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In an attempt to generate more enthusiasm on CEG for autocross, and get more people in the sport in general, I'm going to give some information to those who might be interested.
For an introduction to the sport, try the Tire Rack Novice Handbook. This gives all the information you need to go to your first event.
Autocross is a motorsport where cars are driven around a tight, very twisty course marked by cones (pylons). Cars run solo - thus the SCCA name "Solo II". Solo I is similar, but on a road course. Each run is timed to one one thousandth of a second: xx.xxx seconds. The fastest run is the one that counts. Cars are divided into classes based on modifications and type/performance potential. See http://www.scca.org for details on classing.
There are five classes the Contour is eligible for in streetable form: G Stock (GS), Street Touring S (STS), STX, D Street Prepared (DSP), and Street Mod (SM).
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
STS allows springs, swaybars, wheels, chip, intake, A/C removal, battery relocation, and a few other things, but makes you run on "Street Tires", which has a treadwear rating of 140 or greater. The fastest tires are the Falken Azenis, Hankook Z212, Kuhmo MX, Yoko Advan Neova, and BFG KDW. Max width is 225, on a 7.5 inch wheel.
STX is like STS but allows an LSD, bigger rotors, one high-flow cat (which means headers for us), and wider wheels/tires: 245s on 8 inch wheels. With the LSD and MSDS headers being popular, this could be a fun place to be. It will take some work to fit a 245 width tire, though.
DSP allows the STS mods, as well as LSD, no cat at all, DOT-legal slicks, and an accusump. If I was to build a Contour for track days and autocross, this would be the place to be.
SM allows anything power and suspension-wise without chassis modifications. You can remove more weight, run a turbo, 3.0L, etc. But so can the competition 
As I mention in my STS build thread, STS is a good place to be. With the exception of the Accusump, slicks, and LSD, it's everything I'd want in a streetable car. If you're not going to the track much, this is the way to go. If you get a nice suspension kit like the Koni or BAT, a rear swaybar, camber plates, and Azenis, you can be very well-prepared, and have a great-handling and riding street car.
If you go a little more hardcore, you canr have a car that's great on SMOOTH roads, and very, very quick. Again, see my build thread for details.
So, you want to run. No matter where you are, it'll be fun. Let me alleviate a few misconceptions for the wary:
Oil starvation: I run 6.5 qts and I'm fine. Autocross doesn't have long, hard turns, in general. I have yet to run a course that scares me in the least. Just don't run low on oil, and your engine won't break a sweat.
Tire life: a lot of newbies show up unprepared and kill their tires, never to return. If you go too fast, sliding everywhere, you'll not only burn them up, you'll be slow! Erring on the side of too cautious will give you faster lap times, and no appreciable tire wear. Also, make sure you jack the pressures up to 38-40 psi to keep them from squishing and "rolling over" onto the sidewall. This will keep the wear down, and even it out across the tread, as well as making you faster.
Damage: it is possible to damage the car. If you are really nuts, and the course has a flaw, you could do something stupid and mess it up. But, I've never run a course where that could happen. A good course will require serious driver incompetence to have a problem. This is the safest form of motorsport, or very close, as far as car damage goes. The risk is very, very low.
Yes, Buckshot rolled his car. This was not from cornering forces, but from going way too fast on a poorly-setup track and hitting a tire wall. He admits it was really all his fault that he went off - cold tires, cold track, hot driver, I think he said.
So, go to SCCA.org, find your region, and look for an event! Post up in your regional forum to see if anyone around you want to go too. Read the guide I posted the link too, and have fun!
EDIT 2006-02-27: Consolidated some info from below, made a sticky.
Last edited by Auto-X Fil; 08/12/06 02:34 PM.
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A few nits to pick here but overall a good job.
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
Also Drop in Air filter (not a cone type of filter)
Also the I4 contour is in HS not GS but it has the same mods alowed.
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
STS allows springs, swaybars, wheels, chip, intake, A/C removal, battery relocation, and a few other things, but makes you run on "Street Tires", which has a treadwear rating of 140 or greater. The fastest tires are the Falken Azenis, Hankook Z212, Kuhmo MX, Yoko Advan Neova, and BFG KDW.
