Slalom Transam?

Hi I need a little advice. I have an 85 Transam that I just started slalom racing with. I have a ton of power(the motor is done up--approx 375hp) but everything else is stock and I'm not doing much better than stock civics etc(I don't want to admit that It might just be the driver!) Anyways I've saved a little cash and I am planning on buying a set of KYB AGX shocks and struts and a set of Eibach sportline springs to start. I don't have alot of experience and not a lot of technical knowledge so I just want some advice if you thinks these parts will be good and a good start and or should I start with something different? Thanks for the help Rob

I'm not sure i would use the Sportlines unless you drive it to work or something.... they're a progressive spring, and that usually means bad.

Maybe look into spending a bit more and getting Ground Controls?

I have ran sportlines with no issues. If you are just starting get the car to one point and do not try to "improve" it until you work on the most important add on part in your car... YOU. If you read most reviews for starter autocrossing it says start with a stock repeatable car and improve until you are better than the car. then improve the car. repeat.

I use a 1981 Turbo T/A and have the same issues. More power than traction.

The best thing you can do is learn to drive the hell out of it first.

Good tires, good shocks and a good alignment will go a long way.

You've got far more car than driver at the moment (a problem a lot of us share).

Find a senior driver at your local events, ideally, one with the same type of car you're running. Ask lots of questions, ask to ride along in his car, ask him to ride with you or let him drive your car.

When you see how much faster an experienced driver can go in your car, you will know what you need to learn.

Good luck.

Shawn

i have looked into it for a friends car.. eibach's are just about the same rate as IROC springs (within something of a tolerance, but not much different) and just lower the car as far as my research indicates.. (talking about the most marketed preboxed stuff from them)

if you want REAL performance from them(f-bod) get a ground control setup for it with higher rates.

Basically the best thing anyone will ever do for you as far as advice is this..

CALL SAM STRANO http://www.stranoparts.com/

multi-time national champion in Fbodies, took PAX at nats the other year by over a second (in an Fstock mustang admittedly) and has parts custom made for F-bods to make them perform in auto-x. He has already tried almost anything you can think of for it and will be able to point you in the right direction the first time.

He has helped me with the setup on my Mustang and I have never encountered anyone who has done business with him that have anything bad to say about him.

^^^ He's right.

Thanks for the advice, I 'm waiting to hear back from Strano parts, I emailed them, one question what do mean exactly by a ground control setup??? Thanks again Rob

Ground Control manufactures springs and suspension components.

Ground Control Suspension Systems:

http://www.ground-control-store.com/index.php

Accept no imitations.

John Brown wrote: I have ran sportlines with no issues. If you are just starting get the car to one point and do not try to "improve" it until you work on the most important add on part in your car... YOU. If you read most reviews for starter autocrossing it says start with a stock repeatable car and improve until you are better than the car. then improve the car. repeat.

I had them on my car before my current setup, and they were fine up until about.... 7/10ths. Then it got kindof hairy.

If there is too much hair, get a razor... or maybe some Nair

Get the rulebook.

Find the class you want to run in.

THEN mod the car.

Otherwise you may find you've built the car right out of a class you would've been competetive in.

Shawn

Oh, and to add, don't worry about losing to Civics, Miatas and the like. I nicely prepped ST/STS, or SP version of either, is going to be very quick in the right hands.

Also, don't make the car too adjustable. A lot of people get into the trap of putting multi adjustible suspension parts on the car, and spend all their time trying to dial in or dial out handling charateristics, and end up never having the same car twice in a row. Considering the driver is almost ALWAYS the weakest part of the car, getting a stable, unchanging platform under you is vastly more important than adjusting to try and get the most perfectly tweaked paltform under you.

Not to say you shouldn't have good parts under you, just saying that the tricket, most adjustible parts you can buy aren't going to do a bit of good until the driver is no longer a limitation.

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it!!!!

Apexcarver wrote: Basically the best thing anyone will ever do for you as far as advice is this.. CALL SAM STRANO http://www.stranoparts.com/

If it has a V8 up front and drive wheel in the back, Sam can make it go faster. Although, I have seem him drive the snot out of FWD cars too!