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July 21, 2008 1:41 p.m. Bobzilla None

Wife has been listening to me rant and rave about wanting a Swift GT/GTi for a while and bought me one in April. Engine is getting a rebuild, head cleaned up and new valves (since many were bent). . . but I'm building it for SCCA Solo STS class. I'm looking to find a new alternative to the tried and true car of the Spec 89 Civic Class aka STS.

I've heard "stories" about tipping, chassis flexing, no power. . . . but can find no hard evidence of those stories to back them up. Current build will put me at 105WHP, 1700 lbs (before me) and the class leading RE-01R's in 195/50R15's. I have a local company doing the corner weighting and ordering custom springs, planning on Koni's and poly bushings.

Am I nuts? If so, tell me now. Still won't stop me, but I might change directions.

Pictures are coming soon.
July 21, 2008 1:47 p.m. EricM Reader

You are nuts, but I wont stop you. I love that car. Put a LSD in it and run in FSP!
July 22, 2008 1:37 a.m. chknhwk New Reader

Sounds like you've done your homework and you'll be racing something you've wanted for a long time. I don't think you're crazy at all!
July 22, 2008 2:18 a.m. geomiata Reader

i am so into the whole swift/metro/firefly/sprint thing right now. beautifully low weight, great fuel economy, the legendary 1.3 and the not so legendary 1.0T

i am currently planing my own geo build. thinking about having a geo with the 1.0 turbo@73hp, then adding cold air, bigger intercooler, iridium plugs, diy port and polish exhaust manifold and intake runners, and 3tech hot cam. hoping for 100hp on stock boost, getting ~35mpg mixed driving. hopefully ~1500lbs rolling on 16"s

my dream. there is a gti at my school all set up for autocrossing, got around 115 hp, and my teacher wants 2000, if only i wasnt dutch.
July 22, 2008 7:25 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

geomiata, what all has he done to get to that 115hp? 105 is my goal, but if I can get more. . . .
July 22, 2008 7:36 a.m. SoloSonett New Reader

Hi Crazy

That's what I'd call anyone who insists on racing an off beat car.

Just wait until your ready for your "Third Stage"!

And the madness REALLY sets in

All one needs for a V-8 conversion is a Sawsall and a welder!

HAAAAAAA mHAHAh Ha
July 22, 2008 7:48 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

You'll laugh. . . my current STS car is a 2800lb Hyundai Elantra. Great communter and fun to drive, but a little portly and underpowered for the class. THat's what you get when you build the car and then classify it.
July 22, 2008 8:29 a.m. MiatarPowar Reader

Crazy.

But I like it. If you were truly concerned with domination, you could build the 'spec' car for the class.... But it sound like you wanted to build one of these. If it isn't competitive and that is a concern, throw on some race rubber and an LSD and go play in FSP or something. Either way, you're building something that should be a blast to drive both on and off course.
July 22, 2008 8:48 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

^ Exactly. I'm not interested in being top dawg. I am curious as to how it'll stack up in Spec Civic. Besides. . .I can hear it now "Dude, you just got beat by a Metro". lol

LAter plans will likely be a G16 shortblock swap, cams and entrance into SM.
July 22, 2008 8:50 a.m. suprf1y New Reader

Bobzilla wrote:

geomiata, what all has he done to get to that 115hp? 105 is my goal, but if I can get more. . . .

There are two ways to build a Swift GT motor, and both work very well. For your application, you want to start looking for Cultus parts. Intake, cams, and get your hands on a good header. Run stock size (1 3/4") exhaust, with a good cat, and good free flowing muffler. You have a few options with ECU's/chips. This will be surprisingly quick, should net you roughly a 15 second flat quarter mile time, be easy to drive, and great on gas.

Or,

Get the same cultus intake, a good header, and run a set of (what you would normally consider) mild performance cams. Opening up the TB to ~50mm is an option, too. Some mild head porting will help here. 1 7/8"-2" exh. is the way to go. You use a megasquirt, but there is a chip available that was developed specifically for the above mentioned cams. With only 210 degrees duration at .050", it was still making power at 8800RPM. My nephew has the latter setup, and it is suprisingly easy to drive, and revs like a sportbike.

You'll want to tie the front frame rail together. Any bracing you can add here will be a big help. If you have a welder, or access, and are reasonably handy, you can build your own. I can take a pic of mine, if you want.

