So We Wanna Go 4 Cylinder Stock Car Racing

Kinja'd!!! "CodyVella" (codyvella)
06/11/2014 at 02:05 • Filed to: None

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As I've now mentioned, not too far from my house is a 1/3 mile oval short track where quite a lot of good ol' redneck fun takes place. Every time my friends and I go to the races, we say we're going to build a car and start a team. Then we all retire to our respective dwellings, and stare at our half built street cars. However, this year I think we have finally got our shit together run out of things to do. So we've decided to seriously look into starting a 4 Cylinder Pure Stock team.

Between the group of us, we have three skilled mechanics, and two drivers (I consider myself a pretty good mechanic but my knowledge has become severely limited to the obscurity of Porsche-Land and the hell that is V6 Nissans). Therefore I'll fall under the driver category, I like to go fast.

Anyways, the rules are pretty vague and leave most things "Up to the discretion of the officials". The basic cars allowed are as follows:

- Must be a stock, 4 cylinder vehicle, engine no larger than 2500cc (2.5L)

- No forced induction

- No mid/rear engine cars

- No VTEC engines (Because too much win)

- RWD vehicles must be single cam (See above note)

- Newer models may use older engines available on that model (ie. 1993 240SX can use a SOHC KA24 from a 1989 240SX)

So, this leaves a few obvious choices that we feel would have obvious winning potential. The old E30 318i (SOHC, 1.8L), the base Porsche 944 (SOHC, 2.5L) and the S12 Nissan 200SX (SOHC, 2.0L). However once an official sees a 944 or an E30 they will most definitely begin filling the floor pans with concrete ballast. And on that note, good luck even finding an S12 200SX.

This leaves us with few "fun" choices.

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Nissan 240SX

Pros:

RWD

Quick and somewhat responsive

OEM parts are plentiful because no one wants OEM 240 parts

People basically pay you to take SOHC KA24s

Two of our Mechanics own/have owned 240s. (In fact one still has one in his driveway. Refuses to let it die. Kinda sad actually)

Cons:

No one has stock 240s anymore

If they do, fanboys pay top dollar for that shit

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Fox Body Mustang

Pros:

They can be fixed using nothing but a hammer, JB Weld and vice grips

You can get them for free in various farmers' fields

Numerous performance parts/carbs are allowed in order to keep them competitive because 'Murica

Oh, it's RWD

Cons:

It's a Fox body Mustang

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Chevrolet Beretta GTZ/Z26 with the LG0 Engine:

Pros:

It's a Beretta

It makes 180hp

It's a Beretta

Cons:

Hard to find

FWD

It will explode

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Nissan NX2000

Pros:

Fast as hell

Fast as hell

Fast as hell

Cons:

FWD

T-Tops are a grey area

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Merkur XR4Ti minus the T

I'm still looking into if this is allowed. It's basically a Fox Body minus the Fox Body.

So, I'm looking for your opinions oppo. Or, is there an obvious choice I missed? (Don't say single cam AE86. Those are slow and don't exist anymore. And no one mention rotary.)

Parting Shot: The track in question.

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Note: I do not claim ownership of any of the above photos.


DISCUSSION (20)


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 02:23

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What about.....

A miata.


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/11/2014 at 02:31

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They probably won't let you use roadsters without a considerable amount of safety gear.


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 02:35

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I have a few suggestions for you.

-Nissan 200SX (90s version)
-GTI (Mk2/3)
-Eclipse/Talon/Laser
-S10/Ranger?
-Mazda MX-6/Ford Probe
-Ford Escort ZX2
-Fiero/MR2


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/11/2014 at 02:38

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also is no VTEC really a rule? i mean lots of engines have some kind of variable timing.


Kinja'd!!! themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/11/2014 at 02:40

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On an oval you're almost always at the top of the rev range so it's probably to make sure people aren't dropping in built-up B-series or ZZs into accords and camrys and cleaning house.


Kinja'd!!! Arben72 > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 02:59

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Gutted subarus don't weigh much. But then again, miatas are better.


Kinja'd!!! Singhjr96 > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 03:06

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- No VTEC engines (Because too much win)

But v-tec....

I don't like this rule. I love the idea of having a 4 cylinder class, because it would be a pretty cheap class to race in, but you shouldn't get rid of v-tec. Besides i'm sure theres 4-cylinders out there that has something similar to v-tec, and they just call it something else. Toyota's VVTL-i for example. Porsche has something like this. There's Mpower, ferrari have like a 3-d cam systems, etc. If people are going to use other motors to get around this rule, you might as well open up v-tec, and let them use whats best, right?


Kinja'd!!! Singhjr96 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/11/2014 at 03:07

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I second the mr2. But there are mr2's that came turboed from the factory.


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 03:17

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Just to be weird.

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http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/446948…


Kinja'd!!! beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Singhjr96
06/11/2014 at 03:22

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all MR2's are DOHC RWD. A Celica would be fine and just as fast on an oval track.


Kinja'd!!! LappingLuke > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 05:58

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Oh yeah sounds fun!


Kinja'd!!! thebigbossyboss > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 08:03

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What is your local craigslist/kijiji? Perhaps we could help you trawl it.


Kinja'd!!! UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 08:21

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The answer is always (in this instance) Cavalier


Kinja'd!!! CodyVella > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/11/2014 at 10:34

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Miatas are RWD Twin Cam. Not allowed.


Kinja'd!!! CodyVella > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/11/2014 at 10:37

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I agree. They allow the Toyota system T-VIS/VVTi and the Nissan system VVL.


Kinja'd!!! CodyVella > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/11/2014 at 10:42

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-A 90s "Sentra-Style" 200SX is something that has crossed my mind.

-None of us are really huge Volkswagen fans.

-Eclipse/Talon/Laser is definitely an idea.

-S10/Ranger: No pickups allowed.

-Ford Probes do run, but they're rarely competitive.

-Escort, maybe.

-No mid engine cars.


Kinja'd!!! CodyVella > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
06/11/2014 at 10:44

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There's a few Cavaliers/Sunfires running, but the body roll is pretty bad in the corners unless you have a Z24.


Kinja'd!!! UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 11:08

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Makes sense, I've thrown my cavalier into some fancy corners at speed with the same results. lol


Kinja'd!!! tromoly > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 11:16

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Go with the Mustang. A friend used to race the class on dirt with pretty good success, another friend races one on pavement with pretty good success. They work pretty well if done up properly.


Kinja'd!!! Axial > CodyVella
06/11/2014 at 13:52

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The no V-TEC rule is bogus. If it weren't for that I'd recommend a del Sol or a Prelude. Actually, you can still do the Prelude but it's going to have to be, at newest, a third gen instead of the faster fourth and fifth gens.

At any rate, super light.