What would you suggest replacing/upgrading on a FC before taking it racing? Obviously autocross is less demanding than a proper track run.

Assume that the car has been treated well, but hasn't had regular parts replacements (so old shocks, brakes, etc).

Specifically, I have a rebuilt engine, new brake pads (just street pads, nothing stellar), new tires. I'd like to get new rotors & pads before doing anything more than autocross, and probably should replace the shocks and possibly springs before doing any track driving (and probably end up with higher speed tires, mine are rated to 112 or something).

-=Russ=-

 

Just a simple post....but I'd say tires and seat time!

-Jack

 

suspension is a must replacement for just about nething if you have stock. if I were you I'd test the brakes out to see if ur confortable with their grip/durability.

 

Give the car a solid once over and change all the fluids. Next, I'd check out the classes I was interested in and see what the rules are like. The rules will likely limit what you can and can't replace. In my autocross/roadcourse experience the order of payoff per upgrade goes as follows:

1) R-compound tires - amazing bang for the buck
2) car lightening - get rid of everything you can, it's free and makes a big difference
3) Sway bar setup (assuming the shocks are OK, this stabalizes the car greatly)
4) coil over kit (allows you to drop the car and up the spring rates)
5) Engine work

Hope that helps.

 

New brake Master and Slave Cylinders
New brake lines
Rebuilt brake calipers
New brake pads
New Rotors
Inspect wheel bearings
Inspect ball joints
Inspect bushings

replace all coolant lines
replace oil cooler lines
new plugs and wires
new fuel filter

New shocks if they're toast

Go have some fun.

Paul

 

First upgrade the driver.

and exactly what Paul said.

 

Take your car as is & get to know it & it's limits. Not hard but toss it around & get time in the seat. Like 20 runs. THEN start upgrading. With this you'll understand a whole lot more about the car & there's not enough room in this to write about. There's a lot of things you'll learn about the car such as how it runs in auto crosses in the morning @ 60degrees as opposed to 110 on the tarmac...

 

DEFINITELY upgrade the driver first. That has to be the most important upgrade to any race car. Talk to other drivers, talk to mechanics, go to a race driving school and then get seat time, seat time, seat time.