Rally Beater CRX

[8695Beaters]

I have now chosen the fate of my Lemon CRX: rallying. If it survives the 24 Hours Of Lemons reasonably well, then I want to finish it off as a rally beater. It will have all the safety equipment done, I will just need to add a second seat. My question is this: does anybody know of any (relatively) cheap, reliable shocks I can use? I am planning to use EF Civic srpings for height, so I don't need a complete package.

READ BEFORE YOU REPLY PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! I am NOT looking at a racing coilover. Coilovers will break. Coilovers are NOT rally suspension. They are too short, too stiff, and too weak. I am looking for suspension that is actually designed for rally racing. OR if you have experience with a gas strut holding up well under rally-type abuse (ie hitting large objects, jumps, and/or dirt use). I am trying to be cheap with this, so I would rather not buy Tein's rally coilover. But if that's all that's available, I can do that.

Also, I am going to need to swap the engine. Any idea which D-Series motor is the cheapest with VTEC? It must be a D, since those are cheap, and I can do the swap in a day. Plus, low power is actually a good thing in rallying (especially for a rookie). I'm looking for a good amount of torque too, NA. I hope that's not too much to ask (haha).

[8695Beaters]

Hmm, lots of looks, no replies. El stinko.

[PrimeTimeV6]

I would check on an Accord suspension. Since those cars are rated for a heavier car they might serve the task of cheap strong suspension components.

[8695Beaters]

Will they bolt it? That's not a half bad idea actually.

[PrimeTimeV6]

If it doesn't bolt right up it will be close. Nothing a little modification can't fix

[8695Beaters]

True enough. It is a junker after all. Looks like I have my work cut out for me after Lemons.

[PrimeTimeV6]

Good luck with the race an the rebuild.

[MugenEJ6AutoX]

try d16z7 good little power plant, or a d16y8 can be found pretty cheap. Also all you need to fit the accord brakes is the mounting braket and a welder. ps, you may want the front a bit stiffer than rear, i know from some rally work. When you come off a jump or hit a hard bump the last thing you want is it to bottom-out.

[8695Beaters]

Yeah I thought about that engine. I think I'm going to go with whatever D16 pops up in the local salvage yard with MPFI. Remember it's a beater, I don't want to care about any of the parts that go in it. Besides, that's enough power for a beginner rally car.

Actually I don't want the front too stiff, since that will make the car push. I will be building a skidplate at some point for that protection (maybe even for Lemons if the rules allow it). I will probably also double up the bumpstops too. I'm not looking to do the Accord's brakes, just the shocks. For brakes, I will probably find an old Civic or CRX Si and swap in the rotors, but leave the master cylinders the same. That should give me enough extra rear braking to get the car sideways in the dirt.

[MugenEJ6AutoX]

Sorry I ment shocks, not brakes. And doubling the bumb stops is a very good idea, as is the skid plate. I do know about 'push' but the worst feeling in the world is grabbing some air then a grill full of dirt, and a slightly stiffer front will help put the much lighter rear wheels down after even speed-bump size air. You have to remember the dirt will give, and since so much of your weight is up front if any of the front smacks/grabs dirt after air, your rear end is just gonna wanna flip over. [imagine just useing front brakes on a bike] Speaking of that, may think about re-locating the battery to the back, and getting something to protect your radiator as well. 1" steel pipe works well.

[In the link] The green mazda is owned by my boss Kurt Thiel, of Thiel's Import Auto.

Photos from January 31 & February 1 2004 at Cayuta Lake