I don't know how chips are on the contour but the chip must fit in the factory housing.
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
DSP allows the STS mods, as well as LSD, DOT-legal slicks, and an accusump. If I was to build a Contour for track days and autocross, this would be the place to be.
As well as full engine management or changing of steering wheels or complete removal of the cat (or hollowing out of it)
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
SM allows anything, pretty much. You can gut it, run a turbo, 3.0L, make is a dual-wishbone suspension, whatever. But so can the competition
A common misconseption but still one. While you can remove the back seat and the stereo stuff all the other stuff must stay so that is not what I would call gutting it.
The suspension mounting points have to stay the same as stock so I am not sure you would be able to convert it to double wishbone.
A strange thing is that putting on a CF hood would toss you right into SM but the CF trunk lid is not legal for SM and would toss you into some sort of prepared or mod class.
Also about the 3.0L swap. to be technically legal it would need to come from a ford (escape/taurus) not a mazda (tribute) if the engines are at all different(even if it is just different part numbers) because of the way the rule reads because mazda and ford are related only at a corporate level. Since it is the same block I doubt anybody would have issues with it just make sure you don't have a big powered by mazda sticker under the hood of the car.
Originally posted by SCCA Rule book:
16.1.d.1. Engine block must be a production unit manufactured and badged the same as the original standard or optional engine for that model. Badges that exist as marketing aliases for the manufacturer will be recognized as equivalents. Swaps involving makes related only at a corporate level are not recognized as equivalents.
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
So, go to SCCA.org, find your region, and look for an event! Post up in your regional forum to see if anyone around you want to go too. Read the guide I posted the link too, and have fun!
A few more links
2006 SCCA Solo2 rulebook
2006 ProSolo Rules
SCCA Region Finder
SCCA National Tour Listing
SCCA National ProSolo Tour Listing
Frappr! Map of 2006 National Tour locations
Frappr! Map of 2006 ProSolo National Tour Locations
Last edited by Auto-X Fil; 02/28/06 01:27 AM.
Beaten - 2003 MazdaSpeed Protege 29K <- broken hearted
Daily/Weekend Beater - 1990 miata 138K - AutoX every weekend = Adult driven on weekends
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I was hoping you'd come proofread that for me  The STX cat rule is important because if lets you run MSDS headers and a high-flow cat, which is serious HP, and yes DSP was be a pretty serious exhuast - "full race" in ricerspeak, also big power. Good catch. Thanks for the SM clarifications, I threw that in after I remembered all the 3.0L people, but I don't know that much about it. The CF hood/trunk thing is important, as is the 3.0L technicality. And the factory pickup points must be used for the suspension: it's Prepared that allows a MacPherson strut to double wishbone conversion explicitly.
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SP allows a certain amount of overbore and deck height shaving (IIRC) as well as valve work (IIRC), which, by the time you do to a 2.5L, you might as well have bought a 3.0 and shot for SM. I've never heard of anyone doing this to a Contour just to run in SP, but there you have it.
Last edited by Auto-X Fil; 02/28/06 01:25 AM.
Function before fashion.
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"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Other tips from a great teacher, Andy Hollis Top Ten Tips
Whirling dervish of FFOG.
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We both forgot to mention the tire and rim width restrictions in STS/STX.
STS
Rims Max = 7.5" wide
Tires Max = 225mm
STX
Rims Max = 8" wide
Tires Max = 245
Last edited by Auto-X Fil; 02/28/06 01:25 AM.
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Andy's tips are indeed great. I should have stressed this more:
A good driver is better than a good car. I routinely beat Corvettes, BMWs, Miatas, RX-8s, and more, because I (try to) do those things, and the new (or just stubborn) drivers in the "faster" cars don't. They may even be using 100% of the Corvettes acceleration and cornering, but if they're asking more of the car than the course demands (that is, they have a poor line), they will be slow - sometimes very, very slow.
