Oval Stock Car Racing

[240sxracer36]

Anyone on here racing stock ovals? We are building a 1990 240sx and any setup and mod help would be appreciated. 3/8 mile asphalt track with banking.

Thanks in Advance
Mike

[240sxracer36]

Surely someone out there is racing this car.

[RiotGearOnline]

Originally Posted by 240sxracer36

Surely someone out there is racing this car.

Oval track? As in NASCAR? Sorry, but that is not really fun to me, don't know about anyone else. Why don't you just use a chevy or something?

[240SXSlideStar]

Not in Oval Track, that's right up there in the "why the hell would do that???" category with off-roading the car!

[slideways...]

yeah. to limit the potential of a 240 by making turn left over and over again is pointless and sad and a waste of one of the few 240s left

[orestes]

yup.

[NissanElitist]

Originally Posted by 240sxracer36

Anyone on here racing stock ovals? We are building a 1990 240sx and any setup and mod help would be appreciated. 3/8 mile asphalt track with banking.

Thanks in Advance
Mike

You need to know the degree of banking to adequately setup the car's alignment. You need to run an unequal crossweight setup to optimize outer tire adhesion.

As far as adequate wheel rates are concerned you need to first dictate the degree of embankment as this affects spring loading and effective rate. Sway bars can be used effectively here because you have a steady state loading on the car. Effective rate of the sway bars can be determined by the diameter to the 4th power. Also bear in mind any differences in swing arm length between two bars, and the endlinks as well.

Emphasis should be placed on the low speed valving of the shock absorbers. Koni if you are cheap, Penske, Moton, etc. if you are baller.

You should look into redesigning the front suspension to involve greater ackermann as well as lengthening the lower control arms to increase track (especially helpful when you are using the car in a weight class). On your wheel choice pay good attention to your scrub radii as well as kingpin inclination angles. This will help to maintain a softer steering, which helps avoid premature driver fatigue.

If you are using an S13 they have a good amount of anti-squat built into the rear subframe suspension alignment geometry. You can reduce this by shimming the subframe about 0.75 to 1 deg tops. Ideally you would just reconstruct the rear spindles and lower control arm. The rear traction arms should also be relocated on the chassis to lessen the bump-steer (toe in on OEM setup) this will provide stable cornering by reducing toe differences in the suspension, as well as saving your tires.

As far as weight is concerned either chassis can be dropped to 2300 lbs. fairly easily. The S14's might weigh more but thats because they have more shit that can be pulled off of it.

Oil systems suck for oval tracks in the Nissans. You will need to replace the oil pan with a complely baffeled unit and I highly suggest an Accusump as backup. If you have the money go to dry sump.

Check list before you even get on the track:

- FIA Cert. Seat
- Nomex, lots of it.
- Halon Systems are nice, but not required.
- Roll Cage (Nascar door bars, reinforced w/ Gussets, etc.)
- SA2000+ Snell Cert. Helmet (full face unless you like reconstructive surgery)
- Removable Steering Wheel (can't get out of car fast w/o it)
- Window Net
- Padded Cage Bars
- Feet Restraints (simple box welded around pedals)
- Helmet Restraints and/or Hans Device

It's better to be poor and safe, than dead or paralyzed.

Good luck.

[orestes]

wtf was that i felt like i was reading a textbook for classes im not going to take for 2 more years and then at the end its like the safety warnings they used to have at the end of the G.I. Joe cartoon...but still....thanks for the information...that was very detailed.

[NissanElitist]

Originally Posted by orestes

wtf was that i felt like i was reading a textbook for classes im not going to take for 2 more years and then at the end its like the safety warnings they used to have at the end of the G.I. Joe cartoon...but still....thanks for the information...that was very detailed.

Unlike the people above me I have some compassion for people who actually do something with their cars. I am not afflicted by the stupid thought of "save the 240s", I say we gut them all and race them till the last one hits a wall and explodes.

Better death than getting hit by some dumb bitch in a SUV.

[orestes]

you are one bad crazy reactionary long ass detailed post making kinda mother fucker, mother fucker.

Compassion or no, you should stick to the posts where you are advising people about their rear suspension alignment angles and sway bar diameter not telling other people what do with their car. Oh ya ok lets all crash every last 240. Instead of "save the 240s" you are "crash all 240s into a wall either NASCAR racing or trying to drift". Which is worse? Why are you bitching?

And what the hell is "people who actually do something with their cars"? You have to gut out your interior to be a "real" 240 owner or something?

[sidewayzS13]

oh my i like the pulp fiction pic. elitist i understood about half of what u were saying but its alright u and nissan fanatic can be like the duo of people i dont understand. ass far as oval track goes its your car go do what you want. personaly id get a Sentra if i were gunna be hitting the track like you are.

[240sxracer36]

To Nissanelitist,

Thanks for the info. We raced go-karts for two years so I understand most of your post. The track is about 12 degrees, 3/8 mile and most of the grip is gone. Other constraints are 1) stock class with only factory options allowed. 2) Must weight 22 pound per horsepower to equal out the cars. (ours is 3,080 lbs)

Any ideas of the following

1) Left weight %
2) Rear weight %
3) Cross Weight %
4) Can I increase ackerman on a basic chassis? Haven't looked at how it set up yet.
5) Basic ideas on springs and shocks. Can't run adjustable shocks but I also know that all stock shocks are not created equally.

Email me if you like. Aso going to have extra parts if you need something.

Thanks,
Mike

[240sxracer36]

Originally Posted by RiotGearOnline

Oval track? As in NASCAR? Sorry, but that is not really fun to me, don't know about anyone else. Why don't you just use a chevy or something?

We run a stock 4 cylinder class and the best cars to run are RWD. Most domestic RWD cars are V8. Also at 152 lbs torque, the 240 comes off the corner great. There are other cars out there with the HP but not the torque.

Mike

[240SXSlideStar]

Originally Posted by 240sxracer36

We run a stock 4 cylinder class and the best cars to run are RWD. Most domestic RWD cars are V8. Also at 152 lbs torque, the 240 comes off the corner great. There are other cars out there with the HP but not the torque.

Mike

What other cars run in the class?

And it seems like you should have some kind of engineer in your pit crew to find those weight answers and all that instead of asking around in some forum.

[RiotGearOnline]

Originally Posted by 240sxracer36

There are other cars out there with the HP but not the torque.
Mike

That is cool, but I have a hatred for stock car racing. It is not racing. Kart racing is, my step-dad used to do that, but going left all day long, that is dumb in my opinion. I plan on racing my car, but I will be making right AND left hand turns, and it won't be stock, thats for sure!!
Don't know how fast or dangerous this is, but there is a fire extinguishing system you may want to get also, check the other threads on here for links for parts and info.