Great Granddad's 72 C-10 building an autocrosser

[martinworx]

Hello All,
Thanks in advance for all the great advice I know I will get on this project.
So here is a pic of me (with my Audi TT) and my dad's 72 Chevy C-10 in the background.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

This truck was my great granddad's and my dad loves to tell about how he remembers it as a kid, how he begged to own it someday and how my great granddad left it to him when he passed.
My older brother got to drive it in high school after the RamJet 350, 700r4 & 3.42 posi went in. They also did a dropped spindle & spring in the front and airbags in the rear.
I got to drive it during the first part of my high school time while we did body work and paint. However the nicer the truck got the more I was worried I might crash my dad's dream ride.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/oIY3ZFSipht8towl0SLKASongMphtI1n1jov_o31-1.jpg
So I sold off a bunch of stuff, bought my Audi TT and now we get to autocross again each other every month.

And that brings me to my pending high school graduation and entry into ASU mech engineering study. My dad says he will pay for upgrades as long as I research and learn vs him blasting a money cannon at the project. I did tell him to keep that cannon loaded though :)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[martinworx]

Now for the learning part...
I want to study mechanical engineering with a goal of race engineering, I don't know enough to know more than that so time to learn about everything.

First of all my dad will be the "driver/money" guy and I will be the engineer. So if I can show that an upgrade is worth it then he buys it.
Of course I will also have to learn to listen to the driver and understand what he says. Any help with that would be great :)

Currently we have NO SWAYBAR at all, yeah I know. It was a Colorado ranch truck when my great granddad bought it new and only became a street rod in the last few years.
Here is how bad we were at the last event this weekend.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/zWP64XyLxu88hiVhh3ZjAtRzcBkZDIQg59hjlYXP-1.jpg


And you can see that the inside rear wheel lifts a bit...funny thing is my dad let all the air out of the rear bags so he is basically on the bump stops since this course is fairly smooth.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/03/ZkLTxG7xfh7ixl_W5H49NvNfR3C3cD_FRRXL1qqb-1.jpg

[martinworx]

So here is the plan based on what little we know and how my dad wants me to progress and learn.

Data collection.
Using pics to figure angles, plus the TrackAddict & Quartz GPS we can get info. He is also changing ECM to a DynamicEFI (we have one on our 70 Burb 4x4) which will give engine info (RPM,Throttle and more) and allows 7 aux channels for sensors (steering, ride hgt, suspension). He is putting together some cameras on the truck to record each side on runs.

This last weekend was weigh day for our local club azsolo.com and here is the truck info
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


So next our thoughts are:
1st - front sway bar. Our local 67-72 parts guy has a factory 3/4ton setup that is 1.125" or 1.25" and rubber bushings.

2nd - Add a factory rear bar off a 3rd gen Camaro or something like that...junkyard cheap for testing and learning.

3rd - Pick between No Limit, RideTech the other offerings for a front and rear setup that gives new A-arms, coil overs and all the high dollar stuff. But only after I learn about caster correction, rack&pinon steering vs the factory power we have now and anything that makes it worth spending money.

4th - Wheels and tires...right now we have 255/45/17 on front and 275/60/17 on back. I know my dad liked the classic hot rod look before we got into autocross. Now he wants to put 335/35/18 Rival S all the way around but I think that should be the last thing we do.

[martinworx]

I am learning so I am open to anything and everything. Reading here has been great. But it has been general knowledge and now I want to practically apply it.

I am looking forward to comments and what other info we need to collect.

[JustJohn]

It's probably early in your studies for this, but start looking into rheo magnetic damping and how control algorithms can act as a filter for the input signal (bumps). Once you join the Formula SAE team, you'll get exposure to some much higher tech.

Also get back in touch with me. We can sponsor college level teams by supplying auto parts.

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Great to see some youth and enthusiasm coming in! You mentioned No Limit, Rob has a wealth of knowledge and has shared it extensively over several forums. He just released a rear coilover kit for these trucks and here is a link to an overview of it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=699646

Sway bars and shocks will go a long way, even with stock suspension. Get a good alignment, probably around 4º+ caster and -1/2º caster is a good starting point with stock control arms until you get into the aftermarket stuff. Brakes are going to help also. Wilwood has some good aggressive street/autocross pads, the BP20's, that will fit your stock D52 calipers, again, until you splurge for the good stuff. When tuning, remember to change only one thing at a time to gage if it makes a difference or not. Changing multiple things at once can make it difficult to trace efficiency.

Have fun playing!

[Mtrhd329]

Tires are one of the best mods you can ever do in autocross. If you are not pushing your vehicle to the extremes of the suspension you have now you wont really know where to upgrade. I thought i needed a ton of work with my setup and then i got someones takeoffs and wow what a difference. I could push the truck so much more without having to worry about spinning. My vote is start with tires and tune from there.

[bovey]

Hi,

A fellow long bed. This I can get behind. Love it. You're going to enjoy the stuff people say when you show up to AutoX. It's hilarious.

One thing:
"Now he wants to put 335/35/18 Rival S all the way around but I think that should be the last thing we do."
Given the mods you are considering, this maybe the last thing you want to do. However, you need to plan early to stuff this kind of tire under the front of these trucks, so you don't buy the wrong parts. I believe the c10R achieved this with the DSE IFS set-up. I think No Limit's IFS will allow for 315s, but confirm with Rob. He's a great guy and obviously knows his stuff. The C10R build thread is extensive, I'm sure the info you need is in there.

Again, very cool to have a fellow long bed rocking it.