IMCA Sport Compact Rules

[Carnival4]

Does anyone know if you can run a 1999 Ford Escort Zx2 in the IMCA Sport Compact class? I see they have a rule outlawing any type of Variable Cam Timing, which the Zx2 has on it's exhaust cam. However, I see a lot of Zx2s listed for sale as IMCA legal. Do local tracks that run IMCA Sport Compacts change the rules a little?

[stock car driver]

That's not a legal engine for IMCA. Some tracks lack in tech.

[MM90]

The only legal Ford that would be relatively quick would be an older Escort GT.

[Carnival4]

How old, what years?

With no minimum weight, are there any cars that can take advantage of their light weight?

[MM90]

Like mid 80's to early 90's first gen body style.

[stock car driver]

Saturn are the lightest and are very fast if the gearing is right for the track you plan to run. theres only so much you can do with tire size. 4 door are lighter than 2 door. dohc 90s cars.

the escort gt is real fast at some tracks depending on gearing also, even the 88 hp non gt dominates at some tracks those are really light cars.


I have built and sold around 90 race ready 4 cyl cars, I did over 28 a year for 3 years. Its slowed down now around here because people want souped up motors lightweight cheater parts etc.

[return to dirt]

not all the 2.0 liter zetec engines used in the zx2, contours, and focuses used the vct. it was only used for reducing nox instead of using an egr valve.

olin

[Carnival4]

Which ones do not have VCT? I am pretty sure all 1999 zx2s have VCT.

[MM90]

If it has DOHC "Ford" it probably has VCT. And yes all 99 ZX2's have VCT.

[Carnival4]

What do you guys think about a 1993 Honda Accord 2.2?

[return to dirt]

the 2.0 dohc zetec engine was used in contours, mystiques, escorts, and focuses. a lot of them did not use a vct. swap out the head and some minor pcm/ harness work and you have an engine with no vct.

olin

[stock car driver]

IMCA goes by the vin. Swapping the motor would still net you a illegal car.

[Carnival4]

Speaking of the VIN, does anybody know if the VIN is located somewhere on the frame on a 1995 Dodge Neon? The VIN in the dash is gone and the VIN on the door panel is gone....

[Dirtman29]

Some car makers put the VIN on a sticker in the glove box, seen them there with a bunch of factory codes. Think it was on a chevy truck, no idea how a neon is...

[return to dirt]

glad there is no imca around here.

olin

[Carnival4]

I have another question about legal motors. How about the VTEC motors with variable valve timing? Specifically the 1994 Honda Civic, D16Z6? Are these motors legal? How are they similar or different from a motor with variable cam timing?

[MM90]

VTEC, VCT are all basically the same thing just different names. If the engine can change the cam timing while it's running, it isn't legal.

[stock car driver]

IMCA.com has the rules, they are clear and simple to understand.

[Carnival4]

Thanks for the website. Didn't see anything about variable valve timing in the rules except variable cam timing stuff. I have heard VCT is like VTEC and I have heard the opposite too.