Another new 3rdgen guy! - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

Hey all.. figuered i'd make a post instead of just trolling around!

First off, i'd like to start by saying this has to be the most knowledgable collection of people that drive these cars on the net... site like thirdgen.org are good, but there is very little of "this" type of knowledge there.

Secondly, I should probably state that my intentions are not to build a track or autocross car, but to build a car that will be a good weekend fun ride as well.

The car - well, without having a list a mile long, i'll list the basics to what's been done...

Engine- 350 zz3 bottom end, trickflow heads, cam, long tube headers, 380/365 to the wheels...

Body - been repainted, fiberglass cowl hood, otherwise stock gfx ect...

Driveline - it's had a t56 from rpm transmissions transplanted into it - using all the viper stuff, better internals, cryo treated stuff, ect ect, 3" thick walled alum ds, and a 3.55 geared dana 44 (fbody original). because of the trans swap, i had to custom fab a crossmember, so while i was there, i changed the mount point to the crossmember for the trq arm.

Chassis - hothckiss sfc's, BMR adj. trq arm, hotchkiss springs (for now), spohn front strut upper mounts, tokico illumina 5way shocks (seem a bit soft even on highest setting), spohn panhardbar (adj), spohn double bushing lca's, spohn sway bars and wonderbar.

Wheels - zr1 17x9.5 int he front, 17x11 in the back - nitto 555s and nitto 555r's in the back (dr's)

That pretty much sums it up - that car is quick in a straight line, running a 12.0 @ 114 before i played with the motor more - it probably has another .25 left in it. However, dragging is not really my passion (i have a longer attention span than 11 seconds) and i enjoy the autocross... In reality, things that i have done to the car put me probably in an emod class (not 100% sure) which while not entirely out of me league with the cars that compete around here, is probably way out of my range on the national level. As for roadcourse racing, well, thats really just limited to open rentals, and all i want out of that is a car that wont get run over and will be a ton of fun to drive. I did at one point compete in a time trials series a few years ago at limerock, placing 8th at the end of the season, the highest finishing rookie. However, i drove a friends car, which while i time trialed it, he competed in an scca class. At the end of the season, at his last race, he was involved in a wreck and the car was totalled (backed into the wall).

Really my biggest problem now, is coming up with a spring package that wont ride insanely harsh, but also help keep my headers from wacking the ground at highway speeds (if you've driven on 84 in ct, you know what i mean). it take a decent dip, but they hit... I also want something that will help enhance the handling of the car. I was a bit disappointed when i found out that they were merely (just about) the equivalent of shorted ws6 springs... stock rate, shorter spring...

Anyways - i've been doing a ton of reading up here, i helped my father run a circletrack stock car, and we used to spend hours int he garage on the scales, playing with front end settings, getting things best we could within the rules... which has helped me understand what a lot of you are talking about. I'm about to get the car aligned for exmaple at a great shop, and based off what some of the 3rdgen guys here have posted up, i have a pretty good idea what i should have dialed in for a combined use.

So yeah, this ended up being a book, but thanks for the good reading, and i can't wait to have something worth while to add to the forum!

