83rdracr
12-09-2008, 12:27 PM
Hello from cold and snowy Ohio. I should be out in the garage working on my '83 Z28 but instead I'm recovering from major surgery. I injured my neck and spinal chord last summer doing landscaping at my house (should have worked on the car instead). Anyway I should be good as new by February. Just more time to finalize my plans for the '83 and gather more parts.
The car is an 1983 Z28 from SC so the body is pretty solid. I rescued the car after its' teenage female driver pulled out in front of a E350 van. The crash crushed the LF fender, bent the strut and spindle, and tweaked the front frame horns ahead of the K-member so that the steering box hit the p/s pulley. A local body shop pulled the frame straight and I replaced the damaged suspension. I bartered for some used fenders and it was drivable again.
The plan is to completely gut the car and rebuild it with open track and autocross events in mind. I want the car to still be streetable so I can drive it to work and take it on an ocassional long road trip with the wife. the emphasis is to make the car light and balanced. I'm shooting for 3000lbs and 50/50 weight distribution. This will be a challenge because the car is now 3500lbs and 56/44.
Cornering and braking will take preferance over straight line speed and standing-start accelleration although I'd like to run 12.50 to 12.80 in the 1/4 mile. That being said I'll be using a 4th gen camaro rear axle assy and a modified T5 trans. These units are some of the lightest drivetrain pieces used in a production car. They are cheap and plentifull and when properly set up can handle handle the rigors of road racing.
Other modifications planned are converting the torque arm to a true 3-link setup and moving the front wheels forward 4 to 6 inches for better weight distribution. Moving the front wheels forward will be a lot of work. But after pricing out tubular K-members and coil-over conversions I think I can build a conventional dbl a-arm coil-over suspension for less and get better weight distribution in the process. I'll also be able to remove the large, steel, inner fenders for further weight reduction.
I'm looking for other 3rd gen members to share info and ideas with, so feel free to email me.
I think I'll benefit from joining your group and hopefully I can help someone else out with a problem or two.
The car is an 1983 Z28 from SC so the body is pretty solid. I rescued the car after its' teenage female driver pulled out in front of a E350 van. The crash crushed the LF fender, bent the strut and spindle, and tweaked the front frame horns ahead of the K-member so that the steering box hit the p/s pulley. A local body shop pulled the frame straight and I replaced the damaged suspension. I bartered for some used fenders and it was drivable again.
The plan is to completely gut the car and rebuild it with open track and autocross events in mind. I want the car to still be streetable so I can drive it to work and take it on an ocassional long road trip with the wife. the emphasis is to make the car light and balanced. I'm shooting for 3000lbs and 50/50 weight distribution. This will be a challenge because the car is now 3500lbs and 56/44.
Cornering and braking will take preferance over straight line speed and standing-start accelleration although I'd like to run 12.50 to 12.80 in the 1/4 mile. That being said I'll be using a 4th gen camaro rear axle assy and a modified T5 trans. These units are some of the lightest drivetrain pieces used in a production car. They are cheap and plentifull and when properly set up can handle handle the rigors of road racing.
Other modifications planned are converting the torque arm to a true 3-link setup and moving the front wheels forward 4 to 6 inches for better weight distribution. Moving the front wheels forward will be a lot of work. But after pricing out tubular K-members and coil-over conversions I think I can build a conventional dbl a-arm coil-over suspension for less and get better weight distribution in the process. I'll also be able to remove the large, steel, inner fenders for further weight reduction.
I'm looking for other 3rd gen members to share info and ideas with, so feel free to email me.
I think I'll benefit from joining your group and hopefully I can help someone else out with a problem or two.