QuestionQUESTION: hi, i am racing a 89 Daytona. our class is pretty basic...stock everything. we are allowed 1 3/4# camber sorry don't have the degrees. i know i need to adjust my lt ft camber. i have no idea how to adjust caster if i can. we use used street tires I try to find H and V rated tires V rated are hard to find used around here ( Alberta Canada )i have a front stagger ( using tires # of 6 in across the front i use 3/16 toe out on the right # still have lots of roll on the outside of the tire) i run a 185 55 14 on the ft lt,195 55 15 r lt, 205 65 15 rt ft 195 55 15 rr. ive run 50 lbs rt ft,25 lt ft,25 ltr, 40 rr, it doesnt push as bad lol as it did but i dont have enough gear so how would you think i could make up for lack of gear?? i know im asking more than one ???? but im trying to beat the damn hondas lol so far im good to 7th place but the other 5 cars are honda accords.
ANSWER: Way too many questions !
I'll start with one, the question about camber. To help you I have to know two things, what the rules allow, and what you're running now.
I don't understand all your symbols. Let's use these in the future,
Negative camber (wheel leans out at the bottom) NC
Positive camber (wheel leans out at the top ) PC
right front = RF
left front = LF
right rear = RR
left rear = LR
You're running WAY too much pressure differential between your tires. Try 22 LBs in the RF about 30 in the LF and keep the rears at about 25 each. Take tire temperatures and keep written notes. Check temps every time out, and check the outside, center and inside temps.. If the tire is hot in the middle you are using too much air pressure.
Stagger should be used on the front only and a full inch is a LOT, let the back do as it wishes.
AS to gears, I don't have an answer - - -try the junk yard for different trannys.
Mabe you should buy one of the Hondas, they certainly dominate my kind of racing these days.
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: you said run 22 lbs RF??? never hurts to try so reverse stagger then. i have my 1 3/4 inch of NC on my RF and put some smaller bolts in the LF my tranny shop found me some 45/47 end gears ( thats what they called them) they are installed now my others were 53/54 so even 200 or 300 rpm would help. By using the old bridgestones lol our right side tires are supposed to run just on the top of the outside. but im still learning, the hondas by the way start at 39 rf and 25 lf everyone else 40 or more on the rf just to get the tire to stand up lol turning left is harder than ppl think lol i think the advantage of the late 80 and early 90 accords is there upper control arm is above the tire they just float as they wiz by you but they have lots of electrical issues. we had a blow off the last day of racing guys who wanted to blow up they re cars one honda joined in 45 mins before it quit we even blew out the rad still kept going when the tow truck made its way an hr later to pull these guys out of the front stretch the honda started and drove away unbelievable. some guys are running sunfires but cant keep motors in them and hubs are bad so ill figure out my dodge lol thanks so much for your help we are a 1/4 mile paved oval www.edmontonraceway.com is our track website hope to hear your answer soon thanks Dana oh one more question are my tire sizes ok? any recomondations for make of tire??
AnswerOK AS for the RF pressure I was thinking of race tires, you may need more to help the tire maintain it's shape but no more than absolutely necessary.
The proper setup for most FWD cars is as follows.
LF 1/16" toe out
RF 1/8 to 3/16" toe out
LF 2 1/2 Deg. postiive camber
RF 4 to 5 Deg. Negative camber
LR 2 Deg. pos.
RR 3-4 Deg. Neg.
If you have a solid rear axle, you take it out and bend it !
These settings should make the car pretty neutral in the turns.
Tire presssures vary widely and are hard to figure when using street tires. My experience with race tires keeps me buying Hoosiers exclusively. If you want to spend some money and the rules allow it, Find out if you can use any "D.O.T" tire (a US description) If so , Hoosier had a 195 60 R 13 that I have used in a stock class. They are a racing tire masquerading as street rubber and they STICK ! I buy mine from Appalachian Race Tires, 105 Tom Pate Rd., Johnson City , Tennessee. Phone is 865-681-6622 They're good with the tech help too !
It's just as hard to turn right - - -us road racers mostly don't use power steering and the cars get REAL hot after an hour enduro. All racing is hard atheletic work and good physical condition will win you a LOT of races !
Good luck with it !
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida
