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F=MA Posted by Saana88 [Email]  (#207)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Saana88) on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:55:47
In Reply to: I got beat by a civic today :(, Maketo Moore, Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:40:36 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Unfortunately, your S has all the extra mass of the widgets put on turbos but without the increase in engine output. Your friends weren't helping things much, but when they're not there, lots of rally drivers will modify their cars by removing dead weight. Your power window regulators and sunroof, airbag and AC system (where applicable) do nothing but drag you down. The lightest 900 in the mid-eighties was a base hatchback at around 2650 pounds, that with steel wheels. A late eighties 16 valve S ran between 2790 and 2830. Honestly, I'm thinking about pulling the seats from my '88 over the summer. I do one gas mileage run a year at least. (Previous record of 34.4 in 2004 is going DOWN!)
Beyond that, make sure the brakes aren't dragging (rears especially) and be sure the wheel bearings spin freely. I'm not telling you to replace them (my 226k '88 still has her original bearings with no problems, and I love going around corners) just check them.
Aside from that, see that your oxygen sensor is new enough to make quick adjustments and (somehow) be sure the catalyst element hasn't melted and plugged up the exhaust.
900s, especially non-turbo ones, are NOT good drag racing cars. Midrange, maybe, but the only time I can beat anyone off the line in my '88 is when there's snow on the ground. Mmmmmmmm..... fun!
The Civic weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 1900-2200 pounds. Your '89 S (without anyone on board) is close to 3000. The Civic has about 95-120 horsepower and (estimated) around 100 foot pounds of torque. Your 900 has 128 and 128. I think the next steps should be to match the engine to the intake changes you've made. I'm not sure how far your throttle boring went, but a B212 head will allow your higher-pressure FPR (planned), bored out throttle, higher-pressure injectors, high-flow exhaust and freer-flowing air filter to actually do something constructive. Increased airflow only lasts to the first constriction, in this case, your intake valves.
I don't want to sound like I'm beating on you or anything. My first car was a 3100-pound Volvo wagon with a whopping 98 horsepower. James May says, "Now I'm not what you would call a performance driver, but I would like to get there eventually, and this car is *slow*."
My S convertible is only quick because someplace abbreviated GFS put in a low-geared transmission and because of the 2.1 liter engine. As Still Nutts said, the gearing of your '89 S (same box as in my '88, they're bulletproof at least) is getting in the way, especially off the line. It has the same .84:1 final drive ratio of the turbo but without the extra power. I hope you get the awesome mileage that my '88 does.
, Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:55:47 <-- Viewing This Message
, Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:28:26
, Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:31:34, Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:00:28
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