BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I wanted to share some pics from last weekend (6/9/13) at the GoodGuys Car show/autocross here in CO.

The whole plan was to autocross the car, but some of the old guys had me confused so I started my day parked in the lawn looking pretty.


But pretty quickly we found that to participate in the AutoX we needed to be waiting inline for the call to run.

I have some pictures, but most were shot from Lindsey Fisher @ Chevyhardcore magazine.












The car handled AMAZING!!!! The car really had a bunch of people blown away... as I was too. When on my first run I put down a faster number than both of the ZL1 Camaros that went a few laps before me and had just set the pace. I car went a fastest lap of a 47.229, but the final shootout lap I didn't realize times were still being counted, and I let the magazine writer jump in and a 47.888 was put down for an official 8th place SS class. Stinks I was in 3rd the lap prior haha.

Here is a video of my 47.229 second run.

For my local guys that still talk "all show", and "Garage queen"... YEAH ABOUT THAT

plum92_camaro

FREAKIN' SWEET!! Way to go man! Show and go is always a fun combo! Always liked your car. It's really cool to see it in action!

jazzdadss

I really love the way the blue pops out on the ground effects!! Drive it like you stole it!!

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

bad ***. love this car !

Buggy Disaster

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a fun day. I gotta get my car out to an autox event. I have been procrastinating for the past year.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks guys! It was really rewarding to finally KNOW that all the improvements to the suspension actually made a difference. To compare a 1992 Z28 with Spohn sway bars L98, A4 ran a best of 51.0? sec.

Lindsey sent me a link to the write up on the event last night, and a little blurb about my car... and how thirdgens are normally not very impressive.

http://www.chevyhardcore.com/event-c...erican-sunday/ *says that it is an "attack" site, but it is not... think its getting blocked due to "hardcore" in the title *

paul_huryk

Very nice!

I think that a road racing TQ arm would work wonders and drop your time even more - something along the lines of a Global west Tracklink or something (your signature doesn't mention a TQ arm).

I find it amusing that some people still have no idea how well the 3rd gens handle on a road course or autocross, considering they were the best handling pre 5th gen cars that GM made (better than the 4th gens on the 275-40-17 sized tires). Considering your car's balance, parts. lower weight, and lower COG - no one should be surprised that the "technically superior" ZL1s were slower.

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Case in point - Spohn works!

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks man. Yeah I don't have a torque arm yet. I thought in the fall I would be upgrading the rear, but then I just repaired the exploded posi, so not knowing which rear I would use I didn't want to make a purchase. It's something that will be on my short order list of todo's after I get done with the convertible restoration. That has stolen most of my free money... in a good way I guess

Yeah the ZL1 drivers were totally buddy buddy, and stopped talking to me after my first run. Guess they thought I was some sort of polished billet joke haha. They did end up both beating me, but we went back and forth for 7 runs, until I took on the co-pilot, and slowed down (maybe showing off?).

I'm off to first road course run this Sunday, so should be cool to try it all again with higher speeds. I will have the go-pro for that one for sure!

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Yeah! Now if they would hook a brother up lol

paul_huryk

I see your point - definitely need to get the right TQ arm for the rear and tranny you have - too many differences for a "universal fit".

Guess those ZL1 guys thought they were going to be routing their older ancestor on the course - then you showed them!

Post the video when you have it...

IMissMy86TA

Firstly I am surprised you showed at GoodGuys as I thought their shows were pre 72?
also in columbus, OH we have a great show for the arthritis foundation that pulls in around 1500 cars a year. would be great if other thirdgen.org people showed...anyway...
http://www.arthritisautoshow.com/

on Thursday of that weekend they will have "Power run" to mid-ohio race track and take a few laps for 25.00. I am debating on taking my son and going thru it. it is putting more miles on the car but this would be a once in a lifetime thing as the original IROC races were even held there! I think it would be fun in my 5 speed... will have to learn the art of heal-2-toe

Anyone with me??

and how to run it:

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Their shows are, but on Sundays they open it up and call it "All American Sunday". Anything American, or American powered can show, and race the autocross. This is how a turbo 2.3l Ford powered Spitfire was able to take #1 position.

Those videos look cool man, for the $25 you really should get out there and take a lap or two. Nice to be able to feel what your car can really do in a safe controlled environment. I used to test my suspension mods in the Canyons near my home by seeing how fast I could make it point to point.... STUPID of me. Too many variable to contend with my own safety let alone other people on the road.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

3rdgen is one of the best handling cars with suspension upgrades. I remember back in the 90's it was time for me to buy some suspension goodies and one of the Mags did project Zig Zag. a 91/92 camaro with a complete hotchicks kit. If memory serves me right it pulled over 1g on the skid pad. and only a viper did better.

I love the way these cars handle.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Think it was Chevy High Performance. I remember that... Think I still have it along with the Super Chevy project Silver Streak. Both were huge inspirations for my choice of mods along the way.

ZigZag on those 17x9.5 TT2's was pretty impressive.

Wonder where those cars are now?

