Looking for a starting place on the aftermarket parts

[laborsmith]

If you are doing a dyno tune, HPTuners; otherwise Trifecta or VTuners, and both offer adjustments based on a datalog.

For handling, tires. For driveability, tires.

Next, use premium fuel. The 1.4T ecm adjusts timing according to knock, so the higher octane used means no or little backing off on timing means more power to the wheels.

Tires and premium fuel and you will be good to go.


Laborsmith

 

[ecohauler]

I disagree slightly with the popular opinion. A tune is an important mod, and no other power mods are possible without it, but I say handling first. Tires, rear brace, transmission mount, and however you want to go about lowering should all be early on your list. Lowering can come later, but the rear brace fixes the inherent body roll in the hatchback design, and the trans mount will get rid of wheel hop so you can make better use of whatever power you have on hand, tune or not.

The stock tires are awful, but it seems like such a waste to get new tires when you don't need them. I don't know, better tires are definitely a good idea, but it seems to me = since it's something that will wear out and need to be replaced, it's better to just wait it out. Of course, if you're serious about autocross, you're probably better off getting a spare set of wheels and tires for the track anyway.

 

[sx sonic]

I disagree slightly with the popular opinion. A tune is an important mod, and no other power mods are possible without it, but I say handling first. Tires, rear brace, transmission mount, and however you want to go about lowering should all be early on your list. Lowering can come later, but the rear brace fixes the inherent body roll in the hatchback design, and the trans mount will get rid of wheel hop so you can make better use of whatever power you have on hand, tune or not.

The stock tires are awful, but it seems like such a waste to get new tires when you don't need them. I don't know, better tires are definitely a good idea, but it seems to me = since it's something that will wear out and need to be replaced, it's better to just wait it out. Of course, if you're serious about autocross, you're probably better off getting a spare set of wheels and tires for the track anyway.

Just a few minor corrections to this.

Solid motor mounts will not resolve wheel hop. If you're just barely getting hop it may remedy it, but it is not a fix. Pre did a good write up on it in his "poly bushing mod" thread.

The rear brace may not be the best thing for a die-hard autocrosser. It's a test and try type mod. As much as I love mine I'd play around having it on and off if I was serious about racing and winning. JohnT still isn't certain about it during serious racing and he's been tripoding around turns for awhile now.

I'm just planning on autocrossing with the car club at my college so class doesn't really matter to me all that much.

How serious are you on getting into this? It sound just like a casual, for fun thing which is quite different than serious racing (and alot cheaper).

For racing the best mods you can do are 1. tires and 2. coilovers.(if allowed in the class) 3. 91-93 octane fuel 4. DDM Shifter bushings.. After that it's up to what the class will allow and the short comings of the car.

If it's just for fun and your gonna be doing alot more commuting than racing I'd recommend the following, In order of performance benefit/fun factor.

Tune.. Tires.. Coilovers or lowering springs.. DDM rear brace.. DDM shifter busings.. TTR Engine & Trans mount.. Ported intake manifold.. ZZP/BNR downpipe.. Catback or full exhaust.. Intake.. Silicone or hard charge pipes.

Here's some links for you to browse thru.
First 2 are by an avid and knowledgable autocrosser. very good reads.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/build-threads/7160-johns-autox-everyday-sonic.html
Check out post #3 http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...anybody-autocross-their-sonic.html#post185003
More on the other mods listed.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/bad-news-racing/1063-official-trifecta-sonic-tune-thread.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/ddm-works/7659-ddmw-rear-brace-install-review.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/turbo-tech-racing/2890-ttr-solid-motor-mount-installed.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/do-yourself-articles/4410-porting-intake-manifold.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/ddm-works/1759-shifter-bushings-available.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...ck-charge-tubes-vs-silicone-charge-tubes.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/general-discussion/8024-sonic-dyno-thread.html

Now go out there and enjoy the races .

 

[TurboSonic18]

Thank you sx sonic. That is very helpful. I'll start looking into those options.

-TurboSonic18

 

[ecohauler]

Just a few minor corrections to this.

Solid motor mounts will not resolve wheel hop. If you're just barely getting hop it may remedy it, but it is not a fix. Pre did a good write up on it in his "poly bushing mod" thread.

The rear brace may not be the best thing for a die-hard autocrosser. It's a test and try type mod. As much as I love mine I'd play around having it on and off if I was serious about racing and winning. JohnT still isn't certain about it during serious racing and he's been tripoding around turns for awhile now.

Thanks for the corrections. I haven't gotten a good look at the front suspension yet, so I didn't realize the LCA bushings were so inadequate. I have my poly trans mount, but I haven't put it on yet. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I'm adding the poly LCA mod to my 'soon' list.

Here's the LCA bushing thread in case anyone else is interested.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/handling-braking-suspension-discussion/7143-wheel-hop-correction-thread.html

I agree the rear brace may not be for everybody, but I maintain that the stock body roll is too excessive. A serious autocrosser may need a stiffer front sway bar in order to make any use of the rear brace. Currently the only one of those I'm aware of is the RS sway bar. The few times I've pushed my car's handling to the limits, there was understeer without the brace and a much more neutral feel with it, but of course autocross is a different environment with a lot of forced 'Scandinavian flick' situtations, so an oversteer-friendly setup may not be the best for that.

 

[TurboSonic18]

Does anyone know how much horsepower the block can take?

 

[sx sonic]

Does anyone know how much horsepower the block can take?

Not yet but Preloaders set on finding out.

There's a HUGE chance that the block can take more power than the stock turbo is capable of putting out. There's quite a few members already pushing ~60% more power than stock without issue.

I imagine you would spend a small fortune actually trying to destroy the block.

So far the short comings for max power have been determined to be 1. the turbo. 2. stiffer valve springs if you're trying to make power further in the RPM range. 3. upgraded pistons and rods. then it's anybodies guess what will need beefing up, probably the crank.

Here's a few more good reads for ya.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...scussion/7995-1-4l-teardown-modification.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/aftermarket-crowd/8092-turbo-selection-sizing-turbo.html
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/ddm-works/8326-gt2560-turbo-ddmw-site.html