924Board.org

[bcblase]

In prep for Spring Autocross season, what should I not waste my money on over the winter? (I'm new at this, obviously...)

Opinions wanted on the following:

1. Short-shift conversion - worth the hassle?
2. Throttle response cam - myth or magic?
3. Rear sway bar - MO30 factory or other brand?
4. Strut brace bar - does this help at all?
5. Race tires - which brand or size works best?
6. Shocks and Struts - replace with what?
7. Other options...

It's possible I may take a run or two at Summit Point Race Track also, but just for fun and the experience. I know I need to work on seat time and driving skills the most, but the car is going to be sitting around all winter. I need to prioritize my upgrades.

Thx - BC
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver

[924RACR]

My rating of the items you've listed:

1. Rear sway bar - I'd recommend the MO30 factory - very good cost-effectiveness.
2. Shocks and Struts - YMMV, but a lot like the Koni's for the tuneability, probably wouldn't kill you to go this route.
3. Engine tune-up - seriously! plugs, wires, cap, rotor, O2 sensor, etc.
4. Bushings - replace worn stock suspension bushings!!! At bare minimum with stock new rubber parts, but just as easy to upgrade. For the front, that's a-arm bushings and strut mounts; in the rear, that's the torsion bar bushings and trailing arm center pivot bushings. Do the front before the rear, the rear is many times more work.
5. Short-shift conversion - Actually not that much of a hassle, and does a nice job getting rid of shifter slop - but replace the shift lever FIRST, that's a higher priority and your short shifter won't be worth jack until you do.

6. Race tires - slippery slope here, but a good set of street/track tires can make the car much happier to drive both on and off the track.
7. Strut brace bar - only helps if the rest of the front-end is tight (which is why you should do bushings first).
8. Throttle response cam - low priority here

Since you're also talking about tracking your car, realize before you get too far with suspension mods that you'll want more spring rate and torsion bar once you've been around the track a few times and realize how softly these cars are sprung. When the torsion bars are replaced is a great time to replace the rear suspension bushings.

Also keep in mind, if you're planning on doing a lot of autoxing, that a lot of these mods will bump you a class; be sure you know what you're doing!
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Cedric]

To get fast around the track start with race tires, it will do the most performance gain.

Then start with suspension tune up..
_________________
1980 924 Turbo
www.instagram.com/garagecedric/

[bcblase]

What can I do that will not bump me up a class? I know that if I stay with "stock" or factory options, I won't get bumped up.

M030 sway bar - stock option - this is OK
Shocks/Struts - do I have to stay with OEMs?
Bushings - OK, if I stick with rubber?
Short-shifter - not stock, I know
Race tires - these are OK, right?
Diff Springs rates - not stock?

BC
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver

[JSilverman]

[joecitizennn]

M030 rear sway bar bumps you up to Street Prepared since it was never available on a 924.

You are forgetting the SE
_________________
87 924s
88 924SE gone
447 hp cgt clone
87 924S gone
84 944 sold
83 944 sold
89 turbo S LSD, ABS etc
86 951 white rocket
85 944 sport everything.
84 944 sold.
87 944 sold

[JSilverman]

The 924 M030 bar would be legal as long as you swapped the entire option package, which means the springs and threaded collars as well. I was referring the 19mm adjustable rear sway bar that was on the 968.

[Matt Norton]

cheepest way to upgrade sway bars is to go with the 944 turbo front and back. I ran into a guy at a PCA Autocros who took first place with the set up. I think PCA may be a bit easyer on upgrading between modles but ya build the car the way you want! That is my plan and a short shifter in on my whish list after the D Production body kit, sway bars, racing bushings and tires. I may put a racing chip in it too at some point.
_________________
Red 1987 924S with plans for D Productions Kit
From American International Racing.

[bcblase]

If you go with the racing chip, I have heard that the FR Wilk chip cannot be beat. It's more money ($200) than the cheap eBay chips, but this guy practically (re)designed the DME for the 924S/944, and he knows his stuff. It's next on my list of upgrades.

www.frwilk.com

Plus, he has some really hot chicks on his website!

BC
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver

[Matt Norton]

Nice! l Like the dual chip set up. At a flick of a switch you can relese the hidden beast. Very nice for runing events that require stock set up and then turning around and having some fun at DE on the track. too cool. not a bad price compared to some of the others out there with multi settings.

How easy is it to install on our cars? We should have the EProm slot right?
so is it just a mater of pulling one out and putting the new one in?

It's going on my upgrade list too!
_________________
Red 1987 924S with plans for D Productions Kit
From American International Racing.

[bcblase]

Ordered my FR Wilk chip the other day - it has an interesting setup. He provides a jumper for the altitude sensor (no longer used) to trigger the chip code. Without the jumper, you run the stock code. You can cut the jumper and install a switch on the dash, or elsewhere.

"Warp factor 9, Mr. Sulu" <hitting magic switch>

Altitude sensor and cracked open DME below. The EPROM chip is on the upper left side of the circuit board.



BC
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver

[Matt Norton]

I just got an email with instalation instrutions. looks easy enouph. Now we are all eager to hear how it works. so do tell does it really release a sleeping giant or is it just hype.
_________________
Red 1987 924S with plans for D Productions Kit
From American International Racing.

[bcblase]

Got the chip, got it installed, but the car is up on jacks while I am working on the engine and suspensions components.

I'll post an update when I get it back on the road.

BC
_________________
1987 Porsche 924S - track toy
1986 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v - autocross
2007 F-150 5.4L Lariat Supercrew - tow beast
1994 Volvo 850 Race Wagon - 24 Hours of Lemons Car
2001 BMW 325xi - daily driver

[bcblase]