AutoX prep for next season

[Blueiii]

Well, I know I'm going to be in need of new tires and brakes. My clutch is starting to slip as well, so add that in there.

I've been running G-Stock all season and am curious about setups.

Should I just use stock parts, or should I prep for GSP?

If I'm staying stock - what suggestions for OEM replacements on clutch and brakes would you make?

If I'm going GSP, what all can I do to the car to stay within the class but maximize the potential of my 98 ti sport?

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by Blueiii

Well, I know I'm going to be in need of new tires and brakes. My clutch is starting to slip as well, so add that in there.

I've been running G-Stock all season and am curious about setups.

Should I just use stock parts, or should I prep for GSP?

If I'm staying stock - what suggestions for OEM replacements on clutch and brakes would you make?

If I'm going GSP, what all can I do to the car to stay within the class but maximize the potential of my 98 ti sport?

Hmmm, you have a choice to go here......you can go into a hugely popular class......STS, or you may go to D-street prepared.....there isn't a GSP. In STS, you are allowed conical air filters, exhaust, upgraded wheels and tires(must be street tires), IDK if you can do brakes, you can put larger antiroll bars, minor suspension work and body bracing. For DSP you can basically do almost anything to your suspension, but there are some weird rules for it too. Hopefully I'll get alaskablue back on here when he gets back from colorado.....He knows more of the dsp rules than I do....haha
Andrew

[I_Speculate]

In DSP, you can do all the STS mods plus a steering wheel, any LSD, R-comp tires, pullies, lighter flywheel, and I think bigger rotors but stock calipers. You'll want to stay in GS though or maybe STS if there arent too many fast cars/drivers in your local group. Good luck.

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by I_Speculate

In DSP, you can do all the STS mods plus a steering wheel, any LSD, R-comp tires, pullies, lighter flywheel, and I think bigger rotors but stock calipers. You'll want to stay in GS though or maybe STS if there arent too many fast cars/drivers in your local group. Good luck.

Personally, I would move to DSP as you would race mainly against other E36's, the e30's, and such. If you stay in G-stock you will get pwned by the mini cooper s, and the svt focus....oh, the stock classes you are allowed r-comps as well.....they have to be on the same rim diameter though....lol. If you can handle the car well and have enough experience, move to either STS or DSP....the E46 330 front brake setup is a well worth while mod for DSP...lol.
Andrew

[I_Speculate]

Theres something wrong about having the mini-s in GS. Seems like it should be in DS and the regular mini be in GS, not HS.

[AlaskaBlue]

I would race in DSP if I were you. The ti is about to be a contender there since the 'normal' e36 chassis is going to get knocked out by next year possibly.

[mohaughn]

How are e46 brakes legal for DSP? You have to follow the rules from sections 13.6 and 15.6.

15.6 pretty clearly states that the rotors have to be the same size as standard but can be any material or cross drilled/slotted. The rules out the larger e46 brakes.

I don't even think a 32x brake upgrade is legal as their is no rule that says you can change the caliper in street prepared or stock. Since the 318ti is a different model than a 325 or 328 you can't use 15.1 section C and say it is a stock part for a Ti. You may not get called on it at a local meet, but if you start getting competitive and beating people somebody will say something.

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by mohaughn

How are e46 brakes legal for DSP? You have to follow the rules from sections 13.6 and 15.6.

15.6 pretty clearly states that the rotors have to be the same size as standard but can be any material or cross drilled/slotted. The rules out the larger e46 brakes.

I don't even think a 32x brake upgrade is legal as their is no rule that says you can change the caliper in street prepared or stock. Since the 318ti is a different model than a 325 or 328 you can't use 15.1 section C and say it is a stock part for a Ti. You may not get called on it at a local meet, but if you start getting competitive and beating people somebody will say something.

LOL, we never have been stupid enough to read through the entire rulebook, but the rotors are the same as another in the e36 family.....It all falls down to the tech inspector's ruling, as thier word is above the rulebook and I doubt the car will ever go past regionals considering that the regular E46 is in the same class(I'm talkin about the 330....lol)
Andrew

[robcarync]

interesting debate...so would it be better to race in DSP verses STS...right now i am in DSP but was thinking about taking my x-brace off to go down to STS...

i went to my second auto cross last sunday...nc auto cross championship...and i sucked it up lol...there was this one really tough section that was tough to read where to go next...there were like 30 someting DNF's in the first heat...4 of them mine (every run gosh darn...lol)

but yeah random side note i didnt mean to hi jack the thread...i just thought STS would be better since its a lower class and you get a better PAX handicap...

[mohaughn]

s10- I was going on the basis of what Alaska was saying about the e36 regular chasis cars being bumped out of dsp. I would assume the e46 would get bumped as well. I've also not seen a good answer on if the Ti is considered the same model as a sedan or coupe. Is a 3 series a 3 series? or is it completely seperate for compact, sedan, coupe, convertible... If a 3 series is a 3 series it is ok.. But I would imagine some of the tech inspectors wouldn't know the difference if you didn't say anything.