Case in point:
STS Philip Maynard 95 Ford Contour 45.891
ASP XXXXX XXXXXXXX 99 Corvette 47.026
CSP XXXXX XXXXXXXX 95 Mazda Miata 48.641
SS XXXXX XXXXXXXX 05 Lotus elise 46.552
DM XXXXX XXXXXXXX 89 Sabre7 45.113
Yes, the 7 beat me, but it's a Louts 7! He should have been worlds ahead of me, like this guy was:
SS XXXXX XXXXXXXX 04 Corvette Z06 41.414 (FTD)
I also have lost to a few Foci, a Neon ACR, a stock Cooper S, and a bunch of other cars because they had pilots that were absolutely spot-on.
So, the moral of the story: Show up in anything, and if you can drive you'll do quite well. Following Andy's comments regarding driving will get you 90% of the way there.
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Well guys, thanks for a whole bunch of useful information. I printed Andy's tips & have been feverishly taking notes as I've been planning to get into Auto-X for some time now and plan to attend an even on the 26th. I attended one event in Miami, but did not participate. Glad I didn't as many of the other participants were competing to become King Nimrod. Lots of DNFs and guys spinning out & doing a SERIES of donuts just off the course...  I didn't want anything to do with that crowd. The SCCA hasn't held an event in that venue since. No wonder why. The Florida SCCA (south Florida) sucks (as usual) & has nothing on their calendar as yet. The Equipe Rapide group has had one "SCCA SOLO type" event & 2 more on schedule, but they're waaaaaaay down in Homestead at the speedway parking lot. Central Florida region events are closer & easier to get to even though I live in the Florida region. The Central Florida region is well under way with their season. I may even get my daughters to enter just to sharpen their skills behind the wheel... 
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Also, spend the fifteen bucks to get Henry Watts' book "Secrets of Solo Racing".
Ask questions, everybody has been a novice before, and they don't mind answering them. Also, show up to work early. Check out the lines of the drivers when you're out there too, but PLEASE make sure to watch the cones as they go by your particular area rather than the car to help the event go smoother.
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Originally posted by moxnix:
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
DSP allows the STS mods, as well as LSD, DOT-legal slicks, and an accusump. If I was to build a Contour for track days and autocross, this would be the place to be.
As well as full engine management or changing of steering wheels or complete removal of the cat (or hollowing out of it)
I thought STS allowed for changing the steering wheel, if kept within 1" diameter of stock.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
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Not if it means airbag deletion.
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Originally posted by SVTfrog:
Originally posted by moxnix:
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
DSP allows the STS mods, as well as LSD, DOT-legal slicks, and an accusump. If I was to build a Contour for track days and autocross, this would be the place to be.
As well as full engine management or changing of steering wheels or complete removal of the cat (or hollowing out of it)
I thought STS allowed for changing the steering wheel, if kept within 1" diameter of stock.
I was trying to keep this contour specific. the 1" rule is the stock class rule.
But both the STS and stock rules state "Steering wheels with an integral airbag may not be changed."
Since the contour never came without an airbag in the steering wheel they can not remove it in either stock or STS classes. SP classes let you remove a steering wheel with an airbag.
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Glanced through here......didn't see anything; for most autocross or open track events....can I use an open face helmet.....or do I need a full face?
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
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For autox, open face is fine. Just must be snell approved. For track events, it's best to check with the specific group. SCCA, NASA, and others may vary in their requirements. Typically, if you meet SCCA rules, you'll be fine for anything else. Check out www.scca.com
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
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Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
For autox, open face is fine. Just must be snell approved. For track events, it's best to check with the specific group. SCCA, NASA, and others may vary in their requirements. Typically, if you meet SCCA rules, you'll be fine for anything else. Check out www.scca.com
Can't find anything on the SCCA website for helmets.... 
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
257HP/259TQ
2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s
RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED
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That's funny. I easily found the rules including helmets for each division of scca (solo, club, pro,etc.) Basically what I found is you should go with a SA2000 or better snell approved helmet. Open face is fine for autox and club racing, which is what you're interested in.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
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Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
That's funny. I easily found the rules including helmets for each division of scca (solo, club, pro,etc.) Basically what I found is you should go with a SA2000 or better snell approved helmet. Open face is fine for autox and club racing, which is what you're interested in.
