Getting car ready for targga. What up grades?

[sleeth21]

I'm going to Alberta on December 1 to make money. My one focus in life right now is to prepair
My car and enter it for targa.

I'm not looking for big hp so much. Car is a bone stock 92 hnr32 with rimes, tires and grid dancer. Wanna focus on cooling, suspension/ handling and breaking. Couple weeks ago I was doing 180 in forth (closed track) and got a narly ass coolant leak I have to deal with now to. So anyways here is a list of stuff I think I should get also I would love some input of other things I should do or get. Oh yeah car is gutted but looks like ass though.

Cage
Two bucket seats
Cf hood with scoops (any particulars one that works better than others)
Fmic
Bigger radiator
Brakes

Ok I'm on a blackberry so I'm getting lazy now so just start shooting ideas parts and what not out

[evilgtr]

no.1 priority is the Oil pump since you will be punishing the car hard, basic bolt ons will add power and be fairly in expensive - injectors, turbo, exh,intake and then have it tuned to a safe level where you can still ring its neck for hours at a time. A clutch will also be needed at this point. After that I would address your suspension and there are some track pro's on here that will help you with this set up but I cant suggest any parts thats not my area. I can say the CF hood is not needed that $1000 could be spent somewhere else.

btw Im extremly jealous ! Iv wanted to do that for years so good for you I can wait to follow this thread and see how it goes for you.

[johnnyjohnny]

Brakes and suspension, brakes and suspension. I really wouldn't bother with power at the moment. Targas are always brutal on brakes and suspension....lots of tight turns, intersections, off-camber corners and bumpy roads. I'd also invest in spares, even 2 or 3 sets. It's not sexy, I know, but I've seen Targa and rally cars break something common on the first leg. They had very few spares with them, but not what they needed. You won't win (or even place) if you can't finish. Will someone be with you in a crew car? If so, load it up. Don't laugh, but even things like a spare oil pan might come in handy (think of the road surface conditions), maybe a spare rear diff, axles, and don't forget the tools! Unless you have a crew with you, you'll will be busy overnight at the transit stations

Replace anything that is even remotely close to end-of-life - water pump, oil pump, belts, hoses, rotors, fuel pump and filter...

[frankiman]

i'd go wit the following;

big alu radiator
oil cooler
agressive street brake pads (hawk HP+ or EBC yellow)
high temp brake fluid
stainless brake lines
stock rotors are fine
i'd keep the stock suspension, because of the bumpiness and ride height issues of targa roads (at speed)
but definitly get upgraded swaybars (the bigger the better)
power wize... intake and exhaust, injectors, a bit more boost and a good tune, power really isn't what wins targa (the last targa NF was won by a stock(~ish?) 2010 acura TL)
also check all rubber vaccum lines for cracks and leaks, replace at will

cage = good
bucket seats = good
also check for an aftermarket steering and spacer combo, to get the steering exactly where its best for your body size, it will reduce alot of upper body stress and overall fatigue

get good tires, not too sticky or they will get greasy on longer sections, i'd go with something like Toyo T1R or Yoko S.drive, very good rain tires

make sure the clutch can handle the heat and wear of prolonged hard-driving

maybe a power steering cooler too
verify coilpacks and spark plugs

have fun

[sleeth21]

I still need to find out what class I will be running. My original plane was to do the gt class. Apparently that class did not need a cage, but there is prob a horse power limit? The targa web sit has very bad info on that kind of stuff so I'm going to have to make some calls.

Thanks for the input. Defiantly some more things to think about. Just keep shooting stuff at me and I will make a parts list then post it so you guys can tell me some more. First step right now is registering and getting the targa license. But that's in Septemb
er, and finding some sponsors would be nice. Nissan would defiantly sponsors me since I'm like one of the 10 skylines in newfoundland and the only gts-4 but have a lot of time to prepair.

[frankiman]

maybe not nissan themselves, but probly a dealer

[sleeth21]

Kenmound nissan. Its like the only one here.

[mightymurph]

Daniel this is awesome news, if you need any help along the way I'm down to lend you a hand anywhere I can just give me a holler. Bout time a skyline enters targa!!

[Skym]

In some Targa's (Targa Tasmania in Australia for example) there's mod limit's, like must use stock turbo, stock engine. But allowed FMIC, fuelpump, adjustable FPR, adjustable suspension, ECU, stripping of chassis of weight, rollcage, bodykit (GTR front bumper, GTR bonnet, GTR rear spoiler, GTS sideskirts), etc. Then safety equipment like seats, seat belts, fire extinguisher and trip meter for stage timing, etc.

[sleeth21]

slight change of plans. im trying to sell gts4 for and get a bnr32. i was just thinking if im going to put 8-10 k in a car i wouls rather put it in a gtr.

[evilgtr]

Sounds like a good plan, how is the Alberta "dream" going for you ? Did you head out their to make your fortune on dec 1st ?

[jdms13rhd]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1BaRqdKDo

thought I seen another vid of this car driving more aggressive.

