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My RX Autocross car preparations


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I'm setting up my RX for autocross my goals are ambitious but I think achievable. My goal is to win either Street Mod or F Street Prepared. I will need a balance of power, grip, and lightness for the car to be capable of this. I will also need to tune up the driver so I can drive the car to it's maximum.

 

What I'm starting with is JWX's old RX it has the suspension used for the GRM challenge so it's stiff enough but in my opinion underdamped. It also has a set of custom camber plates giving -1.5 deg of camber. The car was generously delivered with 2 sets of premium 13" wheels and a set of Enkie 13x5.5 8 spokes. Also enough tires to fit all of the wheels with leftovers.

 

The engine is a more or less stock EA82t with just a BOV and a TWE down pipe. I have already purchased an intercooler and built a boost controller. I'm planning to add a 2.5inch exhaust to complement the TWE down pipe.

 

Inside I will be adding a harness bar for a 5 point harness and at some point a proper racing seat.

Edited by vagen
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You didn't mention at what level you were planning on competing on... Local, regional, national.

 

In my opinion, you could build an RX to be a great local/regional racecar, but unless you are an unholy awesome driver, you won't get far with this platform. This chassis is old, unloved and underdeveloped. Most of the mods you would be doing would be homebrewed. There really aren't any "bolt-on" mods.

 

That being said, if you're just doing this for the love of Fuji, it would be a fun build and would surely entertain everyone here. Just want to let you know the realities of competing with an unloved, obsolete car.

 

I've done one autocross event in my '84 GL turbo wagon (countless events in WRXs and STis) and there were a lot of things I would want to change. Let me know if you have any setup questions.

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I am more concerned with power in this car than the suspension. This car has has many years of autocross development by both JWX and Pleiades, both are well versed in Suby autocross Pleiades especially. The spring and sway bar choices on this car were made with an experienced eye the only issue I see is the shocks are Subaru and worn out. I am researching front shocks at the moment and I'm leaning toward swapping a set of KYB AGX for a 95 Galant and in the back AGX Miata rears. this has just one draw back the springs currently on the car won't fit due to different perches on the struts. I am looking at a coil over system but the spring rates will have to be re developed. Because of these issues I will run a season on Subaru struts.

 

I am building this car for local/regional autocross with the possibility of going to a national level. I am an experienced autocross competitor, I have been till this point had either underpowered or over weight cars. My 2003 Saturn LW200 was used extensively and had some success winning its class in one event and placing top 3 in the rest. I will not say I'm a national level driver because I have not been to nationals. That may change with this car.

 

I have been looking at WRX and legacy suspensions at the wreckers and I really don't see a ton of difference between them and the 80s in front in back well that's a different story but I don't see it as vastly superior. I guess time will tell and if I can fix the nut behind the wheel this car might be a national level car.

Edited by vagen
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here is the car

 

 

DSC_2232.jpg

 

this is the TWE down pipe

 

DSC_2235.jpg

 

today I replaced this

 

DSC_2229.jpg

DSC_2228.jpg

 

with this

DSC_2236.jpg

DSC_2237.jpg

 

For those who want to see my camber plates here they are as you can clearly see they are not adjustable

DSC_2233.jpg

Edited by vagen
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JWX has another white RX with adjustable camber plates and many other mods

 

the hood scoop appears to me to be a stick on aftermarket piece that has had the adhesive die. I will be replacing it and perhaps the whole hood so I can relocate the opening for the scoop slightly.

Edited by vagen
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I took the car to an autocross tonight I placed 6th in raw time over all and was 2nd fastest for several hours.

the fastest car tonight ran a 28.3 second run I ran a 29.7. For the first half of the event the fastest car was 28.7 and no one was any closer than my time. This is quite literally the first time I have driven this car in anger and WOW it's quick.

Edited by vagen
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the roof scoop? its just a stick on scoop and it doesn't do anything other than ruin aerodynamics. In fact I'm removing it.

 

ah. thought someone had made some kind of interior vent or something else that was functional

 

rock on :grin:

 

(btw exhaust link is broken)

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