What car to race circle track?

[cantdrive55x]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I'm getting into a 4 or 6 cyl class at my local asphault circle track next year. The rules state that you can run a 4 cyl with a minimum weight of 2300 or a 6 cyl with a minimum weight of 2600. The car must be stock, or at least "appear" stock with an engine that was offered for the year and model of car...Right now 6 cyl Probes are dominating with 6 cyl cavaliers and luminas next, nobody runs any hondas or acuras yet. I've found a 95 'lude with bad 2.3 for $400, found a 95 'teg for $200 with bad b18. I'm going to Japan with the military this spring so I may be able to scrounge up some engines/transmissions over there.

So I'm thinking a 'Lude with H22...
Pro's- High HP, good handling
Con's-expensive motor, may not be able to get down to 2300lbs(?)

a 'Lude with H23
Pro's- decent HP, good handling
Con's- motor still not cheap(?), weight problem

a 'Lude with F22
Pro's- HP not bad, good handling, cheap motor
Con's- weight problem

a 'Teg with B18
Pro's- HP not bad, easy to make 2300 lbs, not bad handling, possible Frankestein
Con's- motor not cheap

Civic with B16
Pro's- HP not bad, easy to make 2300 lbs
Con's- motor not cheap

What do you guys think? I appreciate any input and maybe some suggestions I haven't thought of, older integra with ZC etc. The idea here is to get onto the track for cheap. Thanks

[00accord44]

Wait, I'm confused. You said the cars have to be equipped with an engine from that model of that year, but Cavaliers are in the 6cyl class? Luminas are keeping up with Probes? What the hell is going on in that circuit!?

So you're looking for a shell and want to drop an engine in after? Or would you rather buy a full package? And how much are you looking to spend on this project???

Details por favor

[cantdrive55x]

"Wait, I'm confused. You said the cars have to be equipped with an engine from that model of that year, but Cavaliers are in the 6cyl class? Luminas are keeping up with Probes? What the hell is going on in that circuit!?"

Yeah, Cavaliers came with a fairly decent 3.1 V6, the lumina had the same motor along with a 215 hp 3.4 in the z34. The Probe has about 170hp.

"So you're looking for a shell and want to drop an engine in after? Or would you rather buy a full package? And how much are you looking to spend on this project???"

A shell is fine, I'd like to put a car on the track for $1k or less. That's what I like about the 'lude and 'teg I found both for less than $500, and I may be able to pick up some drivetrain components from Japan when I travel there this spring.

[J-Wat]

Of those choices i'd go with the lude (I do own one so take that as you will)
The H22 if it has to be N/A
The H23 if you are allowed to turbo

Also You can get it down to 2300lbs no problem.

[cantdrive55x]

Wow, if I can get a prelude down to 2300 lbs then that is probably the easy answer. That would give me the best power to weight ratio. I can't turbo so I guess I'll be shopping for an h22 while I'm in Japan.

Still open to other suggestions though if anybody sees this differently.

[00accord44]

I agree with the lude suggestion. You should be able to find one for cheap in Japan. But when and where did Cavaliers ever get V6s? I must've missed that era.

[cantdrive55x]

Yeah, I'm thinking prelude...I wonder where I can find info on the lowest stripped weight of a prelude?

According to Wikipidia on Cavaliers... "3.1 L V6 MPFI Available in Z24 models from 1990 to 1994."

[00accord44]

I'll be damned. I never knew that. I'm shocked that slipped past me for 16 years