[cbp_crx]

Hey all, I have started a complete build-up on my rex, and hope to have it done for the 07 autocross season. I am running a d16a6 with a header, cai, and exhaust, i was told, that would put me in street prepared class, is that correct? My main question is my suspenison. Right now, im just doing it for fun, but still using my crx for a weekend car. My list is as follows
springs: neuspeed race springs
struts: tokiko illuminas
bushings: prothane polyurathane master kit, with trailing arm bushings
Is that ok for just my first year etc? Would i benifet from adding a rear sway bar or anything (have a 91 dx) i am open to any suggestions. thanks.

 

[Jonny_Black]

now every racer is different...but just something to think about usuing that spring. Its a progressive spring. menaing as it is compressed its spring rate increases ie it gets stiffer. this might seem like a good thing..but I find it to be somewhat impractical and unpradictable at extremes. I like a more linear spring..it is more consistant..speacially in the rear. Hopefully you are picking up what I am putting down. If you need me to explain further...just let me know :wink:

 

[lessonsinspeed]

Setup looks pretty good. The swaybar will make a huge difference, I would strongly suggest picking up a rear bar (leave the stock front bar on). Don't forget the most important part of suspension though...tires.

 

[iLLA]

Don't forget the most important part of suspension though...tires.

Yes, could not stress that enough. Tires are the key component to any suspension setup. I would say put off the sway bar for now, and run with your current setup. Get a good feel of your technique, and improve on that; then when you feel like you could step it up, get the sway bar. So not only will the capability of your car improve, but your skill of handling your car will improve as well.

 

[downest]

I think with just IHE you will be in STS2, but I'm not sure. I know for engine mods if you don't touch anything between the throttle plate and the header you're all set for STS, but maybe the ES bushings move you out.

Of course, tires. Look into something really sticky if you're using a street tire, like Falken Azenis RT-615, Hankook Ventus RS2, or BFG G-Force T/A KDW-2.

Jonny_Black is right, you might be better off with a linear rate spring. Look at Ground Controls, they come with Eibach springs, and you can get custom rates for no extra charge. You can also adjust the height of the car, and in my experience the NS/HR race springs don't always lower the car much.

Honestly I think you may not need a sway bar right away. I'm running a stock bar, SPC LCAs, and very stiff springs and it has nearly the same effect. With 650# springs and the stock bar attached I get throttle-on oversteer, it's a lot of fun. With softer springs you will get more unpredictable snap-oversteer. That's how my old car was, once you get used to it, it works out ok, but you will need new springs or a sway to correct it. I say just save the money early on and get some GC with custom rates, stiffen up the rear and see if you need another sway bar later.

The last thing you should do is just go over all the maintenance of the front end steering stuff. Inspect (and if needed, replace) ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, and axles.

 

[fireant]

If your local club has STS2 available that would be where you are (assuming that you still have a cat). Without a cat, you'd be CSP, I believe. The bushings are OK for STS2.

I think the progressive springs with stock bars will be fine for your first season. At the end of the season, you'll have learned alot and will benefit more from adding a rear sway at that time than you would now. Dont get too obsessed with modding, just have fun, and maintain the car well so you dont tear it up.

 

[cbp_crx]

thanks guys for all your info, ive been trying to get some info, but everytime i post a thread on honda-tech it gets deleted, i found all of your information great, what size wheels are all of you running? i have 15s right now, but i am looking for a set of hx wheels. What spring rates would you guys suggest, the car is pretty much all stock as you know, running a full interior etc. Yeah, im just looking forward to having fun, but want to be a little competitve car wise, because im not too sure about my driving yet thanks for replying guys

 

[cbp_crx]

also, do i have to keep the stock engine, or can i use an engine that comes in a crx(d16). also, if i have to keep the d15, is it again the rules in the sts2 class for me to run a mpfi swap on my stock engine?

 

[downest]

thanks guys for all your info, ive been trying to get some info, but everytime i post a thread on honda-tech it gets deleted, i found all of your information great, what size wheels are all of you running? i have 15s right now, but i am looking for a set of hx wheels. What spring rates would you guys suggest, the car is pretty much all stock as you know, running a full interior etc. Yeah, im just looking forward to having fun, but want to be a little competitve car wise, because im not too sure about my driving yet thanks for replying guys

I am running 14" HX wheels with Falken Azenis RT-215. You can't get the 215s any more so get the RT-615. Good luck finding some HX wheels, I lucked out and got some in a junkyard cheap. My old car had off-the-shelf Eibach springs that came with the Ground Controls, 350/250, and I switched the springs so I had the stiffer ones in the rear. I had Tokico Illuminas on that car. My current car has 450/650 Eibachs on Ground Controls, with Koni Yellows. Personally I don't mind the harsh ride, but I know people ride in my car and hate it. I think the standard GCs should be enough to start with, though you might want to get stiffer springs later.

also, do i have to keep the stock engine, or can i use an engine that comes in a crx(d16). also, if i have to keep the d15, is it again the rules in the sts2 class for me to run a mpfi swap on my stock engine?

I don't know the rules very well for STS, but I'm pretty sure swaps are ok as long as it came in that car in the US. You should be able to swap over any OEM stuff between CRX models of the same generation (engine, brakes, tranny, etc).

Don't do too much at once. The CRX, even stock, is a very capable AutoX car. If you do some events now while it's stock, you will learn to control it better, and you will appreciate your mods later on. The first thing you should be concerned with is tires. Stef won his class this weekend with his stock HF, blowing a quart of oil every run. As for non-stock stuff, he has a relocated PC680 battery, Ventus RS2 tires, and an Si driver's seat, that's it. I'm sure he had the lowest powered, most stock car on the grid, over all the classes, and he still won.

 

[cbp_crx]

hey thanks for answering my questions agian. you seem like you know quite a bit about autocrossing. im trying to learn as much as i can, im looking forward to get to do it, if i have my car done in time im going to try and hit one up this year, but it probably wont be. thanks again tho

 

[fireant]

While downest is partly right that a few years ago, STS cars were allowed to update/backdate different engines from the same chassis, the rules were changed and you are now required to keep the same exact type of engine that came with your trim level. Dont dispair though, the CRX is no slouch at autocrossing with a D15.

 

[downest]

While downest is partly right that a few years ago, STS cars were allowed to update/backdate different engines from the same chassis, the rules were changed and you are now required to keep the same exact type of engine that came with your trim level. Dont dispair though, the CRX is no slouch at autocrossing with a D15.

Yeah, stefano did awesome with the HF like I said. Get good tires and suspension first, power you can't put down is no use anyway.

 

[cbp_crx]

that is very true, do you guys know about the mpfi swap? i already did it, but can always remove if necessary

 

[fireant]

Then you are in CSP. :lol:

It doesnt matter anyways, you are guaranteed to suck for about the 10 first events in autocross. You'll learn so much about driving that you didnt realize was there, regardless of the mods you have. Just have fun!

 

[cbp_crx]

lol yeah, probably more than 10 events