Autox with 2.4L Ion3 - help w/ suspension

[00 Trans Ram]

Originally Posted by Eagle_f90

Ok, like I said I don't know much about stock. I know the SM rules for SCCA SOLO II as that is what I run in.

Don't sweat it! I usually run in XP, and I don't know half the rules in that class! I don't even know where to begin in SM. Stock just happens to be "fairly" easy, as you can mod shocks, front bar, tires and brake pads.

Oh, BTW, I mentioned this earlier, but glossed over it. If you want C-H-E-A-P sets of wheels, buy some used Miata wheels. They're light and plentiful. They come in everything from a 15-17" diameters and widths from 6-8". Their bolt patterns are 4x100, and their backspacing is within 4mm of ours.

However, their hub-centric ring is about 5mm too small for our hubs. If there is a machine shop locally, they may be able to carve out that hole. But, don't hold your breath. I suggest the following method for doing it yourself:

1) Go buy a 2-3/8" hole saw. They're at Lowes and Home Depot near the drill bits. You'll need a bi-metal one.

2a) If you've got a drill press large enough, then set it up so that the hole saw is centered in the wheel. Then, simply drill down and remove about 1cm of material.

2b) I've got a drill press, but nothing that big. However, I do have a drill. To set this up, you'll need a drill, 4x4 peice of scrap angle iron about 2" longer than the wheel diameter, 2 4" C-clamps, and a tubing notcher (Harbor Freight sells them for about $15).

Once you have the materials, disassemble the tube holder from the notcher (2 bolts). Also remove the "foot" (1 bolt). Then, you want to mount the tubing notcher onto the 4x4 angle iron. You are going to have to center it so that the notcher is right above the hole in the wheel when you place the angle iron over the wheel. Mark the holes and drill the angle iron so that you can mount the tubing notcher solidly.

Next, attach the hole saw to the tubing notcher, then attach the drill. Then, you need to clamp the angle iron to the wheel. The back of the wheel has a small lip that will just hold the clamp. Once it's all clamped solidly, you can start drilling.

You'll want to start slowly with the drill. You need to mark the wheel with the saw, then stop to make sure you're relatively centered. If so, you can go ahead and start. You should try to hold the drill speed down, as the aluminum tends to melt with higher speeds.

Oh, you should measure 1cm up on the hole saw and draw a line all the way around it. That way, as you drill you can see when you've gotten low enough. After you've finished with the hole saw, you will probably need to clean up the hole with a file or Dremel.

People have voiced concerns about using the lugs to hold the wheel, since the hub-centric ring is no longer supporting the weight of the car. However, the ring was never supporting much of the weight inthe first place. After all, the stock wheel slides over the hub, but is secured with self-centering lug nuts.

Plus, I've road raced a 2900lb Trans Am with 50lb 17x11 wheels for 5 years like this. I've got wheel spacers that move the wheels out to clear suspension pieces, and the wheel is no longer sitting on the hub. Never had a failure or any type of problem.

Anyway, here are some pics of the contraption that I did, plus some finished products.

THE CONTRAPTION


HOLE SAW CENTERED


NOTCHER MOUNTED TO ANGLE IRON


SEE THE HOLE I MADE?


FINISHED PRODUCT - YOU CAN STILL SEE THE ORIGINAL DIAMETER OF THE HOLE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM (the first little ledge)


THE WHEEL

[jmuffe01]

the miata wheels will work for you but not a redline. redlines have 5 on 110

[00 Trans Ram]

Yeah, but 5-lugs are even easier to find wheels for. If I'm correct, you've got a 5x110 lug pattern. That particular pattern is exceedingly rare (I'm sure y'all know this!). But, there are adapters to adapt a 5x110 to a 5x114.3, which is possibly the most plentiful size available.

[FunkyStickman]

What's up, TransRam? Good to see you stopped in! I'm working on getting some sticky tires for DS or DSP, should be interesting...

The 5x110 wheels can be found on Saabs, FWD Pontiacs, Chevy FWD cars, and a few others. There's probably more choices now than ever, but still nothing compared to the 5x114 guys. In your case, Honda 4x100 wheels would work, too, or old Saturn S-series wheels would also fit.

