Lets talk Open Wheelers/Lightweight NA track cars.

[Duncan]

that really is taking individually constructed vehicles too far

[Hadouken]

Evo

[No Crust Racing]

Find me a swap... 

[Hadouken]

Convert s13 into cash.
Swap cash for evo.
Profit?

[No Crust Racing]

Ahh yeah, all those 5k Evo's getting around...

[Duncan]

hmmm the only think I can think of that is less like a open wheeler or lightweight n/a than and evo would be a gtr. very different direction....

[No Crust Racing]

lol I like the idea of an Evo, but it would be a chunk more spending for likely minimal gain over the current car. 

I think an MX5 warrants a closer look, in terms of light, NA, and capable, it seems to top the charts. 

In the meantime, as was suggested, I'll track the Silvia some more. 

Edited November 18, 2016 by ActionDan

[Hadouken]

How much is a mx5?

Just checked.

5k with bulk k's.

[No Crust Racing]

They vary widely like any car with multiple models across multiple years and types of usage. 

The attraction there is that being lighter, and NA, the running costs (time and money) will be lower overall than another boosted tyre, fuel, and brake hungry beast.

I already have two of those  

 

 

[260DET]

20 hours ago, Hadouken said:

Evo

EMO's, driving themselves to glory 

[Neil]

Here's a cool open wheeler,,, just across the ditch, dry sumped and lots of fruit. Left shifter for your convenience.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/specialist-cars/competition-cars/auction-1202180099.htm

 

Cheers

Neil.

[V28VX37]

On 15/11/2016 at 8:52 PM, V28VX37 said:

...

I've been entertaining the idea of offloading the 34 though it's way too far gone in terms of time and cost over the past five years. It's the only car and keeping the balance between family friendly (=safe) and track friendly (=quick/reliable) is tough - I've just about tipped it over the edge with the 1.5-way. Sounds like DJBarnstar is familiar with that story

Anyway if you replaced it with a 2-car combo you could optimistically do a ~10k family diesel wagon (how exciting) and a ~10k track toy, but you don't get much for that money. MX5's are very appealing but a sorted turbo example wouldn't fit the budget. Though heaps lighter it'd be hard to go NA for the lack of power (at least on paper) but that said ditching the turbo would also mean reliability & heaps less ongoing cost.

...

I've been investigating the MX5 option a bit more just out of curiosity, window shopping is fun. There's heaps for sale on CarSales and mx5cartalk, and a few more track focused ones on my105 and TrackSales.

If I had the space for a trailer a well sorted racer (even non-turbo) would be sensible but since I don't it really would need to be registered. This would leave a couple of options:

1. Club rego: Find an existing early NA project with mostly NB S1/S2 parts and other required track upgrades; ideally a turbo conversion too  There are a few around but many interstate, and getting them regoed in Vic is probably an engineering job = $$$
2. Full rego: Find an NB (turbo) or NC that is registered but with a track focused setup. Newer car = theoretically less hassles but more rego cost

So essentially it's the good old 'streetable race car' dilemma, with a bit of 'is old but highly modified better than newer but more stock' thrown in.

Besides the purchase price a primary factor would be ongoing cost. I'd really prefer something that is reliable and cheap to track (haha oxymoron) over something that is fast but in bits half the time (already have one of those). If there was a measure it would be lowest $ per lap say over a year. Essentially, how to get the cheapest seat time?  

Darn you Greg for making me think about this 

[260DET]

An alternative which I don't think has been mentioned yet is something like a RX7 with a LSx engine, there have been a few conversions like that done so picking up a completed one is a possibility. But of course a decent one is going to cost a lot more than some of the other suggestions here. Thing is though you get a powerful, nice handling car that should be low maintenance, to each their own but running something like a MX5 would get boring real quick, there is no substitute for power and all the interesting challenges it brings to the track.

[V28VX37]

An alternative which I don't think has been mentioned yet is something like a RX7 with a LSx engine, there have been a few conversions like that done so picking up a completed one is a possibility. But of course a decent one is going to cost a lot more than some of the other suggestions here. Thing is though you get a powerful, nice handling car that should be low maintenance, to each their own but running something like a MX5 would get boring real quick, there is no substitute for power and all the interesting challenges it brings to the track.

Nice. I'd love an LS swap for easy reliable power but never seen one on the street - I'm guessing they're pretty tough to get engineered?

[Kinkstaah]

I stupidly suggested to my gf that a MX5 would be a perfect car for her to get a head start in, learn on, use, etc. 

Now I want one, with a small turbo albeit.

LS Swapped FD would be great, but if you want a ~1250-1350kg car with an easy to use 250-270kw then you start looking into options like, oh I dunno, a RX7.. or a jap turbo import made by Nissan...

I have this discussion with my housemate who got an E36 328i with plans to put a LS1 in.

 

[JAS-25T]

I'll just leave this here...

 

http://www.fullboost.com.au/fb/index.php/2016/04/05/k20a-powered-mazda-rx-7-rhonda/

[260DET]

The OP is interested in NA options, he already has a turbo and the LS/RX7 conversion is popular because their rotor motor blows up regularly whereas a properly lubricated LS will go forever. The LS has other advantages too, low C of G, compact, parts availability, aftermarket support and relatively light in weight.

[V28VX37]

The OP is interested in NA options, he already has a turbo and the LS/RX7 conversion is popular because their rotor motor blows up regularly whereas a properly lubricated LS will go forever. The LS has other advantages too, low C of G, compact, parts availability, aftermarket support and relatively light in weight.

Sidetrack but the new owner is racing my old Monaro and it's onto its third or fourth LS now so they're not bulletproof either... Granted he's pushing close to 400rwkw naturally aspirated in a high G environment but still.

[260DET]

Lubrication. Other than abuse, pretty well every LS engine failure/premature wear situation can be traced back to inadequate lubrication.

[V28VX37]

58 minutes ago, 260DET said:

Lubrication. Other than abuse, pretty well every LS engine failure/premature wear situation can be traced back to inadequate lubrication.

Hundred percent. He's gone a dry sump setup now, hopefully less dramas in the future.