This race is one I want to scratch off my to-do list. Hypothetically speaking, how would an SSEi that has been put on the weight-watchers diet fare in something like this?

Here is the course map btw:

Ground clearance might bite you. Granted, we're not that low in the grand scheme of things, but most cars that run up there probably have a good inch more than us.

As for making it, you're better off SC than NA up there for sure. Plan on doing alot of work on your cooling system first. I'm not sure 'street' coolant is sufficient. It may boil at that altitude.

Those are good points. Cooling system shouldn't be too hard...thicker-core radiator from a Caddy, 2 high-speed fans, a higher psi cap and maybe 60/40 coolant/water mix should do fine I think. Rear clearance shouldn't be an issue so long as ELC is tricked and struts hold air, but the front will pose a problem unless I bag the struts.

Don't trick the ELC. You'll get too mushy on the rear in turns until the springs start taking up the load. ELC should only be tricked for straight-line stuff, not road courses. You'll upset your handling balance.

The TYPE of coolant may have to change, and measure the radiator cores first. You may have one just as thick. I recall Don found some surprising information on the thickness of the 92/93 SSEi radiators. And I'm not sure you'd want to lose the oil cooler we already have.

I just remembered the key element in ELC is air. So the settings will be different from start to finish. So another option would have to present itself somewhere. At the moment I am running w/ NO ELC and I think the rear, though level, is mushy. As far as the oil cooler goes, I already ditched it but only because the oil cooler in the radiator plugged up and I didn't have the money at the time to get a new cooler or radiator. But I saved all the parts so I can put it back when I find a cooler I like.

What other coolants are out there that allow a higher boiling point?

i've drove to the top of Pikes Peak twice. you dont have to worry about the ground clearance, hell i did it once in a mini-van. the elevation at the top is over 14k feet, the car will lose over half its H.P. and TQ. at that height. it will be a DOG. the view from the top is fantastic (if its not cloudy). also its cold up that high, i dont think you have to worry about overheating because of the lack of power with the (high elevation=low power= low heat output), but you do need a good radiator cap and hoses (less atmospheric pressure on them up at that height).

ROD

Which is why forced induction is the way to go. If I pulley down for this event, I should do fine. But it isn't like I am going to do it this comming year. I am looking at MAYBE the 08 race, and I highly doubt it will be my current SSEi. In fact, if I do this, it is gonna be a ground-up rebuild of probably an SE w/Series 1 L67 (Series 1 for the low-end torque that will be needed) transplant. Either an SE and build it up or an SSE(i) and strip it down...no cladding, no wing, no AL7'*...but I would be keeping FE2 up front, in the rear I am going to go with the high-rate SE replacement springs and normal struts. And 15" steelies