PJmak

Thanks, will definetly look into those brakes. Who is thias guy you are talking about??

Btw i told my friend about you, he goes to the track all the time with his 911. Hed really like you to come to one of these track days even tho hes never met you

btw are you runing the W210 E55 V8 or the version out of the W203 C55

speedybenz

https://mbworld.org/forums/performan...enz-board.html

Here is a link to the gentleman who has the set-up on his car. Penske shocks are not cheap and this set-up, while being as user friendly as possible is still set to really rip at the track. And so after a while, sharp edged bumps can start to wear on you a little. But if you are willing to adjust the shocks to a full or near full soft setting it will help a bunch. A then if you go for a hard drive on the weekend frim things up.

I have not been to many track day in the last year or so due to funds being on the real low side. This economy really sucks.

I have made up for some of my lack of track time this summer by putting on Kumho Victorracers and then going out on a Saturday or Sunday and going for a nice drive on a twisty road. Similar to what a fast sportbike rider will do on the weekends. And when I do this I have a blast. The car is so responsive, turns-in very well and really holds a line and with the stiffer rate springs, the faster you go the better it all feels.

Jeff

ProjectC55

Guess thats where we'll differ! The 5.0L motor would be a better comparison but even still I beg to differ. Alot of motor work is needed to make a 4.3L run with a M113 5.5L not to mention extensive weight loss. When I see a worked C43 run low 12's to low 13's like some N/A 5.5L cars have done at over 107 or 110mph+, I'll say I'm with you on that Jeff.

speedybenz

ProjectC55,

I may have over stated the speed of the C43 some, as I was thinking of when I had mine on the track and how well it went.

But your right, I know my current 55 motored C43 would motor right by a C43 even one with a little work. If I remember mine pulled out to around 110 mph at the drag strip and ran high 12's. I guess I am just used to it now and so it doesn't feel as fast as it once did.

Jeff

ProjectC55

edemac8

Please excuse my interuption...

I am a c36 owner, and race miatas and vintages at laguna, never seen a w202 track car, but I love the idea and wish I could say I will one day have the money to follow in PJ's footsteps in creating one...

My question, or curiosity is, would a c36 be a better track car? Besides the obvious lesser power and torque, and I believe the 36 is actually a little bit heavier than the 43...but Ive heard rumors the 36 is a little quicker around a track (b/c much better ballanced car with the I6 rather heavy V8 in the front?) again just a rumor Ive heard.

With this said (and if true) if you were to take a 36 and bore out the engine etc. (everything PJ is talking about/planning to do) would the 36 be a better track car?

Just a curious thought...probably not true at all.....

ECTurboGSX

I believe it is the engine that is in fact the heavier part, so I wouldn't say that the I-6 makes a better balanced car. I think you're going to be changing out the same things on both cars for a truly good track car, ie brakes, suspension, etc to where they are going to be pretty equivalent in those departments. So the big thing would come down to how you like your power delivered and if you're looking to modify the engine, how you would like to go about it. Despite the rather persistent (and unnecessary) bickering that has popped up lately comparing the two, they really aren't that different.

So to summarize, I don't think one or the other makes a better track car per say, it is really up to the individual. And really, neither makes a good track car in the grand scheme unless you are someone who likes to be different. And yes, I am and would also like to build up my 43 or perhaps a second one at some point.

PJmak

Thanks

Yea I feel you. I used to do that too but I have to get my front end taken care of. Need bushings and all types of stuff down there. Im keeping my driving to a minimum right now

Used to hit canyons till 5 in the mornin on weekends lol, till rotors started glowing red

What kinda tires do you usually run btw??

PJmak

Im sure differences would be minimal in terms of performance and handling but Im pretty sure C43s have reinforced chassis so they would take the abuse better. I also heard M113 is lighter than the M104

johnhef

You bet the M113 is lighter then a M104. Aluminum block vs a cast iron block.

Also if you see any more room to bore the already overbored 3.6 104.941 block, let me know

johnhef

I bought my C36 to use as a track car to replace the 500SEC I had been using for track events. All it took to convince me was borrowing someone elses C280 for a track day last September and I was hooked! The search was on for a C36.

