Hi All - I'm in the process of getting my car sorted for the track here in the Northeast. Since this is a new-to-me platform is there a general consensus on where to set your alignment for track use? I'm talking baseline for stock suspension. I will run a square setup 17x9 +60 with a 245/40/17.

I've tried to search this topic but I can't tell where the group lands on baseline / starting alignments. It's hard for me to determine what is even realistic for that stock suspension.

From my searches, I "think" the best starting alignment for my 2003 AP1 with all stock suspension is:

Front
Toe-in = 0
Camber = -2
Caster = 6 to 6.5

Rear
Toe-in = somewhere of total toe-in at 0.20 degrees or 0.25 degrees (with inches it would be 1/16" each side, or possibly 1/8" each side)
Camber = -2

 

You pretty much have it there. All the camber you can get on both ends, then if needed dial down the camber on the rear to no more than equal the front. Most run a tad more camber in the front than the rear on this car. I run -3.5/-3.0 on mine but am lowered and have offset bushings up front so you wont be able to get that on yours. If not lowered and stock parts you likely will get about -2.0 like you said, maybe a tad more. I have run way over 7 degrees of caster up front. Not sure how much you can get with stock height but what you have listed should work well. Caster adds a bit of dynamic camber too which is not a bad thing here.

But what you have listed should be good. You could just drive it with stock settings and decide what you think it needs, but adding more camber is only going to make it work better and be better on tire wear so that is a safe bet.

Enjoy! Dont forget to address the brake fluid (flush with fresh high temp fluid) before heading out.

 

For track days, Billman advised me to set front toe at + 0.05* each side and front camber at full negative. Otherwise stock settings. I’m running stock suspension and staggered. DOT tires.

what tracks do you plan to run and with whom?

 

The most camber you can get from the front on stock suspension is -1.5 deg to -1.8 deg, depending on how much the front springs have sagged or how much gas pressure is left in the shocks.

You can get more front camber by using offset upper arm bushings, or offset lower ball joints.

 

Yep I was only able to get max -2.6 up front on mine after lowering it approx 1 inch even. I do not recall now what it was prior to lowering as I only ran a summer in B Street when I bought it on the same setup as the previous owner, then made it an STR setup that winter. (So much for "oh I can just buy this and keep it stock!)

 

Wanting to share the alignment update.
I managed to get -2 camber in the front with zero toe and caster at 6.1 on both sides. In the rear, I got -1.8 camber and went with toe-in of 0.07 degrees on each side.

Now it's time to drive this car on track and see how it handles.