UMI Performance Suspension Over Haul - 1999 SS - Lots of pics!
#161
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The 'hot ticket' in new cars for open tracking is going to be the new, much lighter, 6th gen Z28 if and when it is ever released.
#162
The motor had 74k miles on it. Impressive for what it has been through. We ordered a balanced rotating assembly from Texas Speed and also have a set of AFR 215 Mongoose heads in the mail. Conklin Racing Engines will do all the fitment and file the rings, we will do the final assembly at UMI.
#163
Seems like a lot of time and money spent on a 16 year old vehicle.
I have a 2001 Z28 (Sara), and upgraded the suspension 14 years ago (not to the extent of what you did), other than maintenance, I am not spending any more money on her.
For the price of all that crap your installing, you could probably purchase a brand new supercharged corvette.
The vehicle also looks ridiculous with the graphics.
JMHO
I have a 2001 Z28 (Sara), and upgraded the suspension 14 years ago (not to the extent of what you did), other than maintenance, I am not spending any more money on her.
For the price of all that crap your installing, you could probably purchase a brand new supercharged corvette.
The vehicle also looks ridiculous with the graphics.
JMHO
#164
Seems like a lot of time and money spent on a 16 year old vehicle.
I have a 2001 Z28 (Sara), and upgraded the suspension 14 years ago (not to the extent of what you did), other than maintenance, I am not spending any more money on her.
For the price of all that crap your installing, you could probably purchase a brand new supercharged corvette.
The vehicle also looks ridiculous with the graphics.
JMHO
I have a 2001 Z28 (Sara), and upgraded the suspension 14 years ago (not to the extent of what you did), other than maintenance, I am not spending any more money on her.
For the price of all that crap your installing, you could probably purchase a brand new supercharged corvette.
The vehicle also looks ridiculous with the graphics.
JMHO
No one would dump money into a car for mods if they just kept saving and just bought "a supercharged corvette". It's called technology. You will lose you *** on money spent on new cars with depreciation if you just buy the next best thing.
Plus, beating corvette's in a 16 year old car makes me smile knowing I spent a fraction of the money Doing more with less.
#165
Teching In
Steve,
You are sorely mistaken if you think the amount of money spent on the UMI car is equivalent to a new supercharged vette. That makes you a uninformed idiot IMHO....there really isn't a better bang for the buck out there for road course/autocross fun than a 4th gen f-body. If you haven't figured that out yet, then where have you been, son ? I've owned a new Z06 and my 4th gen is waaay less expensive, with all my mods similar to UMI car. But, what do I know ....just my .02 cents
You are sorely mistaken if you think the amount of money spent on the UMI car is equivalent to a new supercharged vette. That makes you a uninformed idiot IMHO....there really isn't a better bang for the buck out there for road course/autocross fun than a 4th gen f-body. If you haven't figured that out yet, then where have you been, son ? I've owned a new Z06 and my 4th gen is waaay less expensive, with all my mods similar to UMI car. But, what do I know ....just my .02 cents
#166
Just another intelligent, insightful, and useful post full of great technical information from Steve c. He is truly an asset to this community. Without him, I would have never known that a supercharged corvette was equal in cost to my 15 year old Camaro.
Thanks Steve! Can't wait to hear the interesting insight you have for us next.
Thanks Steve! Can't wait to hear the interesting insight you have for us next.
#167
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IF you are worried about street legality in Pennsyltuckey, know that I have passed for the last 3 years with NO driver's side air bag (Sparco 383 wheel/Momo 2401 hub), and just the dash light black electrical taped over in the cluster.
That cage will bring MUCH more 'attention' from LEOs on the street (and might be illegal for street use in our state, I have NEVER gotten a straight yes or no answer on this yet from ANYBODY), than having an aftermarket steering wheel in the car.
That cage will bring MUCH more 'attention' from LEOs on the street (and might be illegal for street use in our state, I have NEVER gotten a straight yes or no answer on this yet from ANYBODY), than having an aftermarket steering wheel in the car.
#168
First engine part has arrived, a set of AFR 215 LSX Mongoose heads. This is our 2nd set of AFR heads and we have a 3rd set on the way, awesome heads and awesome people to deal with.
Also here is a great example of why bearing mounted shocks should be used over poly on racing applications. For street the poly is nice, for any type of racing you can see how the t-bar is moved and the poly bushings are bulging. We will be upgrading to our new front coilover kit with bearing mounted upper and lower shocks. Stay tuned, we have some cool new stuff coming.
