Ford vs Chevy Build-up

[Sean Marconette]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Rich,

I like to use a common bathroom scale, weigh everything and record the weights as I take it out. That includes wheels and tires and record the difference. Modern aluminum wheels weigh a bunch. Using stocker thought, there are a lot of unnecessary items in a car.

Exactly! Anything that came off or was modified I have a list as what it weighed before and after. Having a digital scale to weight refrigerant is what I use. A couple of pounds here and there adds up. I would shoot for getting the car down to the lowest class it fits in, and then put the weight back in where you want it to get back to the class you choose. Its amazing how much weight you can pull out of a car if you work at it. The top will not need any of the mechanical devices to raise and lower it automatically.

Rear Suspension parts, Metco. Also you can only relocate the upper control arm, so nothing adjustable on the lowers. Good struts and shocks. Aftermarket springs are overrated, and a waste of money. Shocks and struts are where its at. No anti-roll bar is needed with good shocks.

Sean

[HandOverFist]

Good to know about the sway bar...it will be deleted then. From what I gather a set of well worn GT springs work better than anything, maybe with a coil cut out. Just so happens there is a set already in the car. Have you ever experimented with 26" tires vs 28"?

[Sean Marconette]

I have three different sets of springs. The original 83 GT springs with a coil cut, for K/S, and now an uncut 90 GT set for L/S, and a set from a Faimont wagon. The wagon springs were way too much for L weight.

The smallest tires ever on the car were Goodyear 28" but that has been many years ago, and with 5.13 gears. When I decided to do the bodywork and paint is when I was able to go to the 29.5 stick MT's. Unless you put a 9" in it you are screwed with gear selection. Also only street gears are available for the 8.8, which I have only had 2 sets in the car. The pinion gear stress fractures and starts cracking. High RPM launches and having the clutch set too tight doesn't help their life span.

For gears, Motive sells a lightened 8.8 set, welding the tubes to the center section is not a absolute have to deal, but highly recommended. Installing an LPW rear cover to preload the bearing caps, you may already have one on the Camero. An 8.8 and 12 bolt are very similar in design.

Sean

[HandOverFist]

Thanks Sean - This being an automatic car I'm sure will cut the stress off those gears. My thoughts on the smaller tire were with the auto in mind as well.

[HandOverFist]

Plans for this weekend are to begin stripping the interior out of the car in preparation for welding of the subframe connectors and roll bar. Parts to begin drifting in next week...roll bar is being built, expect 3-4 week time frame.

Bought a Team Z UCA kit today for the 8.8 housing...



I'll couple these with some Southside Machine copies of LCA's...



I will be changing the interior color with Black carpet and painting the dash/console either White or Black.



Tentatively planning on removing the E-brake lever and mounting the shifter in that recessed area.

[HandOverFist]

Got a little something done today...stripped the interior and trunk area. Next will be removing all the rubberized sound barrier from the pans...oh boy. Following that will come under dash gutting and removal of inside door reinforcement bars. Parts are piling up fast...





(See the gaurdrail inside the door?)

[black88coupe]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Plans for this weekend are to begin stripping the interior out of the car in preparation for welding of the subframe connectors

What type? Brand?

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by black88coupe

What type? Brand?

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/MM...bare-P580.aspx

Same folks are building a roll bar for me right now.

[black88coupe]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/MM...bare-P580.aspx

Same thing thats going on my car. Just sitting in the rafters awaiting their time with the welder.

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by black88coupe

Same thing thats going on my car. Just sitting in the rafters awaiting their time with the welder.

I'll be attempting to do those along with the roll bar myself...car will probably be shaped like a pretzel by the time I finish hehe.

I'm going to need another deck lid...stupid spoiler sat up there loose for so long it ate on the lid pretty good.