New to the forum. Have a lot of work to do on the car.
New to the forum. Have a lot of work to do on the car.
Hey all. 2008 Fit owner and looking to start doing some modifications. I'm coming up on 100k miles and need A LOT of work done to last another 100k. I'm starting to acquire tools so if anyone has recommendations on brands that would be great. Right now I'm looking at jack stands, impact wrenches, brakes, spark plugs and other regular maintenance items.
I have the 2008 Fit Sport blue. Going to need some new tires this year as well. I really want to learn my way around the car more than the usual stuff and modify for some fun racing on the weekends somewhere. I have a coworker how does this with some older Porsches and my dad use to drag race when I was growing up.
So any recommendations, websites, directions, help would be very much appreciated.
I have the 2008 Fit Sport blue. Going to need some new tires this year as well. I really want to learn my way around the car more than the usual stuff and modify for some fun racing on the weekends somewhere. I have a coworker how does this with some older Porsches and my dad use to drag race when I was growing up.
So any recommendations, websites, directions, help would be very much appreciated.
Watch all the Fast and Furious movies to give you a good guide to where you want your car to be.
Haha total kinda joking cause I actually like those movies.
Like ikutoisahobo said its always good to set-up where you want to go and your budget. Those a lot of times will not meet. If the car is going to be a daily driver or a weekend warrior can also play a big role. Regardless, welcome ..... To the money pit.
Haha total kinda joking cause I actually like those movies.
Like ikutoisahobo said its always good to set-up where you want to go and your budget. Those a lot of times will not meet. If the car is going to be a daily driver or a weekend warrior can also play a big role. Regardless, welcome ..... To the money pit.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 25
From: Ohio
Yea it sounds like you have a lot of researching to do but what the hell, I'll help you out the best I can.
For tools if you're rich...you obviously want Matco, Snap-On etc. that's the best of the best. That is what real mechanics use etc... but since were talking about a 2008 Honda Fit and you're not a professional mechanic...save your money and go to Harbor Freight. there you will find everything you need and it won't cost very much. I have almost every tool you can think of and it's all Harbor Freight or Craftsman and I've broken one swivel and one crows foot socket in maybe 100 jobs. Go to harbor freight and sign up to get emails and fliers from them and you're tool collection will grow quickly and cheaply.
Also an impact wrench requires an air compressor, an air compressor that can run a good impact wrench will cost at the least $350 and a good impact wrench will start at $100.
As for "racing" if you're talking about doing this in your Honda Fit then you should look up where your local chapter of SCCA does its auto-xing. There you can take your bone stock Fit, run it in a stock class, have a ton of fun and not hurt it too bad. Tires will wear out faster, brakes will wear out a little faster and you may have to use some rubbing compound to remove some cone marks but that is it.
If there are any specific questions you have about any of this just let me know and I'll be glad to help.
For tools if you're rich...you obviously want Matco, Snap-On etc. that's the best of the best. That is what real mechanics use etc... but since were talking about a 2008 Honda Fit and you're not a professional mechanic...save your money and go to Harbor Freight. there you will find everything you need and it won't cost very much. I have almost every tool you can think of and it's all Harbor Freight or Craftsman and I've broken one swivel and one crows foot socket in maybe 100 jobs. Go to harbor freight and sign up to get emails and fliers from them and you're tool collection will grow quickly and cheaply.
Also an impact wrench requires an air compressor, an air compressor that can run a good impact wrench will cost at the least $350 and a good impact wrench will start at $100.
As for "racing" if you're talking about doing this in your Honda Fit then you should look up where your local chapter of SCCA does its auto-xing. There you can take your bone stock Fit, run it in a stock class, have a ton of fun and not hurt it too bad. Tires will wear out faster, brakes will wear out a little faster and you may have to use some rubbing compound to remove some cone marks but that is it.
If there are any specific questions you have about any of this just let me know and I'll be glad to help.
I would like to get into road course racing. A friend of mine has a modified Porsche 928 that he's been working on for a while and heads up to VIR (Virginia International Raceway) and does solo runs. My dad use to do drag racing when I was young.
As for budget, $200-$300 a month to start out. Being at 100K miles on the car, I want to start replacing things to keep it going for a while.
Watch all the Fast and Furious movies to give you a good guide to where you want your car to be.
Haha total kinda joking cause I actually like those movies.
Like ikutoisahobo said its always good to set-up where you want to go and your budget. Those a lot of times will not meet. If the car is going to be a daily driver or a weekend warrior can also play a big role. Regardless, welcome ..... To the money pit.
Haha total kinda joking cause I actually like those movies.
