I'm looking to build up my 91 Firebird (project car) and I definitely want to go custom. I know what I to do will be very, very expensive so I thought I'd come here and get a few suggestions and maybe a little direction. First of all, I guess I should say what the car will be used for huh? It will be mainly a weekend cruiser car maybe seeing some car shows as well. I'd also like to go canyon carving across the US; maybe in a coast to coast cruise or something like that. Anyway, my basic goal for this car will be to handle very well. And before I forget, does anyone know the weight ratio of a 91 Firebird? Is it 56/44 or somewhere around there? Okay, getting back to the suspension. In the rear I definitely want to run an IRS. Now, the Firefox is one of the only f-bodys I've heard of that has one. There are a few others I'm sure but I've never been able to find any pictures of any of them. I still have much research to do before deciding on what model IRS to go with but I'm looking towards ~88 model vettes or so. I'm also considering losing the front suspension as well. Macpherson strut suspension have always been pretty cool but I will looking into a double wish-bone suspension conversion as well. The car is a t-top model and I will possibly run two sets of SFCs, and perhaps a 4 point roll bar but I believe that may be overkill. What I'm looking for is input and suggestions about approaching this sort of buildup. Even the "You're freakin' crazy!" comments are welcome, lol. I'd like this car to pull .99G minimum. While I think drag racing has it's merits, there's nothing like the feel of crusing country roads that twist down a mountain through the forests. Oh and you have to have the tops off too. Sorry for the long post.

 

For IRS questions ask these guys. 90's Vette IRS into a GTA.
http://www.rareautodesign.com/

One set of sub frame connectors will be fine but welded in is a must. I would get boxed ones since you want the 4 point roll bars.

Strut tower brace (Edelbrock) www.edelbrock.com

"wonder bar" (out of Iroc or Global West) http://www.globalwest.net/camaro93.htm

17" wheels with stiff sidewall tires

36mm front 24mm rear sway bar (WS6 sizes)

Replace your rear lower control arms http://www.spohn.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewcat

Polyurethane bushings all around

If you want to spend the money the double a-arm front sound cool but you may want to consider the art morrison tubular lower a-arm with coil over conversion.

http://www.artmorrison.com/ saves 40 lbs.
OR since money seems no object why not just replace the whole front k member with a tubular model and then do the coil over conversion

http://www.paracing.net/gm_products.htm

Replace the torque arm and panhard bar with tubular models
http://www.spohn.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewcat

You can check out http://www.cachassisworks.com/ for your 4 point bar which wouldn't be overkill since you a building a custom show car. Have the front bars welded to the subframe connectors.

At least you now have some info to get you one your way...Good Luck and POST PICS as you go.

 

Thanks man. I was already ahead of you on the planned suspension in terms of sway bars, STB, SFC, LCAs, and such. All the front suspension will be replaced with new Moog products as well. I'll probably be running 18s and apposed to 17s. Or maybe even both like the vette. I'd also like to learn more about coil over suspension because I'm not too familiar with those. I haven't heard a whole lot about the advantages of them if there are any. Why would I want one? Are they really any better than a Macpherson assembly? And the 4 point bar from Alston's site; where does it mount to? That little picture doesn't look like any other bars I've seen before. Just one last thing. Isn't Rare Auto Design that company that a lot of people had a probably with a while back? Something about them stiffing people for plans of an IRS in thirdgens? Thanks.