New member - here from New Jersey - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

Hi guys. I recently became aware of this whole board via some friends of mine on thirdgen.org. This looks like a good forum for me to be on and I am hopeful to learn as much as I can by reading some of the forums. I will make sure to search for the info I have questions on, and I will always keep things tech related.

I've had my 1987 IROC for 21 years now and it was my high school car. Years later after I made it look real nice, I got bit by the quest for more performance. The car is indeed a true real-deal street car that I use for autocross, short course road racing, drag racing, car shows, and general street duty. I do not own a trailer and street drive it wherever I go. My parts selection is based on those factors, so I have quite the balancing act to do when it comes to picking parts.

I have competed in the Optima Batteries Search for the Ultimate Street Car series in 2016 and also in 2017 (both at New Jersey Motorsports park)
I have also competed in the UMI Performance Autocross challenge in 2019 and 2020.
I also have done a handful of other autocross events in NJ and PA as well.

I enjoy the heck out of the car, but I know it will never be competitive in any specific CAM-T class or competition. For me, it is all about building/driving the car to find its potential, and then learning what I can do to take it a step further.

As mentioned, its an 1987 IROC-Z. It has a 406 small block chevy with a dart block, dart heads, callies rotating assembly, full roller valvetrain, and I use the holley sniper efi. I know the automatic trans is not optimal, but it is what is staying in the car. it consists of a ProBuilt Automatics 700R4 built with their tiop level package, and a 9.5" Edge Racing 3,400 converter. A 3" driveshaft from Dennys, and a Moser 12 bolt rear axle with 33 spline axles nad a tru Track. It currently has 3.55 gears, but In February it will get a gear change from 3.55 to 3.91 gears. Also, the engine was built with nitrous in mind and it will indeed be getting a 150-200 wet shot soon.

Front:
I have the C4 HD 13" brake package up with Hawks HPS pads. UMI A-arms up front with Koni Yellow struts and UMI upper strut mounts. OEM sway bar with poly mounts. Replacement Moog springs and a 2" drop-spindle setup. Replaced everything to the steering system with new components and had the original IROC-Z steering box re-built this past winter so it is very on-point. Wheels are 18x8" with a Nitto 555 255/40/18 tire that I would love to replace.

Rear:
UMI adjustable lower control arms, UMI panhard bar, Founders performance upper panhard bar. OEM swaybar with poly mounts. Koni yellow rear shocks. Moog springs with 3/4 coil cut off. C4 rear brake conversion so 12" rotor with powerstop pads. 18x10" wheel with a 285/40/18 nitto 55 tire. Also looking to replace these in the spring.

Here are some photos:

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/4354/37099178212_179dd3ccc4_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49900080406_c0efef3152_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49899561173_f239747cee_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50269531676_c369c0fe6d_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/7113/27355806591_71c8967ff4_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/4445/37713056722_a617e759f7_c.jpg)

(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50055682841_ddbb67f597_c.jpg)

here is a link to some of my photo albums of events and my car's build over recent years:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iroczman15/albums

I also have a youtube channel, and while I do not do any editing or creative video work, I do have some videos of my autocross runs over recent years. if you search through the "My videos" section. My username is the same as it is here IROCZman15

I am also on www.thirdgen.org using this username and I have a couple of long "build" threads and some racing info there along with photos, datalogs, videos, and tech info.

Glad to be a member here and looking forward to what I can learn after I spend some time reading.

