Hi All,
Been browsing the site for a day or so and just want to say I really like what I see. Looks like most everybody here is into some form of racing. I started NASA HPDE in 2002 and moved up the ranks fairly quick into Time Trials when it first got introduced back in 2003. I ran as often as I could afford to until priorities changed at the end of 2006 season. I am just getting back into Time trials again this season. I know there aren't to many first gen f-body racers here but hell I really cant find many anywhere except for VARA and I'm too modified to join them.
Here are a few pic's from a test and tune I was doing at Buttonwillow. Ran consistent 2:10's my last session with a best 2:10.125 13CW configuration. I had just lowered the rear another 1 1/2" and my rear tires were hitting my inner quarter panels and tail pipes, heating up my tires, and creating a loose condition. I have since installed a Fays2 watts link and will be back to Buttonwillow sometime after May to see if I can knock my times down any further.

Thats a nice looking 69! I may be the only 1st gen guy on here, but I could be wrong. I'm building a 67, but I have about another year to go before she sees the track.

How is your car set up? Who's front frame (sure doesn't look stock in the photos!) what are you running for power? what Rear setup? We need a whole Car Craft/Hot Rod write up here!

Welcome to the site!

Welcome man,
I agree with Beach cruiser , that is one sweet 1st gen.

Thanks guy's. Back in 2002 I started with Global West control arms, 650 lb springs, 1 1/8" solid sway bar up front, 3/4" rear bar and leaf springs. I asked Doug to de-arch the rear leafs another inch for a 3" drop. I also added Baer Track/Touring set up with 13" 2 piston up front and 12" single piston in rear along with the 17x9.5 Torque Thrusts on all four's with 275/40 RA-1's. I added the Auto Power roll cage in 2003. In 2004 the original motor went bye-bye and I threw in a 500 h.p. Speed-O-Motive 383 stroker. Then I added front lexan.

Last May I threw an aluminum front clip on her and an aluminum small block 427 pushing roughly 620 h.p. at 6500 and 560 torque at 5000 at the crank. I also raised the front leaf spring perches to lower the rear of the car another 1 1/2". And just last week completed install of watts link.

I'm getting a bit faster and am due for a brake upgrade. Then will be rear lexan, aluminum deck lid and rear bumper.

Here's some pic's of the watts link. I had to narrow my tank and re-route the exhaust inboard of the leaf's.

Nice looking setup! So you're still running the factory front sub huh? Here's the lowdown on mine in it's current stage.

Front sub built by me to hold C5 components and Brakes, Front Rack. Rear is an IRS from a donor C4 with C4 brakes. For power I'm running a 377 (destroked 400) with about 435hp and a Super T10 4 speed. It's almost ready for some shakedown runs on the chassis before I tear it all apart for final painting and fit and finish. I may run fiberglass front and inner fenders with a carbon fiber cowl hood, steel doors and trunk. Cage is going in this spring, just a 4 point with front down bars. I hope to have it track worthy by next season.

I have an LS1 and with the computer and harness I may decide to swap in before final assembly.

One question, How did you narrow the tank? I don't see any seams anywhere?

Yeah, still holding out on front sub. Hell, still have rear leaf's. I did forget to mention the rack-n-pinion. I like the idea of the C4 set up in the rear. A buddy of mine threw a C4 set up under his '55 chevy and just beat my time at Buttonwillow by 1.5 seconds two weeks ago. Although I was fighting a loose condition that is still pretty impressive in a shoe box. If he kicks my butt after this watts install I'll be headed for a C4 set up under mine also.

I've got another buddy who's welds look like they came from a sewing machine. He sectioned and narrowed the tank for me.

Post some pic's of that front sub some time

Sweet looking machine. I had a 69 RS/Z28 up until about 4 years ago. Had to sell. Mine was stock however, with a 302.

Thanks for the memories.

bock

WELCOME!!

Love me some first gens!!! Keep posting pics and vids, we love to see what folks are doing! Yours is gorgeous!



Costas
cars and such...

Here's the pictures of the front sub, and one of the IRS. The front is a lot like the AME unit, but with adjustable eccentrics on the lower arms.

Thanks Costas, enjoyed watching that video of yours. What gear box are you using? Love hearing those clutchless up shifts.

Beach Cruiser, that C4 IRS is sick!! Gotta get me one a dem bad boys!!

Thanks bock, Glad I brought up some good memories for you.

Some 1st gens that have graced my shop:

That car is BEAUTIFUL!!! Welcome aboard!

Nice stuff Blaine, I like that '69. Never seen that one at a track day. I like the cage work.

Welcome to the board and welcome back to the sport. Glad things worked out and you are able to get back on track.

I've seen Beach Cruiser's car in person. AWESOME work. What people don't realize is he did that in a garage smaller than most walk in closets. Dude's nuts.

Thanks Kevin!

Thanks Kyle. don't know if I'll make all the venues this season but I'm looking forward to tearing it up.

Yeah, I like the direction Beach Cruisers is going with his '67. Thats one thing I've noticed about you east coast boys, alot of passion for this sport. If you think about it were all nuts..........spending thousands of dollars a year for adrenaline, lol.

AWESOME ! '69

I've got a '67, BUT as it sits, it's got more "burn" than "turn" .. someday I'd like to remedy that (keeping the stock front sub), it seems like it's getting hard to distinguish between the "bling" and the functional parts on protouring.com





~DaVe

Glad you made your way over here Gaetano! Your car has a lot more in it as it sits than that 1.5 seconds the '55 beat you by. More track familiarization in the car and some little tweaks (big ones if you include new brakes) will get you that no problem. Something I learned about R888's (weren't you on RA1s last year?): they are useless until they either get ~8 heat cycles in them, or if you shave them right out of the box. Shaving them on a long track will net ~a 3 second gain per a few World Challenge teams...




pt.com has become all about bling.

this thread says it all imo: http://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?...-Cage-67-Camaro

That Tiger cage scares me. Essentially multi piece backstays and bolted connections in the middle (that are also bent). Also, those look to be "slip on" clamps and not something that's bushed and bolted through the cage. In a hard impact the clamps could wind up virtually anywhere and there is little to keep them from rotating around the tube (providing very little rigidity). But it does have pretty exposed tig welds (paraphrasing the ad copy). And it's made of stainless steel? Odd...

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled new guy thread.

Completely agreed




PS, I'm also SIK02SS on other forums

Hey Chris, good to hear from you. Yeah, I was running R888's last year. I'm going back to shaved RA-1's though. Seems to me that the R888's might be falling off even with about 2/32's left but I will know for sure in May at Thunderhill.

The PT guy's are a little different than we are. I think alot of them are intimidated by road courses and runninig wheel to wheel but thet sure do lovr that autocross. Not my thing. Anyways, were shooting for July 30 at Buttonwillow. Hopefully you can make it out.