Thanks.....I found a SA2005 helmet I want that is open faced. 
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
257HP/259TQ
2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s
RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED
160HP/141TQ
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I recently had my drivers liscence suspended.... Do I need a Drivers liscence to participate? I have lots of IDs. Car is insured and obviously I wouldn't be driving it to the event.
Originally posted by MapOfTaziFoSho:
Can u ask him to measure his shaft and compare it to your shaft?
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Some events require drivers licenses, some don't check for them. Best to check with each event you plan to attend.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
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Originally posted by EVOLUTION VIII:
Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
That's funny. I easily found the rules including helmets for each division of scca (solo, club, pro,etc.) Basically what I found is you should go with a SA2000 or better snell approved helmet. Open face is fine for autox and club racing, which is what you're interested in.
Thanks.....I found a SA2005 helmet I want that is open faced.
SA is not required for autox. Track events vary.
M is sufficient if autocross is all you'll do.
My Snell M95 helmet is still good until (probably) 2010.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Originally posted by RogerB:
Originally posted by EVOLUTION VIII:
Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
That's funny. I easily found the rules including helmets for each division of scca (solo, club, pro,etc.) Basically what I found is you should go with a SA2000 or better snell approved helmet. Open face is fine for autox and club racing, which is what you're interested in.
Thanks.....I found a SA2005 helmet I want that is open faced.
SA is not required for autox. Track events vary.
M is sufficient if autocross is all you'll do.
My Snell M95 helmet is still good until (probably) 2010.
The SA2005 wasn't too bad in price....and I don't want to buy another for awhile. 
Hector
2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
257HP/259TQ
2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s
RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED
160HP/141TQ
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Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
I guess this means I shouldnt have been put into the GS class....
See ad in Classifieds, Price lowered to $8,500. Buy it!
59K Miles, Original Owner, 3 liter built by Buckshot, Headers, HMS trans
Subframe Connectors, H&R's, Koni's, Rage 5.0 17's, Pole Position Tires
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Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
But with r compounds and what you can setup under the rules (alignment using stock stuff, which sucks for contours, but helps and the front bar), it can have you doing pretty good. Won't be beating any prepped mini's but it's a good place to start.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
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Originally posted by plance1:
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
I guess this means I shouldnt have been put into the GS class....
Yeah, You've got a 3 liter. Doesn't an engine swap move you all the way up to SM?
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Originally posted by White99SE:
Originally posted by plance1:
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
GS allows struts, front swaybar, brake pads, cat-back, DOT-legal race tires, and that's about it. This leaves you with a car with a lot of understeer. However, it's still fun, and will teach you a lot about driving to run there.
I guess this means I shouldnt have been put into the GS class....
Yeah, You've got a 3 liter. Doesn't an engine swap move you all the way up to SM?
SM is correct.
This ain't NASCAR. You're assumed to be somewhat familiar with the rules--enough to class yourself--and then be honest about it. You don't really get "tech'd" the way they do in pro racing.
That said, I know this was your first time, and you weren't sure, and you probably asked for help from one of the guys running the event. It happens and it's no big deal.
If it were me, I'd tell the guys that you were improperly classed, and should have been in SM. They can adjust the results, if they care to. If not, you've still impressed them with your integrity. It's a gentleman's game, after all, not a cutthroat competition (at this level.)
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Originally posted by RogerB:
SM is correct.
This ain't NASCAR. You're assumed to be somewhat familiar with the rules--enough to class yourself--and then be honest about it. You don't really get "tech'd" the way they do in pro racing.
That said, I know this was your first time, and you weren't sure, and you probably asked for help from one of the guys running the event. It happens and it's no big deal.
If it were me, I'd tell the guys that you were improperly classed, and should have been in SM. They can adjust the results, if they care to. If not, you've still impressed them with your integrity. It's a gentleman's game, after all, not a cutthroat competition (at this level.)
I dont know about all of this gentleman's stuff. I will have to think about it and see if its in me.
Seriously, I didnt know what I was doing, I'll run whatever class Im supposed to be in.
See ad in Classifieds, Price lowered to $8,500. Buy it!