I can't wait for the local BMWCCA auto-x to start back up. Seems like their classing is better for the Ti than the SCCA solo2 classes.

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by robcarync

interesting debate...so would it be better to race in DSP verses STS...right now i am in DSP but was thinking about taking my x-brace off to go down to STS...

i went to my second auto cross last sunday...nc auto cross championship...and i sucked it up lol...there was this one really tough section that was tough to read where to go next...there were like 30 someting DNF's in the first heat...4 of them mine (every run gosh darn...lol)

but yeah random side note i didnt mean to hi jack the thread...i just thought STS would be better since its a lower class and you get a better PAX handicap...

Yea, it was a worthwhile debate. The problem is that you should face much better and more cars in STS, than you would say in dsp. I have yet to see anyone consistantly win locally in STS, as the huge variety of cars makes every event showcase one type's advantage, while the others don't do as well...DSP seems far more evenly matched.....plus it is all for fun anyways, haha. I also second the vote for the mini's to be bumped up a few classes. I feel the regular should go to G-stock(as the fstock mustangs would kill them), and the mini s needs to go to something like fstock or maybe all the way to c-stock.

Also, I am wrong about alaskablue's rotors....they are quite large, but nowhere near the e46's...lol my bad.
Andrew

[AlaskaBlue]

Originally Posted by mohaughn

s10- I was going on the basis of what Alaska was saying about the e36 regular chasis cars being bumped out of dsp. I would assume the e46 would get bumped as well. I've also not seen a good answer on if the Ti is considered the same model as a sedan or coupe. Is a 3 series a 3 series? or is it completely seperate for compact, sedan, coupe, convertible... If a 3 series is a 3 series it is ok.. But I would imagine some of the tech inspectors wouldn't know the difference if you didn't say anything.

I can't wait for the local BMWCCA auto-x to start back up. Seems like their classing is better for the Ti than the SCCA solo2 classes.

Ti is not in the same line as the e36 for solo2 classes. Like I said before though the ti will get a lot more competitive in DSP. I will try to find the proposal. I think Andy linked it here already. Basically though the six cylinder e30s, e36s, and e46s will be out of DSP.

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by AlaskaBlue

Ti is not in the same line as the e36 for solo2 classes. Like I said before though the ti will get a lot more competitive in DSP. I will try to find the proposal. I think Andy linked it here already. Basically though the six cylinder e30s, e36s, and e46s will be out of DSP.

HAHAHA, kinda sad since the E30's are your only competition, although they usually lose.......
Andrew

[aparatchik]

STS was fun when it was introduced here in the Golden Gate chapter 5 or 6 years ago... All of us driving Impreza RS's at that time ruled the roost (I still have the championship plaque to prove it )

Am following this thread with interest tho... Haven't autoX'd since then, and would love to get the ti out a couple of times once the suspension is set up.

Originally Posted by S10mafia50

The problem is that you should face much better and more cars in STS, than you would say in dsp. I have yet to see anyone consistantly win locally in STS, as the huge variety of cars makes every event showcase one type's advantage, while the others don't do as well...
Andrew

[mohaughn]

Originally Posted by AlaskaBlue

Ti is not in the same line as the e36 for solo2 classes. Like I said before though the ti will get a lot more competitive in DSP. I will try to find the proposal. I think Andy linked it here already. Basically though the six cylinder e30s, e36s, and e46s will be out of DSP.

I thought the rule about being on the same line means they are in the same class. They are all street prepared D. So right now it would be debatable that you could use any part from any 3 series, if they are considered the same model without moving out of DSP.

"Equipment and/or specifications may be exchanged between
different years and models of a vehicle if (a) the item is standard
on the year/model from which it was taken, and (b) the years/
models are listed on the same line of Appendix A (Street Prepared
Classes). The updated/backdated part or the part to which
it is to be attached may not be altered, modified, machined or
otherwise changed to facilitate the updating/backdating allowance.
Standard factory installation methods, locations, and
configurations are allowed."

Since the 318ti is in DSP and the other e36's are also in DSP I would consider this to be from the same "line." So if an e36 is an e36 and you wanted to you could take the engine from a current 328 all brakes, etc... and have a pretty bad ass Ti... But if the e46 and e36 i6 cars get moved up from DSP than you will have to have basically a bone stock Ti in terms of brakes.

However, is the 318 considered to be the same model as a 325, 328, or 330? I've not seen anything that would suggest that. Meaning is the model E36, or is the model 318ti. I think the way it is worded the model is 318ti. So you can take parts from any trim level of 318ti for DSP.

I think if you start messing with changing out calipers on a Ti you are going to end up in street modified where brake changes are not restricted.