Also here is a great example of why bearing mounted shocks should be used over poly on racing applications. For street the poly is nice, for any type of racing you can see how the t-bar is moved and the poly bushings are bulging. We will be upgrading to our new front coilover kit with bearing mounted upper and lower shocks. Stay tuned, we have some cool new stuff coming.
#169
Hey guys, make sure to call up Improved racing and get their pan baffle so the new engine lives a happy life. While your at it they have an excellent crank scraper and of course a big oil cooler is a good idea with the abuse this car sees. I'd be willing to bet the engine failure was related to oil starvation.
#170
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So maybe the private inspections in this state are much more intent on trying to find other, more expensive things wrong inspection wise, which will bring them in much more coin for them hoping the owner will get it fixed there?
#171
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First engine part has arrived, a set of AFR 215 LSX Mongoose heads. This is our 2nd set of AFR heads and we have a 3rd set on the way, awesome heads and awesome people to deal with.
Also here is a great example of why bearing mounted shocks should be used over poly on racing applications. For street the poly is nice, for any type of racing you can see how the t-bar is moved and the poly bushings are bulging. We will be upgrading to our new front coilover kit with bearing mounted upper and lower shocks. Stay tuned, we have some cool new stuff coming.
Also here is a great example of why bearing mounted shocks should be used over poly on racing applications. For street the poly is nice, for any type of racing you can see how the t-bar is moved and the poly bushings are bulging. We will be upgrading to our new front coilover kit with bearing mounted upper and lower shocks. Stay tuned, we have some cool new stuff coming.
Will you ever go to either Koni yellows (with a coil over kit), or the 'real' road race (but stupidly priced) Penskes or such??
No matter how great a spherical bearing you use for the shock mounts, they WILL eventually knock like the proverbial jackhammers on the street, especially on THIS state's roads, or at least what they call roads here.
I know, as I had the LG Bilstein alloy bodied coil overs with Hyperco springs ALL AROUND for a couple of years, and I must have replaced those bearings every 6 months, and even the new ones rattled and knocked on the just as poor Joyzee roads.
#174
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Amused and extremely impressed by how the car looks and performs with the Vikings for autocross. Nothing bad against them personally, yet true autoXers seem to give those shocks the death ticket when it comes to handling because they aren't a gas charged shock and/or twin tube, not sure which one it is. Apparently Vikings don't work for handling because 'more adjustments does not equal a stiffer and more competent shock.' I have to say though that UMI proved that Vikings can be manipulated very well for them to be able to place in the standings that they placed in with those shocks in the events they used their car in. I honestly with probably many others here would like to see you slide the classic Koni/Strano setup under there and see the time difference back to back to really see, if any, the difference a gas charged shock does vs a drag shock does on a course.
Love the decals and stance by the way, adds the renowned sponsorship to the car that makes it look official and stuffed with badass performance!
Love the decals and stance by the way, adds the renowned sponsorship to the car that makes it look official and stuffed with badass performance!
#175
Also, we go pretty fast on Vikings.
#176
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Amused and extremely impressed by how the car looks and performs with the Vikings for autocross. Nothing bad against them personally, yet true autoXers seem to give those shocks the death ticket when it comes to handling because they aren't a gas charged shock and/or twin tube, not sure which one it is. Apparently Vikings don't work for handling because 'more adjustments does not equal a stiffer and more competent shock.' I have to say though that UMI proved that Vikings can be manipulated very well for them to be able to place in the standings that they placed in with those shocks in the events they used their car in. I honestly with probably many others here would like to see you slide the classic Koni/Strano setup under there and see the time difference back to back to really see, if any, the difference a gas charged shock does vs a drag shock does on a course.
Love the decals and stance by the way, adds the renowned sponsorship to the car that makes it look official and stuffed with badass performance!
Love the decals and stance by the way, adds the renowned sponsorship to the car that makes it look official and stuffed with badass performance!
#177
With the money spent on the motor and the rest of the car, might as well bump up the caliber of shocks. Or like others have said, run a more common autocross combo like the koni/strano.
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Chris Stavropoulos (06-26-2021)
#180
Hey guys, make sure to call up Improved racing and get their pan baffle so the new engine lives a happy life. While your at it they have an excellent crank scraper and of course a big oil cooler is a good idea with the abuse this car sees. I'd be willing to bet the engine failure was related to oil starvation.