IROCZman15 View Member Profile	Jan 6 2021, 04:33 PM Post #1
newbie Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 5-January 21 From: Roxbury, NJ Member No.: 231,208	Hi guys. I recently became aware of this whole board via some friends of mine on thirdgen.org. This looks like a good forum for me to be on and I am hopeful to learn as much as I can by reading some of the forums. I will make sure to search for the info I have questions on, and I will always keep things tech related. I've had my 1987 IROC for 21 years now and it was my high school car. Years later after I made it look real nice, I got bit by the quest for more performance. The car is indeed a true real-deal street car that I use for autocross, short course road racing, drag racing, car shows, and general street duty. I do not own a trailer and street drive it wherever I go. My parts selection is based on those factors, so I have quite the balancing act to do when it comes to picking parts. I have competed in the Optima Batteries Search for the Ultimate Street Car series in 2016 and also in 2017 (both at New Jersey Motorsports park) I have also competed in the UMI Performance Autocross challenge in 2019 and 2020. I also have done a handful of other autocross events in NJ and PA as well. I enjoy the heck out of the car, but I know it will never be competitive in any specific CAM-T class or competition. For me, it is all about building/driving the car to find its potential, and then learning what I can do to take it a step further. As mentioned, its an 1987 IROC-Z. It has a 406 small block chevy with a dart block, dart heads, callies rotating assembly, full roller valvetrain, and I use the holley sniper efi. I know the automatic trans is not optimal, but it is what is staying in the car. it consists of a ProBuilt Automatics 700R4 built with their tiop level package, and a 9.5" Edge Racing 3,400 converter. A 3" driveshaft from Dennys, and a Moser 12 bolt rear axle with 33 spline axles nad a tru Track. It currently has 3.55 gears, but In February it will get a gear change from 3.55 to 3.91 gears. Also, the engine was built with nitrous in mind and it will indeed be getting a 150-200 wet shot soon. Front: I have the C4 HD 13" brake package up with Hawks HPS pads. UMI A-arms up front with Koni Yellow struts and UMI upper strut mounts. OEM sway bar with poly mounts. Replacement Moog springs and a 2" drop-spindle setup. Replaced everything to the steering system with new components and had the original IROC-Z steering box re-built this past winter so it is very on-point. Wheels are 18x8" with a Nitto 555 255/40/18 tire that I would love to replace. Rear: UMI adjustable lower control arms, UMI panhard bar, Founders performance upper panhard bar. OEM swaybar with poly mounts. Koni yellow rear shocks. Moog springs with 3/4 coil cut off. C4 rear brake conversion so 12" rotor with powerstop pads. 18x10" wheel with a 285/40/18 nitto 55 tire. Also looking to replace these in the spring. Here are some photos: (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/4354/37099178212_179dd3ccc4_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49900080406_c0efef3152_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49899561173_f239747cee_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50269531676_c369c0fe6d_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/7113/27355806591_71c8967ff4_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/4445/37713056722_a617e759f7_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50055682841_ddbb67f597_c.jpg) here is a link to some of my photo albums of events and my car's build over recent years: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iroczman15/albums I also have a youtube channel, and while I do not do any editing or creative video work, I do have some videos of my autocross runs over recent years. if you search through the "My videos" section. My username is the same as it is here IROCZman15 I am also on www.thirdgen.org using this username and I have a couple of long "build" threads and some racing info there along with photos, datalogs, videos, and tech info. Glad to be a member here and looking forward to what I can learn after I spend some time reading.

IROCZman15 View Member Profile	Jan 23 2021, 10:21 PM Post #21
newbie Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 5-January 21 From: Roxbury, NJ Member No.: 231,208	I do my best to keep it clean, but I have no problem hammering down with the car on the tracks and using the car as a performer. I am not a shop owner or anything, just simply a guy with a hobby. (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49499094273_9c5172e596_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49572441957_74a393bd17_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49804108106_764c54fa13_c.jpg) currently the rear axle (moser 12 bolt) is out from the car and tomorrow I am pulling out the 3.55 gearset and changing over to a 3.91 gearset. With the car being a multi-use car, I still want more brutal acceleration on the dragstrip and street and these gears will do it. It might cause me to have to be a bit more easy on the throttle pedal when coming out of the turns during autocross, but to me the 3.91 gearset was the right move. I will find out soon! (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50864826396_c768b3f724_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50864826376_b4a9ae50ce_c.jpg) (IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50864115548_a49e2ff0e8_c.jpg) This post has been edited by IROCZman15: Jan 23 2021, 10:22 PM

GCrites80s View Member Profile	Jan 24 2021, 02:45 AM Post #22
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 649 Joined: 30-January 15 From: Columbus, OH Member No.: 223,855	Is that an Astro van or Jeep Cherokee XJ steering shaft conversion? Looks different from stock. If so, do you like it?

slowTA View Member Profile	Jan 25 2021, 12:40 AM Post #23
Experienced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,277 Joined: 4-May 04 From: Kenvil, NJ Member No.: 331	I'm curious about the steering shaft too... but one of my pet peeves about this car is when people don't paint under the upper strut mounts. Hopefully the alignment doesn't need to change! I measured from the strut nut to the firewall and fender to get them back it the right spot and the car has been aligned a few times since then too.

IROCZman15 View Member Profile	Jan 25 2021, 03:29 AM Post #24
newbie Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 5-January 21 From: Roxbury, NJ Member No.: 231,208	yes, the steering shaft is an Astro van unit that was refreshed and built by a fellow Thirdgen guy names Matt Walter. He has a small company selling raceparts, but I had met him in Carlisle back in 2015 at the GM nationals where he was selling them, so I bought one on the spot. It is awesome. No deflection from the stock style rubber components. Just u-joint shaft. https://walter-racecraft.myshopify.com/ or https://walter-racecraft.myshopify.com/coll...d-78-87-gbodies In hindsight, I totally should have painted under the strut tower mounts. I kick myself when I think that I had no sound reason not to, aside form that I was very happy where the car's alignment was at the time. After everything was painted, I decided to pull the strut mounts and spray paint them black because they looked dull next to the fresh new red paint. I know that I could have and should have painted underneath them.