2g Turn Faster Recipe
Introduction

The above stages are broken out to give you some stepping stones to aim for.  Though you do not have to perform them each all at once you do need to consider in some places that making one mod without another can either do you no good at all, or even hurt your car.  I will of course try to warm you of this whereever I can.  But the ultimate responsibility of understanding what you are doing is up to you. It is an unwise person who moves forward on the basis of one mans opinion without first understanding why or seeking others opinions. The key here is that your car is a system, and not just a bunch of parts haphazardly thrown together.

Warranty:

Before we jump right in and start modifying your car, there are a few things you need to consider. First of all some of the things mentioned here may void your warranty or at least make it a fight to get the work covered. So you may want to contact your local service manager and find out their feelings about mods. Also, keeping stock parts around for those visits to the dealer will make it possible to return your car to near stock condition for the visit.

Goals:

The next thing you have to consider is how far you want to go. There will be times in the mod process where you can choose between current cost or future potential. This is when you will have to make the decision of what your goals are. If you don't, you may find yourself either buying parts twice or buying a part that is more than you need. My biggest concern has been to reduce the number of parts that need to be "trashed" as you move up the power level. Where there is a choice to be made between present cost and future performance I will attempt to let you know.

Also, if you have any interest in competing in AutoX for actuall points, and not just for fun, get your hands on a SCCA rule book and decide what class you want to run in and make your mod choices accordingly

Expectations:

This is a hard thing to quantify in a sport that has no hard and fast measuring standards.  Sure we can try and measure g-forces and stopping distances, but ultimatly they are useless when talking about making a car go around a multiturn track as fast as possible.  However our basic goals as I see it are (in no particular order, just when i think of them):

• Reduce body roll and dive
• Use the entire tire contact patch
• Have a well balanced over/understeer condition
• Enough brake to stop the car consistently at every turn till the end
• Increase frame stiffness
• Have enough spring rate to keep the car from bottoming out and hitting the bump stops
• Have enough shock travel to effectively handle the bumps we are likely to encounter
• Have enough dampening to control our springs

If you think of anything else let me know . . . this list is just what i thought of while sitting here in a hangover induced lack of desire to go work on my state on a sunday morning :)

Costs:

The cost estimates are based on the best deals I can find at the time for basically bolt on upgrades with the install being done yourself. This means you can save money in several places if you are willing to do some of your own fabrication, wait for sales/group deals, or buy used. Except in unique circumstances where there is only one known supplier i am not going to give a source for the parts or best price.  you are going to have to search for the best deal at that particular time.   But the prices i list will likely still be available from someone.  The best place to start looking is at the Club Dsm Vendors Page.  Please don't email me asking where i got this part and that part.   Chances are that deal i got isn't around anymore from the same place but it will be around somewhere.  Remember, group purchases are my best friend.  If you want one start one yourself.

Getting started:

I highly recommend you get your hands on the factory service manual.  It costs a tad much ($90-ish) but that cost is made up the first time you perform a mod yourself rather than pay some cluebag speedshop $50/hour to install your coil-overs.

The same goes for tools.  If you don't have them buy them.  Period, end of story.  Unless you really have the cash to burn paying someone to install and maintain your car you are simply foolish otherwise.  Remember labor costs = mods :) and that labor cost can pay for the tools that first time.

I suggest to start out with at least the following tools:

• Basic hand tools (screw drivers, pliers, hammer, cutters etc)
• Metric 3/8" and 1/2" socket set
• Breaker bar and a pipe that can slip over the handle for extra leverage.
• Metric wrench set (open and and box end)
• Torque wrench (the clicker kind are best)
• Jack (small 14-15" lift is fine for now) and Stands (2 good 4 better)
• Can of  PB Blaster.  this stuff is AMAZING. Liquid Wrench and others are ok but if you can find PB get it
• Spark plug socket (usually comes with socket set anyway though)

Try your best not to skimp on the tools.  I know it is hard to resist the local hardware store special, but you do get what you pay for.   Although they are not really considered the BEST amoungt mechanics, Craftsman tools are pretty good, and though they tend to be on the pricier side you get a LifeTime Warranty.  Don't be afraid to use it.  That screw driver you used as a pry bar: return it for a new one.  Take the torque wrench there every 6 months to get it tested and replaced if out of spec.  It really is worth the $$$ IMO.