shocks/springs question
Yes, I had already installed those suspension upgrades over the years primarily because mine is a convertible and did alot of rattling. I'm also on stock 16" wheels and 7 year old Bridgestone tires - my daily driver. As long as my top holds out, my next upgrade will be wheels/tires.
Deal with the big stuff first, the stuff that matters most... the shocks, the bars, springs (if changing them at all), etc. From there you can deal with the smaller stuff like STB's, LCA's, etc. You might just find that you don't need a lot of that stuff to get the desired result. Those things have their uses and there are times they should absolutely be used, but it's not the automatic thing that the "internet" has made it out to be. Well, it's kind of morphed into that, but it shouldn't be.
Parts are like pills. They have a job to do, if you aren't sick you should not be taking pills. If the car has an issue that is addressed by certain parts, GREAT. But just having a car doesn't mean you have the issues to start with!
This is what gets me in trouble a lot and why I will never be a rich man. I sell parts, but I am more worried about selling the stuff folks need than what they want. I know it's crazy but some part of me still believes that's the right thing to do. Maybe not the smartest, but the right thing.
I sell all the parts anyone else does. In fact I have more access to more parts than about anyone else on the sponsor side of things (even including some from companies you might be surprised I can do). Doesn't mean I think all those parts are warranted.
Parts are like pills. They have a job to do, if you aren't sick you should not be taking pills. If the car has an issue that is addressed by certain parts, GREAT. But just having a car doesn't mean you have the issues to start with!
This is what gets me in trouble a lot and why I will never be a rich man. I sell parts, but I am more worried about selling the stuff folks need than what they want. I know it's crazy but some part of me still believes that's the right thing to do. Maybe not the smartest, but the right thing.
I sell all the parts anyone else does. In fact I have more access to more parts than about anyone else on the sponsor side of things (even including some from companies you might be surprised I can do). Doesn't mean I think all those parts are warranted.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
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^I completely agree with this. My camaro was my first "purpose bought car" to autocross in. Following that was the mentality of not modding things that are not needed. For that reason I have done a dyno tune to make sure all it well, LS1 bfront brake swap, race seat, race tires, shocks/springs, alignment, sway bars, then 5pt harness and in that order...and all in my FIRST season of racing. Yes I got addicted, and yes I went all in on this hobby lol. BUT I did it because I saw the weakness of my car and wanted it better...and oh boy is it better how it is now.
Next up is a differential and better pads.
Next up is a differential and better pads.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Would you suggest LCA relocation bracket with this set up? About how much does it affect the geometry of the suspension in a general stand point? I know ill need a adjustable PHB for sure but I'm not entirely sure on the LCA relocation bracket
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When I bought my car I had relocation brackets welded on already and them placed in the lowest setting.
Since getting into handling they have been adjusted up a hole to make the arms more parallel while sitting still. I can't speak for the difference it made since I was quite new to learning the cars capabilities during autocross.
Anything I see/hear about it is having the LCA's angle down is more for drag racing and parallel is more for handling.
Since getting into handling they have been adjusted up a hole to make the arms more parallel while sitting still. I can't speak for the difference it made since I was quite new to learning the cars capabilities during autocross.
Anything I see/hear about it is having the LCA's angle down is more for drag racing and parallel is more for handling.
Ok, well here's one of the dirty little secrets about geometry. Yes, it changes, but is that necessarily a bad thing? Not normally a problem especially in cars that are not seeing lots of drag racing. Also, you can change the geometry the wrong way too. Is that a better thing than not at all? No.
I'm not going to tell you NOT to run LCA brackets and the like. I sell them, I sell them because there are times they are a something we want to add. But I'm also not going to blow smoke up your skirt that you have to have them just because you lowered the car. And the "geometry change" argument is kind of amusing to me. Those that say that are all about it... and for years have run panhard bars which do odd geometry things in general vs. a Watts link too. But only until we've had and been using Watts links have you see anyone else even care about that, and start to copy that thinking.
