Saturn Sky Forum - View Single Post - So you have a Sky and want to race SCCA-SOLO, now what?

brentil · 04-27-2006, 06:23 PM

[4.2] - What can/can't I alter and still stay Stock [examples]?

The can do's.

Cat-back exhaust - heck yeah this is really the only 'performance' modification you can make and stay Stock. Find a nice light weight weight exhaust with a helthy HP & Torque gain. Watch out for db levels though, most tracks on average have a 98db sound limit. Anywhere's from $300~$600.
Front sway-bar - you can go after market, or once they're out I bet you could order the Z0K's front sway-bar from GM since it's racing inspired. $100~$350
Shocks - same suggestion as the sway-bar, but when buying aftermarket you have to be careful what to buy since there are limitations on these items. Looking into buying the Z0K items from your dealerhsip might be a good idea here too. $100~$300 per shock
Air filter - also a 'performance' modification but no aftermarket filters exist yet to test to see if there is actually any performance gain. ~$50
Brake Pads - high performance brake pads can help fight brake fade and provide a better material for performance driving. $50~$150 per set (front and back are usually different sets)
Rims - as long as they're 18"x8"x 49mm~61mm offset you're good to go. The base wheels weigh around 23lbs so anything lighter then that will also be a big benefit. You can always get an extra set of polished stock rims (lightest of the 3 offered) as a set of cheap track rims from another member or your dealer. Over time slightly lighter wheels in that size will start showing up in the 20lbs range probably for not too much money and a lot of nice designs. If you want to go all out you can get light weight race wheels in the 15 lbs ~ 18 lbs range for our size, but they're going to cost you. Pontiac Wheels $400~$800 (set), aftermarket wheels $150~$500 (per wheel), racing wheels $500~$900 (per wheel)
Tires - defintely one of the most important upgrades for taking your Sky to the track. You can go with nicer street+track tires like the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 or something track only like Hoosier A3S06. $200~$300 (per tire)
Guages - you can install any # of guages for tracking the various aspects of your car. (pricing depends on complexity and # of guages)
Appearance items - (I'll use KappaSphere items as an example since they sell the largest # of this catagory of items) Lil' Chromies, belt-X-tender, CG Lock (most defintely), KappaShield, sill plates, etc
Roll-bar - If you intend on racing seriously this is defintely a very important item to look into. $300~$1000
Harness - Also a very important item to invest in, especially if you spend the money to get a roll-bar. $50~$400
Fire supression - another one of those safety items you can add if you sao desire
Fluids - get yourself some nice synthetic oils

The can't do's.

Intakes - CAI or Short Ram style are not permitted in any way. Replacing the end with a cone filter is not permitted in any way. Drilling holes is not permited. etc etc
Springs - nope, not permited
Rear saw bars - nope, can't do that either
High flow Catalytic Converter - also a no
Light weight flywheel - no can do
ECM retunes/Piggy backs/Replacements - oh trying to be sneaky huh? nope
fuel system/pump/injector upgrades - no dice
Electrical grounding kits - (unless it's ONLY for your stereo) nope
Fiberglass/Carbonfiber parts - they lighten the car so nope. but what about my dual outlet exhaust rear fascia? same answer
Racing seats - you'd think so but no can do
Wheels other then 18"x8"x 49mm~61mm - but 45mm offset is soooo close??? sorry, those aren't legal
Big brake/caliper kit/drilled or slotted Rotors - not today buddy
Metal brake line kits - sorry but can't
Pedals - (clarification) these are a no go as well
Roof - even though it would save you 60lbs you have to leave the stock roof in place
Underdrive pulleys/accesorie upgrades - setting a trend here, no
Turbo/Supercharger kits -
Nitrous -
LS2/LS7 Engines-

04-27-2006, 06:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
brentil Administrator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: FL Posts: 2,349 My Photos: (90)	[4.2] - What can/can't I alter and still stay Stock [examples]? The can do's. Cat-back exhaust - heck yeah this is really the only 'performance' modification you can make and stay Stock. Find a nice light weight weight exhaust with a helthy HP & Torque gain. Watch out for db levels though, most tracks on average have a 98db sound limit. Anywhere's from $300~$600. Front sway-bar - you can go after market, or once they're out I bet you could order the Z0K's front sway-bar from GM since it's racing inspired. $100~$350 Shocks - same suggestion as the sway-bar, but when buying aftermarket you have to be careful what to buy since there are limitations on these items. Looking into buying the Z0K items from your dealerhsip might be a good idea here too. $100~$300 per shock Air filter - also a 'performance' modification but no aftermarket filters exist yet to test to see if there is actually any performance gain. ~$50 Brake Pads - high performance brake pads can help fight brake fade and provide a better material for performance driving. $50~$150 per set (front and back are usually different sets) Rims - as long as they're 18"x8"x 49mm~61mm offset you're good to go. The base wheels weigh around 23lbs so anything lighter then that will also be a big benefit. You can always get an extra set of polished stock rims (lightest of the 3 offered) as a set of cheap track rims from another member or your dealer. Over time slightly lighter wheels in that size will start showing up in the 20lbs range probably for not too much money and a lot of nice designs. If you want to go all out you can get light weight race wheels in the 15 lbs ~ 18 lbs range for our size, but they're going to cost you. Pontiac Wheels $400~$800 (set), aftermarket wheels $150~$500 (per wheel), racing wheels $500~$900 (per wheel) Tires - defintely one of the most important upgrades for taking your Sky to the track. You can go with nicer street+track tires like the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 or something track only like Hoosier A3S06. $200~$300 (per tire) Guages - you can install any # of guages for tracking the various aspects of your car. (pricing depends on complexity and # of guages) Appearance items - (I'll use KappaSphere items as an example since they sell the largest # of this catagory of items) Lil' Chromies, belt-X-tender, CG Lock (most defintely), KappaShield, sill plates, etc Roll-bar - If you intend on racing seriously this is defintely a very important item to look into. $300~$1000 Harness - Also a very important item to invest in, especially if you spend the money to get a roll-bar. $50~$400 Fire supression - another one of those safety items you can add if you sao desire Fluids - get yourself some nice synthetic oils The can't do's. Intakes - CAI or Short Ram style are not permitted in any way. Replacing the end with a cone filter is not permitted in any way. Drilling holes is not permited. etc etc Springs - nope, not permited Rear saw bars - nope, can't do that either High flow Catalytic Converter - also a no Light weight flywheel - no can do ECM retunes/Piggy backs/Replacements - oh trying to be sneaky huh? nope fuel system/pump/injector upgrades - no dice Electrical grounding kits - (unless it's ONLY for your stereo) nope Fiberglass/Carbonfiber parts - they lighten the car so nope. but what about my dual outlet exhaust rear fascia? same answer Racing seats - you'd think so but no can do Wheels other then 18"x8"x 49mm~61mm - but 45mm offset is soooo close??? sorry, those aren't legal Big brake/caliper kit/drilled or slotted Rotors - not today buddy Metal brake line kits - sorry but can't Pedals - (clarification) these are a no go as well Roof - even though it would save you 60lbs you have to leave the stock roof in place Underdrive pulleys/accesorie upgrades - setting a trend here, no Turbo/Supercharger kits - Nitrous - LS2/LS7 Engines- __________________ 2006 Solstice, Mysterious [sold] - Born Sept 8th, 2005 2007 Solstice GXP, Mean - Born Nov 17th, 2006 Last edited by brentil : 04-27-2006 at 06:56 PM.