So now we know - Never try to make a Camry into a race car

The WRX motor blew up, as well. In the right conditions, any motor can go.

I was on the Camry forums for a while when I owned my 1998. Several people were well over the stock output of the motors with TRD superchargers and smaller pulleys to up the boost (240 -270 WHP was the range). I never heard of one blowing up, but I think that group was more into straight line and on-ramp type stuff than auto-x or track days.

It was a disappointment that something that started up with so much potential didn't go anywhere. But you can say that about a lot of my projects, too!

MadScientistMatt wrote:

Racer1ab wrote: I'd still rather read about projects like this than, "OMG, we bolted parts from sponsors X,Y, and Z onto our brand new car, and now its faster." I also understand that I'm probably in the minority of the readership there, so I understand when they run things that aren't exactly to my interests.

Wel, it seems like you're in the same minority I am. I appreciate seeing that you guys tried even if it didn't work out.

I actually think the vast majority of active members on this forum are either in that 'minority', or strongly sympathetic to it. Of course, that sure doesnt mean we are a majority of the magazine's revenue stream by any stretch of the imagination, so even a majority of the forum is still a minority of what pays the bills, which dictates how much of what is in the magazine is relevant to people on the forum. lol

Put me in the 'glad to see something other than a 125 page Two Guys Garage ads for every aftermarket piece on the planet' type of thing. I'd still like to maybe see a postmortem on the engine, try to find out what went wrong. That's the kind of info a 'just starting out' wannabe race driver could use. As in: 'we blew it up, tore it down, found A, B, C busted and that indicates X is the culprit. Here's what can be done to fix X'.

I think it demonstrated that the GRM staff is just as capable of blowing up a 15 year old high mileage grocery getter as the rest of us. Or any old car for that matter (WRX). I actually think they showed a glimpse of what the platform is capable of, given you have a "good" example that won't eat itself on the track..

Okay GRM. you have accomplished the challenge of taking a very realiable vehicle and making it an unreliable race car.

now take a very un-reliable vehicle and make it a reliable race car!

THIS DOES NOT MEAN LS SWAP AN RX8 but a rotary would be a good idea (no bias I swear.. -.0 )

I'll be honest, I hate Camrys, but I skipped right past the "check out all the new hop-up parts for the BRZ" article and right to the Camry one, hoping against hope that somehow it actually did respectable about the BRZ.

I really don't get excited about the "look what new parts our sponsors gave us for our new car." I have the internet, I can see what parts are available for new cars (And I say that as someone who is a big supporter of RaceComp and Mach V, who provide many of your subie parts).

Told ya you should have done this project with a comparably-priced used Maxima. ;)

Truth be told, I like the Twins. If I were in the market for a 2 door sports car they would be on the VERY short list because they tick all the right boxes. I just get a kick out of a grocery getter on its one good lap being only 4 seconds back from it... what would the gap have been with a few more 'get settled in' laps?

beans wrote: Maxima? No, clearly you guys should've bought an Accord.

I'm gonna go ahead and agree with this. 2012 LX 4cyl/automatic...seen over 50 auto-x runs on Evo wheels/Hankook RS-3 (reverse stagger) :)

If I don't go too nuts with this car, is gladly donate my 97 to the cause. I've been thinking about getting another, cleaner southern car. This cars engine is in great shape, but the chassis is typical northern car rusty underneath... Not terrible, but not as clean as I'd like.

I think the problem here is, in fact, grandma. I hope you guys revisit this someday, but go with something grandma is most likely to be driving, whether it's a 4cyl auto Camry, a Vulcanized Taurus, or the coup de grâce, a Grand Marquis.

I don't say this out of disagreement with your car of choice, because I think it shows that there is potential for a mundane car to get in on the fun, but rather I think this idea has legs.

A 4 banger Camry would make a good 3S-GTE swap candidate...

I'm thinking about relieving the P71 of its DD duties next year, and seriously considering modding it just enough to be competent in nearly any motorsport activity I would like to do.

Autox, track days, drag days, rallycross, you name it.

Plus I could still have something to haul the dogs and bike in.

irish44j wrote: Told ya you should have done this project with a comparably-priced used Maxima. ;)

+1! I just sold a '95 for much cheaper than the Camry was, and even though it was auto I have a feeling it would have done pretty well overall.

Would a 4 cylinder Camry have blown up do we think? Because after all, Grandma most likely drives a 4 cylinder automatic.

I would love to see GRM do something like this again, for sure. I like that you pitted it against a Toyota sports car. Now you could get an Accord and pit it against an S2000 or a Maxima and pit it against your 350Z project. I liked reading the articles even though it all didn't go quite as planned.

Talking about how an experiment failed gives more validity to the ones that succeed.

