Autocross Car - Which to choose? - Page 2

BradZ · 02-10-2011, 09:45 PM

I run a slightly modified Escort Mk2 and its great around a track, small, flickable and pretty quick.

That being said, finding spare parts is a nightmare.

jimbo.h · 02-10-2011, 10:34 PM

I have a el falcon manual tonnes of fun. But in the process of fixing up a ae93 toyota corolla with a 4age engine.

weairy · 02-10-2011, 10:36 PM

That's what we don't want, is the battle to find parts. Our off-roader is a D21 Navara King Cab, couldn't find a new cab anywhere in Vic to replace it when we rolled.

We're looking at a couple of AE92 Corollas with 1.6lt 4A-GE twin cam 16v engines, so we can get a kind of fleet going. Also have a bid on a Honda Prelude 2.2lt 4cyl 5spd manual as a paddock car.

The problem is finding something that's naturally aspirated but still powerful and light. And apparently front wheel drive, sadly.

Sprint XR8 · 03-10-2011, 12:57 AM

How about a mid 90's BMW E36 316i compact, 1.6lt, RWD, disk brakes all round with ABS, decent handling and parts easily available.

drew`SEVNT5 · 03-10-2011, 02:01 AM

Alfetta sedan/GTV/Guiletta?

1.6(Guiletta only)/1.8/2.0 4 Cyl twin cam 8v twin carb, 5spd transaxle rwd, 50/50 weight balance.

MattSAU2XR8 · 03-10-2011, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zedjay

latter model gemini's with RTS handle heaps better than pre RTS gems..
but like someone else sugested...LASER TX-3 4WD TURBO is the go..
they are like a poor mans WRX and parts are cheap as

Good point, mine was a TD SLE which was the first generation with RTS, and was a pretty decent handler even before I took a grinder to the springs. So yeah, '79 to 83 or thereabouts Gemmy would be the go. If needed I can put up a more detailed post about the carburettor setup...

I'm not sure sure about at turbo car for autocross though - I only actually went on the track once (after a motokana (?) at avalon but at any rate I found that 1.6 litres of atmo power was plenty to get the car sideways and had the advantage of being cheap to buy and run - I think that's what this bloke is after, really cheap entertainment.

Windsor220 · 03-10-2011, 02:13 AM

I wouldnt risk a 4WD TX3. They have one of the weakest gearboxes. Probably not a lot of parts left for them now either.

SteveJH · 03-10-2011, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I wouldnt risk a 4WD TX3. They have one of the weakest gearboxes. Probably not a lot of parts left for them now either.

Interesting, never knew Ford made an AWD Turbo version of the laser......

michael_ozzie · 03-10-2011, 08:45 AM

Turbo vehicles are rated at 1.7 times their engine size, if I recall correctly, so even your 1.6l car will not actually race in that category.

And the AWD TX3 would be in an all wheel drive category, which puts it up against subaru's etc.

**Mont5.0** · 03-10-2011, 09:35 AM

All the above mentioned cars (bar the corolla) are to hard for parts or expensive to start with. go a charade. cheap,plentiful, have been used in rally's with success in the past.

EDManual · 03-10-2011, 11:14 AM

Just get a subaru wagon from the early 90's. No mechanical problems as such with non turbo subarus. Plus they are 4wd, so can corner like the fwd, but also get sideways like rwd and pull out of corners with more grip than either. And fun.

With ours, we pulled out all seats, pulled out dash/ brackets, took off towbar, etc etc etc lost an amazing amount of weight and it is amazing how much better it went! Has light alloys and wider tyres.

Before it couldnt get sideways, was slow, now has enough power for a decent 4 wheel slide even on quite a grippy surface!

We pulled out the flywheel and took a heap of metal out of it, put a newish clutch in and its now really revvy! really a great car!

And its "For sale" cheap! in the hundreds, not thousands.

Am in Geelong if interested.