My search for a cheap track car.

  • Thread starter Thread starter gibson
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I dunno. I think a truck/SUV could be fun so long as you got the right one. Naturally I wouldn't take a Samurai to a track, but I know from experience that S-10s basically drive like Camaros if you have the right body style (I assume Rangers drive like Mustangs as well).

Of course, that is completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but what have you.
 
Good thought, go with a 2WD S10 regular cab short box. I'm sure you could have fun especially since there's barely any weight over the rear wheels.
 
Rotary Junkie
He has one.
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Someone turned off their sarcasm.

Anyhow, FF is fine, more so to learn the ropes on. I can't think of a better auto-cross car to start in than a Civic. There are so many good articles on setting them up, and prices can be cheap and you can mix and match a ton of things between them.
 
An F150 ain't an S10... but I think you get what I mean.

Unless it's a "sports truck" per se, I wouldn't take it to the track... I've seen SUVs roll over when given a bit of performance driving... so while it's not impossible, per se, to drive a truck on track, you have to know pretty much what you're doing, and pick a good one. While I've driven trucks hard and once or twice on track, those were mostly new trucks with very stiff suspensions, moderately good to great grip, and little chance of a roll-over. With gibson's apparent budget, I doubt you could find an X5.

Hmmm... are Syclones incredibly hard to find secondhand? :D
 
What about lowering an AWD blazer, with hte Autotrac awd. The autotrac has a limeted slip center diff. I can strip one of those down and use the parts on my truck.
 
I dunno. If you were going to go down that route a RWD one would be better. They are lighter, they would sit lower and the suspension bits are mostly car based (less understeer, too, but I doubt that would matter). Keep in mind that it still wouldn't really be a great autocross machine, and that I was just thinking to myself when I was talking about the S10 above.
 
The transfer case that came in the olds bravada bolts in, it has a 35/65 torque split, and the awd and 4wd blazers refuse to under steer, my mum has had a few.
 
It's still going to sit way too high up and be way too heavy. If you want a great beginners track car, you want to have a target weight under 2400 pounds - preferably 2000-2200.
 
Just out of interest, is that the same Pinto engine I'm thinking of, i.e. the one that builders of hot classic Fords go absolutely nuts over?

Actually, I can answer that myself - yes it is, in one of it's variations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine

The 2.3 was used in the States, and in Europe 2.0 and 1.6 versions were used. They're fantastic engines. Half the Escort Mk1 and Mk2 rally cars about these days have been fitted with Pintos. That Ranger looks like it has potential.
 
You know, if you can get the frame stiffer and the truck lower, you could have a wickedly fast minitruck. I don't think you'll be in the top shelf, but it still could be good fun.

However, if it has the same tranny my brother has in his '85, you'll want a short shifter. and lighter flywheel.
 
The short shifter and flywheel are already on the list, believe me! I can stiffen the frame no problem, and these things get lowered all the time, so the suspension work doesn't bother me one bit, the weak 7 inch rear axle behind the pinto motor does though. So a 8.8 out of a for explorer with disk brakes and a 3.55 or 3.73 and limited slip, stock might I ad, would go behind it.
 
Toronado
I dunno. I think a truck/SUV could be fun so long as you got the right one. Naturally I wouldn't take a Samurai to a track, but I know from experience that S-10s basically drive like Camaros if you have the right body style (I assume Rangers drive like Mustangs as well).

Of course, that is completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but what have you.
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Yes, a lowered S-10 can be great fun at a track. You need to get a link set up for the rear but other then that they handle surprisingly well. The only problem is the SCCA is a bit picky, as are some tracks about letting trucks and SUV's on them.

Oh and just to prove my point since someone is bound to say trucks are worthless race vehicles:
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That was raced several times and did quite well.

niky
Unless it's a "sports truck" per se, I wouldn't take it to the track... I've seen SUVs roll over when given a bit of performance driving... so while it's not impossible, per se, to drive a truck on track, you have to know pretty much what you're doing, and pick a good one. While I've driven trucks hard and once or twice on track, those were mostly new trucks with very stiff suspensions, moderately good to great grip, and little chance of a roll-over. With gibson's apparent budget, I doubt you could find an X5.
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I didn't really know what I was doing and I raced the Blazer in a couple of autocrosses. It's not really that hard. The Blazer, while new on the outside, wasn't new by any means underneath using mostly components from 1983. All I had was basic lowering components and better tires on my truck.

Hmmm... are Syclones incredibly hard to find secondhand? :D
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About $20K for a good example, about $15K for a beaten on one.

gibson
What about lowering an AWD blazer, with hte Autotrac awd. The autotrac has a limeted slip center diff. I can strip one of those down and use the parts on my truck.
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They didn't make an AWD Blazer, the Bravada's came AWD though as were the Sy/Ty combo. Lowering the Bravada is a pain in the ass though. It can be done but wouldn't really make a great track vehicle since it weighs as much as a house.

gibson
The short shifter and flywheel are already on the list, believe me! I can stiffen the frame no problem, and these things get lowered all the time, so the suspension work doesn't bother me one bit, the weak 7 inch rear axle behind the pinto motor does though. So a 8.8 out of a for explorer with disk brakes and a 3.55 or 3.73 and limited slip, stock might I ad, would go behind it.
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If you've never lowered a Ranger before I would strongly suggest getting help from someone who has as they are a pain as well to do. The twin I-beam is not lowering friendly, although it can be done. That Ranger you posted is going to have the twin I-beams and if you try and drop it with the I-beams in place your alignment is going to be wonky as hell.

