rspain85

Have a stock 92 305 TPI Z28. I searched around a lil bit and didnt really find what i was looking for. Does anyone have any advice on some basic suspension components that I would need to get into autocross? I BELEIVE my car to be stock, i just recently got the car so I havent really been over it completely yet. BUT, that being said in my opinion, it looks a bit lower than other camaros i see. But it could be me. I'm assuming i'll need some basic stuff like springs, shocks/struts, and the obvious wheels/tires. But some input on stuff like STB and the like would be greatly appreciated. Alot of ppl with these cars drag race so it would be nice to find a group that autocrossed third gens so i can find some helpful advice. I've autocrossed before but always in newer stock production cars. Looking forward to building this thing and racing it!

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

First time out? Run it stock. Learn to drive it & I mean REALLY learn to drive IT.

A first time driver could take a full-on, modified car & lose top a bone stock car, driven by a person who really knows how to run autocross.

It's a humbling experience when you think you can drive your car good, turn it over to someone who can any car very good & they beat your time by several seconds, on the same course, same day. But it teaches the meaning of learning. Saves you $ from throwing $ at part after part, when you could improve just by learning more.

87_TA_GTA

i agree 100% with what stephen said, but that being said the first thing i would add to your car would be a pair of sub frame connectors, preferably the weld in style.

rspain85

Yeah I've been looking around and figured that subframe connectors would be basically the first step. Yeah i'm not going to argue Stephen at all. Thats why i said a "budget/entry level" setup. I know that time behind the wheel is gonna be more valuable than anything, so thats why i plan on only doing some minor basic upgrades here in the beginning and basically just driving and driving it to get the feel. It will be my first time autocrossing this particular car, but not my first time doing autocrosses. I've got alot of time behind a minor upgraded scion which is my DD, and I've ran an RX8 a couple times. I LOVE autocross, its a blast. This will definitely be my first time running a RWD V8 car. But after my high school days in my 89 LX 5.0 liter I am definitely NOT a newbie to RWD V8 cars

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

no, Stephen is right, drive the car as it is first. Besides, SFC's, and many other aftermarket parts will bump you up into classes you wont be competitive in, if you are worried about that or ever plan to be.

if you need to buy something, pickup a set of good tires for starters, than some koni yellows down the road.

rspain85

So how many, if any at all, have ran autocross with an automatic? I've only done it with manual cars. I was just browsing around the drivetrain forum looking at T56 swaps and since its about 2500 dollar swap, i will run the auto for awhile.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Look up the F Stock Class rules, ESP (E Street Prepared) Class Rules & C-Prepared rules.

Do the wrong single mod & your car is bumped into a class that you'll need a LOT more mods & experience with THAT car to be competitive.

SFCs aren't legal on Stock class, neither are STBs. Determine what class your gonna end up in before doing mods. Then decide if you just wanna go have fun? Or do you wanna WIN?

Best mod to win with, is inside your head.

Speedfreak391

iTrader: (1)

Great help. I am thinking of doing the same thing.

rspain85

Stephen, do you have any links you can post up for me? I assume you are referring to SCCA Solo events, thats what we have around here. I looked briefly last night for some rules and classes but got nowhere. Yeah I would like to read the rules and figure out what class I wanna run starting out.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I have a link to a .pdf of the 2008 book. That'll get you real close.

http://www.scca.org/documents/Solo%2...lo_Rules_2.pdf

I can look for a 2010 version, if you REALLY need it, but that one will get you very close & only be missing any changes, if they were made. I suggest getting the newest if your serious about competing.

91_5.7_TPI

iTrader: (2)

As far as I remember, tires and shocks won't change your class. So, to begin with, drive the car, get used to it. Then, KONIs and some real tires.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

As others have stated I'd run the car bone stock the way it is for now. The only upgrade I'd make is Koni Yellows, and fix anything on the car that is broken. For example if you've got a wasted bushing or a worn out brake pads fix them. Then leave the car alone and run your first summer or at least first couple events on street tires. You need to be proficient at getting the car where you want it and making clean runs before you step up to slicks. With street tires you're forced to be a better driver, slicks can cover up some mistakes, so I recommend running street tires for the first while.

As far as your trans goes, be careful with it. Automatics suck for autocross unless they are modified. I've ridden in a few automatic thirdgens autocrossing and they are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. Autocross is about the worst thing you can do to an automatic, especially if it's trying to upshift and downshift all the time. Some of the fastest autocross cars I've been in were automatic cars, but they had loose converters and manual valve bodies so they can be held in gear and won't up or down shift. Your stock 700R4 is going to try to downshift to first gear coming out of slow corners which really makes things difficult. I hate to say it but it will be the single largest most annoying and limiting thing about your car. If you're going to get serious about autocrossing the car I'd swap it out for a manual trans or beef the automatic to take the abuse. I'd get the trans issue straightened BEFORE you do any other suspension mods or anything else. You need to be in full control of what the trans is doing or going to do, and with the stock automatic you can't do that.

P.S. people are going to tell you to pull the TV cable out on the trans to keep it from downshifting, don't do it. It will destroy your trans.....

rspain85

Thanks for all the input guys. Yeah i'm glad you responded with tranny info. I know the tranny is gonna be **** stock, but I just wanna get an idea if its worth modding it or if i should just do a T56 swap. I'm familiar with 700R4's a lil bit, but have a badass tranny guy that helps me do the work. Yeah the old TV cable and a set of vice grips trick is the oldest trick in the book. HORRIBLE idea. I'd kinda like to just do a good converter and shift kit, a full manual valve body isnt really what i WANT to do, since i'll street drive it alot too, but if I dont get the control i want without it then I'll do a full manual valve body and a good shifter and call it a day. Seems like everyone is recommending Koni yellows and it could use a set of shocks/struts. I plan on going through all the bushings in the suspension. And i'm currently missing the passenger side sway bar drop link so i need to get that replaced.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

Koni yellows are the best suspension thing I've done to my car, period.

Fix the sway bar endlink before you do any racing.