2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

hi - looking into getting a stock one to relive my past I haven't AX'ed in years but looking to start again so please forgive some of these questions.

I know the shelby's and mustangs have been pretty dominant in years past. But with the switch from R compounds, will the lighter f-bodies have a better chance?

17x9's - is 295 a good size for AX'ing in this new street tire class?

Would a roll up window, hardtop Fbody with 1LE suspension (from the factory so legal stiffer springs than normal fbody, stiffer bushings) be able to hold its own? regionally? nationally?

What would some settings be on koni double adjustables for the first time out with 1LE springs/sways?

With the stiffer springs, does it pay to get the 35mm strano front hollow bar? or keep the stock 32mm front bar?

Thanks so much!

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

Does F Street allow gutting the interior or removing heavy non-drive train parts (like AC?)

2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

no sir.
only allowable mods are shocks, one sway bar change (front or back), and cat-back exhaust.
tires need to be over 150 treadwear or something like that (no R compounds allowed)

FASTFATBOY

iTrader: (23)

275-40-17 on 17x9 wheel.

Run the 32-19 swaybars the 1LE setup.

Tires up to you.

The 1 LE cars were not in the LS1 group of cars I dont think.

2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

cool. thanks. yes 1LE was an option on LS1's.

http://www.transamworld.com/1999-breakdown.htm

orthopod

iTrader: (1)

Anyone have part numbers or a source for 1LE bushings (LCAs, etc.) for our cars?

2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

http://tech.firebirdv6.com/1le.html

camarokid91

295 for a street tire on 9 inch wheel might make the contact patch bow. Streets are different from Hoosiers you might get away with a 285 but probably not the 295.

2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

yes I agree.
also the top 3 tires don't come in size 275 and up for the 17's. But the rules state you can go up to 18 if you maintain the width (9").

So i'm gonna be looking for some 18x9's with the stock 50mm offset. Thinking of TWS Interlagos (lighter weight than their Nurburgring wheels).
Tire choices are looking like:

• hankook RS-3 - 285/35/18 (guys use 275 on 8.5 wheel). 285/35 = 25.9" tall, $256 each
• Dunlop Direzza ZII - 285/30/18 - out of production? $306 24.8" (shorter than stock height, improved acceleration but lower top speed in 2nd, from 75 to 72?)
• BFG g-Force Rival - 275/35/18 = 25.6" tall, $279 each

I'm reading that the Dunlops and Rivals like cooler operating temperatures while the Hankooks need heat to work well (hankooks better with a co-driver?).

Then the only other part I'd think about getting is the strano 36mm hollow front bar.

79_T/A

iTrader: (1)

I've heard the same about the tires, although Hankook "revised" the compound for the RS3 this year. According to the little info they provide, it's supposed to heat up to operating range faster now. I wonder if it has any effect on the tires ability to deal with high temps. Everyone I know that has run them say they hold up to a thrashing and are hard to overheat. I've co-driven a miata on RS3's, and they were amazingly good, but then again everything is on a miata.

FASTFATBOY

iTrader: (23)

It has been said the MOOG bushings are the 1LE.

I have MOOG replacements in the front of my car and they are holding up well.

camarokid91

I would give the new RS3's a try they are the hot tire in AX right now. You will burn through rivals to quick with a heavy car. It probably end up as expensive as Hoosiers.

brigade24

Doesn't TSW have an 18x10 for the vette? but the offset is up there...+65mm or something like that..i looked into TSW and decided against it since i read a horror story about about one guy who had one of his TSW wheels come apart while on track (HPDE). How he was treated by the vendor and TSW was enough to turn me off...you can do a google search on it.

i just picked up a set of 18x10.5 vette speedlines, +58mm offset...not sure if you need to do anything to make them fit or just bolt in and go? this may be an option for you if you're willing to search...and be somewhat patient.

for tires it's a toss up between the rival since it comes in 295 and 315, others say the new RS3s but they only come in a 285. I was chatting with the tirerack guy yesterday and he recommended the wider rival over the new RS3 only because it was wider...of course, the quicker they wear the more green they make so i may go RS3. The new ZII Starspec will also be out shortly which is something you should not ignore...

brigade24

effin' miatas...they're easy on everything.

2MCHPWR

iTrader: (10)

The rules for the street stock class say wheels must be stock width but you can change diameter by 1 inch. So if stock is 17x9, i'll move up to 18x9 because the hot tires don't come in 17's any longer. TSW make a few in 18x9 with the stock 50mm offset so that'll be what I probably go with.

brigade24

^^^ah sorry. should have read your initial post more carefully...18x9 it is then.

you're right...there are hardly anymore hot tires for 17" wheels.

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

Hoosier / Continental DRs cost me $110 each, direct from Hoosier, for 275-40-17s. Of course it may have been luck since they are 2013 model year leftovers, but they did have a bunch of them. The Continental Extreme Contact tires for the same size were $140 at Tire Rack.

79_T/A

iTrader: (1)

Great tires for a steal. Not the best AX tire they take a while to build heat. Awesome for track days. I noticed this year wandering through the pits at a continental challenge race that no cars were using the 275/40/17. The ST cars were running 245's and the faster GS cars all used 275/35/18. Makes me glad I picked up some 18 inch wheels.

Brigade, is there a star spec version of the ZII coming out? The locals seem to love the ZII. I have a set of the old star specs on my car right now. Got them for free with plenty of tread left but they are old as hell, date code is 2008. They take some effort to build heat, but when they do I can't believe how sticky they still get. Awesome tire. I was going to buy some RS3's later this summer but I may hold out if another star spec is on the way.

brigade24

Yes according to the tire rack rep i was chatting with yesterday, he mentioned that there is a new tire coming out from dunlop...the current ZII will be replaced by the ZII Starspec. IIRC, he said it should be out later this summer but obviously could not provide a more specific time.

I'm not sure if i should just get the new RS3s or wait...Canadian Nationals are at the beginning of August so i may just bite on the new RS3s and see what happens.

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

True that. It takes about 2 miles for these tires to come alive, which would really set you behind in AX. I wonder if the move to 18s may also be forced to some extent by braking needs. Faster cars need bigger/better brakes to haul down at the end of a big stretch. 13" rotors will be alright, but 14" rotors won't fit under 17s without a lot of monkeying around. Why do that when you can just get 18s and be very happy?