Firehawk
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: WY
Firehawk Hi guys,
I'm looking to make the jump into open tracking soon with my 2001 Pontiac Firehawk. I've done quite a bit of Karting so I've definetely got the road course bug, but at the same time, my budget is still more toward the karting side as opposed to the car side.
My car, as stated, is a 2001 firehawk with the Bilstein suspension and the normal intake/exhaust/shifter mods. Naturally I'd expect to have to purchase some road course tires, but what else to get into some open tracking (such as BMW CCA type events or whatnot). Truthfully, I'm not sure what I'd like to get into, but I think I'd like to do something on a full road course as opposed to autocross. Limerock park is about 3 hours from my house so I'd consider that a "home" track where I'd most likely be running, at least I think.
Whats the bottom line as to how this car is in baseline form, and if there were a list of "most critical" mods to make, what would they be. Obviously upgrading the driver comes first, but I've done pretty well in the karts, so hopefully a bit of that will carry over.
Bottom line is, how is this car as a baseline, and what is most critical to be changed?
-T
I'm looking to make the jump into open tracking soon with my 2001 Pontiac Firehawk. I've done quite a bit of Karting so I've definetely got the road course bug, but at the same time, my budget is still more toward the karting side as opposed to the car side.
My car, as stated, is a 2001 firehawk with the Bilstein suspension and the normal intake/exhaust/shifter mods. Naturally I'd expect to have to purchase some road course tires, but what else to get into some open tracking (such as BMW CCA type events or whatnot). Truthfully, I'm not sure what I'd like to get into, but I think I'd like to do something on a full road course as opposed to autocross. Limerock park is about 3 hours from my house so I'd consider that a "home" track where I'd most likely be running, at least I think.
Whats the bottom line as to how this car is in baseline form, and if there were a list of "most critical" mods to make, what would they be. Obviously upgrading the driver comes first, but I've done pretty well in the karts, so hopefully a bit of that will carry over.
Bottom line is, how is this car as a baseline, and what is most critical to be changed?
-T
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville, Tn
I am no expert, but from other threads that I have been to, I would say a new Sway bar, Tower Strut bar, LCA's, maybe a roll cage, that helps stiffen up the car for better handling as well....I am missing something here as well. Oh yeah, Sub Frame connectors....If I am wrong anyone else please chime in and correct anything I may have wrongfully stated.....Thanks 
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: US Army germany
Have you road raced the car at all??? If you don't have SFCs GETTHEM!!! I've set mine up the best I could with the $$ I had to do it with and am VERY happy with the handling. I think the first real question you need to address is the front brakes. You can make your car handle all day long but if you can stop than your wasting your time. My first road course experience was the Nurnberg Ring here in Germany, I was 1/3 through the course(14mi long) and my stock brakes where TOAST!! Look at my sig and you'll see the parts I have used and they work GREAT for me. The road courses are a BLAST, I'd go out and run one first and then figure out where you want to start at with it. Good Luck
If the car is stock and you are thinking about HPDE type events,,,,, my vote would go to better brake pads at least. You could try to get a set of caliper relocation brackets and run larger C5 rotors. In any event,,,, the stock brakes {at least the pads} are the weakest link on the track.
Once the brakes are addressed,,, I think that shocks will be the most bang for the buck on these cars. Either Koni or revalved Bilstiens would work well depending on how much you want to spend.
In any event, remember that the Bilstiens are not ajustable and you need to figure out which springs you are going to run before buying the shocks. With the Koni shocks, you have a little bit more room to play with spring rates. Try to get an idea which direction you are going to go with the car. That way, you will not have to be buying things over and over because you changed your mind on what you will be doing with the car.
Once the brakes are addressed,,, I think that shocks will be the most bang for the buck on these cars. Either Koni or revalved Bilstiens would work well depending on how much you want to spend.
In any event, remember that the Bilstiens are not ajustable and you need to figure out which springs you are going to run before buying the shocks. With the Koni shocks, you have a little bit more room to play with spring rates. Try to get an idea which direction you are going to go with the car. That way, you will not have to be buying things over and over because you changed your mind on what you will be doing with the car.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: WY
As of now I have not run the car on any tracks - it is a purely street car. SFCs are first on the list, I've just had the car in storage for a little while and as such, couldn't justify spending the $$ on the SFCs when I wasn't using the car.
As far as what I want to run - I'm not sure - nothing too extensive. If I want to get more serious I will buy another car, probably a formula hard top or something like that - I'm not gonna rip apart a beautiful firehawk and make it a race car, I'd like to just use the car to get my feet wet for open tracking/lapping and improve my driving skills. As I mentioned I've beeni nto Karting for a while now, so I'm pretty serious about running the road courses.
So as I read this, we're talking about SFCs and Brakes as items # 1+2, with of course Tires being #0. Any reccomendations on the best bang for one's buck when it comes to SFCs and Brakes?
Thanks alot!
-T
As far as what I want to run - I'm not sure - nothing too extensive. If I want to get more serious I will buy another car, probably a formula hard top or something like that - I'm not gonna rip apart a beautiful firehawk and make it a race car, I'd like to just use the car to get my feet wet for open tracking/lapping and improve my driving skills. As I mentioned I've beeni nto Karting for a while now, so I'm pretty serious about running the road courses.
So as I read this, we're talking about SFCs and Brakes as items # 1+2, with of course Tires being #0. Any reccomendations on the best bang for one's buck when it comes to SFCs and Brakes?
Thanks alot!
-T
Look on the board for the info This forum is a good resource, but you actually have to read other posts. Say two or three down. Its been discussed b4.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/road-racing/202164-setting-up-ws-6-handle.html
Refer to Cal's post, #5 and 01whitez28, #2.
Steve
https://ls1tech.com/forums/road-racing/202164-setting-up-ws-6-handle.html
Refer to Cal's post, #5 and 01whitez28, #2.
Steve
Last edited by steve-d; Oct 20, 2004 at 07:21 AM.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: WY
steve - I did read the board, and looked for the information I was hoping to get. I appreciate your pointing me to information that is helpful, but I don't understand the need for the sarcasm. Over on the detailing boards I answer the same questions time and time again, there's no need to let it get you annoyed.
I'm not looking for how to set a car up, because at this point I'm not even sure what I'm setting it up for. I want to get onto a road course, run some laps, and decide from there. I was looking for a list of one or two "most critical" mods to make, and I got some recommendations, and was simply looking for others' opinions on the best bang for the buck with regards to the SFCs and a brake setup.
I'll glean what I can from the other posts, thanks.
I'm not looking for how to set a car up, because at this point I'm not even sure what I'm setting it up for. I want to get onto a road course, run some laps, and decide from there. I was looking for a list of one or two "most critical" mods to make, and I got some recommendations, and was simply looking for others' opinions on the best bang for the buck with regards to the SFCs and a brake setup.
I'll glean what I can from the other posts, thanks.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by SuperBuick
steve - I did read the board, and looked for the information I was hoping to get. ....
I'll glean what I can from the other posts, thanks.
I'll glean what I can from the other posts, thanks.
Frame supports, suspension,
etc, etc
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