What is your plan to get 105hp at the wheels?
July 22, 2008 9:05 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

Car came with a Genie (I believe) header, Tom's chip and terrible exhaust, with 179k miles on the engine, no O2 sensor (wire has bee cut) and put down 93hp at the frt wheels. Rebuilding the bottom end, new pistons, rings, bearings oil pump. Head gets new valves, milled and 3 angle valve job. Making my own CAI to take advantage of the opening in the grill area.

I already have the upper strut brace, and am having a lower brace made for it. THe header I had Ceramic coated.
July 22, 2008 9:09 a.m. suprf1y New Reader

I just noticed your build on Teamswift. I guess I should pay more attention Just an FYI, if you had a collision between the valves, and some pistons, while the lifters are out of the head, put the cams in, torque the caps down, and make sure they turn. I have seen a few cams bend from these collisions. If you don't catch it now, you'll destroy the head.

If you have any questions, let me know. If I don't have the answer, I know somebody that will.
July 22, 2008 9:20 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

Impact looks minimal. It was only 3 valves (thankfully) and they stayed intact. If it helps, the cams would turn WITH the lifters in the head. So I guess that's a good sign.

Is my goal with the build a reasonable goal?
July 22, 2008 11:26 a.m. suprf1y New Reader

To hit 105 at the wheels, I think you may have to do a little more. I would do a little port cleanup on that head while its out, particularly on the exh. side.
July 22, 2008 11:40 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

I can't do that (wink wink). . . anything else?
July 22, 2008 11:56 a.m. neon4891 HalfDork

on this site you get more "street cred" for racing a metro(and it's cousins) than you would for buying a new C6
July 22, 2008 12:07 p.m. Bobzilla New Reader

I've lovingly nicknamed it M.o.S. Metro on Steroids.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/bobnjenmiller/SwiftWorkbegins005.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/bobnjenmiller/SwiftWorkbegins006.jpg
July 23, 2008 7:55 a.m. problemaddict New Reader

this was logged somewhere in the deep dark areas of my grey matter long ago, but i thought the major concern w/ Swift/Metro's in autocross was a terrible mismatch between 1st and 2nd gear? Is that a problem or is the grey matter not working so well?
July 23, 2008 8:11 a.m. 914Driver HalfDork

Bobzilla, ask these guys.

http://www.teamswift.net/
July 23, 2008 8:50 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

i HAVE. . .been there for a few months now.
Nov. 3, 2008 8:05 p.m. Duende Reader

Sorry to bounce this older thread back up, but I was out and about today and swear I saw some car in some bushes that said "Cultus." I just saw it mentioned above... Can you guys elaborate? I'm still learning about all these models.

I'm going for fuel efficiency, though, so I'm not sure if I want a GT model? I need as efficient a commuter as I can get...
Nov. 3, 2008 8:44 p.m. Josh Reader

Wikipedia, man....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Cultus
Nov. 3, 2008 9:02 p.m. HiTempguy Reader

[crazy dream]

Import AWD cultus from Japan. Boost to over 200whp (been done on stock internals before, this would be with a massively built motor). Prep for open class rallying.

[/crazy dream]

We'll see, I figure costs would run around $20K including car and making it reliable. Its either that or a Subie in a year.
Nov. 4, 2008 9:42 a.m. Duende Reader

My fault, thanks! I'm on dial-up and take advantage of the friendly informative nature of those on this board!
Nov. 4, 2008 11:42 a.m. Bobzilla New Reader

Duende wrote:

Sorry to bounce this older thread back up, but I was out and about today and swear I saw some car in some bushes that said "Cultus." I just saw it mentioned above... Can you guys elaborate? I'm still learning about all these models.

I'm going for fuel efficiency, though, so I'm not sure if I want a GT model? I need as efficient a commuter as I can get...

Cultus was the JDM (yo) hot car. Made about 15hp over it's American cousins, had different cams and intake mani and revved to 8500rpms (iirc). These are the "hot parts" to get for these cars.

If you are looking for fuel economy, a GT is not your game. 35mpg on an unmodified is as good as it gets. I am going to be lucky if I see 30. If MPG is what you want, find an Swift GLX withthe SOHC 1.3L. Sure it's a dog, but it'll knock down 40mpg all day long.

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