I'm not going to tell you NOT to run LCA brackets and the like. I sell them, I sell them because there are times they are a something we want to add. But I'm also not going to blow smoke up your skirt that you have to have them just because you lowered the car. And the "geometry change" argument is kind of amusing to me. Those that say that are all about it... and for years have run panhard bars which do odd geometry things in general vs. a Watts link too. But only until we've had and been using Watts links have you see anyone else even care about that, and start to copy that thinking.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
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Joined: Feb 2012
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Likes: 21
I will add that I am using a Watts link on my car with relocation brackets but with the LCA on the "middle" hole. But again, I'm not at the point where I can really feel a difference due to the relocation brackets.
IMO you would have to really learn the car for a while and then do nothing but add relocation brackets to be ale to tell. I have become an advocate of "don't buy something unless you need it".
Every mod I have done to my car has been because I drove the car hard enough at autocross to find it's weak points. In which case I would upgrade to "fix it".
If the car will be a true DD with the occasional back road curvy sprints then simple shocks/springs will go a long way with an adj PHB. Then add sway bars on top of that if you are not happy. Anything more IMO is buying parts just to buy parts. Meaning not buying relocation brackets, SFC's, T/A, T/A relocation bracket, tubular rear LCA's etc etc.
IMO you would have to really learn the car for a while and then do nothing but add relocation brackets to be ale to tell. I have become an advocate of "don't buy something unless you need it".
Every mod I have done to my car has been because I drove the car hard enough at autocross to find it's weak points. In which case I would upgrade to "fix it".
If the car will be a true DD with the occasional back road curvy sprints then simple shocks/springs will go a long way with an adj PHB. Then add sway bars on top of that if you are not happy. Anything more IMO is buying parts just to buy parts. Meaning not buying relocation brackets, SFC's, T/A, T/A relocation bracket, tubular rear LCA's etc etc.
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What are your goals for the car? I haven't touched my LT1 motor other than full exhaust, CAI and a tune.
Depends on what you want the car to do. IMO don't bother with HP mods until you can tame the current HP level around a turn. I was in the same boat wanting a cam until I got on a autocross course and I was slapped in the face with reality. Learn to drive FIRST then upgrade things that need upgrading.
I won't touch my motor for a WHILE. More HP won't help you if the suspension is not up to par or you don't know how to use it. You can get in trouble real quick lol. Hell I can get in trouble with only 311/346 at the wheel.
Depends on what you want the car to do. IMO don't bother with HP mods until you can tame the current HP level around a turn. I was in the same boat wanting a cam until I got on a autocross course and I was slapped in the face with reality. Learn to drive FIRST then upgrade things that need upgrading.
I won't touch my motor for a WHILE. More HP won't help you if the suspension is not up to par or you don't know how to use it. You can get in trouble real quick lol. Hell I can get in trouble with only 311/346 at the wheel.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: St.Charles MO
I love my H/C setup, like you would imagine its silly fun having more power/torque everywhere. HOWEVER if you really want to set the car up for auto-x and be competitive within you class you don't want to do those types of mods, especially in the beginning. It will definitely make the car harder to drive on a course, and bump you up in more of a "race car" type of class.
Like any competitive sport, there are rules. If you want to compete somewhere, then it's best to know them. But if it's a street car, then do what you want... you can always autocross it (just maybe not very competitively vs. other cars in the class you might end up in). 
Frankly I never wanted for a much more power than my Z28 made with a good tune, light flywheel, headers. And if I had 3.73's it'd have been more than enough. I think it's a function of where you live and drive. I actually have more fun day to day in my 2000 FRC than my 2007 Z06 because the Z06 is just too much for pounding around in. I know it sounds silly but more isn't always more.
BTW though you don't see it on my website (because I'm too busy) I can do things like heads and cams too. Anything you find at someplace like Jegs or Summit, I can do too!!!
Frankly I never wanted for a much more power than my Z28 made with a good tune, light flywheel, headers. And if I had 3.73's it'd have been more than enough. I think it's a function of where you live and drive. I actually have more fun day to day in my 2000 FRC than my 2007 Z06 because the Z06 is just too much for pounding around in. I know it sounds silly but more isn't always more.
BTW though you don't see it on my website (because I'm too busy) I can do things like heads and cams too. Anything you find at someplace like Jegs or Summit, I can do too!!!
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
I actually did see the note about how you can find just about anything and for a fair price at that. When it comes time for me to work with that route (after I finish dialing in on the suspension and save enough cash) I'll definitely give you a call