Thinking long term suspension (and a goal)

[staticpike]

Okay, I'm going to be using My 98 Camaro T-top primarily as a street vehicle for my selected enjoyment. I will take it to the dragstrip occasionally but want to favor an Autocross setup because I'd like to start doing that too (and I want it to handle really well on the street). I don't mind changing tires or brakes for a race, but the rest of the suspension I want to install and leave alone. Reading through tons of old posts, vendor websites, and the mods encyclopedia, here's what I'm thinking to keep me on the right track with the above goal:

• Shocks: HAL's Qa1's (the best right all-around right?)
• Springs???
• Sway Bars (probably 32/21 solids)
• LCA's (Tubular or Boxed???)
• Non-Adjustable Panhard Rod
• Boxed SFC's
• Strut Tower Brace
• 4pt Roll Cage
• Tubular K-Member

I think I'm going BMR all around but I'm not keen on the details (even after reading all day). I'm thinking I'll do things in the order listed I'm just checking with you guys to see if I'm on the right track and suggestions to improve my plan. I favor oversteer to understeer & weight is not an issue to me. I don't think I'll make a single one of those chromoly either(too brittle from what I've heard).

EDIT - I don't want to car lowered either, stock height is almost too low for the terrain in Seattle anyway (so should I get springs or will stock be fine?)

Thanks for your time and suggestions - I'm open to them all! (but please give reasons so I can continue to learn)

[ July 28, 2003: Message edited by: staticpike ]</p>

[Dominic]

I believe the shocks should be Bilsteins or Koni's, the HALs do not handle well.

LCAs - G2 rod ended, or go with an aluminum double rod ended setup like me.

I dont see a problem with anything else, and keep in mind those are just things you might wish to consider as they cost about the same or less and work far better. You could even run simple 1LE LCAs and you would be happy [img]smile.gif[/img]

Stock height is fine, I have no problems with that, and it will just ride that much nicer down the road if you don't change springs. Now, it wont be as much of a looker, but thats okay too if you're more of a function over form person.

[V6Bob]

If you're serious about being competitive at autocross:

You need to get a rule book for the autocross in your area. In all the places I know your mods will have you in a modified class up against heavily modded V8s in fbodies or 2000 lb. cars with 200+ HP that are trailered to the course.

Oversteer is slow for autocross (or any form of pavement racing). Oversteer will delay the point exiting the turn where you can be accelerating flat out, which will kill your times.

In addition, on the street oversteer wrecks your handling when you need it most (wet weather, emergency situation).

[staticpike]

Okay so switch out the Hals to adjustable Koni's - no problem (and cheaper!)

I'm glad to hear the stock springs are okay too, I rub enough as is with the standard suspension and can't imagine anything lower. And the car will still look good, she just won't be as low as some of the others.

What seperates a rod ended LCA from a non rod ended one?

V6Bob, thanks for the concern but I'm more of a "do-it-for-the-fun-of-it" type of guy. I've not even done my first autocross but feel confident I will (as soon as my deployment is over...) as soon as I get back. All this stuff will take time as well and I'm just getting my plans together. I've got no dead-line in mind, I just want to get this stuff as I can afford it between my other mods!

Thanks again! [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[zlexiss]

You know, I said the same thing, I'll just do it for fun and learning, and not care what class I end up in. Now it looks like I won Novice class for the Sierra Vista summer series, and I see that the V6 can really compete in STX, I don't want to bump myself out of it. And I'm still on stock suspension, so I can get even closer to the top..

I'd stick to Stock and STX mods, and run in a half dozen events before you go jump to modified. The mods that put you into Street Mod won't get you very much time. You just might find yourself liking it where you are...

-Jeff

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by staticpike:
[QB
V6Bob, thanks for the concern but I'm more of a "do-it-for-the-fun-of-it" type of guy. I've not even done my first autocross but feel confident I will (as soon as my deployment is over...) as soon as I get back. [/QB]<hr></blockquote>

[V6Bob]

"(as soon as my deployment is over...)"

Good luck. And thanks.

[staticpike]

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] V6Bob, the thanks makes it all worth while

Which of those mods would bumb me up to another class, I've briefly read through the classes, but haven't had a chance to get real in-depth. Perhaps I can buy the things that won't bumb me up first and then run a couple autocrosses to see if I over did it? I know the sub-frames are one of them, but what are the others?

[Dominic]

changing the LCAs = no-no for autocrossers who don't want to be in SM with the big guys