Alignment tweaking

[russde]

Been reading a lot about alignment set ups for auto-x, I have only been to one, LOVED IT!!!
Read somewhere about other makes/models being able to use 'crash bolts' in order to get more neg. camber (would that be less camber?:p ).

Does anyone know if this is 'legal' in SCCA GS?
More importantly I suppose, is it worth it?
Thanks,
Russ

[svobud]

best bet is to get yourself a copy of the 2002 season SCCA rules.

http://www.scca.org/

[gbeaird]

I am pretty sure that 'crash bolts' are not available for the SVO. You will have to see if the Factory Service Manual (FSM) (and you will have to have a FSM with you in case you are protested) allows the use of crash bolts to fix alignment problems after an accident. The FSM may allow you to slot the upper strut mounts. If so, slot them according to the letter of the instructions and bolt everything back together.

What you can do is loosen the upper strut mounts and push them in as far as you can. Hold them in place with a large screw driver or pry bar while you tighten the nuts back down. This will give you as much camber as you can get.

You _can_ loosen the K-member and pull it as far forward as you can to get a little more positive caster. I haven't done this, nor do I plan to.

Set the toe to about 1/8" toe OUT. This will help turn in, but still allow street driving with reasonable wear on the tires.

Add a Turbo Coupe front sway bar. They are like 35mm, whereas the SVO is something like 32. While this will increase understeer a little, it will also combat the effects of positive camber under cornering. The understeer can be fought a bit by running on a full (yes, full) tank of gas.

HTH.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
SCCA G Stock
Pearland, Texas

[svobud]

dang Gene - your giving away all the secrets!!

[gbeaird]

Sorry, dude. The SVO can be a competitive car in G Stock, given the right situation and driver. I will do almost anything to help a fellow SVO driver beat those Acuras and Neons. It is a great feeling to show up at an event with a 15+ year old car and beat these newer cars thought to be ringers for the class.

I sort of miss driving our SVO in G Stock. It takes a lot of finesse to get it to do what you want. The new CP car is fun, and we are still learning it, but the SVO is a real hoot, too.

Heck, maybe in the not too distant future, I will help one of my fellow CP drivers put together a 2.3L turbo CP car, just to hear the whoosh of the turbine again! :-)

Oh, and there are STILL more secrets out there. ;-)

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO, G Stock
Pearland, Texas

[svobud]

I was just kidding Gene - the biggest "secret" I can give a SVO owner is PRACTICE ...and then PRACTICE some more. Driving a SVO is very different than most cars. You have to learn what makes IT go fast before you try to tincker with small set up factors. In other words - learn how to drive the car first...then the competition WILL fade....then you can make small adjustments to fine tune YOU and the Car.

With that said - any time you think you MIGHT need to shift up a gear...don't...ride it out and bump the rev limiter first unless you're way out from the next gate and need over 500 extra rpms. Movement takes time and time IS the only factor.

If you can 'sneak' an adjustable cam spocket in ....advance it 2 to 4 degs....helps in exiting a low speed gates without having to down shift.

[gbeaird]

Well, I reread the first post. His first autocross. I got lost in the hardware! Yes, seat time cannot be beat by ANYTHING! Russde, even with good equipment, you can expect to be driving at least a year before you can expect to be competitive. Take all the schools you can afford. The Evolution autocross schools are excellent, but don't discount your local SCCA Region's schools.

Autocross on DOT tires, take a school on street tires. Keep up the good work, keep us posted, and take lots of notes.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texa