TheDude

Hey I have an N/A 87 Sport model, and I'm going to start AutoX soon with the SCCA. I wanted to know what should be checked on my car before I start. I know that in AutoX im gonna be pushing my car much harder than i do when i drive it around town or on the highway. I dont want to go out onto the track for the first time and blow my engine. I love this car, and its a daily driver. Plus engine rebuilds dont grow on trees. I know I should probably go get a full tune-up but i dont want to caugh up the money and i love working on my car myself. So thanks for reading this and if you have any suggestions on what i should do to my car before i start so i dont totally kill it please let me know.

Cwaters

Check all the fluid levels, including the trans and diff.
Check the braking system from pedal to discs.
Check your tires for cracking, wear, punctures...
Put in a bit more oil so you don't starve in high load turns.
Changing your filters is a good idea (regardless of your intent to compete)
Not a bad idea to check your suspension bolts for tightness/slop....
Check your lug nuts for correct torque.

All that being said, I bought my car on Friday and competed in a divisional on Saturday having checked almost NONE of these things.
Car broke down on Sunday

Cory

banzaitoyota

I would DEFINITELY pull the fuel pump, change the filter sock and drain,wipe out all of the accumulated grime, grudge and sand out of the tank.

Redwood

I wouldn't be too concerned about "blowing" the engine as auto-x isn't overly stressful on things. That being said, you should ensure that I am right by doing those things mentioned above. I also suggest the following short, easy things.

-Check your oil cooler lines (and really the whole system) to ensure you're not going to blow all over the course or drip excessively in grid.
-Make sure all your coolant hoses are in good shape. Most importantly check the one on the driver side of the engine that leaves the block near the oil filter and goes to the firewall. That tends to blow if it is overlooked for too long (ask how I know )
-Tire pressures should be a little higher than the street. Not really for prevention, just so you're sure you have your car at it's best.
-Make sure you don't have any "band-aid" fixes on the car when you leave your house. Those tend to go first when you start putting stress on stuff. Namely, electric connections that maybe you just did really quick somewhere along the line.
-Bring some basic tools along, just in case. Never know when you'll need to tighten something down or throw in a new fuse, and it sucks to shorten your day because you're fuel pump doesn't have power.

Have fun and enjoy yourself out there!

Silkworm

More important than your engine, check your suspension, you're going to be putting a lot of stress on it. Pull the wheels, look over all the control arms for any significant rust or cracks, look for fluid leaks around the brakes, change the brake fluid, torque all the fasteners to spec, check for pad thickness, etc.

Engine wise, change the oil, set the timing, change the plugs if they haven't been changed in a while, check the radiator, make sure the battery is securely locked down, and you should be good to go.

Don't stress about it too much, it's for fun!

PaulC

Ralph

Two quick and easy things that could prevent you from passing tech are a loose battery and low brake fluid level. It would be a shame to get there and get turned away because your reservoir was low or your battery was not tightly fastened down. And, no offense, some older cars have broken wheel studs. Tech will reject you if you do, so make sure you have all of them. Also, your seatbelt needs to be operational.

Good luck and have fun.

TheDude

Thank you all very much for your responses.