Alignment Shops for the a Racer

[jdlhonda]

Mn Autox -


Looking for an alignment shop, etc that will do corner weighting and also let you to sit in car during alignment to your spec and generally work with you so you can get things dialed in the way you want. Like I want to mark down were toe 0 in back will be and where toe Whatever maybe in the rear and etc. So can change from street setup to auto X setup. Working on an SM class 91 Civic dropping in a B17A and doing a fair bit of suspension mods, and going for some wide tires 225's either 13's or 15's not sure yet, already have some V700's that are 195/55/r14. So maybe some Hoosiers or V710's


Jason

[MNbiker]

Courtney Truck Service
14205 W 62 St
Eden Prairie, MN 55346 - 1707
(952) 934-0931

Don't let the name fool you, they do a ton of alignment & corner weighting work for race & high performance sports cars. Highly recommended. Be forewarned - they aren't cheap.

-Steve

p.s. Personally, I'd recommend simply telling them how much you weigh, so they can put the equivalent ballast in your driver's seat. That's a whole lot more convenient than sitting in the car for a couple hours, while they fine-tune alignment & corner-weights. ;)

[maloneyracing]

Autoedge in white bear/mahtamedi is pretty good also. http://www.auto-edge.com/

[jdlhonda]

When one says they aren't cheap what estimate can one expect for corner weighting and what would amount to 2 alignment jobs.


Just a ballpark figure would be cool.


Thanks


Jason

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by jdlhonda
When one says they aren't cheap what estimate can one expect for corner weighting and what would amount to 2 alignment jobs.


IIRC - it cost around $300 to get my WRX aligned & corner-weighted. They spent the better part of 3 hours start to finish. Everything was done to my exact spec's, and they called a couple times to confirm the settings.

-Steve

[SUV-ETR]

Good info! Also good to hear of the possibility of some more competition. :D

So...how about the alternative option: doing it yourself?

Anybody want to go in on a set of scales and an alignment system (smart strings, whatever)? I finally had a sweetheart deal worked out with a shop in FL just before I moved, but I couldn't convince them to move the shop to Minneapolis. :(

(nothing like having a full hunter alignment rack and a set of nice scales all to yourself on a Satruday afternoon...)

Neal

[SUV-ETR]

Oh, and BTW, if $300 is for ONE alignment/corner-balance, you'd better plan on spending $1200 before you get everything mostly dialed-in. I've never heard of someone who properly sorted an autocross car on their first try. Besides actually intending to change toe/camber/caster, any changes to ride height, weight distribution, bump steer, etc will also affect corner weights and alignment. And changing alignment WILL impact corner weights, and vice-versa.

In an SM car, those sorts of things will probably change a lot if you're serious about evolving the car. Ask how I know. :p

Suddently purchasing a set of scales doesn't sound so bad, eh?

[jdlhonda]

yea no kidding sounds like I could have my wallet open for quite a bit. I had the thought of doing it myself. If it weren't for my very smallish garage, hardly fits my 99 prelude. i'd probally seriously consider it. Yea maybe more competition if I modify behind the wheel very well and very quickly. I seen you did quite well at nationals you'll be someone I keep looking up to on the leader board i'm sure for quite awhile. If u stay in the cities and don't hit lacrosse I may have a chance to top SM somewhere.



For me just going and driving is the best part the competition even better. Even if I'm looking up to it. Just finished my first year. Building the car cause I have a bunch of the parts and also want a quick little street car for fun.


Jason

No I don't street race.

[SUV-ETR]

Sounds like you have a good perspective on the whole thing. And feel free to ask anything, any time.

You don't have to do nearly as much to a Civic as I did to my VW to get it to go fast. "Civic" and "M3" are the only two words that strike fear into my heart. :D But I really am quite serious...focus on making that sweet double wishbone suspension work as good as it can. And then all you need is to drive to make it all quite competitive. More power is good, but a good driver in a sorted chassis is more important than anything else. I got TOTALLY SMOKED at Nationals this year by a couple Civics with simple/mild engine swaps but a solid chassis setup and a good driver.

Neal

[jdlhonda]

Yea, I hear ya. I'm staying with that simple, mild engine swap, listening to good people on what to do with the chassis and then it's all up to me to drive the darn thing as good as the car really is. I've been talking with Chris Shenefield as he's building up what I think should be the top Civic this year, unless someone out there is keeping a lid on what there doing as I'm searching high and low for info and trying my best to verify it all. I asked Chris to look at what I was doing and he liked it, quite a bit. Wish I had a bit more money, but don't we all. As I'll be missing a few key components as I won't quite have the dough to spring for the quaife items that I'd really like the new steering rack and pinnion gears and the limited slip. Slight compromise on the rims and tires too as I want them to last all season but, still gonna get at the very least the v700's ran them last year on a 14 in tire and liked them quite a bit.

Thanks for the offer of advice. I'll make sure I introduce myself and I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that advice thing.


Jason

Well time to go do some ICE RACING, before the swap hehe :dancin:

[Gspot]

Got a quote of $189 at Courtney Truck Service and at least $225 at Auto-Edge.
For a WRX 4 wheel alignment.