New Rally Car

[njimpreza219]

I have a 05 Impreza WRX thats all stock and has about 120,000 miles on it. I was thinking about turning it into a rally car. I don't want to go crazy on it but im not sure what i exactly have to do to it and where to start. If you have any idea please help. Thanks

[Bubba02sti]

seeing as this in in the rallyX forum and not the stage forum my first steps... tires tires tires tires tires tires tires tires... then get some good struts and springs... i have found that racing before modding has always been the helpful way for me to go... that way when i find something that i feel like i am lacking with out getting to crazy i can go that route... but tires should come before anything... either all seasons gravel or snows... make sure you have a good tire to run on... but you can pretty much just get out there and go... keep in mind though as you mod your going to get bummped classes...

[rossl]

Skid plates to protect the underside.

[409industries]

When you say "turning it into a rally car" do you mean you want to go out and have some fun in the dirt from time to time on the weekends, or do you have aspirations to make this car a dedicated race only vehicle?

Seeing as how you posted this in the Rallycross prep forum, i think the first assumption is probably correct and you want to maybe try your hand at some cone courses out in the dirt. This is a great way to get your feet wet in rallying and to learn car control in low grip. Check out this excellent FAQ here:

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4725

[WAGONLOVE]

the best way to turn it into a rally car, and im sure everyone will back me up here, is SEAT TIME! get out and start doing it! then add stuff to the car as you go! but like some wise goober already said, start off with some good rubba. good luck and keep us updated!

[njimpreza219]

at 409 industries. Yeah i want it as a full rally car that i would trailer to each event. And so i guess experience and new tires are the best way to start for now.

[Draco-REX]

If you're just starting in RallyX, leave it stock!

I know.. I know.. It's not what you want to hear. It's also really hard to leave it be. I've gone through the same thing. Believe me when I say I know.

But the best thing you can do is leave it stock. But you can get started:

Get some good snows (Firestone WinterForce tires are very good for RallyX)
Get skidplates (Primitive Racing 3/16" Full Armor FTW. Make sure you request that they remove the oil-drain holes)
Get a harness (the Schroth Rallye 4 harness is a great choice)

Then, go get some seat time. Go to the races and chat up the fast drivers. Ask for rides during their runs. And also ask them to drive your car.

When I first started racing, I was lucky to have one of the faster guys in my region ask to co-drive because his car needed repair. I let him, and it was eye-opening to see the difference in our times. Because of that, I knew what the *car* was capable of, and how much *I* was holding it back.

The problem with modding right off the bat is that you will end up covering your shortcomings as a driver with modifications to the car. That works, up until a certain point. At the upper rungs you'll find that even a tricked-out car will not cover your bad habits.

I started modding early and now I'm struggling to break into the top 3 because I have some shortcomings as a driver that I compensated for with the car. I'll honestly state right now that I have a National Championship capable car, but not a National Championship capable driver.

So stay in the stock classes. Learn consistency, smoothness, and Left Foot Braking. When you start seeing people in Evos and STIs checking your times, then start considering moving out of stock class.

[njimpreza219]

so less is actually better now and the more exerience i get the more i should put in. for a stock class what do i have to do to the inside as for safety?

[409industries]

at 409 industries. Yeah i want it as a full rally car that i would trailer to each event. And so i guess experience and new tires are the best way to start for now.

Building a rally car is a major undertaking. Get a solid budget planned out for building the car. Take that number and double it. This is how much it will take to get your car built, on a trailer, and on your way to your first event.

There are countless threads on where to start building a rally car both here on DI and on SpecialStage so be ready to do some reading and figure what game plan works best for you. Most people strip the car down, seam weld it, cage it, then put it all back together with upgraded safety bits like new seats, harnesses, padding. Then comes some quality gravel coilovers, wheels, and rally tires.

Also, check out my build from a stock car to rallying in a Production class (sounds like what you want to do!)

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=739

Good luck! :thumbsup:

[Draco-REX]

Ahh, I see this has been moved to the Stage Rally forum. Most of my post was about a RallyX car. For a stage rally car, you really have to start off the bat with some hefty mods.

But the core of my post holds true. Keep it simple until you *know* what you need to change. And as always Seat Time is your best weapon.

But from what little I know:

Tires again, are huge. You'll likely start with Lassa tires as they are great tires for the price point. Plan for two active sets. One for dry and one for wet/mud.

Suspension is important as well. You can't cheap out on your coilovers. These will be a big investment. As for what brand/model, that will require some research as they are overkill for what I'm familiar with.

As 409 said, before you get your cage done, gut the car and get it seam welded. It's much easier to do it before the cage goes in and it will extend the life of your shell. If the body shell gets tweaked, it will effect everything else.

Skidplates. A must. Again, Primitive Racing is a great source. You'll want their heaviest set with the stinger tail on the engine plate to protect the transmission. The rest of your undercarriage and suspension should be protected with heavy urethane sheets. There are some great pics around of underbody protection.

I don't know if this is allowed in the class you'll be starting out in, but you might want to look into a 6-speed swap. Not only are you getting a bombproof transmission, but you'll be getting better gearing for your 2.0L. And if you get the whole setup (including rear diff, axles, and knuckles) you'll end up with a much beefer, and therefore durable, driveline.

But there are some good resources for a Stage Rally build out there. Research will be your friend.

[409industries]

Draco's advice is pretty much spot on, but i'd like to make the following comments.


Skidplates. A must. Again, Primitive Racing is a great source. You'll want their heaviest set with the stinger tail on the engine plate to protect the transmission.

Draco is on target with yes getting skidplates, but your off the shelf sets usually aren't up to the task of a full frontal impact. The same people that build your cage should be able to do a custom skidplate setup, complete with support tubing to brace it. Go with 1/4" aluminum.


I don't know if this is allowed in the class you'll be starting out in, but you might want to look into a 6-speed swap.

This will put him right up in Open class. Be prepared to spend a ton of money if you want to be competitive. I wouldn't recommend this to very many people unless you've got some serious talent and are committed 100% to seeing the build through the whole way. If you're planning on running a stock class as you said, this will not be allowed.


But there are some good resources for a Stage Rally build out there. Research will be your friend.

DI is a great resource, so you've come to the right place!

[Draco-REX]

And that pretty says it. I'm mostly out of advice as I'm a RallyXer, not a stage rally guy. Yet. :D

I have heard it's a good idea to have a basic amateur radio license as those radios are often used to organize events.

Oh, and a navigator that can read in a car without getting sick is pretty important too. :D