Also depending on how much you want to drop the back you are going to need to flip the axle, another thing that is a royal pain to do unless you have a good idea what you are doing.

I've heard of guys putting Mustang suspension in their Rangers but never actually seen an example.
 
gibson
The front suspension will mostly be scrapped, mustang II kits are cheap now....
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You still better have a really good idea of what you are doing and access to an area where you can fab parts for it. You really need to research how to make the suspension work before you put it on though as you are taking a car's suspension set up and trying to adapt it to a truck.

It looks like most Mustang II swaps have been done on older 1st and 2nd gen Rangers. With third gen's I don't really know although I assume it's possible.

Honestly you'll have an easier time working on an S-10's suspension then a Ranger's. The S-trucks are fairly easy to work on as long as you aren't trying to mess with the 4.3L Vortec as I think GM designed it to be impossible to work on.
 
Which is why you take it out!

But seriously, I agree with Joey. If you were to get another S10 (I know it sounds silly), most of the front suspension pieces are shared with GM cars rather than GM trucks.

Edit: I just did some looking. An early 80s S10 with a 4.3 apparently weighs around 2300 pounds.
 
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My thoughts on racing a pickup:

I'd go with an old-school Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Hardbody. Pretty tough, light-weight, accepts modifications easily. Nothing against the S10, I'm a GM guy after all, but I've always been fascinated by those little Japanese trucks.
 
@Joey: yes, you can do it with a lowered truck, but that's the thing... attempting it at stock height on stock tires is not something for a newb... especially not if they're trying to seriously learn performance driving.

Seriously, start with a car platform, even a beater, and sort out the brakes and suspension. Starting with a truck forces you to spend more upfront in terms of modification, no matter how awesome the end-result might be, the extra work will cost you time and money that you could already be spending at the track learning.

Why not a Miata? There is no car, IMHO, better balanced on the racetrack. Put a good cage in it, and not only do you have a good car to learn in... you hae one that's eligible for a racing series, already. It's slow in a straight-line, yes, but you can learn a hell of a lot about car control and balance from that full-sized go-kart. Failing that, you can always check what historical series are run near you, and find a car that will fit one of those. Nothing speeds the learning process along like having like-minded and more experienced drivers teaching you the proper lines for your particular car.
 
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niky
Why not a Miata? There is no car, IMHO, better balanced on the racetrack. Put a good cage in it, and not only do you have a good car to learn in... you hae one that's already eligible for a racing series, already. It's slow in a straight-line, yes, but you can learn a hell of a lot about car control and balance from that full-sized go-kart. Failing that, you can always check what historical series are run near you, and find a car that will fit one of those. Nothing speeds the learning process along like having like-minded and more experienced drivers teaching you the proper lines for your particular car.
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👍 Mx-5/Miata/Eunos has got to be at the top of anyone who is looking for a cheap track car's list. Inexpensive, robust, well supported and handle beautifully. They are perfect for the job, whether that's an occasional track-day car, autocross or club racer. Also, just because a car appears slow on the road (according to performance figures) it doesn't mean it'll be slow on track. All the fun from circuit running comes from keeping the momentum up through turns. 0-60 times mean nothing on a track-day.

A truck might make for an unusual track tool, but like others have said, you'll spend a fortune even making it competitive. If your motorsport governing bodies are anything like those in Europe you'll also be severely limiting your choices of where you'll be able to run such a vehicle.

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If you can find one, how about a Merkur XR4Ti? - They were a very competitive race and rally car back in their day over here in Europe (as the Sierra XR4i)
 
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niky
@Joey: yes, you can do it with a lowered truck, but that's the thing... attempting it at stock height on stock tires is not something for a newb... especially not if they're trying to seriously learn performance driving.
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Attempting any form of racing with stock tires and worn suspension isn't a good idea. More often then not if you are buying a cheap track car it's going to be old, worn and in bad need of replacement parts. A truck still isn't a bad idea as mini trucks tend to be light, RWD, and come with 5 speeds. There really isn't much difference in racing a pickup over say an older Mustang.

Lowering a truck isn't that expensive, I dropped my Blazer 5 inches for about $700 including shipping and dinner for the guys that helped me. That $700 included spindles, coils, blocks, shocks, and brake lines.

I agree starting with a car would probably be better in some ways but there is zero reason to say a truck would be a bad track vehicle other then you have to read the rules of whatever you want to compete in to see if it's allowed.
 
Leonidae
why not? pick-ups and trucks don't belong to track either..
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So you are telling me that S-10 I posted a couple posts ago wouldn't be a good track vehicle? Please. I'll say it again, small trucks are perfectly capable of being track vehicles. No, I wouldn't run a full sized Dodge Ram out there (although I've seen it) but something like an S-10, Taco, or Hardbody would work just fine.
 

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