Like ikutoisahobo said its always good to set-up where you want to go and your budget. Those a lot of times will not meet. If the car is going to be a daily driver or a weekend warrior can also play a big role. Regardless, welcome ..... To the money pit.
My Fit is a daily car that at times I would like to pound into the ground on the weekends. At least until I find a good used Corvette I can start sinking money into for a pure weekend warrior. The Fit will be my first practice car for educational purposes.
Yea it sounds like you have a lot of researching to do but what the hell, I'll help you out the best I can.
For tools if you're rich...you obviously want Matco, Snap-On etc. that's the best of the best. That is what real mechanics use etc... but since were talking about a 2008 Honda Fit and you're not a professional mechanic...save your money and go to Harbor Freight. there you will find everything you need and it won't cost very much. I have almost every tool you can think of and it's all Harbor Freight or Craftsman and I've broken one swivel and one crows foot socket in maybe 100 jobs. Go to harbor freight and sign up to get emails and fliers from them and you're tool collection will grow quickly and cheaply.
Also an impact wrench requires an air compressor, an air compressor that can run a good impact wrench will cost at the least $350 and a good impact wrench will start at $100.
As for "racing" if you're talking about doing this in your Honda Fit then you should look up where your local chapter of SCCA does its auto-xing. There you can take your bone stock Fit, run it in a stock class, have a ton of fun and not hurt it too bad. Tires will wear out faster, brakes will wear out a little faster and you may have to use some rubbing compound to remove some cone marks but that is it.
If there are any specific questions you have about any of this just let me know and I'll be glad to help.
For tools if you're rich...you obviously want Matco, Snap-On etc. that's the best of the best. That is what real mechanics use etc... but since were talking about a 2008 Honda Fit and you're not a professional mechanic...save your money and go to Harbor Freight. there you will find everything you need and it won't cost very much. I have almost every tool you can think of and it's all Harbor Freight or Craftsman and I've broken one swivel and one crows foot socket in maybe 100 jobs. Go to harbor freight and sign up to get emails and fliers from them and you're tool collection will grow quickly and cheaply.
Also an impact wrench requires an air compressor, an air compressor that can run a good impact wrench will cost at the least $350 and a good impact wrench will start at $100.
As for "racing" if you're talking about doing this in your Honda Fit then you should look up where your local chapter of SCCA does its auto-xing. There you can take your bone stock Fit, run it in a stock class, have a ton of fun and not hurt it too bad. Tires will wear out faster, brakes will wear out a little faster and you may have to use some rubbing compound to remove some cone marks but that is it.
If there are any specific questions you have about any of this just let me know and I'll be glad to help.
I found we have a Harbor Freight in Raleigh and I'm going to take a trip there this weekend. It sounds like you're fine with the quality of the tools. I've been reading reviews and some looked mixed.
I started to look into SCCA and I think this is who my co-worker is a part of with his Porsche, he heads to VIR in Virginia on a regular basis. I would like to do solo runs, that would be cool to start as a "rookie."
My Fit is going to be a practice car for future hobby cars down the road. Going to need something for my time in 20 years when the kids are out of the house. Thanks!!
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 50
From: Troy
+1 on the Harbor Freight recommendation. My philosophy is always go with the cheapest tool solution that does what you want/is usable (usually HF fits this bill), and then if you break that, get something better. You save a lot of money that way. I don't think any of the couple dozen HF tools I've got has broke on me yet, although their nail gun (gets bad reviews/is unrepairable, but was a third the price of a Dewalt) is probably on its last legs. If you say, for the sake of argument, that a cheap tool is half the price of a good one (usually they're less), you would need to break a third of the cheap tools, by dollar value, and then replace them with a good tool, in order to break even with just buying good tools. I've broken maybe 5% of my cheap tools by value, but admittedly I don't use them a lot.
cheap performance things to do, ik22 s2000 spark plugs, change air filter, adjust valve lash, strip out interior parts you dont use regularly for a lighter car, progressive rear sway bar, apexianimal diy clutch hard line, pull off the aluminum section to the intake manifold and bell mouth the top to the edge of the composite plenum gasket(do this off the engine of course)
those would be the best start to easy mods that will help boost performance and handling.
I would say save your money and get a flashpro, lighter wheels, and suspension if you plan to start tracking it.
those would be the best start to easy mods that will help boost performance and handling.
I would say save your money and get a flashpro, lighter wheels, and suspension if you plan to start tracking it.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 25
From: Ohio
If it is track days (also called HPDEs) you are looking to do, which is what your friend who heads to VIR is probably doing then there are some things to think about.
Everything you do to make your Fit better for track days will make it a less enjoyable daily driver. You can always do a couple track days a year in your daily driver fit with little modifications while keeping it a daily driver. Here's what you'll want to do...
