GRM $2006 Challenge

[SabreKhan]

Hello, guys! First things first, I want to point out that I have no idea about anything Honda at all. I know what the various body styles look like, and how many cylinders are in the engine. That's about it. Oh, and I also know that your aftermarket is dirt cheap. I'm thinking about my various options for the Grassroots Motorsports $2006 Challenge, and the CRX came to mind. I can get the running car for about $700 (max), which leaves a budget of $1306.

Assuming the CRX is bone stock, what can I do to it for $1,306 to make it a competitive racer? Remember, my needs are strictly performance-oriented (I'll probably spend a few bucks on a can of spraypaint, though). The car has to be ready for both autocrossing and drag racing.

Tires, coilovers, and braces are the obvious first buys. What else?

[Hybrid1990crx]

Hmmm. Well I say to try to find some used, but good suspention parts, shocks, springs, tie bars, and strut bars, and swap bars if its not an si. Then I'd say with the budget you have, to forget about any kind of motor swap, and just boost it to like 8 lbs.

[SabreKhan]

Yes, I will definitely start with a CRX Si. It's always best to start with good stuff and work your way up with a racecar. And after some quickie research, I've found that tires will set me back $400, which leaves approx. $906 in the budget for suspension and/or engine. How much is it to turbo one of these bad boys? Engine swaps? I'm not even sure what engine it comes with in the first place, to tell you the truth. I just know it handles really well for a $700 or less car.

[SiZ]

Why start with an Si? Look for an HF or a DX at most.. Si rear sway and LCAs, A SOHC VTEC motor, some used suspension from somewhere online (check clubsi and honda-tech), and make it as light as you possibly can. (remove the sereo wires and all that crap, strip strip strip!)

[4thgenracer]

intake,exhaust,springs,strut bar short shifter....or go EBAY

[SabreKhan]

Why start with an HF or DX? What's the added benefit there? I figure the Si will be the fast one, right? What does LCA stand for? Yes, it will be stripped to the bare shell, drivetrain, driver's seat/belts, suspension, and wheels. Anything not absolutely necessary is going on Ebay or the dumpster. Actually, anything I sell can be recouped into the budget, so I'm going to try to sell as much as I can.

[Greenblurr93]

Si is pretty heavy compared to the HF and DX, the HF weighs the least. LCA = Lower Conrtol Arm.

[icE_x]

i don't think the weight savings help that much to be honest - the engine makes up for it

[clawhammer]

My suggestion:

Ebay intake ($40), short shifter ($20), header ($100), if possible go without exhaust (earplugs $1) if not, then buy some 2.5 piping for under $100, then springs and shocks ($??), maybe a used Mitsubishi turbo?

[Ones&zeros]

sway bars, and strut tower bars, then intake and exhaust. i like the ear plug idea, remove the cat!!! lowering springs, tires. hope its all in your budget.

[SiZ]

Originally Posted by clawhammer

My suggestion:

Ebay intake ($40), short shifter ($20), header ($100), if possible go without exhaust (earplugs $1) if not, then buy some 2.5 piping for under $100, then springs and shocks ($??), maybe a used Mitsubishi turbo?

A header and then a turbo?!

I don't think you're going to get a car, suspension, AND a turbo all for under $2000, thats nuts.
And yes, the weight savings with an HF will be completley beneficial. Lighter = better braking, better accelerating, better handling. Really consider getting a different motor. Si motors can be found for dirrrt cheap if you shop around enough, and SOHC VTECs can also be found for cheap if you know some people and do lots of searching around. (depending on your area I guess)

The only benefit an Si is going to have over an HF is the rear sway and the higher HP motor, but with the same motor in both cars I'd definatley put my money on the HF.

[88ReX]

in ALL honesty its only a couple hundred lbs difference at most, that is if you get the heaviest SI a 91. But considereing you are taking out everything you dont need I dont think this will be an issue. Not to mention the heaviest stock crx is probably around 2100/2200 lbs w/o a driver in it.

You are better off starting with the SI because it has a lot of the stuff it needs that the others don't have to begin with and that you would have to make up for in budget. First off the engine and tranny combo in the SI make it the quickest crx and its pretty damned peppy at that stage. It also comes with a rear sway bar and in the case of a 90/91 it has rear disc brakes.

You have the right idea with your plan. Start with some tires (used), coilovers/springs (used if you can), and aftermarket struts (used if possible!)

TAKE OFF the front sway bar. Strip it. As far as cheap power...get creative. You could probably build a homemadeturbo.com setup for some change but scoring the parts might be hard. Nitros might be the better option here for quick power, no more than a 65 shot I would say on stock block. Think about a BIG CAM! If you do plan on adding some sort of FI, please do some kind of fuel management.

You should be perfectly fine with stock engine on the autocross course.

[91civichatch2571]

are there any restrictions in these races? like do the cars have to be street legal or anything? Seriously though, if you know how to into the engine, maybe think of getting a vtec head (do a search on here for mini-me). although if you did that you wouldnt have much left for suspension so you would lack in the autocross.
If you would rather do better in the autocross, theres nothing wrong with the stock Si motor. You could throw a cam in it to get some more power. Then you would have money left for stuff like a rear sway bar, stuts and springs.
Also, strip everything out of your car. all you need is the drivers seat and the steering wheel and the seatbelt. get down to all the things like windshield wipers, wiper motor and fluid jug, front bumper support...if you have a/c and/or power steering, ditch them. those are a couple of ways to free up some hp. sounds like a fun project.

[SiZ]

No doubt.. I would totally love to do something like this.

I think you're in good hands with a older Civic/CRX.

[clawhammer]

I doubt nitrous can be used in autox. It can be used in drag though, even though I think he's trying to score big points in autox though.

Sorry about the header comment, I know, you don't need it.