89 LXI Coupe (dirt track)

[RobDirt89]

Hi, im Rob thanks for the welcome.

I just bought an 89 Accord LXI Coupe, to race on a dirt track in the stock car class!

So far i did a tune up with icm. blocked off icv and ticv (bud lite gaskets lol. idles great now!) and the coolant that went to ticv and t-body. Swapped out the water pump and t-stat for new ones. changed oil, went with 20w50 a nippon filter and a qt. of lucas. I also removed all a.c. components except condenser cuz it blocks the radiator from dirt and other debris. repaired 2 brakelines inside car, weird spot for them to rust out at. i also installed a fuel filter, it still needs injector o-rings. when i have the injectors out im going to have them ultrasonically cleaned at my work (NAPA). Then i save some money up for a clutch, its grinding in all gears/hard to get in gear. but when i push the clutch in the grinding stops. I hope its not a Input shaft bearing! I stripped the outside lights, some interior panels, all panels in trunk, basically anything i dont need to go stop and turn!

Any ideas, comments, or suggestions would be great!
I will post pics later.
Does anyone know a good suspension setup for dirt? has to look stock.
its a clay oval and top speed is 70 mph in the straights. corners have a good bank angle. This will be my second season racing, in 08 i had a 92 eclipse (wrecked it) and a 89 mazda 323 (that 2.2L was fast!)


Also if anyone needs the parts i took off let me know! thats including all trim and small parts, even glass! windows need to go.
THANKS. GREAT SITE!

[Vanilla Sky]

2nd Gen Prelude upper control arms offer more camber adjustment up front. There's some washers that need to be added, but it's not a big deal to make them fit.

Some mixing and matching of struts from other cars can get you a staggered setup, since you're looking to only really turn one direction.

The carbureted cars had a smaller front swaybar if you want to try to get the rear end to kick out more.

The Carbureted cars also had smaller front brakes, which might be something to consider since you're not going fast and you're on a banked track. If you don't have to bleed off much speed going into a turn, then you might do well to shed the unsprung weight.

The 86 and 87 EFI models had different intake manifolds that didn't have the variable runners. It might be something to look into in order to make the engine bay more simple. You'll lose the lower end, but the manifold really isn't that bad.

You already have the better exhaust manifold, so I'd keep that.

You also have the trans with a shorter final gear. If for whatever reason you wanted an even shorter gear set, you can swap the internals out of an Integra transmission.

These cars are pretty fast on the dirt, but watch out for the ecotec powered cars. Those suckers are the fastest things around here.

[Dr_Snooz]

Welcome! Pics please. You will probably have to replace the injectors. They start leaking from their cases. It looks like the fuel rail seals but after you've spent the $40 to replace them, you still smell gas. Replace the injectors as a set, because they will all be leaking before long.

[RobDirt89]

FIRST OFF! thanks for the replys! http://img696.imageshack.us/i/0224012126.jpg/ BODY WORK! http://img827.imageshack.us/i/0225012208.jpg/ http://img708.imageshack.us/i/0225012208a.jpg/ http://img651.imageshack.us/i/0224012002.jpg/ http://img202.imageshack.us/i/0205012328a.jpg/ cool pic while doing the brakes! YES DR Snooz the injectors are leaking still, but not to bad. (not enough to make me worry about a fire) but here is the flow test b4 and after...http://img191.imageshack.us/i/02260123011.jpg/ ok i guess.
And Vanilla Sky, if you have any idea where i can start with the different struts that would b great. even if i could get a 1in drop just from swaping struts/springs idk prob just cut the springs. (fronts are already broken). I couldnt find the adj. upper control arm u were talking about. but thanks again, sry for the late reply.

[Vanilla Sky]

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54589&highlight=struts

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61806&highlight=struts

Of course, you can mix and match stuff to make it look OEM.

[RobDirt89]

I got half the car painted today. Finally! Its supposed to be silver but it came out almost tan.The top half of the car will be a metallic green. Hopefully i get a chance to paint the rest tomorrow!



http://img19.imageshack.us/i/04130113251.jpg/
http://img695.imageshack.us/i/0413011325a.jpg/
http://img197.imageshack.us/i/0413011400a.jpg/
http://img33.imageshack.us/i/0413011400.jpg/

[Dr_Snooz]

Did you do anything with the wheel rot or just paint over it?

[RobDirt89]

I sanded it down to bare metal then primed it. I think it will last a year or so. I know that i will have the best looking car on the track so i may be a target lol. But i expect to be touching it up through out the season cuz rubbing is racing!

[Vanilla Sky]

You're on dirt, you're going to be a target. I'd go dirty up the paint before getting to the track :p