Today, Will and I worked on getting the front struts and springs out, we removed the whole A arm and front suspension, After it has all been removed, I stand back, take some pics (soon to be posted) and decided that stock is junk, I am not putting it back in, So a new tubular K member and A arms from spohn are in short order.

 

Right on bro, that will be a sweet setup!

 

Thanks, All that fresh stuff sure will look good, along with fresh springs and the struts.

 

Your car is in sac......So does that mean when im in sac next week I can see it?

 

I want to do this as well some day. I want to see the pics ASAP. Last time I talked to SPOHN the weren't making them yet. Are you still going to run a standard iron V8 or have you decided yet? I know they make tube k members for LS? swaps.P.S. How much $$ for all that?

 

Sweet Travis, I'm doing mine this winter also. Now it'll match match the suspension in the rear. The front is ugly and heavy.

 

Not fair at all!!! I'm putting all my extra $$ in my '54 right now. I keep priming my wife with the idea that when my 150k motor goes in the IROC then I'm doing it all at the same time, motor, Kmember, Aarms, 5 speed trans. etc. She's very understanding of my addiction. Of couse she has a nice Tahoe too.

 

hawks used to sell an "LSx" k-member but they don't any more. thats what I had ordered back in november but what came was a new spohn k-member. hawks said the old version with the mounts had some fitment issuse so they don't sell them with mounts any more. the old version was made locally(to hawks). when I ordered mine it was $450 now I think its $500 for the K-member

 

Not to bad. Are the A arms much more? I won't be able to afford any of this stuff until my '54 is done and on the road. I have to be able to have 1 daily driverr running.

 

$300 for coilover style, $400 for stock style

 

Correct, A arms with spring perch are 400, the K member for gen 1/2 blocks are 445. So all in all, 845 bucks plus shipping, not too bad. I think its totally worth it.
Hey Daniel, I am keeping with the iron Gen 1 block. My car is all setup for it, as far as fitment and tranny, ecm, etc. So I will stick with it for now, Maybe when the project is done someday I will build a second engine on the side which will of coarse have to be way sicker then the current engine to warrant a swap.

But a 383 and 12psi shouldnt be bad on perfomance, even considering the long tubes, high flow heads, big cam, mini ram, etc

 

You better give Jesse a good run with all that, good lord.

 

Sounds fast to me. What kind of 1/4 time can you pull set up that way? Do you think you will save any wieght/time with the tubular stuff? Have you weighed in recently? I'd be curious to see if there's any weight savings. I undertand it's mainly a space sace savings, but have heard there's some weight saved.

 

I would hope theirs a weight savings, just looking at the two side by side is incredible the amount of metal the stokc peices use.
But either way, I would hope for tens, Traction permitting. But it's all wishful thinking until it really happens, I have learned my lesson with that one.
I weighed my car at bennies shop and got a 1250 over the rear axle and a 1700 front axle, withou tme in it. Not sure how accurate that really was, Seemed on the low side.

 

I'm hoping to be @3000lbs. or less and get 375 RWHP when I'm all done. PIPE DREAMS though for now.

 

I hope the tubular junk and cowl hood drop enough pounds and yet i always want full interior, I want a car that appears and feels totally drivable, yet power on demand.

 

ME TOO! I took out my spare/jack and plan on retrofitting the new Optima battery there when my current battery dies. Just got one for the wifes Tahoe. $200 for the red top. But it's maintanance free and is supposed to be better performing

 

, lonely at the top (haha im cocky)

 

if i remember correctly a tublar k member, and tublar a arms saves 80 to 100 lbs

i say traviz youll finish yours the same time terrell finishes his iroc

 

That would be worth it to me. It's al about wieght savings in the front end!

 

yea.... what daniel said....

 

Nah, I'll be finished before Terrell

I expect to be all done this march at latest.

oh ya.
Will won't let me put anything old back on, so this is going on as well.

 

just dont forget to upgrade the rest of your suspension....

 

The rear stuff can wait, I am only replacing right now what I have already dissasembled.

 

it can wait until you blow it up right? ...i really need to find a project camaro...

