I used to use my dads 2001 Dodge Dakota Sport Quad Cab for autocrosssing which did suprisingly well (I've beaten many mustangs and corvettes and such with it.) However, I recently bought a 1987 Camaro IROC-Z as my first car (you can see some photos of it if you go to my garage).

I plan on autocrossing it next summer so I would like to upgrade the suspension components but since I am only 16 and still in high school, I am on a very tight budget and working 3 jobs to try and make it happen.

It would be great if you guys could help me make a list of things I should do to my car and prioritize them based on how much they will help.

My Car:
5L V8 TPI
Automatic
Stock everything

Oh, I would like to remain in either the Stock class or the STS class, and if you would like any other information on my car to provide better advise, just ask.

 

I don't mean to gripe at you, but you beat a Corvette with a Quad Cab Dakota?? That Corvette must have been running on 5 cylinders and three wheels. Those Irocs are nice, that was a good buy. How much did you pay for it?? What is the limit on your budget??

 

I only beat the corvettes because they had to much power so they kept spinning the wheels and spinning out.

As for the car, I paid $2500 for it (came with new alternator, starter, front brakes and it has very minimal rust). And I dont think ill spend more than $1000 mostly because my mom wont let me (she doesnt want me to put all my cash in a car)

 

From my experience, Tires are the First thing you should Get, as sticky as possible. front and rear shocks/struts. cat-back exhaust/K&N air filter, and upgrade the brakepads thats it. If ur planning on staying in the stock class. that should make for one competitive thirdgen. specially if ya got a 350 and TPI. Any other mods will bump you out of the stock class, at least where i run. Look at the club you plan on running with's rules on what is and is not acceptable as "stock"

 

The brakes and air filter are already swapped, I am still looking for a deal on some performance tires, as for the shocks and struts ive heard either the Bilstein or Tokico Illuminas are the way to go.

But how much would some good tires and shocks cost? Also what do you think about putting a stiffer sway bar on the front and rear?

NOTE: I have a 305 TPI not a 350 but i think the engine still has more than enough power to get through the course fast.

 

Since midnight gave me an idea of where to get started does anyone know the prices for this stuff or where to get it cheaper?

 

You need to be careful on picking and choosing modifications and components if you want to stay in the stock class. Some mods will quickly push you into other categories where you will be far from competitive. Look at the Solo rules:
http://www.scca.org/_FileLibrary/File/2007SoloRules.pdf
before you decide to add anything.
I thought I could stay in stock, but some of the changes that were made before I bought the car are putting me in Street Mod.

Good luck,
Steve

 

All I can do to the car and still remain in the stock class is:

Change air filter elemennt in stock airbox
Install shocks with adjustable valving
Change front anti roll bar and/or bushings
Use DOT R-compoumt tires (eg: Hoosier A3S06, Kumho Ecsta V710...)

If I do any more than the above suspension mods then I will be bumped up to STS.

 

To complete the list above, it will cost...

1. air filter=$0 (already changed)
2. Stock front anti roll bar is good for now
3. Ive heard Hoosier's arent good so it will cost $550 for a set of Kumho's
4. Now for the shocks/struts...
   Bilstein Sport Shocks/Struts $650 for a set
   Tokico Illuminas Shocks/Struts $550 for a set
   Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts $700 for a set
   ...from what I have read, the bilsteins are not adjustable but come with a lifetime warrenty. However, both the Koni and the Tokico are externally adjustable but come with no warrenty that I am aware of.

I guess my only question fro now is... Will the lifetime warrenty on the Bilsteins be worth losing the adjustability Koni and Tokico can provide, or will Koni and Tokico be able to handle the abuse from autocross that it shouldnt matter anyway?

Once again, I am on a tight budget because I am still in high school therefor I dont have a full time job and the money to go nuts on my car. Thats why I dont want to buy something and have it break half way through the season and I have to go buy something else.

 

The koni's do have a lifetime warranty.

See here, near the bottom.

