For the past six+ months after I replaced my entire suspension, someone on this board from Indiana sent me the answer to my worst issue.

When I turn the wheels towards the right or left, the wheels grab the pavement, twist, then the binding action actually lifts the corner of the IROC up into the air as it 'pops loose'. Then it twists & binds again. This happens from mid-turn to full lock. I've taken things apart, been to a frame shop, paid for 3 four-wheel alignments and spent almost all my spare time trying to figure out why the Ackerman angle was so messed up. I've been assuming that it was due to the two inch suspension drop and the next step was to install a bump-steer kit, the LCA relocation brackets and tubular K-member and A-arms (which is all the $$$$ I've put aside to paint and install the new engine).

Such a simple solution, unless you're Dislexic like I am: The speed shop that bolted the front suspension together reversed the center-link, so the inner tie-rods are improperly located. I suppose that's what I get for using one of the highest rated speed shops in my area that specializes in 1/4 mile cars (recently featured on 'PINKS-ALL-OUT' Sonoma/Infinion). This is the third screw up I've discovered and I'm unsure how to approach the shop since they've been blowing me off about it for the past 1/2 year.

First they reversed the front sway bar upside down, then they installed the wrong 'C-clip' in the Hunter Racing sperical bearinged strut plates, so they were hammering the insides out. I thought the guy who sold them to me ripped me off by selling me used parts represented as new so paid for a set of factory strut bearing plates to be installed. Since the front will need to be realighned anyway now, I might as well throw on the HMS units and set the alignment by string and a measuring tape.

I also finally decided to change my black on black paint job to a 2006-2007 Jaguar XK indigo blue and will start by painting the new engine block and parts the aforementioned. I'm unsure if it's okay to mix metallic chips on an engine surface or if I should do without. I probably won't get around to painting the entire car for a couple more years. I won my local Wed night Sport-Street 2008 class for the year and want to devote more time to seeing how good I can get with Bracket Racing. It might look stupid to paint the engine compartment blue but it would be a big waste of time to pull the engine out in a couple years to change the color then. I'm going to modernize the 1967 Bumble Bee hood stripe in silver with a copper/orange pinstripe and add some orange stitching to the interior. Maybe Travis will tell me the easiest way to disasemble the bonnet for paint & if it's worth trying to smooth out the firewall.
Nitro-Nicky

 

Bummer on the waste of time and $, but congrats on the bracket racing victories!
I'd definitely be approaching this "speed shop" if that happened to me.

I like the attention to detail in your plans, hope to see that beauty sometime.
Maybe a trip to the raceway sometime next season, here, or there.

 

Glad you figured it out.

I would also go see the speed shop. Not sure what you can get out of it. Maybe sue for the money you spent trying to figure to fix that problem. Good luck

 

I really want to come up to Sac for one of your 'track-days' once this IROC is buttoned up. I understand your track surface is faster than Infinion's but I could get a lot of launch practice in before showing up to actually drag race here. We don't have track days, which is rather pathetic. Plus I'd rather have the drivetrain working BEFORE moving on to putting lipstick onto the body & interior.
Mine won't be anywhere as fast as Travis' as I'm trying to stick with the TPI so I can use it more for an autocross style of driving. Shoot; I'd pay actual money to watch his little hot rod monster take a few runs down the 1320!!

I can't believe how less stressed today I feel after finally understanding what went wrong. The guy works on a lot of the top wheel standing pro cars at the track so hopefully he dosn't want me sharing any negative information around. I'm just pissed now that I see how blowing me off the past six months was totally uncalled for. He's fun to talk to and his race cars are usually dialed in at the launch pad; super smooth weight transfers. This past year he took a 4th Gen firebird and removed over 800lb of weight. I'd have thought it had a huge turbo or nitrous system on it the way it flies down the track; it's just beautiful to watch. We'll see what happens this week. Nitro

 

As a shop owner, I'd rather someone pointed out the problem & explained how I made the mistake, rather than find out about in court.
If there is any documentation from whoever discovered the mistake thats always worth its weight in gold.
Remember, everyone makes mistakes, I've found it to be true with even the biggest names, even me!
A good shop will try to make it right.

 

I don't recall any 1/4 times or dynos from Travis yet to earn that confidence.

Bring that TPI of yours up here for sure! What times are you getting down there?

 

I've never been able to get consistant anything with my IROC and it started making a rod knock this year, so I cheated. I kept taking my G-37 out and it does 13.0-13.2 all day long. It's embarassing.

I think I've only seen 3 third gen's all of this last season at Infinion. One thing that's been great is that the guy who does Chevy High Performance Magazine's Q & A Tech column races out here for the NHRA points series and his son Daniel last year was the High School points champ with his Camaro. They've let me pick their brains on some of the stuff I wanted to do with my new 350 block. Since they know about my IROC, they gave me pointers last season (which was my rookie year) on how to get consistant in either car.

Sadly, on the NHRA points, I ended up being about 30th in the Sportsman class. Those guys who 'really race' are so dang good at it. I could go 10 rounds of wed night eliminations and the next weekend would get picked off on the first round in the monthly Points race. I'll probably end up having to keep the IROC off the track this coming season. I drained my Camaro budget already...