 

[QUOTE= ...i really need to find a project camaro...[/QUOTE]

 

Are those the 2-piston caliper setups from that SSBC joint Travis?

I was going to go with those, but I don't think the price can justify the stopping power.
Bigger rotors w/more stopping area would be more beneficial.
I'll probably just get new oem pads/calipers this winter.

 

I just dont have the place to put it...

 

you have a garage.... and a side spot by the side gate to your backyard..



By the way Travis, it will be tomarrow im coming to sac leaving here at 8am hopefully i can see the 'rock hopefully i will be back in time for work

 

travis do a search on those. I remember there was a big thread about those calipers. long story short the improvment, if any would hardly be noticable. Im with del, do a real brake upgrade

 

The main thing is the dual piston calipers, with slotted rotors and braided steel lines is what I want. I am sure it will be a noticable improvement over my stock 160k mile stuff and worn out hoses.

Plus it looks good, and is moderately cheap, you should all know that I have never been big on brakes.

 

Awesome job so far bish. Car is looking better everyday, and it's going to look awesome when she is all done, can't wait! The tubular sh*t is going to be so freaking sick, not only looks but performance will be way better than the old stock crap. As for the brakes I totally agree with you, SSBC is the sh*t for the money, and it looks sick. What you said about a major difference over the stock old 160k mile stuff is so true. Even if it's not the best upgrades you will still notice a huge difference just because of this. When I replaced my original pro. valve, new pads, and one new caliper on my 83 I couldn't believe the difference, it was like night and day. And of course your increase will only be better cause you are upgrading your stuff.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...=ssbc+calipers

after reading this seems like some good pads and rotors would be just as good as those calipers, they do look good though

also, I was talking to the guys at MSI in roseville about the SSBC 3 piston calipers for the vette. they had a couple people use them and they didn't see much of an improvment over stock.

 

You know what ? I'm gonna ask, what's the wieght savings? Are they made of aluminium?

 

I'm doing the c5/c6 swap in feb. I'll let you know what difference there is

 

Not sure, but they look sweet

 

Aren't you puting on 18's? Those little discs will look funny behind those wheels (like mine).

 

I actually think I will be doing 17's again. The zr1's

 

18's aren't that great for racing.

Are you getting the red calipers as pictured, front/back?
I was going to get the silver/clear ones, they do look nice.
My slotted rotors look good, but I definitely need new calipers.

 

I will probably get the clear coated ones. At the time, didn't realize the red powdercoat was extra.

 

Yes, they are aluminum by the way, so some weight savings, some is better then none.

No matter what size wheel they will look sick I think, with the combo of nice looking calipers and slotted rotors it's going to look nice. Go for the red already done powder coated ones bish. You could always have them done later I guess but it's never the same from the factory, besides the red will match the car. Just save the extra money and do it.

 

Yeah that's what I was thinking, the red would match.
C'mon high roller, don't skimp out now.

You lose all my rotors and getting slotted now?
I got my slotted ones off eBay for a steal if you are looking.

GTO/3rd gen progress Will?

 

What if I don't want red :P

 

what happened to a stock looking iroc on the outside?

 

I decided I want a weight loss over looks. Hey theirs nothing wrong with changing directions.

 

Tatsefully moded is not a bad way to go, just don't do the powdercoating. bare/clear anodized aluminim is so hot.

 

Sorry, I totally disagree. Go for the red powdercoat, and get it done from SSBC, or don't do it at all. I still think even with the wheels you want Travis, the red will look sick, black and red go together good and it will look agressive in my opinion.

 

Enough about the color. How much wieght savings with the brake upgrade and the k member/a arms? I want Lbs!!!! I'd also like to go with aluminum heads and block if I can afford it. Anyone know what the difference in wieght between the T-5 and 700R4 is? Also, how tuff to smog a 5.7 with a T-5? Anyone done this yet in CA? Could someone ask Beanie?

 

Daniel...Smog guys around here don't care about the trans.. Trust me.

 

I was told I might have to burn a chip that tells my computer I have a manual trans.? Can you ask your smog guy if there's a difference?