Here's a few pics and vid of the previous car:





...and some 202 content, heres the in-car vid of the C280 on the track in New Jersey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VW9P9xVSb0

C43AMG

If the OP wants to read a thread about N/A C43 tuning here's one involving my car from last year - https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...oject-c43.html

speedybenz

For the summer I use the Kumho Victorracers they have a great amount of grip and last a pretty good amount of time. I run a 255/40/17 front tire and a 275/40/17 rear tire. You can drive them on the street much harder than any other tire I have been on and they are very predictable. When I start to make them slide just a little I know I am going real fast and should back it down a notch.

Over the last couple of years I too have been slowly replacing all the rubber bushings and driveline connectors. I want to keep the car handling sharp and crisp and hope that by keeping up with the maintenice I can keep it that way. So far so good.

Jeff

johnhef

Victorracers are pretty good, I had the 700's and 710's and they held up quite well on my big car. 275/40/17's front and rear. Last season I went to Toyo R888's and loved them!

ECTurboGSX

Speedy, what have you been replacing them with? Are you making hard plastic bushings?

AMG140.6

Exactly !

W202 C43 = not so good track car.

I remember the first time I drove my friends E36 M3 w/ Turner Motorsports suspension. Back then I had my C36, and the difference was ridiculous. Not even in the same league .

Also,Porsche 993TT calipers won't work on you car unless you can CNC caliper brackets. As far as I know, no one makes them yet for 202's.

c43's are cruisers. Like OC says spend your money on something else for track days. You can buy a Mini Cooper S , BMW e36M3, Subaru Sti for short money these days.

PJmak

Awesome smooth driving man, you took over the 3 series and a c43


Love seeing these cars at the track

PJmak

Thanks for the input man but I dont want to be another bimer guy at the track. Im sure a stock w202 wouldn't compare to an m3 but with some suspension work, it can be a good handling car.


Whats up with everyone just following what others do??

Going to a track these days is like going to a drag strip pretty much. All you see there is american muscle cars which you already know will be stupid fast. I wanna see something different

silence

I think for track events the answer is to remove all the weight you can and learn to really drive...

You'll know what to do otherwise from the trial and error/experience you will gain

mufflerman

OCK, what headlights are those in your sig pic, they look great!

mufflerman

The reason that everyone uses the e36 platform at the track is because it's a proven chassis and there are different road racing classes all over the world for it, so there is a ton of parts that are available from real racing R&D that make a great car even better. Furthermore, the e36 is a lighter car in stock trim than an equally stock W202, and anyone that has any track day/road race experience knows that weight is the number one enemy in this format.
Any car can become a great track car with the right amount of cash thrown at it, but at some point you have to ask yourself if it's worth it, even if you have a fat wallet. To make a 202 as capable as a well built e36, you could almost buy a retired cup car that would kick *** over almost anyone at a regular track day, pertaining to the car to car comparison, not driver to driver. Which leads me into my final piece, being fast at the track has so much more to do with the drivers talent, or lack thereof than the equipment being used, especially outside of a competition type of event. Tiger Woods could kick most of our butts on a golf course with a tree branch, right?
Get some real seat time on the different tracks you plan on running without doing anything to your car first, do ride alongs in different cars with drivers that have a lot of experience and interview people at the track days about thier cars and what they have done. I did before I built my track car, and I am really glad and happy with my result. Good luck, and if you haven't committed to a good club for your track days, check out trackmasters-racing.com, it's an awesome group.

ECTurboGSX

Totally agreed. If you really want to get into road racing, your best bet is going to be a Mazda Miata, BMW 3 Series, or Porsche, from least expensive to slightly more expensive, simply because of parts availability. If you're running custom, one-off components, and something breaks at the track, you're done. If you have one of the above listed, good chance someone else at the track has a spare and you're back out that day. There is also a much larger knowledge base.

Again, though, that is the easier, more traveled road. Good luck with your build.

silence

I think the key here is that you need to shift your thinking...

"going to the track" isn't about the car, it's about the driver- You get to be plenty unique (if you can drive) regardless of what car you have

why make it harder on yourself than you need to? just take the weight out of the car as much as you can now and go drive, see how you do, research and talk to people and if you like it as a sport then build towards racing in a class you can afford.

tmaguire

2004 E55 engine and tranny on ebay for $8500... 7800 miles on them.. nice http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Compl...Q5fAccessories

trinitony

Buy an pcar SC (early 80's) for < $12k and go have fun. Or miata...