Where are you located at? Any chance I'd see you at a CENLA event? I'm going to try to make a Saturday Delta event later on in the year, too... I'm pretty much limited to Saturdays, which means 4 events in the next 6 months.

Dude, it would rock. I'm interested in seeing the time differences between my car and yours.

[00 Trans Ram]

Hey - fancy seeing you here!

Yeah, I saw the Saab and FWD Pontiac wheels. But, no one really makes lightweight wheels for those cars - not many performance models.

Now, right after Katrina (I live in Metairie, BTW), there was a used car lot in New Orleans that was full of old Saabs. They all got flooded and were junk. But, I saw at least 3 that had wheels with old Victoracers on them! Not often you see Victoracers on used cars in a lot!!

I'll be making most of the Delta events after October or so. And all the TLACs after then.

[BigBrother]

You cannot run coilovers of any kind anywhere on the car in Stock becuase you cannot change the perches, the spring rates, or the ride height. In fact, you can't even replace the springs with aftermarket units with identical spring rates - they must be STOCK springs. If you have people in your area willing to protest such a thing, anyway.

The 2.4 Delta cars were one helluva sleeper in HS, and I always thought they could win it. But the SCCA fixed that - they won't put the MCS in D where it clearly belongs, but damned if they didn't move the 2.4 G5, Cobalts, and Ions into GS this year. Check the book.

[FunkyStickman]

Good point, BB. There have been numerous shufflings in the stock classes, and most of them don't seem to make sense lately.

BTW, TransRam, since I've got poly motor mounts, I'm going to wind up in DSP.

[alredline04]

Originally Posted by FunkyStickman

Good point, BB. There have been numerous shufflings in the stock classes, and most of them don't seem to make sense lately.

BTW, TransRam, since I've got poly motor mounts, I'm going to wind up in DSP.

Per the rules the RL is not allowed in DSP. The RL is not listed in Appendix A. Motor mounts throws you right to SM.

C. Induction System - Turbocharged/Supercharged Engines
1. Turbocharging and Supercharging is prohibited except for
118
specific vehicles as listed in Appendix A.
2. Induction systems must have a restrictor on the inlet side.
This restrictor orifice must not be more than four inches from
the compressor inlet and must maintain the specified diameter
for at least .5 (half) inch. All inducted air must pass
through this restrictor. The diameter for the restrictor unless
specified otherwise in Appendix A is 52mm.
3. Only air-to-air intercoolers may be used. They must fit completely
within the bodywork. They must be cooled only by the
atmosphere. The use of coolants such as water, dry ice, ice,
etc. is prohibited.
4. All turbocharged/supercharged cars are restricted to a single
turbocharger/supercharger. The type size and model of turbocharger/
supercharger is unrestricted.

[scottherbert]

Originally Posted by alredline04

Per the rules the RL is not allowed in DSP. The RL is not listed in Appendix A. Motor mounts throws you right to SM.

C. Induction System - Turbocharged/Supercharged Engines
1. Turbocharging and Supercharging is prohibited except for
118
specific vehicles as listed in Appendix A.
2. Induction systems must have a restrictor on the inlet side.
This restrictor orifice must not be more than four inches from
the compressor inlet and must maintain the specified diameter
for at least .5 (half) inch. All inducted air must pass
through this restrictor. The diameter for the restrictor unless
specified otherwise in Appendix A is 52mm.
3. Only air-to-air intercoolers may be used. They must fit completely
within the bodywork. They must be cooled only by the
atmosphere. The use of coolants such as water, dry ice, ice,
etc. is prohibited.
4. All turbocharged/supercharged cars are restricted to a single
turbocharger/supercharger. The type size and model of turbocharger/
supercharger is unrestricted.

Actually, according to what I have received from SCCA so far, the Redline IS in DSP. But to make it clearer, I have petitioned the SEB for an official ruling which should come out in the next SCCA bulletin. But again, based on what I got from the SEB so far, it's looking like DSP.

Scott

[alredline04]

Sounds good mate!