GRM Project SRT-4: What happened to the rest?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 4, 2010 7:41 p.m. SVTF New Reader

I've gone back thru my issues and the Project SRT-4 seems to end with the April and May 2005 issues promising actual track experiences to come. The online project story ends Jan '05.

Has this car seen any track days? Where is the data? I NEED the data!!!!!! Tho most of the local examples I've driven have been completely unimpressive since they were abused and neglected, I still have hope for a decent example to surface for track day/HPDE duty. I'd sure like to hear what GRM thot of the car on track days...............
June 22, 2010 1:42 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

We really didn't have the car out to a lot of events after that. It was frankly eating front tires at a prodigious rate----and we decided that something else would be a better choice for serious track work.
June 22, 2010 2:04 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

I can only imagine the tire wear on that one. My first gen IT Neon gets less than 3 hours out of a set of 225/45 15 dot radials.
June 22, 2010 2:08 p.m. bravenrace Dork

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Why is that?
June 22, 2010 2:40 p.m. SVTF New Reader

Thanks for bringing this back from the dead....

Per Schroeder wrote: and we decided that something else would be a better choice for serious track work.

So, without saying "Miata" or "E30", that something else would be?

The reason I'm asking about the SRT-4 is I am looking for another low-dollar track car since I crashed my SVT Focus. SRT-4s have good power, and they are half the E36 M3 price at half the miles. So far, for the low dollars, I haven't found a coupe that's any better than the SVT. But I'd like a bit more torque, and RWD would be nice (but not mandatory). So the SRT-4 was on the radar screen.........

Before the E36 M3 mantra starts, yeah, yeah, I know all about them. I don't have decent E36 M3 money. Heck the 330i's are cheaper with less miles. Haven't got that money either. Dropping an S52 in an E30 isn't an option either thanks to the home owner's asso - but I am watching for one that is already nicely done (that the owner is tired of).
June 22, 2010 5:21 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

bravenrace wrote:

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Why is that?

Cause its a fat, fast front wheel drive race car that gets pushed hard on very abrasive asphalt in 20 minute sprint races.

A set of Hawk Blues is good for about 9 hours on the front, and I might crack a rotor or two in that time.
June 22, 2010 6:21 p.m. SVTF New Reader

I can see eating the tires doing autox with the SRT-4 power and FWD. But does it eat them like that on the track also?

I've done several weekends on NT01 and they are barely scratched. My FWD is only 180 HP/145 TQ tho.......
June 22, 2010 6:37 p.m. z31maniac Dork

SVTF wrote:

Thanks for bringing this back from the dead....

Per Schroeder wrote: and we decided that something else would be a better choice for serious track work.

So, without saying "Miata" or "E30", that something else would be?

The reason I'm asking about the SRT-4 is I am looking for another low-dollar track car since I crashed my SVT Focus. SRT-4s have good power, and they are half the E36 M3 price at half the miles. So far, for the low dollars, I haven't found a coupe that's any better than the SVT. But I'd like a bit more torque, and RWD would be nice (but not mandatory). So the SRT-4 was on the radar screen.........

Before the E36 M3 mantra starts, yeah, yeah, I know all about them. I don't have decent E36 M3 money. Heck the 330i's are cheaper with less miles. Haven't got that money either. Dropping an S52 in an E30 isn't an option either thanks to the home owner's asso - but I am watching for one that is already nicely done (that the owner is tired of).

HOA, but no garage? Didn't look where you are located, but if someone had all the parts/tools lined out, we could make a clean running swap in a weekend, no problem.
June 22, 2010 7:18 p.m. njansenv HalfDork

I've never heard anyone call a 1st gen Neon fat. Rattly, cheap, etc? Yes, they are that. What tires are you running? Alignment?
I LOVED my 1g neon. To the OP: perhaps keep an eye out for an SRT swapped 1g neon? They're pretty potent.

Nathan

Streetwiseguy wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Why is that?

Cause its a fat, fast front wheel drive race car that gets pushed hard on very abrasive asphalt in 20 minute sprint races.

A set of Hawk Blues is good for about 9 hours on the front, and I might crack a rotor or two in that time.
June 22, 2010 7:29 p.m. Carson Dork

SVTF wrote:

Thanks for bringing this back from the dead....

Per Schroeder wrote: and we decided that something else would be a better choice for serious track work.

So, without saying "Miata" or "E30", that something else would be?

