Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

lol I like the idea of an Evo, but it would be a chunk more spending for likely minimal gain over the current car. 

I think an MX5 warrants a closer look, in terms of light, NA, and capable, it seems to top the charts. 

In the meantime, as was suggested, I'll track the Silvia some more. 

Edited by ActionDan

They vary widely like any car with multiple models across multiple years and types of usage. 

The attraction there is that being lighter, and NA, the running costs (time and money) will be lower overall than another boosted tyre, fuel, and brake hungry beast.

I already have two of those :D  

 

 

Here's a cool open wheeler,,, just across the ditch, dry sumped and lots of fruit. Left shifter for your convenience.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-1202180099.htm

 

Cheers

Neil.

  • Like 1
  • 5 weeks later...
On 15/11/2016 at 8:52 PM, V28VX37 said:

...

I've been entertaining the idea of offloading the 34 though it's way too far gone in terms of time and cost over the past five years. It's the only car and keeping the balance between family friendly (=safe) and track friendly (=quick/reliable) is tough - I've just about tipped it over the edge with the 1.5-way. Sounds like DJBarnstar is familiar with that story :)

Anyway if you replaced it with a 2-car combo you could optimistically do a ~10k family diesel wagon (how exciting) and a ~10k track toy, but you don't get much for that money. MX5's are very appealing but a sorted turbo example wouldn't fit the budget. Though heaps lighter it'd be hard to go NA for the lack of power (at least on paper) but that said ditching the turbo would also mean reliability & heaps less ongoing cost.

...

I've been investigating the MX5 option a bit more just out of curiosity, window shopping is fun. There's heaps for sale on CarSales and mx5cartalk, and a few more track focused ones on my105 and TrackSales.

If I had the space for a trailer a well sorted racer (even non-turbo) would be sensible but since I don't it really would need to be registered. This would leave a couple of options:

  1. Club rego: Find an existing early NA project with mostly NB S1/S2 parts and other required track upgrades; ideally a turbo conversion too ;) There are a few around but many interstate, and getting them regoed in Vic is probably an engineering job = $$$
  2. Full rego: Find an NB (turbo) or NC that is registered but with a track focused setup. Newer car = theoretically less hassles but more rego cost

So essentially it's the good old 'streetable race car' dilemma, with a bit of 'is old but highly modified better than newer but more stock' thrown in.

Besides the purchase price a primary factor would be ongoing cost. I'd really prefer something that is reliable and cheap to track (haha oxymoron) over something that is fast but in bits half the time (already have one of those). If there was a measure it would be lowest $ per lap say over a year. Essentially, how to get the cheapest seat time?  

Darn you Greg for making me think about this :huh:

An alternative which I don't think has been mentioned yet is something like a RX7 with a LSx engine, there have been a few conversions like that done so picking up a completed one is a possibility. But of course a decent one is going to cost a lot more than some of the other suggestions here. Thing is though you get a powerful, nice handling car that should be low maintenance, to each their own but running something like a MX5 would get boring real quick, there is no substitute for power and all the interesting challenges it brings to the track.

An alternative which I don't think has been mentioned yet is something like a RX7 with a LSx engine, there have been a few conversions like that done so picking up a completed one is a possibility. But of course a decent one is going to cost a lot more than some of the other suggestions here. Thing is though you get a powerful, nice handling car that should be low maintenance, to each their own but running something like a MX5 would get boring real quick, there is no substitute for power and all the interesting challenges it brings to the track.

Nice. I'd love an LS swap for easy reliable power but never seen one on the street - I'm guessing they're pretty tough to get engineered?

I stupidly suggested to my gf that a MX5 would be a perfect car for her to get a head start in, learn on, use, etc. 

Now I want one, with a small turbo albeit.

LS Swapped FD would be great, but if you want a ~1250-1350kg car with an easy to use 250-270kw then you start looking into options like, oh I dunno, a RX7.. or a jap turbo import made by Nissan...

I have this discussion with my housemate who got an E36 328i with plans to put a LS1 in.

 

  • Like 1

The OP is interested in NA options, he already has a turbo and the LS/RX7 conversion is popular because their rotor motor blows up regularly whereas a properly lubricated LS will go forever. The LS has other advantages too, low C of G, compact, parts availability, aftermarket support and relatively light in weight.

The OP is interested in NA options, he already has a turbo and the LS/RX7 conversion is popular because their rotor motor blows up regularly whereas a properly lubricated LS will go forever. The LS has other advantages too, low C of G, compact, parts availability, aftermarket support and relatively light in weight.

Sidetrack but the new owner is racing my old Monaro and it's onto its third or fourth LS now so they're not bulletproof either... Granted he's pushing close to 400rwkw naturally aspirated in a high G environment but still.
  • Like 1
58 minutes ago, 260DET said:

Lubrication. Other than abuse, pretty well every LS engine failure/premature wear situation can be traced back to inadequate lubrication.

Hundred percent. He's gone a dry sump setup now, hopefully less dramas in the future.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Hi. This is just my curiosity because iam sure the tuner figure something out...but either way i want to ask. The "problem" is that the Nistune ECU (Stagea FW and RB25DET NEO from Stagea) sees many times the speed than the speedo does(he says the speedo show 120 km/h - correct speed and the ECU shows like 510km/h ) I told him that this car/tranny getting speed from rear diff. If iam not mistaken the RB25DET NEO "need" to see tranny speed sensor? (my tranny has the plug for it). So couple of "question" If he connects/wire the speed sensor to the tranny...are the signals gonna intervene and if...what if he disconnects the rear diff one and the speedo stops working? Or the "new" sensor from the tranny "take over" and will not going need the one from diff? As i said i know he figure/get that done...iam just curious to know what are the solutions 🙂 
    • Your IACV is set to idle too low. You need to adjust it via the screw Duncan mentioned. From memory it should be 650rpm with the valve electrics unplugged. What is it trying to idle at with the IACV plugged in?
    • Ahhh, I need the whole head unit. I definitely needed to roll back through and review your setup, ha ha! Neat setup they have going on. I just need a full double din head unit. But I want good and responsive. I might have to review what the likes of pioneer have out these days.
    • Ok so after much research and talking with knowledgeable people I've got my turbo conversion done and it's all running great other than 1 small issue.  Car has remained auto with the na auto and tcm, I've used a stagea ecu with. NIstune board and everything is great other than my gear selection on the dash. It illuminates park, reverse, neutral, 3rd and 2nd. But nothing drive or what gear your in when you pop it into tiptronic.  I'm sure there is may e 1 wire in the ecu plug I need to move to rectify this. Dose anyone here have any ideas?   Cheers guys
    • Sorry I haven't been following all the detail, so you may have tried this. Does it idle with the tiniest bit of throttle you can add? You've mentioned the IACV, does it have an AAC valve and have you adjusted it at all (ie, screw the idle adjust screw all the way in, then back it out a couple of turns until idle is stable)?
×
×
  • Create New...