Will use the 2.2 I have now, not planning any engine mods past str ruling. For now

 

Do people really spend this much in STR builds? How is that even possible?

 

To build a fully built STR car starting with a CR costing $25,000 you can break $50,000. You can spend $25,000 in aftermarket parts easily.

 

Off the top of my head...

CE28n wheels $2400
kooks $600
Moton shocks $5000 (after everything is included)
Front swaybar $650
Front ball bearing mounts $275
Rear sway bar $632
Roll fenders $100
J's camner joint $332
2 recaro SPG's $1900
2 Taitech seat rails $500
T1R 70 em $2200
toda header $1400
Berk HFC $250
t1r pulleys $268
t1r crank pulley $175
Deka etx14 battery $93
shift beeper $80
OS Giken LSD + install $1,700
Tuning- $1000 ??
Camera mount- $50
Powerflex bushings $445
Mugen bushing $116
Front brake set-up (rob is working on this) $1000 ish
trailer hitch $375
trailer set-up $500

Thats $22,041 in parts not counting the cost of the car ($10-28,000) and doesn't count any data logging system or a second set wheels for the rain/cold. So a top level fully prepped car can get up there in price. If you buy a AP1 plan to do a few thousand in maintenance parts to refesh all the wear items. You can also add $300 corner balance/alignment in there plus $75-$150 per alignment after that. (I normally do atleast 3 a season if not more) It adds up quick. Did I add I'm not counting any labor besides the diff and alignments. Most of us do our own labor.

 

Great info, but I really hate thinking about all the $ I've spent. I just prefer to bleed by a 1000 cuts and not know about it.

 

My total build, including the price of my car, is much less than the price of a stock CR. It took 2nd at Nats, and that last 0.002 sec difference will not require doubling my budget.

 

most str builds are closer to half that. marks car, second at nats spent probably half that cost and runs dead on equal with mine or any top notch STR. Any more is just to have a nice car to brag to your friends haha

 

It can be done yes but 2012 STR will be even more prepped then last year. Which means it takes more prep to match the top guys. For example Tuning added $500 to the mix, A 16 lbs savings for $1000 worth brakes will be needed in 2012 to equal the top guys, and I think a Diff might be needed to match the top guys.

Rob I'm sure you'll be faster this year then last with your added mods, and I'm pretty sure Matt's car will be faster this year with the diff then last year. So in a sense I agree as for 2011 nationals but if the top 5 people or so think they can bring the same set-up as last year to nationals and get it done, they are going to be left in the dust by the top people that did modding to make their cars faster over the season. I'm having high hopes for Marc P and Matt G this year. (matts my hero with his water bottle backpack) Granted I'm sure theirs 20 other top guys that I don't know that are just as good. We shall see. I'm also rooting for Jeff. I'm not sure what happened to him at nationals but hes was blazing fast all season at several tours. Rob your clearly fast but I got to root for the non professional drivers.

Make me proud you 3!

 

Don't forget Driver mods!
If you go to a racing school, that's another $250-300.
A test and tune day $100+

you could also add motor, tranny and rear diff mounts to that. Possibly even extended wheel studs.

All those $$'s Yikes! Good list though. Makes you think twice about what you buy next.. .

 

If you build slowly over time, and pickup used parts when possible, it costs WAY less. I have less than Josh's mod list total in my whole car.