It is an understatement to say that the past years have been tough for car enthusiasts. The COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to gatherings and events. The world of motorsport was also hard-hit, as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans was cancelled, and motorsport fans were forced to watch races from the comfort of their living rooms. This came as a huge blow to the millions of fans around the world that had followed the great sport. Now that we are slowly starting to get back to normal, the auto industry is trying to bring forward their plans to get back out there on the track. One step in the right direction was the resumption of the Indianapolis 500 in April and the Monaco Grand Prix, and then the F1 season got underway from a slightly altered version of how it was supposed to be. The point is that while the world has changed, the need for speed hasn’t.
On the other hand, the growing prevalence of autonomous vehicles has led to an increase in customers who are interested in purchasing a supercar but don’t have the necessary cash to pay for one right now. This is where the concept of the speedway car comes in. The speedway car is the supercar version of the classic American road trip. Essentially, it is a modern twist on the old hot-rodders’ rally. The idea is to drive from coast to coast as fast as possible on a series of closed tracks, meeting up with other drivers and exchanging information and stories along the way. It is an opportunity for fans of cars and motorsport alike to come together while experiencing the thrill of driving a high-performance vehicle on a closed track.
The concept of a speedway car is not a new one. There have been attempts to bring one back from the brink of obsolescence throughout the past 70 years, but it wasn’t until recently that the idea started seeing the light of day on a regular basis. That is because modern motor vehicles are far more reliable than those that came before. There is also an abundance of aftermarket support for speedway cars, which means that new drivers can get instant help whenever they need it. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is that the cost of a speedway car is generally within reach of the average person. It is cheaper to purchase one than it is to own a traditional supercar, which can end up being a bargain for the average person who wants to own a car that can do 0-60 in under four seconds and has the capability to go around a track a hundred times or more without having to stop for gas.
Things You Will Need
Before you start any installation process, you will need:
- A professional level driver’s license (plus learners permit if you are under 18)
- A safe driving record
- A credit card
- An extra set of car keys
- A flashlight, pen, and paper (for taking notes)
- A mobile phone (to contact AAA for assistance)
Step 1: Make It Clear Where You Will And Will Not Drive
As a safety measure and to make sure that all participants understand the rules of the road, you should sign a liability waiver before getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time. To get started, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing the stereo and other equipment from the vehicle. Then, it’s time to disassemble the rest of the car. Take your time with this step, as you do not want to rush it.
Before reassembling the car, you should make sure that all of the nuts, bolts, and screws are properly tightened. Also, make sure that the vehicle rests on a jack so that it does not move while you work. The goal is to take your time and do it right the first time. You should not rush this step either, as you do not want to end up with a loose car.
Step 2: Remove The Exterior Skin
Now that you have the car all cleaned up and ready to go, it’s time to remove the exterior skin. There are a few things you need to keep in mind while doing this. First, make sure that you wear safety glasses during the process. Second, be very careful not to scratch the surface of the car. You should also use a high-quality sand paper to remove any residue from the paint. Third, make sure that you remove all of the exterior skin. You can always reapply a fresh layer after you are done buffing it. Remember, there is no replacement for good hand-mechanics.
Step 3: Preparation Of The Interior
Once you have the exterior skin removed, it’s time to prepare the interior for the installation of the new suspension. Begin by vacuuming the inside of the car. Next, put on your goggles and get to work. Use a ratchet wrench to loosen the bolts holding the inside panel in place. Then, remove the panel and take a look at what is underneath it. You should see a lot of foam padding and insulation. Next, remove the carpeting and the padding underneath it. You should see a large, flat, metal surface. This is the floor pan. Finally, remove the bolts that hold the floor pan in place and detach it from the car. You are now ready to move on to the installation process.
Step 4: Install The Shock Mount
Once you have the floor pan removed and prepared, it’s time to install the shock mount. First, put the car on an even surface and level it with a jack. Then, follow the instructions that come with the shock mount to properly connect it to your vehicle’s existing hardware. Once you have everything connected and secured, it’s time to give it a try. Test-fire the vehicle by pressing the clutch pedal and shifting through the gears. When you feel that the car is behaving itself, take a moment to survey the work that you have done and observe how it rides. At this point, you can also disconnect the negative terminal from the battery and remove the ground wires from the ignition switch. This is to prevent any accidental starts that could happen due to static electricity or short-circuiting. Lastly, before you reconnect the negative terminal and put the car back together, make sure that there are no loose or disconnected wires inside the vehicle.
Step 5: Repeat For The Other Spring
Now that you have all four tires rotated and pumped up to the proper pressure, it’s time to do it all over again for the other spring. You can either do this step while the first one is still fresh in your mind or take a few days to come back to it and do it right the first time. To avoid any accidents on the road, make sure that you have all of your safety equipment with you before you get started. Then, follow the same procedure as before.
Depending on how long your car will be parked outside, you might also want to do one more thing before you drive off. After you reconnect the negative terminal and put the car back together, check the wipers and make sure that they are functioning properly. Then, remove the handbrake and tighten the lug nuts on the back tires so that they are properly fastened to the tire iron. This will help prevent your tires from getting damaged in case they were rolled off during the installation process. Finally, when you are ready to drive off, test-fire the vehicle a few times to make sure that it starts and rides smoothly.
To help our readers and fans connect with more people and grow our community, metajoyster.com is a directory which provides a place for buyers and sellers to come together. It’s a one-stop-shop for buying or selling almost any type of vehicle, whether it’s a car, motorcycle, boat, or anything in between.
Take Your Time
Last but not least, we want to remind you that this is a process and it will take time to complete. Remember that you are doing this to make your car handle better, so it is imperative that you take your time and do it right. Do not rush the process, as this could cause you to make mistakes that may end up being very difficult to fix. If you do decide to take on this project, then be sure that you are prepared to spend the time needed to do it right. You should not expect to finish the whole process in a day, as this will likely take you several days at least to complete.
Before you start the process, be sure to check online for the FAQs (frequently asked questions) regarding the model of car that you have. This will help you determine what tools you will need and also whether or not this is the correct project for you. Good luck out there.