I was just wondering if anybody has gotten far enough "into" their third-gen to think about making a tube frame front chassis with upper and lower A-arms like the corvette setup. I believe it is possible, with some creative engineering, to get a suspension setup like the C5. It has already been posted with pictures that you can put a C4 IRS on a third-gen...I am just interested in the other end.

 

Yes I think that it is possible to modify that setup to work for you but would it be worth it? Probably not. With some nice struts and control arms in the front and having it lowered it would pull the same Gs in the skidpad or slightly less. It would have better response and behavior for auto cross or road course because it is sooo much lighter. Hot Rod just had an article of modifying that suspension setup to any car. Ranck and pinion steering would also be easier to add on with that system. But really if you want the handling of a C4, then buy a C4; save alot of oney and hassle and the chassis is much lighter so it would handle better right off the bat.

That is my 2c

 

Well, I am inclined to agree with you on certain things. I want to autoX it and I figured that if I could get rid of the heavy metal frame supporting the engine and replace it with a tube frame it would save me at least 100lbs or more off the front end. I didn't buy a C4 because these cars hold a sentimental value for me; my father worked on the assembly line in Van Nuys, CA when my car rolled off the line. I've always liked the way they looked (even more than the corvette) and wanted to explore the potential of the suspension and drive train while still keeping the appearance basically the same. I think that american muscle cars are very underated when it comes to handling; basically I am trying to build a street legal C5R out of an 87 Formula Firebird.

 

Thats cool.

C5R eh? Did you see in Chevy Rumble the article of the buildup of the Gen III Sbc C5r engine? I saw it on the stands but didnt pick it up... doh! I digress.

Well if you are going to do a full tube front subfarme and new fenders then it may be worth it. Inceasing the front contact patch, and converting the rack and pinion at the same time would give benefits all way around, but it a HUGE project. Your also going to have to do something about the rears if you go that route too. I would suggest ditching the 4 link all together and throwing in a C5 independant SLA rear axle for tire room back there as well. The cool thing about that too is that you could buy a junked C4 chasis and do all the swap d\irectly from it with VERY careful measurements.

 

My plan is to put in a C4 IRS unit (or maybe Heidt's IRS unit) and make a tolallty custom floor pan which will include mini tubs so that I can fit 335/xxR17or18 rubber in the back. I know it will be a very big project but what I have on my side is time; I plan on having the car finished after working slowly for about ten years. This is for two reasons...1: I am currently in the military...2: I don't have anywhere to really work on it right now. Also, everything is still in the design stages. Project goals are 1/4 mile in 11seconds or less, 1G or more on the skid pad and a top speed of over 200mph. High aspirations yes, but I have ten years to accomplish them and to devote mind numding attention to detail to every last inch of this car. Everything will be done myself after extensive training and numerous practice sessions. Not many people really believe that i can pull this off but I will tell right now, look for it in magazines around 2015...mark my words, it will be done:rockon: :rockon:

There is some other interesting stuff I have planned as well but as you know, can't tell all my secrets.

 

Thought about modifing the front to a tube frame set up and use coil- over shocks. A freind of mine is in the process of doing a 89 IROC. He is on year three.
With working at Auto Concepts INC. for two years building GT-1/ SCCA Trans - Am race cars and starting my own Production based mods out of the same shop, it does not make any sense. It would cost close to $ 7,500 doing it yourself ( Kevin is at $ 7,000 now)and up to $ 15,000 to have someone else do the work.
I seen a tubular K member offered by AJS in the new JEG's catalog. After calling them to see if it is stong enough for road racing, the said " It was designed for drag racing" and " should be".
Sorry, "should be" doesn't hold any stock in my book.
For $ 6,000 I can go out and buy a nationally competetive GT-1/ Trans-AM Camaro, spend $ 6,000 on a competitive engine, and call it a day.
I hope you do it, and wish you luck. I personally couldn't justify the expense.

Regards,
Todd O. Dillinder
Production and GT Chairman,
Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs

 

All up front, I couldn't justify the expence. But the fact that it will take me a good 7 years at the least and 10-12 at most is justification enough for me. I only plan on building one project car of this magnitude in my life so $40-50K over the corse of 10 years equates to $5000 per year at most, which is highly doable in my book. The centimental factor also factors in, as I said before...not to mention that by the time I get all the knowlege, training, materials, time, and skills, I will probably have a good $5000 head start; which I will use for materials and to basically kick off the project. This will all start after I finish my 4 year tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan. Like I said, right now I am agressively persuing knowlege and skills; I figure 4 years studying will be plenty of time to prepare.

todillinder- If you have any advise or resourses you think I could use, by all means, please feel free to PM or E-mail me...Thanks for the input guys, you would not believe how hard it is to get people to take this project seriously and provide some real constructive advise/ideas.