Autocross Civic

http://www.redshiftmotorsports.com/RedShift%20Tech%20Page.htm

Go ST, tires are cheap and you dont have to change them in the morning or when your hot and sweaty at the end of the day.

BTW, linked a build list for nat' spec for you!

I am in the "don't do a thing, other than maintenence" camp. Once you have become proficient with the car, the next step should be the stickiest tires and the most autocross-beneficial alignment yiu can live with. Better shocks and springs are wastes if tires are not up to the task and if the alignment is not addressed.

HStockSolo wrote: I would look for a '92-'95 Civic Si + Koni Sports + big rear sway bar + Star Specs for RTF(HS).

Stock class only allowed front sway bar last time I checked.......big rear bar will throw him straight to STC

Better shocks and springs are wastes if tires are not up to the task

Ever seen a rollover at an autocross? I've seen stock suspension civics get up on two wheels. If you go with R-comps, do the shocks while you're at it. My $.02.

In reply to poopshovel:

Agreed, but I was not saying go to R tires. Since he is just starting, his first tire upgrade might be to an ST tire. Although better shocks are a good idea with R tires. Better shocks (and springs) are wastes if your tires let you down. If the alignment is not optimized (or improved if the car will be a daily driver, negating too radical of a setup), even better tires are somewhat wasteful.

yamaha wrote:

HStockSolo wrote: I would look for a '92-'95 Civic Si + Koni Sports + big rear sway bar + Star Specs for RTF(HS).

Stock class only allowed front sway bar last time I checked.......big rear bar will throw him straight to STC

That changed this year. Now you're allowed to change either/or (but not both).

DWNSHFT wrote: First step should always be tighten the loose nut behind the wheel. Teach him to drive the factory suspension tune. All that pitch, dive and squat will help him understand weight transfer. The ultra-progressive handling of stock tires will help him understand car control. After those two lessons he can take advantage of upgrades. Until he learns those two lessons upgrades only means that the car is going faster when he makes the same mistakes. Best case: he doesn't learn. Worst case: he crashes. I guarantee if he achieves "that guy on youtube" status he quits autocrossing. David

True. He wants to work on it, but I get the sense things will go better if we focus on stuff that won't make the car faster, at least at first. So just maintenance and junkyard parts for the beginning. I'm going to build my RV swaybar because I want to see if it will work and if it's cheap, but I'll probably leave it unconnected when my buddy is driving.

91 hp plus gutted interior plus racing seat probably won't cause any trouble ...

Moparman wrote: In reply to poopshovel: Agreed, but I was not syaing go to R tires. Since he is just starting, his first tire upgrade might be to an ST tire. Although better shocks are a good idea with R tires. Better shocks (and springs) are wastes if your tires let you down. If the alignment is not optimized (or improved if the car will be a daily driver, negating too radical of a setup), even better tires are somewhat wasteful.

If it gets to that point, I'm doing the suspension setup and it's going to be a lot like my no-bars, big springs Daewoo.