QuestionI have a 1993 Honda prelude. I have my daughter driving the car we race on dirt. My question is how should we set the front end up so it does not have a big push She raced last year and ran good the car. It only had 90 horse this year I am making a big step this motor is a v-tech 205 horse.The cars have to weigh 2200-2300 lbs Thanks I hope you can help John
Answer This is an excellent car for racing, they're fast, agile and just hard to beat. Some clubs prohibit them just for that reason! there are several things you can do to eliminate push. I assume you're racing counter clockwise, if not just reverse the changes I'm recommending.
1. Be sure your front end is straight, and toe is correct. This is crucial.
2. You should run a larger tire on the right front, it does a lot of work and need more tread surface. You can go as much as 3 inches in circumference (not diameter). Pick a tire with a stiff sidewall so it doesn't roll over, preferably with 4 cords in the sidewall.
3. If your rules allow it, select a wheel that is offset and the right should jut away from the car, the left front should be pulled in closer to the car.
4. Adjust your camber on the right so the top of the tire sidewall is pulled in towards the car, and of course the bottom sidewall is pointed out. This makes the tire sit flat on the corners, where races are often won and lost. On honda's, there isn't much adjustment at the top of the towers, so you might have to grind out the mounting bolts on the bottom and shim it. Try and get 1 1/2 inch, measured by holding a straight edge to the bottom of the tire sidewall, and measuring from the straightedge to the top sidewall. BE SURE to recheck your toe after doing this. This procedure alone will help considerably.
If any of these recommendations are vague and you need a more detailed explanation, please feel free to ask. Good luck, I believe that car will be a winner!