 

327???, thanks for the info

Looks like Koni's are the way to go for now... Just have to find the $

 

hey dude, dont listen to your mom,,,
I am almost 19, started working when I was 13 under the table ****,
I have a t/a and a firebird, ones got 30k into it and im starting on the firebird now.... put all your money into you car and gas.... its worth the effort.... I would never take anycar over my 3rd gens.... even if i was offered a porshe...
lol....
keep us updated on what you install
+ spohn makes some real nice suspension stuff too, price is good and so is quality and shipping time..
----------
oh the koni reds are a great shock too. i have them on both my cars now

 

I would rather spend 30K on a college education than on a car. I dont want to go that far with a car just yet, I just want it to be really competitive at autocross events without dropping a ton of money into my car.

 

lol, ok cool... hey i would recomend any suspension parts from spohn, especially the koni reds like i said above, and like 327 said ( lifetime warrenty )... and perhaps a good shift kit for the 700r4...
the nitto 555's are good tires also but you'll only get about 8k miles out of them,
I would also seriously consider chaning the sway bars front and back and put a new panhard and sfc in.
Koni Reds - $550
Front and Rear Sways - $350
Tires - $500
Puts u at about $1400. bit more than you planned but it would be worth it...

 

Another good thing is that I dont have to worry about labor costs because one of my dads friends has a garage equivalent to what you would see at most dealerships. It is as big as most houses and is filled with some really cool cars (1969 Camaro SS, 1961 GTO, 1948 Cadillac Fire Truck, 1966 VW Bus, and a few others which are all fully restored #'s matching vehicles).

 

tires and konis. tires and konis. Alignment!

I wouldnt worry about sway bars until you drive with the new tires and shocks. No need to change the bars until you know how it will handle with the new setup.

 

Competition alignment will help in steering response and tire wear for autocross ONLY. The exact specs can vary from car to car.
If the car is a daily driver I'd run conservative on the alignment specs because a competition alignment can lead to instablity and eratic handling at high speeds(fwy and above) Try:
-.5 deg camber
1/8 inch total(1/16 per side) toe in
max the caster out equaly both sides.
Use these specs till you get enough seat time and are ready to move up to race tires

 

What is the difference between Koni yellow and Koni Red?

 

koni yellow's suposivly are a little better but no one at spohn or koni could give me a good enough reason to warent spending an extra $100 dollars per shock to upgrade to yellow. The reds are great at $159 a piece for the front. + Fully Adjustable and Lifetime Warrenty....

 

It appears that the yellows are adjustable and the reds aren't, I've also been told that the yellows are more "aggressive"(stiffer).

The price difference is also $65 for the front and $15 for the rear(a piece) at spohn.

I like things adjustable.

 

Sub frame connectors and TIRES!

 

subframe connectors will def bump you out of the stock class.

 

yeah i thought so...

but i think i read somewhere that konis are only externally adjustable in the fron and you have to take teh rear shock off the adjust it. Is this true and if so, is there another comnpany that offers front and rear externally adjustable with a lifetime warrenty?

 

Im in the same spot as you, except today was my first AutoX

I did it in my 2.0 Jetta and did pretty good for my first time.

I have a Camaro that i stopped working on but now i decided to make it a race car, mainly for Autox and some drag racing.

First thing im doing is struts, weight reduction, springs, brakes, and a roll cage.

Im also 16 so its kinda hard to make money, but i hope to have enough money and have this done for the next Autox which is in Nov.

Good luck !

 

You do know that by doing all that your going to be put against some pretty good cars in a very high class, and how will you be able to afford all that since ur still in school?

 

Be sure of what class you want to be in and read the rules at least 10 times before you order anything, and find out all you can before investing your money.

Look at S&W Race cars for your cage. I out one in my 82 and it worked out well. SCCA requires a diagonal bar that other groups don't. Just tell them what you are doing and they will fix you up. I got a DOM kit with certs for about $630. and I know where it was made outside Pottsville, PA.

Steve

 

I dont mind, im just out there to have fun.

And i work 3 hours a day during school making $300 every 2 weeks

 

That's pretty good... I only make $100 to $150 each week.

 

Where you located?

 

you can get rear adjustable, but they are expensive, the qa1 coil overs, you can buy them through spohn, I have them and love them but they are $550 for the kit with shocks and springs but you have to weld plates and need relocation brackets for the rear. It would def, bump you out of the stock class