49 replies to this topic

[Rampage]

oh and BTW Adrian - I would blur out that certain white car in the background of you picture - 

HAHA......why all the hate on these cars? just wondering thats all.........

Hoo boy, don't get me started...

Hey, Tom, maybe you should put it in the FAQ!

[OldSkoolEX]

woo another sedan owner... throw some webers on it, headers and system, lower profile tires and put the rest into suspension.

[Davidov]

Spend most of your money on tires and suspension, that will make the difference in where you come in to place.

For a good exhaust setup, here's what I propose:
If you don't have to pass a state inspection, get a nice aftermarket header, or else the Civic Si manifold and down pipe.
After that get some custom pipe after the downpipe, like 2 inches in diameter, into a resonator, or glasspack muffler.
For a little weight savings and a cool factor of "4", make the exhaust exit on either side (under the rear doors), or else make the pipe point at the ground from around the middle of the car.

It would probably be the loudest in the beater class for sure.

[DarkHand]

HAHA......why all the hate on these cars? just wondering thats all.........

Hoo boy, don't get me started...

When my Mom was shopping around for a car last month, I talked her out of buying a Saturn based solely on the reaction they bring about on this board... Yet I don't know why...

[87X]

HAHA......why all the hate on these cars? just wondering thats all.........

Hoo boy, don't get me started...

When my Mom was shopping around for a car last month, I talked her out of buying a Saturn based solely on the reaction they bring about on this board... Yet I don't know why...

GJ s*turns do not deserve to be driven.

[150DollarRacer]

Whoa! Lots of responses! Awesome.

Anyway, first off, thats my house mates car that he is trying to sell. He just bought an 88 RX7 GTU so no worries about the saturn. hehe.

Second, despite the fact that the event is SCC sanctioned, its got no rules for this class that our carclub made up. The only rule is that the total spent must not exceed 800 bucks. I am allowed to take stuff out of the car to lighten it plus if I sell it I get that money back to spend on the car as part of the budget. I will be stripping the car to bare chassis and engine closer to the race. It doesnt have power steering to begin with so thats one less thing to worry about.

I wont be running an exhaust so spending money on getting a nice exhaust system is not important. However If there is a nice header that I can put on the engine for cheap, id put that on there.

Like I said its a TWO MILE track so horsepower has A LOT to do with it. Its basically a race course like Buttonwillow and Willowsprings but made with cones. Heres pictures from last year:

http://www.imagestat.../?id=4289995755

So far, my competition is an 89 Corolla FX and a 90 Geo Prism.

I was looking at getting some used race tires and do plan to run with tires that have a lower outer diameter to help pick up some acceleration. My concern at this point is to find some cheap alloy wheels. Probably 14" size. Any ideas?

As for suspension, the GR-2 struts with cut 4WD Wagon springs sounds like a decent idea.

If I decide not to try swapping in the 89 integra motor(what are the specs on that engine?), what options do I have for the old engine and where can I buy parts?

Thanks for the help!

[JDN14]

this sounds a lot like the Grassroots Motorsports $200X Challenge....something i'd love to do but i don't have the time or the money, good luck!

[rpr]

HAHA......why all the hate on these cars? just wondering thats all.........

Hoo boy, don't get me started...

When my Mom was shopping around for a car last month, I talked her out of buying a Saturn based solely on the reaction they bring about on this board... Yet I don't know why...

Had one for 3 years. This was replaced:

- 3 alternators
- 2 batteries
- complete ignition system
- transmission
- valvetrain
- complete bottom end
- the muffler was falling off when I sold it
- the transmission was starting to act up again

Let's just say I'm not a big fan.

[eastsiderider]

i know its late but:

saturn = junk box

[michaelblanyer]

I have a 93 SC1 with 150k miles on it. I really don't know what the hostility is about. I've owned CRXs + Civics (FI + carb'd) and my Saturn really is no more or less reliable. Boring as hell to drive, but as solid + reliable as any Honda I've ever owned. info is at my site, www.geocities.com/blanyer

[rpr]

I'm sure most people love their Saturns. I don't. I wouldn't have walked across the street to piss on it if it were on fire. To each his own.

[nivek2002]

and the man with the passionate hate for them happens to own this web site, so just say no to the saturds everyone

[rally25rs]

I took my 3g to the GRM $2002 challenge. I would have done pretty well, except that it rained the whole weekend so the dragrace was canceled
Equiped with an 89 teg drivetrain and Zex nitrous setup, I would have beat prob 90% of the cars in the drag.
However, it was by far the ugliest most beat to hell car there, so we got dead last in the concourse judging
There is a pic of my car in the $2002 challenge issue of GRM

Anyway, the 89 teg motor is factory rated at 118 HP, so its quite an increase over the 3g's stock. Plus the teg tranny is geared for bigger diameter tires that came on the tegs, so with stick civic size wheels/tires, it increases your final drive. (i think 4k rpm is about 70 mph now! haha!) Plus the redline is 7k, so thats always fun. My car will easilly spin the tires into 2nd gear if I'm not careful - I need some better rubber so I can actually launch...

Now, if you did this swap and bought a whole intact teg, you can also improve your suspension and brakes... both the front spindles and brakes, and the entire rear axle and brakes will bolt onto the 3g. You can use the teg springs (though they might be a bit taller, but they can be cut since your on a budget...) You can also get the front teg torsion bars onto the 3g by swapping the entire crossmember. It will have to be modified though, because the tegs had power steering, and the bolt holes/brackets are in a different spot. If you know someone who can weld, its an easy fix.

So anyway, for a $300 parts teg you can have a fast car with improved handling and braking, and still have $ to spare.

Also, get the heck out of the interior... lightening is a free mod Get all teh sound deadening tar under the carpet out of there - that junk is heavy.

Edited by rally25rs, 20 November 2003 - 10:07 AM.

[150DollarRacer]

If I can find an integra for cheap I think I might go that route. Why the 89?

Also, whats the weight of this car?

lastly, what kind of fluid does the tranny like? I think I might change it this weekend. What does Honda recommend?

[nivek2002]

I would suggest an 87 Teg so that you dont have to worry about the distributor wiring. 87 have vacumm advanced and 88 have electrical advance or sumthin like that ( a pain to wire up)

FAQ

The sedan weighs in the low 1900lbs range if i remeber right.

And if it is a Manual tranny, the Honda Manual Transmission Fluid is great.