Conversions & Hybrids - Chevelle got a little magazine coverage.

My brother and I took my car up to Tennessee back in June for Chevellabration, which is the worlds largest Chevelle gathering. There were 247 cars this year, but they had over 450 a couple years ago before gas prices and the economy took a crap. It was a 1500 mile round trip and I managed to win the autocross event while we were there. I was hoping to change the drag radials off the back, but I was in a thrash to finish getting the 4 wheel C5 brakes on before the trip. It was a great trip and taking home a $200 Detroit Speed gift card made it even better. I just got the latest magazine for the American Chevelle Enthusiasts Society (ACES) - Chevelle World. It's not the biggest publication, but still happy to get a mention and bragging rights for the year.

Pic I took at the show.
http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/CB09231.jpg

I was one of 2 cars without paint and got a ton of looks when we pulled in. A lot of the crowd was the numbers matching/stock type, but a great group of people to party with. They warmed up to us by the end of the weekend after they saw it was all go.


Click on these to expand.

http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/Chevelle_World_09_thumb.jpg (http://bionicengineering.net/media/Chevelle_World_09.jpg)


http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/Chevelle_World_autox09_thumb.jpg (http://bionicengineering.net/media/Chevelle_World_autox09.JPG)
I'm the guy on the left. Kyle, the owner of DSE is on the right.

One of my runs: YouTube - Chevellabration 2009 Autocross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ZpQTLHqak)

awesome! love the flat look!

Congrats!

Car looked good going through the course!

I haven't been to Chevellabration for a few years now.
It was always a good time with good people. Was Chuck (ACES founder) there with his wagon this year?

I heard rumors that it could be the last one. Did you hear anyone talking about that?

Not the last Chevellabration. Next year they are expanding it up to '84 I think to get some more turnout and affordable cars for the younger guys since these are getting so expensive.

Cool! Always nice to get some press and props for your ride.

Pat

Yo Stealth,
That is really cool!!!! Major props to you! I am constantly referring to your build thread [along with a few other A-Body threads] as I try to get mine going. Nice driving too!

Rob

Congrats Stealth!!!

TOO COOL! :cool: Congrats man! :thumb:

Stealth.. good going... so what was your impression on how it handled the cones !?

Nice job & nice car!! Me myself, I rather have a car that has killer running gear than a car that looks great from the outside until they open the hood! I bet you get the wow factor when you open the hood!

Stealth.. good going... so what was your impression on how it handled the cones !?

Understeer like a pig. I didn't have time to change out the rear tires, because of my C5 brake thrash, so I ran with drag radials on the back. That probably played into it as well as no rear sway bar. It was my first time doing an autocross and I was definitely driving with the gas pedal too much. In some corners the front tires were skipping side ways plowing straight as I cut the wheel harder.

I was planning on getting a rear bar from SC&C, but the $200 gift card they gave me went towards the DSE rear bar. Hopefully should be here sometime next week. I need to get some different tires, probably Kumho XS or similar 180 durometer.

The course was very tight for a long wheel base car like the Chevelle so some oversteer would have helped around the tight bends. Some more suspension tuning and I think I can get it dialed in. Overall though I was impressed with the way it took the beating I gave it.

Now I need more practice behind the wheel. I'm hoping to hit some of the local events in the fall after it cools down some. I need more time to get the spring rates figured out, but I'll see what the rear bar does.

GREAT JOB.I wish you would have beaten the DSE car.The DSE car only won by what 1.2 seconds? You should see my poor tires, for those that don't know I was in the Gold Elcamino with the "ugly stock suspension" that beat everyone else except Mike and the DSE guy. I guess they don't wanna say that because it makes $15K worth of suspension mods seem like not such a wise investment. I don't know what Stealth71 had money wise in his suspension but I bet he does not have 1/5 of the cost of the DSE kit. I gotta re-read your blog so I can start getting the brake stuff together for my Chevelle. At this point I am digging those graphite coy wheels what size is it that fits those big brakes 17"?

Bowtie70SS was beating the crap out of his ElCamino and it was taking it like a champ. Definite props for getting so close on stock suspension.

Man you made me get out the receipt pile and do some digging.

Here's my suspension setup:
Springs (4)- $229
Spring spacers for front - $30
Shocks (4)- $130
SC&C Stage II kit - $660
Front Lower Control Arm solid bushings - $55
Currectrac Lowers - Rear - ~$260 can't find the receipt, but they are the older non-AL.
Wolfe Spherical Upper bushings - Rear - $120
BMR Adjustable Uppers -Rear- $180 - had these forever, current price

Front sway bar was on the car when I got it.

$1664 - I think that's everything.

Professional driver - Priceless - Hahahahaha :drive::lol:

Congrats, the wheels look perfect on your car! Are they Cragar's?

Congrats, the wheels look perfect on your car! Are they Cragar's?

Yeah 17x9 Soft 8's

Bowtie70SS was beating the crap out of his ElCamino and it was taking it like a champ. Definite props for getting so close on stock suspension.

Man you made me get out the receipt pile and do some digging.

Here's my suspension setup:
Springs (4)- $229
Spring spacers for front - $30
Shocks (4)- $130
SC&C Stage II kit - $660
Front Lower Control Arm solid bushings - $55
Currectrac Lowers - Rear - ~$260 can't find the receipt, but they are the older non-AL.
Wolfe Spherical Upper bushings - Rear - $120
BMR Adjustable Uppers -Rear- $180 - had these forever, current price

Front sway bar was on the car when I got it.

$1664 - I think that's everything.

Professional driver - Priceless - Hahahahaha :drive::lol:


So I stand corrected, you had 1/10th of the money in your suspension, even better!! I think if I would have had some lower profile tires and a little stiffer coils it would have done better. Can't wait till next year. If you remember right Chuck made DSE promise to sponser it again. I want to see "Crazy Dave" in his 582BBC do some hole shots. Did you look in his car?(blue 69) looked like a 1970's airplane cockpit.

Great job on the track Mike. It was great to meet you and your brother. Say, thats a great looking wagon going on the track!!! HEEEHeee. I got my 1/4's on my 71 now. Soon to be another LSX chevelle....

Rick