ram-it

I was involved in a post similar to this link in this section a while ago where some real good points were made about the f-body and its comparison to the vette. Some of you more knowledgeable will love to get in on this one. Look at post #3 or #4 where the Camaro is called crap.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1610385&page=2

roy

Z06 vette is a damn good car .

WAHUSKER

iTrader: (4)

That's funny Eric! Shows how ignorant some people are. Vette owners don't corner the market on that sadly. I'm sure if he took a ride in a few of the f-bodies you've owned / been around he'd change his mind. But there is NO arguing a Z will take an f-body in the twisties. Boyce's car is an excpetion, but I wouldn't call it stock anymore.

SIK02SS

iTrader: (11)

i was in the twisties the other week with an FRC and 2 other camaro's....i was behind the FRC on the way up (holding up the back), and then lead on the way back and he was at the rear....needless to say, stock vs stock suspension/brakes, i left him; by a long ways. it doesnt always come down to what the car can or should do...it has alot to do with the driver. my stock suspension/brakes was being pushed to the limits, quite literally. and i know i can run most all stock suspension corvettes like that, or at least give em a good run. time for some H&Rs and konis

oh, but my 67 will tear up a corvette on a road coarse/canyons/auto-x

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I'm not going to go there and get involved..... But.

I'm an autocrosser. I own a Camaro, and I have done work on Corvettes. I won my third National Championship this year in my '01 Camaro in E-Street Prepared. Mike Johnson, one of my best friends, 2 time National Champion, and co-equal driving ability won A-Street Prepared in his '02 Z06. Mike won F-Stock in 2003 beating me and others in the process, he can drive. There was 1.40 seconds between at the end of two days and total combined times of 99-101 seconds over those days. 1.4 seconds between an excellently driven and setup Z06, and a excellently driven and setup Z28.

Of note. ESP ran 1st heat, first two days. Dirtiest conditions, coldest temps. My car is 3429 without a driver, the Z06 is just over 3000. I run on 315 Hoosiers, Mike runs on 315 front, 335 rear Hoosier. The Z06 has more power and deeper gearing.

Did he go faster? Yep. Should he in a car with better balance, less weight, better gearing, etc? Yep. I PAXED (which is an index used to equalize cars) 11th for Nationals, out of some 1200 entries.

So the gold-chain gang can call names, and **** and moan all they want. They should be faster, but most of them can't even come close to a well driven F-body anyway. Yes, ultimately a Corvette is faster, but that doesn't make a Camaro crap, unless you are short-sighted, egotistical, idiot.

SIK02SS

iTrader: (11)

what size wheels do you run Sam? 17x11s front/back?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

17x11's all around....

And FWIW, I drive Mike's Z06 a bunch, and it's a lot of fun. But honestly I don't find it as rewarding to drive as my car because it's just easier to get closer to that 100% than a Camaro is.

ram-it

Damn Sam! Impressive resume you have there.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Thanks.... it took a lot of work and practice.

CRZYPWR

What has to be done in order to fit 17x11 on the front with 315 tires ?!?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

nothing but the right offset or spacers. Fits better than on the rear, but they do stick out a tiny little bit (but tuck under the fenders in compression as long as you get the offset right).

SIK02SS

iTrader: (11)

also might wanna bend back the tab that hangs down on top of the wheels so as if you bottom out you dont take your tires with the shocks...i'm planning on getting the stockers widened shortly down the road

WAHUSKER

iTrader: (4)

You really gotta learn to speak your mind Sam.

So you run 315 Hoosiers on the road course? No ****, I may have to try mine if I ever learn how to drive. And we need to talk again about springs & shocks. I'm gonna finally do an open road race this year, but I don't want to lose any drag racing performance. Will those new ones you came up with help me much? I run Eibach Pros & HALs now.....

SIK02SS

iTrader: (11)

Sams springs will be much better then the pro-kit....theres a couple guys that have gotten there best times on Sam's springs..and a couple other that have only dropped a couple tenths of a second. but it's pretty hard to have a great setup for both turning, and launching

WAHUSKER

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, I know all too well what I'm asking for. What can I say, I want it all. These cars came with good straight line performance AND handling. That is what I love about them. I just want to make it better.

Last time I talked to Sam he told me I couldn't do it. I think he misunderstood what my goals are. I know I can't make it the best drag race car AND the best corner carver at the same time. But I want it to be good at it all things.

I've got the drag race results. In fact I can give up some of that to get some cornering performance back if need be (I "only" want to run 10.90s for Pro Street). But I AM going to run an open road race in June at 140mph so I want to tweak the suspension if it's possible without ruining the drag racing part.

Most people tend to build a one dimensional car to optimize it. I'm weird. I drag race the car, take it to car shows, drive it on the weekends, and I want to road race it too.

subtlez28

iTrader: (15)

Thats not weird. Thats the way it should be done! I think its sad to see 15s and skinneys on these cars (not to mention deleted front sway bars). Y give up handling and braking it already has for a little improvement in launch. I mean if its a dedicated race car, ok, but these cars can be so multidimensional.

I'm not trying to tell people how to build their cars. Just saying I really like cars that perform in more ways than 1.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I didn't mis-understand. A car that runs 10's isn't what I'd call dual-purpose because you need some serious drag race setup to run those kinds of numbers. And, I see you bought HAL's, which we discussed and I told you were drag shocks and not any sort of great compromise toward the mix you wanted. That just solidifies my thinking,

WAHUSKER

iTrader: (4)

So it appears I misunderstood you Sam. I thought you said they might be OK, but the spring rates on the Eibachs were crap. This setup sure lets the car bottom out a lot. So what shocks would you suggest to go with your new springs to be able to do everything?

More info - I have the big ST sway bars front (hollow) & rear (solid). Adj panhard & TQ Arm + LCAs & reloc brackets. And I run 335 Hoosiers on the street. (tho I plan to run 275 Toyos or Mich PS2 in the ORR).

And my car will probably run low 10s this spring, maybe even a 9.9x, so I have close to a full second to trade. (meaning I don't 'need' to run 1.46 60's) And I have a friend that wants to buy my HALs. But I think my car runs 10s cuz it makes 800 friggin hp.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

It appears you did..... Your shocks are complete crap, the springs are the lesser of the two issues, and you have way too much rear bar (and they are both heavy as hell, about 25 pounds more than a set of my bars and the front is solid from ST, they all are but for mine, stock, Hotchkis and the very limited SLP 35mm hollow which cost a fortune).

WAHUSKER

iTrader: (4)

My bad, I HAD a solid ST up front & traded it for one of yours. As for the rear, it really helps with wheel hop & I don't plan on racing you or running unlimited open road, I just want to make it better than it is. I guess I should call you again & quit hi-jacking Erics thread.