Future rallycrosser, need advice

[Curley]

I have a 97 dodge dakota sport 3.7 v6 automatic. It is a single cab. I can either slowly upgrade it, or I can save up for a different car. I am almost sixteen, but I don't expect to do rallycross until I am seventeen or eighteen. I am getting a job after the soccer season in April, so I would have money. Would my dakota be good enough, or should I save and get a different car?

[slowautoxr]

Provided that you're not lifted, you'll have plenty of fun in the Dakota. Just make sure it's road worthy. Of the cars that fail tech inspection, most of the time it is for a loose battery. The factory tie downs work great but for some reason they seem to come up missing on a lot of cars.

[Curley]

Thanks for the response. Do you recommend any certain upgrades? I was planning on getting a rear sway bar and some better shocks. My birthday is coming up so I could ask for some parts.

[Focus]

I'd say the second must important part (after tires) for a rwd rallycross vehicle is some kind of limited slip or locking differential. Stiffer shocks would be good, but if you're going to be driving this truck until then, they'll be partially worn.

Is a larger front sway bar available? That will be more effective than the rear. There's very little weight in the back that needs to be controlled, and rotation is still possible on dirt with the throttle. Plus it just makes the truck handle more like a car on pavement. Buttoning down the front allows you to make better use of the front tires, which means more grip, and less understeer. None of this matters for street driving since you're not approaching the limit of the tires, but it might help tame things in unusually slippery road conditions.

[Curley]

I can easily get a front sway bar. I could proably get a limited slip differential if I don't already have one. (Some Dakota sport models came with ls differentials). Also, would getting used rally tires work? I proably could find some off specialstage.com, but I don't know if that would be good. And the reason I would get shocks is the one's on it are already 18 years old, so getting some would be benefential regardless if I did rallycross or not. Thanks for responding.

[TouringBubble]

Replacing those worn shocks would probably be a good idea, as you say. As for tires, used rally tires would be good, but those can only be used in prepared and modified classes. If you want to run stock class, snow tires are the way to go. Blizzak, Winterforce, Altimax Arctic, etc.

[Curley]

Good point, also snow tires would proably be cheaper and easier to get. Thanks everyone for the help.

[chuck schultz]

easier to get.

Don't assume that. The supply dries up fairly early during the winter, IIRC, unless you are near a dealer in snow country. They are seasonal products, after all.

[nicktcr]

Don't assume that. The supply dries up fairly early during the winter, IIRC, unless you are near a dealer in snow country. They are seasonal products, after all.

He did say he was a year or more away from entering a rallycross...he'd have time to buy some during the summer when they're easy and cheap.

[Curley]

That's when I would plan on buying them, I have no money right now, but I expect to have some in the summer after working at McDonald's or something. I told my mom I wanted a front away bar and some shocks for my birthday, and she said that was ok. If I get my car in good condition, I might try to run an event at the end of the year. And by the way, my dad is all for me rallycrossing, so I would have no problems getting his approval.

[slowautoxr]

Tell mom and dad to come with you - they'll have fun too!!

Forget the sway bars unless you can get them for free - especially at this point. You can see the effect of a sway bar change just by disconnecting one end. I've tried this and to be honest, I could not tell the difference.

Your resources are best spent on getting your truck reliable. Shocks are an excellent improvement. Aftermarket OEM replacements will work great. My Subaru 2.5RS is on KYB Excel/GR-2 shocks and they work great and have a lifetime warranty. Make sure your cooling system is working properly. You're not going to have any fun if your truck keeps breaking. Look at your brakes, wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, air filter, fluids, belts, hoses, etc. Be sure to take care of any known weak issues with the truck.

I bought my Subaru years ago with 135k on the odo. It was wore out. I spent time and money to get it back to "new" mechanically. I've been rewarded with many, many trouble free events.

In the meantime be on the lookout for snow tires and wheels. If you make a trip up north, check Craigslist in the cities along your route. Maybe you'll luck up and find a set that still has plenty of tread. Factory wheels are great for RX too.

You know you can come out and watch/ride along for free (other than the cost to enter the park) while you get your truck ready.