SCC Technical Assistance Program
3 days ago
- #performance-tuning
- #car-modification
- #drag-racing
- A reader asks for help to make his Sentra faster to beat his friend's turbocharged Mazda MX-6.
- The Sport Compact Car team launches a technical assistance program with a $0 budget to modify the car.
- Step 1: Baseline testing shows the 2001 Sentra SE with heavy modifications runs a 16.3-second quarter-mile.
- Step 2: Swapping 19-inch wheels for lighter 15-inch ones reduces weight and improves quarter-mile time to 16.0 seconds.
- Step 3: Stripping the interior saves 273 lbs and drops the quarter-mile to 15.5 seconds.
- Step 4: Free horsepower mods include removing exhaust, creating a ram-air intake, and deleting accessories, leading to a 15.2-second quarter-mile.
- Step 5: Removing the body kit and other parts reduces weight below 2,000 lbs and achieves a 14.7-second quarter-mile.
- Step 6: Further weight reduction by cutting unnecessary components and using spare tires results in a 14.4-second quarter-mile.
- Step 7: Converting the car to a convertible for style adds minimal weight loss, finishing with a 14.3-second quarter-mile.