So I must admit, I am now quite interested in jumping into 1st gen's

I have messed with FC's for 8 years now, doing lots of stuff - but let my explain my situation...

Ever since high school - my good friend and I made a wager. I bet him I could beat him in autocross, but the cars we wanted to use were already set.

I want to use a 1st gen

He wants to use an S30

In addition, both of these cars are in the same Solo class !!

And now that we are a bit older, with a little bit of money in our pockets (we are hardly rich :P) and the fact that he is coming out of the marine core, we are pretty dead set on starting out battle.

I want to destroy him :P

My questions are these - I am not an expert in 1st gens... which model is suggested ?

My thoughts go straight towards the GSL-SE, due to its 13B motor. Any other concerns ?

We will be running (for the first season) in a SCCA Solo Stock class, so not much can be done and like I said, we are defiantly on a budget.

As I learn the car, and grow a bit more as a driver, I would slowly upgrade and move up in classes, but most of all, want to beat my friend :P

Any other concerns you guys (the experts) might be so kind to let me know about ?

 

If i was going to buy a 1st gen in good running condition i would most certainly get a gsl-se. normal bolt pattern in the se's (4x114.3) instead of the 4 x110 that the rest of the 1st gens have. GSL-SE has the bigger motor, fuel injected, bigger rear end than the 79-83 cars, and lsd. Cant go wrong, but if you cant find a gsl-se second best i'd say is the GSL. Happy hunting

 

GSL-SE if you can find a clean one, GSL if you can't. Toss your money at tires, brakes and suspension bushings before doing much else. A set of stainless brake lines and decent pads will go a long way on a tight autocross course. Poly bushings tighten everything up really well too. Good luck.

 

Perfect - I had a feeling the gs-se had more than just the motor. Anyone know the rear end gears?

And yes to your statements, tires brakes and bushing will be first thing done

I found one locally I think I am going to pick up -sometime most important to me, its mostly stock

 

About time you get into a real 7

Picking up the teal blue one?

 

Ha... real rx7...

My fc does its job - or at least it will when the chassis work is done :P

Yea thinking about picking up that teal one!

 

I think the GSL makes a great autocross car. Limited slip, lighter weight, and the gear ratios are just right for most courses. I occasionally get the buzzer in 2nd gear but never hit the point where I need 3rd. Our courses here are usually pretty tight. I will say that it's a hell of a lot easier to find wheels for the SE though, so if money is an object then that might help in the long run. I just keep a spare set of Limited Edition wheels for my R-compound.

It's not really going to matter what car you are in for a while, anyway. If you've never autocrossed before, just finding your way around the course without a DNF will be a bit of a challenge. It'll take some practice before the car becomes a factor at all.

 

Lol forsure man. I want to come check it out when you get whatever you pick up.

It looks pretty good!

 

damn almost everyone who has posted in here is a 5 year member :p

But in reference towards Lizard, I wholeheartedly agree.

I did 2 seasons of autocross way back in 2004 and 2005 in my FC



And ever since then I started drifting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4r4Oyrqnvw

I am not a complete newb - just a drifter newb :P I will still have a long learning curve, but most of all - its fun ! (plus I need to beat my friend :P)

 

rear gear for a -se is 4.09 or 4.10 and a gsl or any 12a car is 3.91

 

He's a Marine?!!!! Surrender now or accept defeat later. You have no chance.

Besides, it Marine Corps, Not core.

In before DD.

 

Sure, the SE has the bigger motor and fuel injection, but it also comes with a bunch of other crap like power windows, locks, etc.

You could go at it from the other direction like I did. I picked up a '85 GS for cheap, and added a rear end from a GSL. Sure I don't have the power of the SE, but I don't have the weight either, and I think that more than makes up for the difference. I've never lost a race due to a lack of horsepower. Even with the stock 12a, on a tight course I can beat just about anything on four wheels (check out some of my videos). I also like the simplicity of the carb.

I understand the desire to start out in a stock class. However, depending whether or not you have emissions testing, pulling the emissions removes huge weight from the car. Removing stuff doesn't really cost anything, and can actually save money in the long run because if it's not there, it can't break. So you might want to keep that in mind. CSP allows you to pull emissions, add exhaust and carb, and do the rest of the things you'd really want to do anyway.

To get the car ready, concentrate on steering components and breaks to begin with. The bushings will be shot, but they can wait a little bit while you get comfortable with the car.

Kind of a rambling post. Sorry. lol. Best of luck, and feel free to ask if you have any questions.



.

 

I would go with an 84-85 S model if you can find one and install an 84-85 GSL rear.

 

is that allowable ? You are able to swap rear ends ? I was under the assumption that you were not able to do that. I do feel you on the whole weight issue, I would perfer to do it just like you did - with a GS and swap in rear ends and save a lot of weight.

For the time being though, we have agree'd to be in a stock class - unless I convience my buddy to move to CSP :p

I will be around here much and be asking a lot of questions for sure.

 

I know that swapping the rear is legal in CSP, but I'm not sure about stock class. You may be able to swap parts in stock class, but you'll have to check the rules to be sure...

 

I will have to check on that.

Btw, twinkle toes is one of my buddies and at first I was Linda hesitatant to post up on here ... since you know ...this is the evil forum :P but he told me the 1stonly gen section is rather nice and made a mention to you ken.

So far - I feel like I haven't been raped 1st gens are promising.

 

lol, we're just waiting until you get a little more comfortable before the raping begins...

Tell Twinkle I said hi.

 

Box of Rape is Ready...

 

^

Hi Kentetsu

 

Changing rear ends does bump you out of stock class. My FB is for autox only but occasionally I also race my daily driver FC. I prefer the lighter FB every time.