The reason I'm asking about the SRT-4 is I am looking for another low-dollar track car since I crashed my SVT Focus. SRT-4s have good power, and they are half the E36 M3 price at half the miles. So far, for the low dollars, I haven't found a coupe that's any better than the SVT. But I'd like a bit more torque, and RWD would be nice (but not mandatory). So the SRT-4 was on the radar screen.........

Before the E36 M3 mantra starts, yeah, yeah, I know all about them. I don't have decent E36 M3 money. Heck the 330i's are cheaper with less miles. Haven't got that money either. Dropping an S52 in an E30 isn't an option either thanks to the home owner's asso - but I am watching for one that is already nicely done (that the owner is tired of).

I had to read this three times to read it without the mental GRM filter. When you said E36 M3, you meant E36 M3, and not E36 M3. Which won't show up or really make any sense as soon as I post this.

I thought the MINI club racer replaced the project SRT-4, but maybe not.
June 22, 2010 7:41 p.m. SVTF New Reader

z31maniac wrote:

HOA, but no garage? Didn't look where you are located, but if someone had all the parts/tools lined out, we could make a clean running swap in a weekend, no problem.

Well, the garage is very small - and very full. From what I've read, to do it right, you need an M3 tranny and some 328i parts; I'd have too much money in an old E30 by the time I got the car on the track. S52 swap already done should be about $6k from what I've seen, maybe $5k so that is a bit more attractive. But I think I'd rather drop the S52 in an E36 anyway.

The reason the SRT-4 was attractive is that low mileage versions are going for about $8k around here. Power already installed, LSD, etc. All I'd need is Konis and springs (I can use the same tires I have now).
June 22, 2010 7:47 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

njansenv wrote:

I've never heard anyone call a 1st gen Neon fat. Rattly, cheap, etc? Yes, they are that. What tires are you running? Alignment?
I LOVED my 1g neon. To the OP: perhaps keep an eye out for an SRT swapped 1g neon? They're pretty potent.

Nathan

Streetwiseguy wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Why is that?

Cause its a fat, fast front wheel drive race car that gets pushed hard on very abrasive asphalt in 20 minute sprint races.

A set of Hawk Blues is good for about 9 hours on the front, and I might crack a rotor or two in that time.

2650 pounds race weight, in what is essentially an SCCA ITA car (WCMA IT2) is fat when you are running against Civics. This year the tires are Goodyear Eagle RS, 225/45 15s. Last year, 205 50 toyo R888's. They lasted a wee bit longer, but in 6 race weekends I killed 12 tires. The eagles are like glue compared to the Toyo's- last years best time was 1:32.8, first time out on the goodyears I ran 1:30.7- 2 tenths off the IT2 track record at Calgary Race City Speedway.

Suspension is all the good stuff, with camber set to the tire saving side of the setup- I'm not sure where I will end up this year- somewhere around -3, I think. I had to run just about 4 on the 888s just to keep from cording the outside edges. They are almost universally unloved as a race tire, hence the return of the RA1.
June 22, 2010 7:49 p.m. fornetti14 Reader

^^^ '02 & '03 WRX's are going for under $10k around here. Maybe that would fit the bill?
June 22, 2010 7:50 p.m. red5_02 New Reader

Actually you don't need an M3 transmission. The only reason why you'd need it is if you felt uncomfortable with stretching/squishing the motor mounts as the only difference in transmissions is the mount angle. Friend of mine has a 3.1L S50 with an e30 trans and after a year of use, close to 10 autocross events and 3 trackdays there's no sign of the beast slowing down.
June 22, 2010 8:40 p.m. SVTF New Reader

fornetti14 wrote:

^^^ '02 & '03 WRX's are going for under $10k around here. Maybe that would fit the bill?

I found one of those - like 220HP. And yep, it was $10 large. The WRX's that have been on track with me tho haven't been very fast until the track gets straight......... :)
June 22, 2010 8:43 p.m. SVTF New Reader

red5_02 wrote:

Actually you don't need an M3 transmission. The only reason why you'd need it is if you felt uncomfortable with stretching/squishing the motor mounts as the only difference in transmissions is the mount angle. Friend of mine has a 3.1L S50 with an e30 trans and after a year of use, close to 10 autocross events and 3 trackdays there's no sign of the beast slowing down.

So how easy would it be to put an S52 in an E36 325i? Plug and play?