This post has been edited by Evil TA: Jun 13 2006, 07:58 PM

Evil TA View Member Profile	Jun 13 2006, 07:54 PM Post #1
newbie Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 11-June 06 Member No.: 1,244	Hey all.. figuered i'd make a post instead of just trolling around! First off, i'd like to start by saying this has to be the most knowledgable collection of people that drive these cars on the net... site like thirdgen.org are good, but there is very little of "this" type of knowledge there. Secondly, I should probably state that my intentions are not to build a track or autocross car, but to build a car that will be a good weekend fun ride as well. The car - well, without having a list a mile long, i'll list the basics to what's been done... Engine- 350 zz3 bottom end, trickflow heads, cam, long tube headers, 380/365 to the wheels... Body - been repainted, fiberglass cowl hood, otherwise stock gfx ect... Driveline - it's had a t56 from rpm transmissions transplanted into it - using all the viper stuff, better internals, cryo treated stuff, ect ect, 3" thick walled alum ds, and a 3.55 geared dana 44 (fbody original). because of the trans swap, i had to custom fab a crossmember, so while i was there, i changed the mount point to the crossmember for the trq arm. Chassis - hothckiss sfc's, BMR adj. trq arm, hotchkiss springs (for now), spohn front strut upper mounts, tokico illumina 5way shocks (seem a bit soft even on highest setting), spohn panhardbar (adj), spohn double bushing lca's, spohn sway bars and wonderbar. Wheels - zr1 17x9.5 int he front, 17x11 in the back - nitto 555s and nitto 555r's in the back (dr's) That pretty much sums it up - that car is quick in a straight line, running a 12.0 @ 114 before i played with the motor more - it probably has another .25 left in it. However, dragging is not really my passion (i have a longer attention span than 11 seconds) and i enjoy the autocross... In reality, things that i have done to the car put me probably in an emod class (not 100% sure) which while not entirely out of me league with the cars that compete around here, is probably way out of my range on the national level. As for roadcourse racing, well, thats really just limited to open rentals, and all i want out of that is a car that wont get run over and will be a ton of fun to drive. I did at one point compete in a time trials series a few years ago at limerock, placing 8th at the end of the season, the highest finishing rookie. However, i drove a friends car, which while i time trialed it, he competed in an scca class. At the end of the season, at his last race, he was involved in a wreck and the car was totalled (backed into the wall). Really my biggest problem now, is coming up with a spring package that wont ride insanely harsh, but also help keep my headers from wacking the ground at highway speeds (if you've driven on 84 in ct, you know what i mean). it take a decent dip, but they hit... I also want something that will help enhance the handling of the car. I was a bit disappointed when i found out that they were merely (just about) the equivalent of shorted ws6 springs... stock rate, shorter spring... Anyways - i've been doing a ton of reading up here, i helped my father run a circletrack stock car, and we used to spend hours int he garage on the scales, playing with front end settings, getting things best we could within the rules... which has helped me understand what a lot of you are talking about. I'm about to get the car aligned for exmaple at a great shop, and based off what some of the 3rdgen guys here have posted up, i have a pretty good idea what i should have dialed in for a combined use. So yeah, this ended up being a book, but thanks for the good reading, and i can't wait to have something worth while to add to the forum! This post has been edited by Evil TA: Jun 13 2006, 07:58 PM

slowTA View Member Profile	Jun 13 2006, 08:06 PM Post #2
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,289 Joined: 4-May 04 From: Kenvil, NJ Member No.: 331	Second new thirdgen member this week, it looks like Kevin is going to have to change the banner again! It looks like you can squeeze in another one on the end. Sound like a good car, but like me the motor work out classes you in most events. But the stock 305/350 just doesn't cut it. I does suck since I'm almost making about the same power as a stock LS1!

Evil TA View Member Profile	Jun 13 2006, 10:03 PM Post #3
newbie Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 11-June 06 Member No.: 1,244	well, as i'm sure others will argue, power isnt everything in the twisties, but neverthe less, it doeshelp down those straights! here's a couple pics (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:http://www.ss-perf.com/pictures/91firebird/spring06/spring060006.JPG) (IMG:http://www.ss-perf.com/pictures/91firebird/spring06/spring060004.JPG) (IMG:http://www.ss-perf.com/pictures/91firebird/spring06/spring060005.JPG) (IMG:http://www.ss-perf.com/pictures/91firebird/spring06/spring060013.JPG)

CMC #37 View Member Profile	Jun 13 2006, 11:04 PM Post #4
CMCer Group: Moderators Posts: 2,932 Joined: 12-February 04 From: the sticks near VIR Member No.: 194	Welcome! Purdy clean lookin' car! I'd say some Konis and new springs are what you might need - Sam Strano is a sponsor and can set you up with the "right stuff" for autox. Dunno about the Spohn rear suspension stuff as far as road racing, do you have poly or heim joints in back? The BMR stuff is not popular here, I'm sure someone can fill you in on their experiences involving breakage. What size are your swaybars? Good to have yet another 3rd genner aboard! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

slowTA View Member Profile	Jun 13 2006, 11:23 PM Post #5
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,289 Joined: 4-May 04 From: Kenvil, NJ Member No.: 331	WOW... nice shiny paint under the hood!! Obviously everything was taken out of the car and then painted, a ton of work. Just what I was trying to accomplish, but better. http://www.vilipend.com/~frrax/view_album....albumName=Paint

Evil TA View Member Profile	Jun 14 2006, 01:57 AM Post #6
newbie Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 11-June 06 Member No.: 1,244	nice (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) the enginebay - that was this past winters project... 90 hours later... ugh... does look nice though! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I did see Sam's a pretty popular guy around here, so i'll likely just be going through him for the springs and shocks... So far the spohn stuff has held up well (1.60's for 60's at the track on the lca's), the adjuster on the panhard is not centered, but not exactly at the very end either... The LCA's are bushed on both ends... been reading about that too, so it looks like some new ones will be in order eventually.. the ones i have are approaching 8 years old, so it's probably time to put them on the shelf as spares anyways... Intresting about BMR - i haven't heard of any problems with their trq arms - thing is beefy as hell! The spohn sway bars i believe are 36/24.5, both solid... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)