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

ya I have all the mags with 3rdGens going back to the 1st issue of HI TECH performance (before it was GM High Tec Perf.)

Zig Zag part 1 and 2 were great. Ya I wonder what those cars are upto today.
Silver Streat was great also. Hell almost all the 3rdgen mag projects were good.

paul_huryk

I don't like Hotchkis' RCA design - decent for straight line traction, pretty weak for handling. You want something that articulates and does not bind.

Here's a few articles I put up on the third gen blog...

IMissMy86TA

bye your car looks great in both show and go!
love the exhaust sound!

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

Nice job!

Can't believe they didn't require a helmet!lol

IMissMy86TA

one small update... the mid-ohio run will be a parade drive which means speed limited to 45.
I dont think I will be attending

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I normally run an exhaust dump just before the cat, but they said it was a no no, so it got capped. Not horrible for a puny lil 305 haha. Thanks man

Thanks man. I guess they say the course is designed to keep speeds low enough that they don't feel anyone needs one enough to require it. I bought Simpson helmet last week for my future stuff I get into. I'd like to see yours get out there and hook those 335's around the bends

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

There's a similar road course the SCCA puts on here near Detroit at the old Pontiac Silverdome (where the lions used to play). It spans through the whole parking lot around the stadium. Watching this gets me wanting to give it a run.

kmcn47

wow those handling projects did that with drums in the rear no less

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Do it!!! You won't regret it at all. Really tests your driver skills much more than you can do on the street or a straight line.

paul_huryk

I wonder why they would have a late model Z with drum brakes for a project car - but in terms of handling, probably no difference.

Also - did you notice that the only suspension changes were the shock/struts, springs, and sway bars - no subframe connectors, STB, RCA, panhard rod..Probably pick up more cornering power just by swapping them out for something better. Keep in mind these articles are over 20 years old, but the parts were out there.

kmcn47

right, i know the brakes don't technically improve handling, just thought it was funny how these cars had drums and everyone hates drum brakes like the plague lol

Coolwheels84

iTrader: (5)

Awesome man. Car looks (and handles) great!!

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Did lca's and a panhard make any noticeable difference? I'm awaiting a box from founders performance as we speak.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I would say that the Baer brake kit was one of the best "suspension/handling" mods I have made. It technically didn't help it turn any better, but I can go so much deeper into a corner, and get it shut down enough to make it around. I had drum brake rear to start with as well, so it was a big change.

Thanks man.

I actually did, my lca's, panhard bar, sway bars, front end rebuild, Kyb AGX shocks/struts, and 18" wheel upgrade all at the same time... so it was pretty hard to tell what portion of the improvement should attributed to what specific mod. I got a little crazy ordering stuff, but that how I typically do it

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Well I anticipated posting pictures and videos of my road racing adventure, but it didn't happen...

Saturday I got the car up on the trailer, and while strapping it down, I made a ROOKIE mistake. I was able hook the positive cable to starter with the strap around the k member, and when sinching it down... You can guess what happened next. POP, SIZZLE, SMOKE!!! I was able run in the garage and get the battery disconnected and kept the whole car from going up in flames. I was in a wedding Saturday afternoon, so I didn't have the time to get the wiring replaced. The car has only been on a trailer or tow truck one time before since I bought it in 2000, and it must not have wanted to go to the track.

I'm buying wheel straps for the front, and learned and almost devastating lesson on double checking your self and the things you think you know how to do.

IMissMy86TA

ouch! sorry to hear that!

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Could have been WAY worse. Its running and driving again. Fixed it all back up yesterday afternoon.

IMissMy86TA

nice. yeah could have been much worse!

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Got the box from founders today. Installed nice and clean. Can't wait to rough it up this weekend. Also took a coil out of the back end.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Nice man! That rear gap looks a lot better. You will have to post your findings for your results. How much did cutting the one coil get you? 1/2"?

I also lowered mine by removing the upper spring perches in the rear. Koni's seemed to have raised it up. Now I got just about a finger gap at all four corners. I will have to find some time to take a couple pics.

paul_huryk

I definitely did when I installed a set of Global West RCAs and Panhard rod vs. the stock parts. When I put in new Koni Yellows and new sway bar endlinks and bushings, the difference became even more drastic.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

My buddy texted me the video he took from his phone... Crappy quality, but here it is.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

I ran the course two times on accident, missing the exit in that run. You can hear my buddy go "oh-um" as I fly past it haha

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

good to hear!

The front of the car has 1.5 coils cut out yielding about a 2.5ish inch drop.
The rears have 2 full coils cut out for a total of about 2 inch drop. I'd like to go down about another half inch in the back, but this is good for now.

I dare not go any more. When the car isn't under load you can almost work the rear springs out with your bare hands.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Looks like you could come down some more, but maybe its the tire size that is deceiving in the pics. One way or another looks good man. You gonna run it around the cones?

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Thats the game plan! Only need to find a weekend that the girlfriend doesn't have booked in advance for me. (staying on the course should be easy compared to that one)

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

Looka-Good!

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks man! It was fun, and to get such positive feedback too was great.