Pro-Touring "Lite" 1965 Tempest. Thoughts?

[yossarian19]

I want to build a Tempest that will be comfortable to drive, handle well, stop better and be "quick enough". More Grand Touring than Pro Touring. Budget for initial purchase and build is around $10,000, maybe $13,000 at the outside.
So far, I'm thinking:
LS1 brake swap (fourth gen Camaro stuff, 12" rotors front / back)
Power brakes, probably HydroBoost out of an Astro van
Power 12:1 box
Speedway Motors G-comp tall spindles
Replace whatever front end parts need it with stock
Whatever 16" wheels / tires I can find cheap on Craigslist, get the thing rolling until I have money again.

Going by that plan - how well can I expect an old A-body to drive? I'm sure it would stop well but don't want to set myself up for disappointment as far as ride comfort / cornering. I know it isn't a new Corvette but hopefully it would handle better than my Jeep?

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Check out the new Street Grip Series from RideTech. Their kit includes all of the basics to get an improved ride and handling characteristics. You can buy the whole kit at once or piece-by-piece as budget allows.

http://www.ridetech.com/store/1964-1967-gm-a-body-streetgrip-system.html

[MonzaRacer]

Check out the new Street Grip Series from RideTech. Their kit includes all of the basics to get an improved ride and handling characteristics. You can buy the whole kit at once or piece-by-piece as budget allows.

http://www.ridetech.com/store/1964-1967-gm-a-body-streetgrip-system.html

X2 and see if the company that took over Lee for a good steering box is up and running.
Chose wisely and honestly the Ridetech shocks are one of the best in the market.

[Reckn8]

We love our 65 but the 10-13 K budget might be tough!!!

[Interceptor5588]

IMHO, you won't get the true handling potential out of the A-body without correcting the front-end geometry via upper AND lower front control arms. Call Mark at SC&C. Their arms move the balljoint locations around, making it so that you can dial in modern caster settings for big rubber and still keep the wheel in the center of the well. Not all systems do this, and may experience tire rubbing as a result.

I have his stuff on my 70, and it drives like a new car (except for all the rattles and wind noise . . . )

[MonzaRacer]

Crap you cant make it handle and ride good for $10k
Seems the PT Lite idea, everyone has wrong idea. ride and handle good seems pretty easy now. As for geometry change they achieved a great deal with the ball joint change.
Brakes you can work out some ideas with Tobin over at Kore3, even use Corvette take off stuff which is better than LS. AND you can do it with manual brakes so no booster needed.
Wheels you could get a set of Soft * 17s for around $400, add $400-$600 in tires of reasonable handling type but with better wear characteristics, ie no 40 tread wear, try to get performance tires in the 300-600 tread wear.
Ridetech Street Grip $2000, Turnone 12.7 to 1 steering gear box $750
So entry level Call wheels and tires $1000, suspension $2700.
And brakes I would comment as to the simplicity, A corvette dual master cylinder, C5/C6 rotors and calipers with Kore3 adapters Figure in the $1200 front kit, in the rear simply swap on S10 rear disc as the complete backing plate/p brake set up can be had for less than $200 a side then you need rotors and calipers, figure $400 with core charges, pads, rotors from posted prices on autozone website so I would put the rear brakes costing around $600.
So entry level:
Street Grip system with steering box $2750 add $250 for incidental on top of what was in kit so $3000
Soft 8 17in wheels and reasonable tires $1000
Front brakes using Kore3 kit with updated Hawk pads $1200
Rear brakes using S10 disc parts including core charges $600-$800
So lets call full on entry level at around $6000 give or take swapping trading and selling off old parts.
Even if looking for a decent car to bolt parts too if not in possession a $6000 should get a reasonable car.

Now lets get little more intense:
Level 1 Cool Ride $2440 plus $750=$3190 not much different or with HQ shocks add another $200($3390)
Level 1 Coil over package $3350 plus $750=$4100
Level 2 Coil over package $3550 plus $750=$4300

And any variation from the highest total to lowest.