That was kind of it with me. I've liked the way they looked when I'd see them at the Police Academy when we're running autocross events there. Then, I got the chance to sit in one. Wow. Since my current DD was approaching 200K miles, and this '12 showed up being available, I jumped on it. I should have held out for a 9C3 (Detective model), as the interiors on those are a bit nicer. But oh well, I'm enjoying this one now.

Thanks, John, the info was very helpful, and nice to have. Yes, I need to do the recall, more to get an extra key than to get the recall done. We only got one key with this car. The recall, IIRC, includes two new keys.

Pretty cool. I'd drive that.

Any pics of the SVO?

No problem Gene. Glad I could provide you that information.

John

We took the Caprice out today to go to a gun auction. I can confirm that if you turn off the traction control, you can spin the tires. I can also confirm that the car has a working limited slip diff. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

The car DOES, however, complain vociferously when it detects hoonigan driving by setting off a chime and lighting yet another light on the dash. I might have to see if that chime can be quieted. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

WHAT did the LEOs do about this during their high speed pursuits, just grin and bear it??

Electronic Nanies Suck!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet the LEOs are trained to leave the buttons alone. Since it resets back to all on whenever you start the car, it would get old setting everything back every time you got in the car.

Gene

Did you know that during the Michigan State police car testing the Chevy and Dodge have at least the traction control turned off. Ford's don't have that option and are run as delivered.

I did not know that, but figured they'd take all the advantage they could, short of bending the rules. We'll definitely be trying the car with traction control on and off when we finally get the car on the autocross track. It will be interesting to see how we do with and without the 'help'.

This post has been edited by CrashTestDummy: Apr 21 2015, 01:39 PM

Chuck,

I do have old pictures, although not much of the complete car digitally. All I have now, are up close pictures of updates for the on-going, and taking-far-too-long restomod we're doing to the car. It was pretty beat up when we bought it, and then it became our dedicated stock-class autocross car for several years before buying the Firebird. I did find this picture online, and have attached it here. It was back when we autocrossed the car. the paint was dead, and both rear quarter panels were beat in, but the car drove and ran great. We had to replace both quarter panels when we started the body work. I also have added lightness with a fiberglass hatch and hood. The interior has gotten treated to new carpet and seat covers, and many of the interior parts have been repaired or replaced with better parts. I'll be installing a header, 3" single exhaust, ported intake, and maybe an upgraded turbo when I get under the hood. I also need to replace the rack (I have a replacement already) that started puking fluid out of one of the ends, and already had to replace the fuel tank assembly when the pump quit working and I discovered it was all rusted up when I pulled it out.

I hope to upgrade the springs, probably moving to coil-overs up front, and weight jackers in the back so I can get the car back down after all the fiberglass was installed. I hope to turn it into a fun car I can take to shows, and may even bolt some small slicks on it and run it in CP at an autocross when we get it done.

(IMG:http://images59.fotki.com/v111/photos/5/1331095/13276247/genebeaird400-vi.jpg)

oh yes let us know. I've been reading what some of the guys have done on the Tahoe. But it has been more to address getting stuck/low speed. when the active handling kicks in. I had the same issue this year and got stuck because of the stabliitrak. Basically I need to get a running start when Icy to make it up the driveway with a hill. Going around the corner with some speed, the front tires slide a bit, then the rear end steps out(nothing big). The active handling kicks in to stop the rear end slide and kills all your wheel speed. I hated on my charger, hate in on my Tahoe. I assume hopefully tuning can address it. I just want ABS Brakes function and nothing else.

John

I'll be interested in seeing what happens, too. I can't imagine all the guys who have dropped whipples on their cars. I watched a vid of one with a procharger leaving two black stripes on an abandoned piece of road for a couple of hundred feet long. I can't imagine putting up with the bells chiming during all that.

This post has been edited by CrashTestDummy: Apr 21 2015, 07:42 PM

There was a competitor in my old SCCA region (NNJR) who used to run a metallic gray '86 SVO in local F/S events.

I always liked that car, and he did pretty well with it locally. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Any new updates?

We didn't do too badly in our region, either. When we got the car, it was an F Stock car, then went to G Stock. Limitations in what we could do with the car, specifically the availability of replacement parts to keep everything in factory-fresh condition started to wear on us. The ball joints are not replaceable, for example, so you either pay a ton of money for NOS parts, or pay a ton of money for good-used parts. For what you would pay for old LCAs, you can buy a new SN95 front end, which gets you more adjustability, and replaceable ball joints. We figured we'd go to a class that we had more options, and the Firebird became available, already built, and pretty cheap, so we jumped into C Prepared.

The day we showed up with the Firebird on the trailer, TWO of our former-G Stock competitors came up and thanked us for moving to CP. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Since that happened, we've been resto-modding the SVO, keeping it stock looking on the outside, but adding a few mods under the skin. The bent rear quarter panels were replaced, and the car painted. I've been freshening up the interior, and cleaning/replacing parts under the hood. It should be very nice IF I can ever finish it.

Nothing of late. Work and other projects have kept me pretty busy. I'm waiting for some stock parts to arrive to replace stuff that's not there/broken, so hopefully I can install those this weekend. It will probably be a while before I start making any suspension or performance mods. Since it's 'like' a G8/GTO/SS, parts made for each more or less fit. But because the more or less fit, you have to pick and choose your parts wisely. I'm still trying to decipher what will fit where, although I'd like to get coil overs on it sooner than later. The thing rides kind of high on the suspension. I'm looking at H&R units, although some have been very satisfied with BR Racing parts. Decisions, decisions.....