LS3 Roadmaster Wagon Project Part 2 — Wheels, Tires, & Sway Bars are a MASSIVE Upgrade!
In Part 2 of our LS3 Roadmaster Wagon Project, we install Michelin tires, American Racing Wheels, a Detroit TrueTrac, and sway bars to test how these mods affect handling, acceleration, and braking. (It’s mostly great!)
Welcome to the second installment of our LS3 Wagon Swap project! Will the holidays barreling toward me like a guy who has already finished his LS swap, I’m a little swamped this week, So I’m going to keep the written portion of this post short as the above video tells the whole story. (Looking for a breakdown on all the parts we’re using? Click HERE.)
In this episode, my goal was to recreate and evaluate the most common B-Body wagon mods I see — wheels, tires, and suspension components. And to prepare the vehicle for 430 ponies. So it was time to install a set of 255/45-ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season tires on a set of 18×9.5 American Racing VN507 Rodders. After testing the handling results, we then install a QA1 front sway bar as well as a Hotchkis rear wagon sway bar before testing out the handling once again.
Last but not least, we had Frank over at South Bay 4×4 (Hawthorne, CA) install an Eaton Detroit TrueTrac limited-slip differential. We also tested 0-60 acceleration and 60-0 braking performance changes before and after the wheels and tires as well as (slightly) revised 3.42 gearing. And, as always, Chemical Guys helped me keep everything shiny and well-dressed. (BTW, they’re doing a massive giveaway right HERE to celebrate hitting 1 MILLION Instagram followers.)
Click HERE to follow along in the
official LS1Tech BUILD THREAD!
Yes, I know they’re a build sponsor, but I wanted to mention Natural Shine, my new favorite tire dressing, and Orange Degreaser. Natural Shine makes tires look like the day they arrive from the factory — not too dull, not too shiny. And Orange Degreaser does a really great job and cutting down on gunk; I also use it to remove tire blooming (when they turn brown). Big thumbs up from me, and stuff I buy even when I’m not partnered with them.
Please support all of our project teammates!
PARTNERS
- Guaranty Chevrolet: https://www.occhevy.com/
- Holley: https://www.holley.com/
- Magnaflow: https://www.magnaflow.com/
- Chemical Guys: https://www.chemicalguys.com/
- Dakota Digital: https://www.dakotadigital.com/
- Michelin: https://www.michelin.com/
- Wilwood Brakes: https://www.wilwood.com/
- Eaton: https://www.eaton.com/
- Sony: https://electronics.sony.com/
DISCOUNTS PROVIDED
- Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/
- Muscle Rods aka BRP HotRods: http://www.brphotrods.com/
- Sikky Manufacturing: https://www.sikky.com/
- American Racing Wheels: https://www.americanracing.com/
- B-Body Parts Specialist Tommy Gosselin: Message HERE on Facebook.
