thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Just had the time of my life on a closed course and wanted to share. I really wish there were more places and less expense so more people could see how insanely fun the turns can be.

While I love drag racing and the car has gone high 11s, I have always liked back roads and spirited drives and refused to put a full drag suspension on the car. Instead I set it up to be flat in the turns and ride firm like a newer sports car.

I finally got a chance to get on some closed pavement and push the car harder in a safer environment. Not a lot of run off so I was still being conservative but it was still easily the most fun I've had in 10 years of owning the car.

It's mostly stock suspension which shocks a lot of people. Factory SS suspension option including boxed lower rear control arms, larger sway bars, and front disc brakes.

I added 750# circle track front springs with height adjusters, AFCO circle track front shocks, Hawks HPS front pads. In the rear I added adjustable upper control arms, KYB Gas-a-just shocks, ls1 rear discs (junk pads), Hotchkiss springs, and bolt on traction bars. The traction bars increase oversteer but also virtually eliminate body roll...I will lose them and get stiffer springs/bars once I move to a better wheel setup which tucks enough to clear everything and can lower the rear more.

It was extremely hot so I was limiting it to 1 lap at a time for safety, but the brakes were holding up surprisingly well. I was honestly more worried about overheating the transmission than the brakes. The car was too loose on the rock hard aging street tires out back so I pumped 32# into my Mickey Thompson drag radials for ***** and giggles and was amazed how well they worked. They stuck very well but didn't show signs of rolling the sidewall.

Pics and video here (more to come when I get the material from other friends' cameras):

https://ls1tech.com/forums/multimedi...cs-videos.html

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

http://youtu.be/zI6fOVCdeYQ

1993ka24det

It looks like the corner arn't getting hit as hard as the car can do. or am i wrong

Wile E's 98

Looks like a load of fun. Where is that and how can I get in on it.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

You are absolutely correct. This run was on some hard as a rock street tires and the rear was very upset about it. I put some MT drag radials on with 32# in them and dropped 3 seconds from the added confidence.

I am always weary of the brakes on the car but was surprised how the Hawks HPS did since even on the back straight I had full braking force, I am used to driving the car with cheap pads that overheat and fade under hard driving. Once I realized this I feel I could easily have dropped more time powering harder in then braking instead of coasting in engine braking then braking.

I was going to do another lap but we ran out of daylight.

Safety first, and I didn't want to wreck my car "showing off" or "chasing a number". You can also tell I am not the best driver.

1993ka24det

Be careful of using Drag tires on a street course because since the tires are made to have soft side wall to squat. and the tire pressures are different Drag tires 9-16 psi Track tires 20-30 psi. When I lower the pressure on my Nitto NT01's it feels like the car has a lot of slop, so my pressure is at 26 psi.

If you have any questions, please ask

AMS13

That looks like it was a blast, I would love to do something like that with my car.

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

That does look like a blast!

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Correct, these aren't that soft on the side though. I run them at 16-18# at the strip and 22-25# on the street. The extra air kept them from rolling onto the sidewall. But again, I was only pushing the car so hard both for the reason of tires and the lack of run off room.

On a set of real track tires and on a course with appropriate run off I could drive a lot harder safely.

Big Bu Bu

iTrader: (4)

Great post. Your Chevelle is probably more track worthy than you think. Have fun out there!

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

I've always enjoyed spirited blasts on backroads. Biggest problems the car has ever had are brake fade and traction.

Put some Super Blue brake fluid in, installed Fbody rear discs (factory drum rears before), and the Hawks HPS pads on front (I got them for $20 shipped and wanted to try them before dropping $$ on rear pads too) and my brake fade issue is much less apparent.

15" street rubber options are few and all junk, just can't afford to go bigger yet but once I do I can upgrade the front brakes to c5/c6 stuff and put real rubber on the car.

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

Is this a pretty simple upgrade?

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

From what I've seen it should be. You use factory Chevelle drum brake spindles (I still have mine from before I put the SS suspension on the car) and buy/make brackets to hold the calipers.

The rears were cake, just unbolted the drum assembly from the axle tube and bolted the new stuff on. Need a spacer to center the rotor in the caliper and then put it all back together. Just had to get some rubber lines which had ends on the axle side for the old stuff and newer style banjos on the caliper side...I think they are 3rd gen camaro lines.

ZV8

iTrader: (2)

Here you go guys, 65 Skylark and chevelle both have the short spindles. Get some Z06 brakes for them lol - http://www.kore3.com/proddetail.php?prod=10103-03

You will need 18" wheels though so maybe just do the C5/C6 brake package and a 17" wheel.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Went back out yesterday and cut another second off my lap. Videos to follow, we got a low shot from the front bumper video game style and some fly bys from a camera on a cone.

ls1 1990 VN

Hey that looks awesome over there.
Interesting to see your becoming more road race inclined lol.
You get way more of an adrenalin rush than Drag racing...but those trees look a huge concern.
If you can afford, get another set of wheels & fit with a set of soft compound semi slicks.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

If I continue to get to use the facility and/or more autox it would be a possibility.

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

I've been doing a lot of research on this. It seems like the tire sizes that fit most 70s muscle cars without requiring serious suspension mods AND give a lot of race options are 275/17/40 or 275/18/35. Been running GTA 16x8s with 245/16/50 Firehawk Wide Ovals this year. Nice, but limiting.

Nice vid, btw. Me want car!

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Here's another picture that just turned up of that same run, you can see the GoPro on the window.

camaro1185

iTrader: (2)

Looked like a blast! I have never been one who cared much about 1/4 mile times, but love the twisties! Oh, by the way, im doing it in an auto as well, but I have a T56 in the garage waiting to go in, I just need to find the time.