EM2 for auto-x and didn't love them...

[paulneartarga]

I'm running a set of Hawk HP plus on the Suby now and have found them to be a great pad with lots of bite....although a little "grabby".They are noisy(I have no anti-rattle shims etc),they create a lot of brake dust(my rims are flat black away) and I think they are chewing into the rotors big time..cause if you leave the brake dust alone it turns a rusty brownish color.
I have found them to be great at the Autoslalom and for street driving as well.

Anyone have any suggestions for the rear axle wheel alignment....or is that best left near stock settings?

[TAO]

I'm running a set of Hawk HP plus on the Suby now and have found them to be a great pad with lots of bite....although a little "grabby".They are noisy(I have no anti-rattle shims etc),they create a lot of brake dust(my rims are flat black away) and I think they are chewing into the rotors big time..cause if you leave the brake dust alone it turns a rusty brownish color.
I have found them to be great at the Autoslalom and for street driving as well.

Anyone have any suggestions for the rear axle wheel alignment....or is that best left near stock settings?

Camber - arround -1.8, less if you have not added negative camber up front
Toe - I generally prefer 0 toe ... however a more auto-x biased setup adds a "bit" of toe out (1/8" total) which helps rotation.

FYI - I run a 8th Gen Civic, which has a similar suspension setup to yours, but with improvements in geometry primarily


Moose

[rustysteel]

I'm running an 02' Civic DX with Toyo RA1's and a RSX Type-S rear sway bar. From basically running stock (just a K&N filter) to this latest setup is like night and day. I'm getting some better seats for next year and a proper alignment.
This year in our local autocrosses (PMSC) I was 1st for two events, second for two, 4th and 6th (couldn't stay on course for the last solo). Was a fun year and I'm really having fun with this setup. My car doesn't have A/C or power anything so it keeps things pretty light. I wore out the Toyo's this year (they were given to me after a season in the Canadian Touring Car series) so I'm hoping to pick up some more or something similar for next season.
Good luck with your car nice to have another EM2 in the Solo series.

Glenn

Here's a link to some videos from past events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6odGh9jeQAc