Okay, how about this: what KIND of road racing are you looking into? Are you going to be running a really close course with an 1/8th mile straight max or are you going to be on a track that will support heavy 3 digit speeds?
If you're going to be hitting 80 to 90+ mph all the time, forget tires, brakes, and suspension mods. Try a bigazz roll cage, a racing seat, and some seat belts first
How often are you going to race? Once a week, month, or year? If you're going to be racing once a year, eh, it's hard to justify the money for dedicated tires, shocks, etc. for racing. Once a month, eh, you should budget more.
Are you going to be racing at the same track? If so, dial it in, figure out what you need, and concentrate on JUST that track.
I'm with everyone else on the engine. My suggestion is to build a drivetrain that will handle 700 hp readily. Build a motor that can handle 500 hp and put a 300 hp cam in it. You don't have time to concentrate on the motor when you're "feeling" the car. Besides, if you're not pushing the motor all the time, it tends to be more consistent in how it performs so it lets you get a feel for the car and not the motor's quirks.
No rear sway bar. You can start with one to get your feet wet, but dump it when you get more comfy.
Do what you can afford with the brakes. Overkill with brakes never hurts. Something to keep in mind, though. You can HAVE power brakes all day long, but if they're hooked up to a radical motor, the point is moot (trust me on this one!). It's all the more reason to run a conservative motor.
I run a PME negative wedge kit, a big front bar, KYB's, frame connectors, underrides (some like 'em, some don't), and hefty leaf springs. Mine's a daily driver so I run progressive rate springs. Again, some like 'em, some don't. Once you get used to a LITTLE dive before you go stiff, you've got it made. I did cringe alot when I first swapped them for #650's, but I'm used to them now, and I appreciate the relatively gentle ride.
Tires? Toyo . . . someone else makes a tire? Yeah, I'm a broken record on tires, but I haven't found anything that, day-in/day-out even touches them.
Figure out first what you want to do and then figure out if you CAN do it. If you REALLY want a dedicated car, let me make a suggestion. Find an old dirt track open-wheel modified car and play with that. They can be had for $1,000 to $2,000 at the end of the season with no motor BUT with a rear end. Put the right shocks/springs on them with a motor and you have a car that's actually built not only to race but also to "play" with. It ain't street legal, but it will do everything you want it to do probalby on a better budget than your pony.
If you're going to be hitting 80 to 90+ mph all the time, forget tires, brakes, and suspension mods. Try a bigazz roll cage, a racing seat, and some seat belts first
How often are you going to race? Once a week, month, or year? If you're going to be racing once a year, eh, it's hard to justify the money for dedicated tires, shocks, etc. for racing. Once a month, eh, you should budget more.
Are you going to be racing at the same track? If so, dial it in, figure out what you need, and concentrate on JUST that track.
I'm with everyone else on the engine. My suggestion is to build a drivetrain that will handle 700 hp readily. Build a motor that can handle 500 hp and put a 300 hp cam in it. You don't have time to concentrate on the motor when you're "feeling" the car. Besides, if you're not pushing the motor all the time, it tends to be more consistent in how it performs so it lets you get a feel for the car and not the motor's quirks.
No rear sway bar. You can start with one to get your feet wet, but dump it when you get more comfy.
Do what you can afford with the brakes. Overkill with brakes never hurts. Something to keep in mind, though. You can HAVE power brakes all day long, but if they're hooked up to a radical motor, the point is moot (trust me on this one!). It's all the more reason to run a conservative motor.
I run a PME negative wedge kit, a big front bar, KYB's, frame connectors, underrides (some like 'em, some don't), and hefty leaf springs. Mine's a daily driver so I run progressive rate springs. Again, some like 'em, some don't. Once you get used to a LITTLE dive before you go stiff, you've got it made. I did cringe alot when I first swapped them for #650's, but I'm used to them now, and I appreciate the relatively gentle ride.
Tires? Toyo . . . someone else makes a tire? Yeah, I'm a broken record on tires, but I haven't found anything that, day-in/day-out even touches them.
Figure out first what you want to do and then figure out if you CAN do it. If you REALLY want a dedicated car, let me make a suggestion. Find an old dirt track open-wheel modified car and play with that. They can be had for $1,000 to $2,000 at the end of the season with no motor BUT with a rear end. Put the right shocks/springs on them with a motor and you have a car that's actually built not only to race but also to "play" with. It ain't street legal, but it will do everything you want it to do probalby on a better budget than your pony.