earlyapex

A street car that sees limited track use needs to be soft or you will sell it sooner than later. A 22/28 torsion bar combination is often quoted as good for sporty street use. As Ken stated, you will want to make sure that everything else is in order so that you get what you want out of you car. Appropriately valve shocks would be nice. Make sure your mechanic goes through your entire car as with even limited track use you will see accelerated wear on many components.

racer

x2 on the 22/28.. A great starting point It seems like many, after a year ot two of this combo start doing MORE track driving, and then upgrade to a 22/30 or more. Which means doing the same project twice in a short time span. The advice given here is given to prevent the middle step / re-do of work.

I would add that my 23/30 with custom valved bilsteins and 22 sways front and rear was very tolerable on the street (northern NJ/NYC area). Would they be good in downtown NYC or Boston? no.. but not much is

Gary R.

Yep, I'm using 22/28 on my RSR clone. Thing is that used to be the best you could do for the track before the 23/31 and (in my 930) 24/33's...

Jay Gratton

Great advice, actually I checked my records and it was 23/28 that was recommended for my set up. I am replacing everything on the car for suspension. I will also be upgrading the brakes as well. My plan is to have a wonderful duel purpose car that can be used at any PCA event, from rallies, DE to AX!

sig_a

22/29 Sander hollows work on street/DE, but if I had it to do over 23/31 would be my choice. I also mounted stock valved Bilstein "Sports" on the four corners. 23/31 would jump firmness somewhat, but not unreasonable.

Wheel and tire combo is also a handling factor, and I've recently refitted my stock 15 x 7, 15 x 8 Fuchs with four NT01 225/45's. Much more responsive final drive gearing effect compared to 17" Fikse. Downright fast thru turn 7 Putnam.

Gary R.

Have to disagree, I have 23/31 with custom Bilsteins and there is no way I would want to drive this car as a "cruiser". Having some cushy tires like 225/50 instead of my 275/35's might help though... and not having my Smart Racing sways clanking away would help also...

Jay Gratton

Yep, this car needs to be driven. Sadly, I can only do 10-12 days a year and the rest will be on the streets. My friend has 30's in the rear and he said they aren't bad, but he said his 22's in the front are on the edge of being to rough.

sig_a

"My friend has 30's in the rear and he said they aren't bad, but he said his 22's in the front are on the edge of being to rough."

I don't know much about this subject, but the spring rate for front and rear torsion bars must "match" so that they work together to maintain an acceptable front/rear balance limiting excessive under/oversteer.

Here's some helpful links:
http://tech.rennlist.com/911/pdf/settings.pdf (Wil Ferch)
http://www.rennlight.com/

Jay Gratton

Thanks! I will check it out.

earlyapex

Some of this torsion bar talk is moot. You will have to decide what you consider rough and rough enough. I like it rough so 23/33 was fine on the street. Will you be using stock bushings? Monoballs? My car only got too rough when I had coil overs on it! It's darn smooth with torsion bars and 16 inch wheels.

Larry Herman

On my 84, I found that the ride on the street was not that much worse when I went to 23s & 31s with Bilstein Sport shocks. It all went to crap when I had Bilstein re-valve the shocks with a racing setup.

Alan Herod

You did not say what shocks you will be running. If unrevalved Billstein Sports, then don't go any stiffer then 28s in back. If shocks are unrestricted -- 23/33 or 22/33 -- then you need to have at least the rear shocks revalved. There is not near enough rebound on the rear Billstein Sports. The stiffer your rear springs are, with normal performance shocks (Billstein Sports), the more your car will move around under braking -- particularly with the wavy track surface found in virtually every major braking zone.

Jay Gratton

I do that Billstein Sports in the back, that is why I am being told that 28's are good enough. Thoughts?