"Never try to make a(n) insert random make/model car here into a race car"

I know I'm reading these words, but in my head I hear Charlie Brown's teacher.

Finally read the article. I liked it. It was interesting. I would however like a post mortem of the motor. With out it there is no conclusion to the article. (and this would only cost time). Instead it just ends with we spent a lot of $$$$ and we are not going to spend any more. Knowing why the motor expire would be very helpful.

Bobzilla wrote: 06-10 Sonata. They used double wishbone suspensions still and can stuff some massive tires under the body work. (255's without rubbing IIRC).

Also Accords are DWB and can fit a ton of tire (depending on generation). As a bonus there are also a gazillion motors to choose from to stick in one.

For family performance sedan I'd choose Accord long before Maxima or Camry.

dj06482 wrote: The WRX motor blew up, as well. In the right conditions, any motor can go.

WRX motors blow up left and right. I don't think their experience there is abnormal in any way.

You guys(GRM) should do a project 1st gen TSX. THAT would make a great dual purpose family sedan.

I liked the article. Throw me in with the "turned straight to that page" crowd. It's fascinating, but I would have liked to see some more in-depth analysis than, "Oh well, guess you shouldn't race these."

You guys(GRM) should do a project 1st gen TSX. THAT would make a great dual purpose family sedan

Yeah but how many people get a hand-me-down TSX? If they do, it is certainly automatic and to be honest i dont think there's anything special about a 4cyl/auto TSX (for the money..).

I would love to see GRM do something like this again, for sure. I like that you pitted it against a Toyota sports car. Now you could get an Accord and pit it against an S2000 or a Maxima and pit it against your 350Z project. I liked reading the articles even though it all didn't go quite as planned.

I like this.

For family performance sedan I'd choose Accord long before Maxima or Camry.

Totally dependent on generation for me. 3rd gen and 7th gen are the Accords i like better than maximas and camrys in those year ranges. 95-99 id much rather have a maxima than an accord or camry. 93-94 id rather have the camry than an accord or maxima. These are all opinions based on spending a lot of time with all these cars and deciding what i liked and why. So depending on the year range there are times when i prefer each of them over the others!

Having said that, and having actually owned 4 accords and gotten rid of them and passed on numerous maximas and camrys, what family sedans do i currently (and probably permanently) own? DODGES!

and a 2003 Maxima over most.

Vigo wrote:

You guys(GRM) should do a project 1st gen TSX. THAT would make a great dual purpose family sedan

Yeah but how many people get a hand-me-down TSX? If they do, it is certainly automatic and to be honest i dont think there's anything special about a 4cyl/auto TSX (for the money..).

I would love to see GRM do something like this again, for sure. I like that you pitted it against a Toyota sports car. Now you could get an Accord and pit it against an S2000 or a Maxima and pit it against your 350Z project. I liked reading the articles even though it all didn't go quite as planned.

I like this.

For family performance sedan I'd choose Accord long before Maxima or Camry.

Totally dependent on generation for me. 3rd gen and 7th gen are the Accords i like better than maximas and camrys in those year ranges. 95-99 id much rather have a maxima than an accord or camry. 93-94 id rather have the camry than an accord or maxima. These are all opinions based on spending a lot of time with all these cars and deciding what i liked and why. So depending on the year range there are times when i prefer each of them over the others! Having said that, and having actually owned 4 accords and gotten rid of them and passed on numerous maximas and camrys, what family sedans do i currently (and probably permanently) own? DODGES!

Having owned one of each, a 2000-2001 Maxima crushes a same-year accord in almost every performance measure stock for stock (and with equal modifications). An 02-03 Maxima with the VQ35 does the same, but even moreso. A VQ30 Maxima might not fare well against the current Accord, but it wouldn't be totally lopsided.

The main thing, though, is that the VQ30/35 can take a beating on the track without much issue risk. Especially the VQ30, which is pretty damn bulletproof.

belteshazzar wrote: and a 2003 Maxima over most.

Plus they got the LSD, which the 00-01's didn't (except the Anniversary Edition 01, IIRC)

Having owned one of each, a 2000-2001 Maxima crushes a same-year accord in almost every performance measure stock for stock (and with equal modifications). An 02-03 Maxima with the VQ35 does the same, but even moreso. A VQ30 Maxima might not fare well against the current Accord, but it wouldn't be totally lopsided. The main thing, though, is that the VQ30/35 can take a beating on the track without much issue risk. Especially the VQ30, which is pretty damn bulletproof.

Yeah, im not a fan of the 98-02 accords. They were not among the 2 year ranges i named as liking. But im not a big fan of 00-02 maximas either. I prefer the 4g except for the 2003 3.5 in which case the motor justifies the rest of the car vs a 4g.