Hi! Newb here (sorry, kinda long) Options

[Orbital]

Hey, just heard about this site today from a buddy of mine, looks great!

I'm Andrew, I own a 94 Camaro RS (not officially called an 'RS' that year, but I like the name). Originally the 3.4L/T5 base model t-top car, such a slow 'piece.

So far I've gutted the engine harness, engine, trans, read and half of the rear suspension. Replacing it with a rebuilt 355 (11:1, 224/234, single plane, ported S/R Torquers, etc....), Super T10 4 speed tans ('U' casing - 3.44 first gear - wide ratio) and a 8.5" 10 bolt )posi with 2.73's - strong but not enough gear). I'm just waiting for the engine to come back from the machine shop, then the installation will begin.

As for suspension, I killed the LCA setup, built a dropped 4 bar/link setup to rid myself of the forsaken torque arm. Made an adjustable panhard bar when I had some spare time, should work well. 98 LS1 springs and stock shocks/struts. Homemade subframe connectors, re-welded strut towers and part of the front subframe. Built a pre-loadable strut tower brace. Bigger sway bars from an 84' TA (20mm rear, 25mm front) but still everything using rubber bushings.

That turned out a littl elonger than expected, sorry for the long post.

Nice to be on the site, hello to everyone (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

BTW: Its my birthday next Friday (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[CMC #37]

Welcome, and early Happy Birthday! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Nice to see a fabricator type on board. My husband is one of those - he built a '62 CJ5 with mostly GM running gear. Stripped the whole thing down to the tub, painted himself and built a nice Buick V6 for it. Took him six years to finish it.

We all here are afflicted with the f-body habit so you will fit right in! Interesting you put a four link in a 4th gen, tres cool! You're gonna want a nice suspension under that sucker when you finish, we can definitely help you with that here. First off you are not going to want that little front swaybar for long. A 32 or 35mm would much better suit, especially if you upgrade the stock shocks (POS).

[PF Flyer]

Welcome to our 'addiction' and the site.

I'm pretty sure you meant a '35'mm front sway bar, as my 3rd gen is a 36mm. (WS6) Mine is setup much like an American/Sedan car.

to the tub, painted himself and built

Julie, what color did your husband paint himself? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[sgarnett]

98 LS1 springs and stock shocks/struts.

Welcome, Andrew (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Everyone on this board has a different opinion on spring rates. The car can be set up to handle quite well with stock LS1 rates - that's what I'm running, more or less. Depending on what you plan to do with the car, they may be a little soft, but maybe not.

I think everyone would agree, though, that the stock shocks SUCK.I think they got worse in the later years too, as GM tweaked them to "improve" the ride (translation: make them more floaty and seasick).

Since you're putting so much work into the project anyway, I'd ditch the OEM shocks for some Konis or revalved Bilsteins.

[CMC #37]

Mike, Hubby painted himself, the Jeep and the garage red! You can still find red in our garage, and that was years ago he did that paint job! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

An '84 Trans-Am does not come with anything close to a 35mm up front. I think the WS6 package was a dream Herb Adams had at that point. I have a spare car to match my race car and made the mistake of putting the bar from it on my race car to try and deal with some push. This is a great recipe for a spinning f-bod as I found out. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Detroit Locker, big bar in back and little bar in front = big trouble!

[Orbital]

Thanks everyone!

Yeah the shocks are terrible, but for right now I'm just wanting to get it driving, ALL of my $$$ is tied up in the engine/trans/rear, the bushings and shocks/struts are the first to go. New struts are soooo expensive, it'll take a good 3 weeks to save up for a nice set.

35mm? Maybe I measured wrong, or I don't know how to measure. Either/or, its a big improvement over the stock v6 bar. I think I'll go buy a camera today and take some pics for everyone.

I fab up everything I can, saves money and its fun. Did everything with a cheap angle grinder, hand drill and a MIG welder.


I would like some advice though. I have some stock 16x8 98 TA wheels (might not be original TA pieces, but thats what I got them off of) with 245/ZR50 16 Kumho Ecstra Supras all around, and they're very worn down so I'm looking to buy either a new set of wheels/tires or just new tires. Whats the general consensus on a good street tire that can be flogged a little?

[NataSS Inc]

welcome to our little corner of the universe.

[sgarnett]

Yeah the shocks are terrible, but for right now I'm just wanting to get it driving
....
35mm? Maybe I measured wrong, or I don't know how to measure. Either/or, its a big improvement over the stock v6 bar.
....
Whats the general consensus on a good street tire that can be flogged a little?

Keeping the car driving is IMHO a big part of keeping it fun. Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do - we all have someday lists (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The stock V6 front bar is 28mm hollow. The standard V8 (not WS6, SS, or Firehawk) bar is 30mm hollow.

The Firestone Firehawk SZ50 is a very good street performance tire. I think it's been discontinued, but Tirerack still has them for a slightly discounted price. The Kumho Ecsta MX is highly regarded, but I don't think they make it to fit a 16x8 rim (need 17x9). The Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 seems to be getting lot of good comments, especially in the rain. Be careful, there a lot of very different Goodyear tires with very similiar names.