evob
01-05-2015, 09:14 PM
About Me: Hey all, I'll start by giving some background on myself since I haven't actually introduced myself yet on the forum. My name is Brant Dotson, I live in South Bend, IN. If you haven't heard of the place just think of the college Notre Dame, that's where South Bend is. Anyways, I am a Junior and Purdue University studying Mechanical Engineering, and about 6 months ago I bought a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with the WS6 suspension. I have slowly been working as an intern for the last 2 years with a man by the name of Jim Gaugler. He has been my mentor teaching me how to build and design engines at a company called Hi Rev. There I have learned a bunch about cars; since I never use to be into cars till about 2010. I can now build high performance engines that can be used for drag racing, circle track, mudding, and whatever else you can think of to putting a V8, V6, 5 cylinder, and even 4 cylinder into. When it comes to the rest of the car, I don't know a lot. My mentor doesn't want to just hand me the info; he knows how to build up the car and make it into a pro touring car, but he wants to make me work for the info. So, rather than going out and buying parts and trying to put them on and see if they work, I have found the best thing to do is ask other racers their opinions and experiences with products and from that, I bounce the products off my mentor and we talk and eventually decide on a product. I have been learking around of the forum now for a couple months and I decided to make an account and ask questions since the questions I normally have I can't find.
My Car: My car is a 1979 Trans am. It has a 403 c.i oldmoble engine. Long tube headers. a chevy 12 bolt rear end (not sure on the gear ratio though). I recently put Wilwood brakes on the front and back of the car; Front: 6 piston dynapro brakes and Rear: 4 piston dynapro brakes. Other than those things the car is stock.
Why I am building the car: The reason I am building this car is because I wanted to have a car that I put my own blood, sweat, and tears into. So far there has been more blood and anger than anything else :hammer: haha. I also wanted to have a fun street car that I could drive around and have fun in, but, when I feel like it, take it to the track and race with the new cars, whether they are Evos, STIs, mustangs, corvettes, and camaros. Even though I might not always be able to keep up with them, I want a fighting chance. I also got a taste of autocross and want to make it into a pro touring car which is the overall goal since, by definition, a pro touring car can do exactly what I want it to do. Right now since I am a college student I am tight on money and work really hard to save all my pennys. Which is one of the reasons I'm single haha.
What I need help and advice on: Currently I am looking at suspension upgrades. The car has air ride and I would like to rip that out and get some real suspension in the car. I am also looking at sway bars as well to stop the body role. So, here we go:
Sway Bars: I'm looking at two companies to buy the kits from. Detroit speed and Hotchkiss. Here are the kits:
Front:
Hotchkiss (and maybe add the "trick upgrade"),
http://www.hotchkis.net/7081_gm_fbody_front_sport_sway_bar.html
Detroit speed,
http://www.detroitspeed.com/1970-1981-F-Body-products/031402-anti-roll-bar.html
Rear:
Hotchkiss
http://www.hotchkis.net/7081_gm_fbody_rear_sport_sway_bar.html
Detroit speed (1-1/8 bar)
http://www.detroitspeed.com/1970-1981-F-Body-products/042207-quadralink-anti-roll-bar.html
In my opinion, I like the Detroit speed sway bar for the rear, the reason being is that I want to go with a thicker bar to stop body role. But when it comes to the front bar is seems like a dead heat. Any experience, opinions, and comments? I have also heard that making the rear bar stiffer with create oversteer, but I am not sure if I should be concerned with that or not.
Suspension: In your opinion and experience who has a good suspension kit for the money? i.e. who sells a complete kit (as there is not way I can piece one together) that performs well for the price that you pay.
Thanks, for reading this and the advice and help you have!
Brant
My Car: My car is a 1979 Trans am. It has a 403 c.i oldmoble engine. Long tube headers. a chevy 12 bolt rear end (not sure on the gear ratio though). I recently put Wilwood brakes on the front and back of the car; Front: 6 piston dynapro brakes and Rear: 4 piston dynapro brakes. Other than those things the car is stock.
Why I am building the car: The reason I am building this car is because I wanted to have a car that I put my own blood, sweat, and tears into. So far there has been more blood and anger than anything else :hammer: haha. I also wanted to have a fun street car that I could drive around and have fun in, but, when I feel like it, take it to the track and race with the new cars, whether they are Evos, STIs, mustangs, corvettes, and camaros. Even though I might not always be able to keep up with them, I want a fighting chance. I also got a taste of autocross and want to make it into a pro touring car which is the overall goal since, by definition, a pro touring car can do exactly what I want it to do. Right now since I am a college student I am tight on money and work really hard to save all my pennys. Which is one of the reasons I'm single haha.
What I need help and advice on: Currently I am looking at suspension upgrades. The car has air ride and I would like to rip that out and get some real suspension in the car. I am also looking at sway bars as well to stop the body role. So, here we go:
Sway Bars: I'm looking at two companies to buy the kits from. Detroit speed and Hotchkiss. Here are the kits:
Front:
Hotchkiss (and maybe add the "trick upgrade"),
http://www.hotchkis.net/7081_gm_fbody_front_sport_sway_bar.html
Detroit speed,
http://www.detroitspeed.com/1970-1981-F-Body-products/031402-anti-roll-bar.html
Rear:
Hotchkiss
http://www.hotchkis.net/7081_gm_fbody_rear_sport_sway_bar.html
Detroit speed (1-1/8 bar)
http://www.detroitspeed.com/1970-1981-F-Body-products/042207-quadralink-anti-roll-bar.html
In my opinion, I like the Detroit speed sway bar for the rear, the reason being is that I want to go with a thicker bar to stop body role. But when it comes to the front bar is seems like a dead heat. Any experience, opinions, and comments? I have also heard that making the rear bar stiffer with create oversteer, but I am not sure if I should be concerned with that or not.
Suspension: In your opinion and experience who has a good suspension kit for the money? i.e. who sells a complete kit (as there is not way I can piece one together) that performs well for the price that you pay.
Thanks, for reading this and the advice and help you have!
Brant