Tires (go on tire rack and look up Max/Extreme Performance Summer Tires)
You can put these tires on your stock wheels (although I'm sure our stock wheels are very narrow) you might want to consider the widest and lightest wheels that will fit....your fit and put your new tires on that.
Brakes Fit's have drums in the back which sucks big time but at the very least get yourself some Hawk HP pads or equivalent StopTech pads for up front.
Suspension buy some $1000+ coilovers. I've never shopped for suspension for a Fit so I don't know what the best option is. However a good rule of thumb is research and spend over $1000, that way you're not buying one of the interchangeable Chinese set-ups...Megan, Function and Form, etc. etc.
Helmet You're going to need a 2005SA or higher helmet to do track days, try to get a 2010SA as the 2005 will be too old in a couple years.
Those should always be your first 4 purchases when considering track days.
If you keep track days a hobby you'll be fine and as long as you stay on the track (remember totaling your only car is a VERY VERY real possibility on a track) you won't hurt your car too bad.
Remember this thou, when on a road course your foot is through the floor board in one of two ways pretty much all the time (either the gas, or the brakes) and you'll run your car freaking ragged the whole time you are out there.
Having said that....it (track days) is in my opinion the most fun you can have....period.
Check out groups like Auto Interest and Torqued Performance as well as NASA and SCCA and sing up through them for track days, the rent tracks as a group which makes it significantly cheaper than if you go to your local track on an open day by yourself.
Everything you do to make your Fit better for track days will make it a less enjoyable daily driver. You can always do a couple track days a year in your daily driver fit with little modifications while keeping it a daily driver. Here's what you'll want to do...
Tires (go on tire rack and look up Max/Extreme Performance Summer Tires)
You can put these tires on your stock wheels (although I'm sure our stock wheels are very narrow) you might want to consider the widest and lightest wheels that will fit....your fit and put your new tires on that.
Brakes Fit's have drums in the back which sucks big time but at the very least get yourself some Hawk HP pads or equivalent StopTech pads for up front.
Suspension buy some $1000+ coilovers. I've never shopped for suspension for a Fit so I don't know what the best option is. However a good rule of thumb is research and spend over $1000, that way you're not buying one of the interchangeable Chinese set-ups...Megan, Function and Form, etc. etc.
Helmet You're going to need a 2005SA or higher helmet to do track days, try to get a 2010SA as the 2005 will be too old in a couple years.
Those should always be your first 4 purchases when considering track days.
If you keep track days a hobby you'll be fine and as long as you stay on the track (remember totaling your only car is a VERY VERY real possibility on a track) you won't hurt your car too bad.
Remember this thou, when on a road course your foot is through the floor board in one of two ways pretty much all the time (either the gas, or the brakes) and you'll run your car freaking ragged the whole time you are out there.
Having said that....it (track days) is in my opinion the most fun you can have....period.
Check out groups like Auto Interest and Torqued Performance as well as NASA and SCCA and sing up through them for track days, the rent tracks as a group which makes it significantly cheaper than if you go to your local track on an open day by yourself.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,704
From: Second house on the left
Try to enter an HPDE (High Performance Drivers Education) event at VIR. It's not wheel-to-wheel racing, but it IS a great benefit on learning how to drive fast. The Fit will be a momentum car, and that is good training. You don't need as much safety equipment for HDPEs.
Ask at the track office, see what clubs are holding such events. (Your local Porsche chapter is a good bet, also see if you can join in on BMW, Miata,or Audi club events )
Ask at the track office, see what clubs are holding such events. (Your local Porsche chapter is a good bet, also see if you can join in on BMW, Miata,or Audi club events )
Really, the only modifications needed to make the Fit a great autocross machine are already posted above.
Tires
Lighter Wheels
Suspension
Swaybars
Strut Braces (some say it doesn't help, some say it does. I personally believe it does)
Make the car lighter. Strip the insulation, interior, etc if you're hardcore. But otherwise that's about it.
Tires
Lighter Wheels
Suspension
Swaybars
Strut Braces (some say it doesn't help, some say it does. I personally believe it does)
Make the car lighter. Strip the insulation, interior, etc if you're hardcore. But otherwise that's about it.
Rollerboots666,
My Fit is a daily car that at times I would like to pound into the ground on the weekends. At least until I find a good used Corvette I can start sinking money into for a pure weekend warrior. The Fit will be my first practice car for educational purposes.
My Fit is a daily car that at times I would like to pound into the ground on the weekends. At least until I find a good used Corvette I can start sinking money into for a pure weekend warrior. The Fit will be my first practice car for educational purposes.
So pretty much my wife smashes the front end up from the car being lowered and I kill cones behind the wheel. Haha.
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