#1172918 - 03/20/07 12:48 AM
A TON of questions for HS
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Stock1993CivicSi
Jr Poster
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 109
Loc: Seneca, SC
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I'll try to be brief, but I'll apologize in advance for being verbose. 
As for the driver, I have roughly 20 events under my belt, including a regional Novice School and regional Intermediate School. I'll be attending Evolution P1 next month. I'm not a seasoned veteran like many of you, but I am learning.
After a fun season, I'm ready to not only improve my driving, but start improving the car. By the way, all of those events (except for the last 3) were run on crappy street tires with a pretty much stock car. The only mods were a K & N panel, eBay muffler, MSD wires, full synthetics, poly FSB bushings, and 1st G CRX Si alloys. The last 3 were run on very old 195/55 V700's.
Coming from Tire Rack this week are a set of V710's and Koni Sports. I'm strongly considering upgrading the FSB, too.
I'm fully open to suggestions and ideas. I want to improve the car and stay in HS, at least for the coming season. Let's pretend money isn't an issue. What would YOU do to improve the car?
Here are my thoughts. Feel free to expand on these, tell me where I'm wrong, and make any other suggestions.
Gain camber up front, but I don't think I can in Stock. The car's soft springs really allow for a TON of body roll. I'd like to gain SOME camber to keep the tire's contact patch flatter.
Reduce body roll. I can't upgrade the springs, but I CAN upgrade the FSB. I'm totally open for either aftermarket or swaps.
Steering ratio. The car can work you to death on tightly linked turns. Is there any way to legally address this?
HEAVY. Although the Si does have a slightly larger and more powerfull engine, it's STILL roughly 150 lbs. heavier than the VX. 50 lbs. of that is in the darned sunroof! Any suggestions here?
Wheel Spacers. The way I understand the rules, spacers up to 1/4" may be used. ANYthing to reduce roll and stabilize the car. Thoughts here? Recommended brands?
Gearing. Too tall. But, I think I'm STUCK with 14x5's, as that's what is OEM.
Torque. This kinda goes with gearing. Most of our courses are short, tight, 30-35 second courses that have me either bouncing off the limiter in 1st, or bogging down in 2nd.
No doubt, the car is better than I'm driving it. However, I am beginning to see some of it's design issues...at least in an autocross setting.
Thanks!
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 Remember..."Civic" spelled backwards is "civiC"
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#1173254 - 03/20/07 08:36 AM
Re: A TON of questions for HS
[Re: Stock1993CivicSi]
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CivicRacerExR
Post Master Sr
Registered: 11/05/99
Posts: 8856
Loc: Landisville, PA, USA
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There's no way to gain camber on the 1992-1995 Civic Si without camber arms or adjusters. Have you thought about getting double adjustable koni shocks? You would be able to tame the body roll, but realize with the suspension on the pre-2003 Hondas more roll = more negative camber (which is good).
I heard both stories about going larger on the front sway bar. Some people hated it others liked it. I know people who have gone smaller on the front to get more front end bite. It really depends on your driving style.
VX vs Si. You are comparing apples to oranges. The Si has more torque and hp plus better gearing.
For wheel spacers I just got some generic 3mm wheel spacers and put those on. Anything more and you put alot of stress on the wheel bears and suspension components.
You can change gearing so you stay in the power band in 2nd with shorter tires. Stock is 185/60x14" and you could go with a 195/50x14". Also would lower the center of gravity which is good.
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#1210243 - 03/31/07 10:06 AM
Re: A TON of questions for HS
[Re: CivicRacerExR]
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Stock1993CivicSi
Jr Poster
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 109
Loc: Seneca, SC
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Correction...the rears were toed IN 1/16th; the fronts were toed in almost 1/16th. Double Grrr.
The same previous shop supposedly adjusted the valves and installed a distributor.
We adjusted the valves last night. All but 2 were out. Some were WAY out. Both exhaust valves for #2 were so loose, there was freeplay WITH the feeler inserted.
Ignition timing was off, too. It was about 4-5 degrees retarded.
Konis are installed. I can't overemphasize the difference. Even at full soft, the car drives like a new car! I tried them at full firm on the interstate yesterday. At full firm, it actually feels like a race car!
Really looking forward to our first event Wednesday nite. With the engine running stronger than before, the Konis, and a tad of toe out, this should make a HOGE difference. I'm still running on used, 5-6 year old r-comps. Gonna do this next event, plus the upcoming Evo school on them. After that, the new V710's go on the car.
As for the Koni's, any setting suggestions here? Full firm at all 4? Full firm on the rear, softer on the front?
Help? 
I'm also strongly considering buying a set of plates and doing alignments myself. I could go a tad more aggressive with more toe out at events, and go back to 0 or 1/16th for the drive home.
Edited by Stock1993CivicSi (03/31/07 10:08 AM)
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