SCCA STX E30 Build/Introduction

[bmwguy325is]

A few questions:

1. When you say "stock case," do you mean you can swap internals? In other words, is there anything that would stop you from swapping in 4.10:1 gears?
2. Is there a restriction in terms of track width? Would anything stop you from running low-offset wheels or using spacers to play with stagger?
3. Are you allowed to roll/pull fenders?
4. What kind of camber correction are you allowed?
5. What wheel sizes are you allowed? Is 15x7" the max?
6. Are you allowed roll protection? Not that you're going to rollover, but for the chassis stiffening.

1. Stock case measn you can swap the LSD unit you can not change gears.
2. You can use spacers yes
3. Roll no pull
4.Any camber plate that fits in the oem location. So any camber plates out there for an E30. Its different on other cars.
5. Any size up 9.5inches wide
6. braces but a roll cage is way to much weight for little reward and yes you can do this in stock class if you want.

[Emre]

Rear diffs must use stock final drive ratios...so it must stay 3.73 in these cars. However, you can use any limited slip unit within the stock case.

A few questions:

1. When you say "stock case," do you mean you can swap internals? In other words, is there anything that would stop you from swapping in 4.10:1 gears?
2. Is there a restriction in terms of track width? Would anything stop you from running low-offset wheels or using spacers to play with stagger?
3. Are you allowed to roll/pull fenders?
4. What kind of camber correction are you allowed?
5. What wheel sizes are you allowed? Is 15x7" the max?
6. Are you allowed roll protection? Not that you're going to rollover, but for the chassis stiffening.

[InuFaye]

I guess ive come to the realization that the e30 cant win STX.
Its impossible.

I should probably not dump a shit ton of money into it and just buy an rx8.

[Nygdup]

Sorry, I didn't have much time when I posted last night. A quick run-down of what I am doing in the Atlanta region:

'89 325i, 2dr coupe
3.73lsd
225/45/15 Hankook RS3s on 15x8 Rota Slipstreams
Ground control coilovers with GC camber plates over Bilstein Sport struts. Running spring rates of 450/550
UUC polyurethane LCABs
Stock front and rear sway bar. I've got new OEM front sway bar links, and I've opted to leave the old worn rear links in the rear.
Stock drivetrain. Stock ECU, stock airbox, etc.

I'll admit, I've done nothing to combat weight on the car. If anything, I've added weight over the years. But even if my car went on a 300lb diet, I'm still not sure it would have the motor to keep up with some of the other cars I've been running against. Obviously, if the track is wet the WRX is the car to beat, hands down. But, I'm also getting beat by RX-8s and E36s now too. Before someone jumps to the conclusion that it's my driving, I've hopped into the dominant E36 in our area and went out and won the class my first time behind the wheel, so I feel like I've got decent car control.

Now.. the goods news for 2012 is that the Civics will not be running in STX. The proposed rules for '12 exclude them from our class.

And a video from this past weekend of my best run. This was about 2 seconds slower than quick time for the class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjEf6N-eVDU

[JeremyE30autox]

Right now I'm around 2630 and I have a ton of weight I can lose with another seat and lighter exhaust and wheels, etc... It can be done. Maybe not 2500 even, but low 2500 for sure.

[bmwguy325is]

.....Can you really get the E30 to 2500+ lbs. in STX?..... :?

I run my E30 in DSP. I think on the scales it was on the upper end of 2500

[JeremyE30autox]

I will be watching this thread closely as I also run an E30 in STX and will be making many more improvements for next year to try and run down a top stop in STX nationaly.

Good luck man. Hope to see you at an event!

[cenotaph]

I've seen people swear up and down on the internet that early, base RX-8s are closer to 2500 lbs. from the factory. Was STX weighed at Nationals this year? That would give you a good idea on how you stack up. Can you really get the E30 to 2500+ lbs. in STX? (I really need to ask Alex what he got his DSP E30 down to.)

Also, the internet swears up and down that the construction of the 195 Toyos that the Civics run is different from the other sizes. :?

[Nygdup]

Hiya! I'm also running an '89 in STX in the Atlanta region. After running the car the past two years in this class it's becoming plainly obvious to me that I can build a car that will handle as well as anything else in class, but at the end of the day the m20 just doesn't have the power to make the E30 a winning chassis.

[kts]

As some others have said you have an uphill battle in front of you with an E30 325is in STX. Good luck and I can't wait to keep reading this thread for results.

It's good the ST Civic Si cars are getting the boot out of STX.

You may be interesting in the build that the folks @ Vorshlag did for an E30 318is a few years back. They were aiming to tackle the Civics in ST but didn't get there. http://vorshlag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5181 Sure it's a different engine and all but the suspension and chassis are the same and you might get some ideas from the thread.

[Nsquared97]

I stand corrected lol. As far as tire widths I must have been thinking of the Grassroots article where they did their tire testing, they used 205/225 tires on their ST Civic.

[race2win]

I'm not certain on this, but I think the civics are in the 1900 lb range. And I know they are running 205's minimum, and probably 225's in STX trim.

There are a few Civics in the high 19XX range, but not 1900 from what I have heard. ALL the top ST & STX Civics run the 195/50-15 Toyo R1R, even though they are able to run more tire. That tire just simply works the best on those light nimble cars...even the top STS Miatas & CRX's run those tires.

B. Tires may have section widths up to and including the following:
ST, STS, STR (AWD) – 225 mm
STX (AWD), STU (AWD) – 245 mm
STR (2WD) – 255 mm
STX (2WD) – 265 mm
STU (2WD) – 285 mm
Ok so STX can run 265s now. E36 and E30/M3 can run them

They might be allowed to run 265s, but they don't ;-) I think some E36 guys have tried the 265s, but it's a tighter squeeze than fitting a 245 in an E30, plus IIRC they didn't go any faster than with 255s... I don't think you can fit a 265 under an E30 M3, but I could be wrong. Chris Conant runs 245s I believe, & he has the most successful STX E30 M3.

Thanks everyone for the comments & suggestions, I'm definitely looking forward to sharing info with all of you & hopefully meeting some of you out at the track!

[InuFaye]

I am trying to do the same build as you my friend.

Good luck.

Also from everything I have heard the AST's are vastly superior to any DA or SA Koni coilover setup.

[bmwguy325is]

92-95 E36 325i/is - 180-190 WHP, 2800 lbs, 255 tires, 66.8" wide
96-98 E36 328i/is - 200 WHP, 2900 lbs, 255 tires, 66.9" wide
04+ Mazda RX8 - 185-200 WHP (but no torque), 2700 lbs, 265 tires, 69.7" wide
88-91 E30 M3 - 160-ish WHP (not much torque), 2650-2700 lbs, 245 tires, 66.1" wide
87-91 E30 325i/is - 150+ WHP, hopefully 2500-2550 lbs, 225-245? tires, 64.8" wide

B. Tires may have section widths up to and including the following:
ST, STS, STR (AWD) – 225 mm
STX (AWD), STU (AWD) – 245 mm
STR (2WD) – 255 mm
STX (2WD) – 265 mm
STU (2WD) – 285 mm
Ok so STX can run 265s now. E36 and E30/M3 can run them.

[Nsquared97]

Civics are around 2000 lbs, 105-ish WHP, 195 tires, not sure what the width is but they are narrow. Yes, they are considerably lighter, but the point is lighter-is-better, & I hope to use that as an advantage with the E30.

I'm not certain on this, but I think the civics are in the 1900 lb range. And I know they are running 205's minimum, and probably 225's in STX trim.