59K Miles, Original Owner, 3 liter built by Buckshot, Headers, HMS trans
Subframe Connectors, H&R's, Koni's, Rage 5.0 17's, Pole Position Tires
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Originally posted by plance1:
Originally posted by RogerB:
SM is correct.
This ain't NASCAR. You're assumed to be somewhat familiar with the rules--enough to class yourself--and then be honest about it. You don't really get "tech'd" the way they do in pro racing.
That said, I know this was your first time, and you weren't sure, and you probably asked for help from one of the guys running the event. It happens and it's no big deal.
If it were me, I'd tell the guys that you were improperly classed, and should have been in SM. They can adjust the results, if they care to. If not, you've still impressed them with your integrity. It's a gentleman's game, after all, not a cutthroat competition (at this level.)
I dont know about all of this gentleman's stuff. I will have to think about it and see if its in me.
Well, if not, you can always switch to drag racing.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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OP
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,140 |
What class am I in?
Here's a lit of mods and where they put you. Bumping order goes like this:
GS -> STS -> STX -> DSP -> SM
except where noted. This means that a car with all GS mods and one SM mod is in SM.
Wheels/tires:
Tires - DOT-legal tires with a treadwear of 140 or higher are okay for any class. DOT-legal tires with a rating lower than 140 are okay in any class except STS/STX. STS max width 225 on a 7.5" rim, STX max width 245 on an 8" rim.
Wheels - stock size and offset, GS. Any diameter up to 7.5" wide STS, up to 8" wide STX. Wider is DSP. Stock for your car - SVT wheels on a non-SVT are illegal in stock. Alloys on a car that came with steelies is okay if they were an option for your trim level.
Suspension:
Struts - GS
Springs (incl. coilovers) - STS
Poly suspension bushings/roll resistors - STS
Front swaybar - GS
Rear swaybar - STS
Unrestricted endlinks - STS
Strut tower bars - STS
Camber adjustment plates - STS
Subframe connectors (no lateral connections) - SM
Power/Drivetrain:
Intake (no TB work) - STS. K&N drop-in GS.
Exhaust, cat-back - GS.
Y-pipe w/ stock cat - STS
Y-pipe with non-stock cat - STX
Headers (with any cat) - STX, (without) DSP.
Chip - STS.
3L - SM
Turbo/Supercharger - SM
LSD - STX
Clutch and or flywheel - DSP
Nitrous - not with the SCCA. You may be able to run if you take out the bottle, but ask the Regional Exec first. No bottles on site at all, even if you're spectating.
Brakes:
Brake pads - GS
Stock size rotors slotted/drilled - STS
Bigger brakes (any calipers) - STX, but NOT DSP.
SS hoses - STS
Weight/reduction Other:
CF/Fiberclass hood - SM
Bodykitting - STS
Gauges, comfort and convenience items (no performance savings including any weight loss) - GS
Replace front seats with 15lb versions (not including hardware) - STS. Next year will be 25lbs with hardware.
Replace front seats with anything: DSP
Remove rear seats - SM
Battery relocation - STS
A/C removal - STS
If you have any questions about a mod I missed, ask away and I'll update. I'll probably organize them better soon too.
Last edited by Auto-X Fil; 08/14/06 04:44 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867 |
Originally posted by Auto-X Fil:
What class am I in?
Wheels - stock size and offset, GS. Any diameter and Up to 7.5" wide STS, up to 8" wide STX. Wider is DSP. Stock for your car - SVT wheels on a non-SVT are illegal in stock. Alloys on a car that came with steelies is okay if they were a factory option for your trim level.
Intake (no TB work) - STS. K&N drop-in GS.
Exhaust, cat-back - GS. Y-Pipe, retaining stock Cat, STS. With "hi-flow" cat, STX.
Headers (with a cat) - STX, (without) DSP.
LSD - STX
Non-OEM Clutch - DSP? or SM?
Lightweight Flywheel - DSP? or SM?
3.0 L Engine or Forced Induction - SM
NOS - Is Right Out!
Phil,
Great info as always. I added a few tidbits. Hope it's helpful.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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