Looks like a lot of fun. Good luck and have fun in ab.

[bobbo]

spares, spares, spares and more spares.
Trans, axeles, bushings, shocks, springs and lots of cash. If you're from NF you know how harsh the roads are there.
There's a guy from St. John's area with a yellow, 600(ish)hp 996 that was here this summer getting some track time. I had a brief chat with him about Targa. The 996 will be his second car to run in the event.
There is another guy who comes up here from Main with a Cooper S that is being prepped for Targa aswell. There's some good info to be found @ http://armsinc.ca/phpbb2/index.php
If you're looking for a place to help develop the car http://www.atlanticmotorsportpark.com/ is a great spot. It's considered one of the most tecknical tracks in the country.

Good luck!

[sleeth21]

i left dec. 2 the dream is not bad i get 20 bucks an hour company 2005 f250 truck work with my friend/ co driver and cool ass boss so its pretty good. Sooooooooooooooooo targa registry is done and we signed up for open class payed our 5000 dollars ( put a 2500$ payment down). kinda stressing a little bit about the car. i really dont want to use my gts4. have been looking at quite a few gtr's and getting a major bone on for a real skyline. if i sell the gts4 before the snow is gone and get a gtr things should turn out. the plane is to have a total of 20k between me and my co driver. im buying car parts ect. he buying truck, gas, food ect and helping when he can with my car parts. we are trying to convince our boss to lend us some money to buy my gtr and start working on it asap. MY SENTENCE STRUCTURE IS ASS SO DONT JUDGE. everything i am getting involved is 100 percent new to my skyline wrenching and racing. in jumping in deep but im just looking for the best week of my life and will work my ass of for it. so i need any help i can get.


car wise im thinking keep it slightly simple
-new turbos want same size just not ceramic (any suggestions? ball bearing replacements?)
-alu bag ass rad
-big ass fmic
-intake
-boost controller
-nistune? worth is with minimum engine mods?
-tune
- flame paint job?
- what maintenance should i do? parts to replace? what is likely to go?
-full exhaust, screamer pipe? if aloud have to check
-i loooove having no interior so that will be gone as well is ac, rear wiper and motor, rear seats, sun visors, electric mirrors and windows, sound preventing stuff, speakers, head unit, any thing else that can go will
-coilovers (suggestions welcome) what other suspension parts?
-8 inch wide wheel
my budget for part will be around 10k so let me know what else i could address. main focus is keeping everything cool, engine reliable. and handle. all ideas and tips are welcome

once again sorry for my horrible sentence structure.

[nelsonmxmarc]

Hmm.. The targa has specific recommendations you should prioritize first such as; Seat, restraints - 5 and 6 points ONLY, cage, fire retardant suits and DOT approved helmets. All must be FIA approved or HANS approved at minimum, and etc. They're stringent on cage builds - a cage in materials alone will be in the 1000 area, including Argon/o2 and welding tools (rod, tungsten etc). If you have it made, could run 2000$ depending on where the slope of the driver/passenger cross member begins. IF it's too high, or not "protective" in their mindset, they can tell you to turn around. In which case it's worth putting the thigh braces in. This, built by someone will be in the 2200-3000$ range.. Seats and everything else, including the cage will run you a good 5500-7000$..

THEN you need to take a GTR previously owned by someone and FIX it.. This has become a full-time job for many of our board members who've already had these cars for quite a long time. They're finicky, and if it's been abused, it's going to need a lot of TLC. You could run into low comp numbers on DAY ONE and require a full rebuild thereafter, putting your already necessary cage and restraint costs up past 11,000$.

Then you have bushings, coilovers, fully adjustable foot work (rucas/fucas/ tension rods) with a proper "track-based" alignment, brakes including pads and brake lines as you'll encounter tons of brake fade otherwise (1700kg with 2 people and cage is a lot of weight to stop!), old lines (power steering), cooling (Rad??), slotted rotors? baffled oil sump?? (oil starvation in tight corners/hairpins), oil cooler and etc to worry about..

I dont mean to be a buzzkill, but you need to realize the reality involved in this - buying a car, and turning it into a race-prepped targa car is NOT for the faint of heart.

Your best bet in my honest opinion, is to find a well maintained GTR, spend extra on the purchase price (good compression, no rust or degradation etc) and put the money into suspension.

Put a MLS head gasket, ARP studs, and have the ceramic wheels swapped for steel wheels. This does not affect any of the rulings for Level 1 targa participation. Then focus on safety which has already been covered, and suspension..

On suspension alone you can spend 3000$ which will GREATLY reduce times moreso than added hp or "flame paint job"..

This is all simply my opinion, but you don't seem to have a grasp on what should really be intended for a Targa or track-built vehicle! If you're tight on money (10,000 goes FAST), just race the GT division and have fun. THEN go to the drawing board for next year? OR at best, if you're already registered, which is beyond me, drive in the Level 1 - the other classes are well out of your reach, i'm sorry to say.