Contemplating turning my DD into a rally car.

chrismcgee · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:25 pm **Posts:** 18

OK so I just started to autocross my honda s2000 and I love it. Now my old daily driver 97 Subaru Legacy is being neglected because I dont drive it anymore and its just rotting away in the parking lot. Granted it is a POS I think with some love I can have some fun with it at rally cross.

So Im curious about the classes. It seems like it would be S04 or N04 regardless of any mod's. Is this accurate?

I figure if Im going to replace worn out stuff like the suspension and brakes I might as well get something better if allowed. And I really want to rip out all my carpet because its gone a bit beyond nasty now.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 7:32 pm

Hey Chris,

Yeah, SO4 or NO4 as long as you keep it 4WD. THSCC's classes are wide open, any mods are allowed in SO4 except tires. Still, you might want to look at the SCCA rallycross rules in case you get the bug and want to run some of their events too but did some little thing that puts you in Modified or something.

chrismcgee · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:25 pm **Posts:** 18

OK, thanks Carl. Looks like I have another set of SCCA rules to read.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 10:25 pm

As far as what to do to the car... Nothing really. Well.. You may want to fix broken parts and such, but as far as mods go you dont really need anything. If you have busted susp now, then perhaps look for an upgrade. But you don't need to drop a lot on a RX car.

Make sure wheel bearings are good. And most folks bring spare set of wheels/tires to race so you don't drive home vibrating to death and also as spares incase of debeads.

Gutting it out works. But I would leave the rubber seal that goes around the door intact. Or it will draw it a lot of dust and dirt.

Gut it out, do a tune up, and come on out to OCS for our next race.

Stay tuned for more advice from others

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

I'm rallycrossing a '93 Subaru Legacy, and its really not much different that any other Subaru 4-door. Keith Vail set this car up, gutting the interior, adding a roll bar and some STi struts; it handles well over the rough stuff.

What engine have you got in yours? Mine's a 2.2L.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 12:12 pm

Me and my brother BOTH rallyx our daily drivers. Just regular maintence and the occasional fender liner, there has not been any more rallyx damage than that. And the fender liners could have been avoided!!

chrismcgee · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:25 pm **Posts:** 18

Thanks everybody for the advice.

Kourosh-
After a little bit of research Im not really sure if my suspension is bad or not and it may be my steering bushings. Im fairly new at caring about the mechanicals of a car but Im trying to learn.

Michael-
It is a 2.2L as well and I have about 150K on the odo. Has yours been pretty reliable?

I think I may be exaggerating to myself the amount of damage that rallyX will do to my 10 year old subi. Unfortunately right now Im apt dwelling so all of my work needs to get done at a shop. Ill probably start by taking it down to performance chassis and having them go over it to change all the consumables and make sure its safe to rallyX. Then Ill try it out at the next rallyX and see what else needs to be fixed, or breaks.

Does any body use a place that they recommend for rally cars over performance chassis? They did a good job with my autoX car for a good price but Im not sure if there is a standard rallyX place to get work done.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

chrismcgee wrote:

Michael-
It is a 2.2L as well and I have about 150K on the odo. Has yours been pretty reliable?

My 2.2L has been a rock-- its got 236K miles on it and not even the slightest engine problem. This thing has been through, what, most of the rallycross events since 2005 I think, and just needed a few suspension parts replaced.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 2:42 pm

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

My 2.2L has been a rock-- its got 236K miles on it and not even the slightest engine problem. This thing has been through, what, most of the rallycross events since 2005 I think, and just needed a few suspension parts replaced.

Talk about though, General Lei has well over 1,000 runs on him and he still runs like a top. Yes, that 'top' smokes a bit, but that is just part of his character.

We bought it for $400 and we've got our monies worth and more.

ColinAnderson · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2011 5:51 pm

Take it to Turbotime. Ryan knows that car very well and can tell you what honestly needs done to it. And tell him Colin says it long over due that he took his lazy ass to a rallycross.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

If you want to pay somebody to work on it, either of those places is fine - just make sure you get second opinions here before buying things. If you want to save your money for more/better upgrades and find out exactly what you REALLY need to do, bring it to my garage. I've worked on a few Subarus, and have some experience setting them up for various types of fun.

And I can already tell you that you'll need a new suspension and steering rack bushings.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2011 12:17 pm

Chris, how about this. You have Kevin diagnose your car. You buy the parts (probably bushings and dampers are all you need) and you can come to my house and I'll install it all for you. That'll save you enough $$ to buy some rally tires and then let me codrove it with you

.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Yeah, what he said. Then I don't have to install anything. :lol:

chrismcgee · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:25 pm **Posts:** 18

Hey James and Kevin,

Yeah that that may work out good :thumbsup:

I sent you guy's pm.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2011 10:40 am

Kevin, bugeye kyb agx will bolt to the 97 Leggy knuckles right? And if the stock springs are reused, then the stock top hats can be used? But if 02-03 WRX springs are used, then the 02-03 WRX top hats have to be used right?

THSCC Forums

Contemplating turning my DD into a rally car.

Who is online