Autox Spring rate help, Too Stiff? Options

[nolift914]

Is my Autox 914 too stiff?
I am currently running the PO setup, the 914 was set up for club racing with front and rear coil overs. The front is at 330lbs/in which I believe is the equivalent to 25MM torsion bars and the rear is at 230. The 914 is a 4 weighting approx 1780lbs with bias ply slicks. I plan on switching to Dot-R radials. I have always thought for autox go soft on springs and big on bars. Does the paddock crowd have any suggestions for a setup. The autox sites in NYC tend to be on the rough side. I was thinking either 175 lbs/in in front and 140 lbs/in rear or 200 lbs/in front and 180 lbs/in rear.

[nolift914]

Lesson learned, do not reply to a post after 14hr work day. I did not mean to sound grumpy or po'ed. I view this forum as my greatest asset in the quest to get my 914 to be a well sorted autox'er.

I have been AutoX for 25 years but the last 15 have been in a 944, I understand the testing process, that's why I post questions in the paddock so the "experts" can trim the expense and I can learn from them. Sorry I post such simple questions as I do.

These are not simple questions as evidenced by some people posting
charts that can't all be correct, and feeling like there's only one way to do shit.

You picked up a car that was obviously set up for something else, so you
definitely have to put the time in to get it to work and feel the way you want
it. But definitely narrow it down by asking here too.

Mskala
You are correct, I am trying to make sound decisions regarding changing a well developed club racing 914 which has been set up for cantilevered slicks to a Autox 914 running either bias ply or radial slicks. I don't believe the conversion is comparable to "Potty training"

Looking at the supplied chart the answer would 21mm=250 in lbs & 19mm=170. Did your mom have much trouble toilet training you?


These numbers are approximates.

Since you stated their were various spring rate charts out there, I was looking for a consensus from someone who has run front coil-overs. Its an easy choice with torsion bars either 19 or 21 but with charts listing a 21mm from 170 to 250 and a 19mm from 115 to 175. So its not as easy as potty training.


You'll not find an easy path to 914AX Nirvana without *actual testing*. This involves spending money for parts and then trying them out......or you can set back and seek more data.

I have been AutoX for 25 years but the last 15 have been in a 944, I understand the testing process, that's why I post questions in the paddock so the "experts" can trim the expense and I can learn from them. Sorry I post such simple questions as I do.

Not trying to be flippant telling you to contact Tom P. He has a painting company in Santa Cruz and I'm sure would talk to you about his autox setup. You'd be miles ahead putting the car back to where he had it, then tune on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Randal
I was not responding to your post, but thank you for the advice. I was planing on contacting tom for the history of the 914, hadn't thought of asking about setup. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

First let me say there are MAYBE 6-8 truly fast 914 AXers in this country.
There are exactly 0 944s (or other Porsches) that can come close to them.
I know of only 2 or 3 that compete in SCCA AXs at a national level (or semi-national) at the Prepared level You can rest assured that these folks have their shit wired and will undoubtedly blow the doors of "pretenders" in head to head competition.

These guys didn't just appear from nowhere tho one of them just recently bought a well developed ride (With a pee pot full of money in it).

As far as I know the 6-8 group went thru the steps of up thru the time charts so they *know* the way. Since the OP has a balls out race car, they are both his competition and his best source of pertinent data on how to get there. That doesn't mean one doesn't need to use his head and go solely on the data supplied. If you wanna be a casual AXer, fine, the info s there.......but the guys that have it together
are not casual and aren't gonna lead you by the hand.....chances are they didn't get such help.
In my experience, PCA AXers fall into the casual vein.......all well & good but meat & potatoes for the hard core 6-8..

J P Stein
You are correct, I guess I am a Casual PCA Axer. But than doesn't mean I don't have the desire to be as quick as possible on any given Sunday. I am sure that I was quicker at the age of 23 than I am now at 46. I don't have the time or budget to develop the 914 for the "national level". With that said would like to develop the 914 as far as possible, which is why I post here. I am not looking to be lead by the hand. I am looking for advice from members who are currently running Ax 914 with current generation Slicks. My past experience ended in the 90's with the first generation r-comps. The addition of front coil-covers makes it more complex due to the lack of other 914's using them.