what would you do
10-20-04, 09:59 PM
#1
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what would you do
if you had a 1985 GSl and had a good amount of money and had auto crossing in mind but a daily driver(still fast and everything) in mind what things would you do to it?In order please
10-20-04, 10:17 PM
#2
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Kinda similar, but I never got it onto a race track. Ran an 80LS in SCCA Solo II, so had a good bank of experience to go from. The car you see in my signature line is the one I'm speaking of; (in order)
1) Exhaust - opens up some easy power which makes a difference in handling and acceleration needed on street or track. If you have the money go for that PowerPulse muffler that you've been eyeballing in the Racing Beat catalog - yeah, they're that good.
2) Intake - clean up the intake path and add a K&N or similar to open up the breathing, see above. Get your carb tuned up and working correctly by someone who knows what they're doing (search the boards here)
3) Brakes - pads mostly, but if you're serious, go with SS braided lines and replace your master cylinder, rebuild your calipers - better braking for that acceleration you added in #1 and #2. Buy some good pads, Hawk, Green, whatever
4) Suspension, stabilizers - upgrade size of front and rear stabilizer bars - good bang for the buck, better cornering ability, and this is where the 'ditch-your-rear-bar' crowd chimes in... Mazda put one on the GSL+, so there's a factory reason for a rear bar,... to each their own.
5) Suspension, springs/bushings - helps to lower center of gravity and assists with better cornering and braking with weight transfer.
6) Tires - only after you've had a chance to learn to drive your 'rebuilt' car should you upgrade to better tires that can handle more cornering force, more braking force, etc.
7) Maintenance - get those wheel bearings replaced, replace that idler arm bushings, clean everything up so it's easier to work on, a smooth running and reliable car is both faster and more fun to drive.
8) Clutch somewhere along the line - simply replace with factory parts; they're good for a whole lot more horsepower than you're likely to put down unless you add a turbo.
9) Driver training in there somewhere - a good road racing drivers course (or even a Kart course) is going to make you faster and safer as a driver. Your car is only half the equation.
All of this takes money and time. How fast do you want to get there? It took me about 5 years of work on my 84SE to get to the level of street performance that I now enjoy. With the reliability that's there, it is my primary daily driver, and I have no interest in racing in SCCA or sanctioned events. HTH,
1) Exhaust - opens up some easy power which makes a difference in handling and acceleration needed on street or track. If you have the money go for that PowerPulse muffler that you've been eyeballing in the Racing Beat catalog - yeah, they're that good.
2) Intake - clean up the intake path and add a K&N or similar to open up the breathing, see above. Get your carb tuned up and working correctly by someone who knows what they're doing (search the boards here)
3) Brakes - pads mostly, but if you're serious, go with SS braided lines and replace your master cylinder, rebuild your calipers - better braking for that acceleration you added in #1 and #2. Buy some good pads, Hawk, Green, whatever
4) Suspension, stabilizers - upgrade size of front and rear stabilizer bars - good bang for the buck, better cornering ability, and this is where the 'ditch-your-rear-bar' crowd chimes in... Mazda put one on the GSL+, so there's a factory reason for a rear bar,... to each their own.
5) Suspension, springs/bushings - helps to lower center of gravity and assists with better cornering and braking with weight transfer.
6) Tires - only after you've had a chance to learn to drive your 'rebuilt' car should you upgrade to better tires that can handle more cornering force, more braking force, etc.
7) Maintenance - get those wheel bearings replaced, replace that idler arm bushings, clean everything up so it's easier to work on, a smooth running and reliable car is both faster and more fun to drive.
8) Clutch somewhere along the line - simply replace with factory parts; they're good for a whole lot more horsepower than you're likely to put down unless you add a turbo.
9) Driver training in there somewhere - a good road racing drivers course (or even a Kart course) is going to make you faster and safer as a driver. Your car is only half the equation.
All of this takes money and time. How fast do you want to get there? It took me about 5 years of work on my 84SE to get to the level of street performance that I now enjoy. With the reliability that's there, it is my primary daily driver, and I have no interest in racing in SCCA or sanctioned events. HTH,