protouring on a cheap beer budget

[yoboy sawyer]

I wanted to know who on this board is on a cheap budget and is actually living the protouring life , like the big wheels big brakes etc . :idea:

[BonzoHansen]

try here: https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47129

There are lots of low budget builds out there.

[Ron S]

I really kept to a strict budget on this car,started to spend like a drunken sailor after trying to compete with some of the fast cars,but the car is still made up of either used junk or fabricated junk.Ron https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38420

[autoxcuda]

I wanted to know who on this board is on a cheap budget and is actually living the protouring life , like the big wheels big brakes etc . :idea:

You save money by only doing things that give you actual performance gains that you can, will, and do utilize.

Like only run 17" wheels because they have a great selection of treasonably priced tires with great grip. Only run bigger diameter rims if your brakes require you to (~14" rotors).

And you don't need $4000 big brakes if you just plan on doing autocross events. Especially the super slow and tight Goodguys courses.

Hunt craigslist, ebay, and local swap meets for parts. Things like swaybars that don't really go bad. You could get used ones for 1/2 off or more.

[bbcc]

Make friends with local builders and speed shops. The only new parts on my build thus far are sc&c uca's, a wilwood brake kit (which was far less than $4000), and the wheels. Even my tires are used. Total budget for the build, not including engine, is $10 g Canadian.

Ron had the iconic budget build goin on. The car was lookin so sick with all the fab and custom work just to make the used parts jive. I don't blame ya one bit for dropping some extra dough to make the car right though.

What is your build plan yoboy? Is the victim in your avatar?

[autoxcuda]

Just noticed the car in his avatar is a 71 Nova. That a Camaro front clip. Should be the least expensive of any build.

I'm not up on street GM stuff. Just the circle track stuff. But this would be a rough outline that I would start at.

1 1/4" Front $100 ebay addco sway bar. Or a like a front sway bar off a late 70's Trans Am. Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar.
750 lb front springs $100 pr
160 lb low arch multileaf springs (circle track landrum stuff)
17x9 rims $200 ea
275/40/17 tires $140 ea
redrill upper control arm mounts
Is there a low budget junkyard 12" stock rotor with stock caliper disk conversion for F-bodies?
Trans Am disk rear end
Koni Shocks $500?/4
rebuilt front end with moog parts and energy poly bushings

I think you could do all that for under $3000.

[Nessumsar]

Just noticed the car in his avatar is a 71 Nova. That a Camaro front clip. Should be the least expensive of any build.

I'm not up on street GM stuff. Just the circle track stuff. But this would be a rough outline that I would start at.

1 1/4" Front $100 ebay addco sway bar. Or a like a front sway bar off a late 70's Trans Am. Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar.
750 lb front springs $100 pr
160 lb low arch multileaf springs (circle track landrum stuff)
17x9 rims $200 ea
275/40/17 tires $140 ea
redrill upper control arm mounts
Is there a low budget junkyard 12" stock rotor with stock caliper disk conversion for F-bodies?
Trans Am disk rear end
Koni Shocks $500?/4
rebuilt front end with moog parts and energy poly bushings

I think you could do all that for under $3000.


Thats pretty funny, that is exactly what I did. Still need brakes and shocks though.....

I have around 6k into my car, including purchase price.

[autoxcuda]

Thats pretty funny, that is exactly what I did. Still need brakes and shocks though.....

I have around 6k into my car, including purchase price.

I read in your profile you have KMC 17x9's I think those are a great value and sort of vintage looking rim. Can you fit wider 275/40/17 tires in the front and rear on a Nova??

Where did you get your sway bars and real leaf from and how much $$$

How much are Konis for an F-body/Nova ??? They are hard to get for a Mopar.

Is there a junkyard 12" disk swap with a factory type rotor for you car. Like off of a GM B-body? Or is that a differernt bolt pattern.

[LS1NOVA]

Mines a budget build.

You can do 98 up camaro LS1 brakes for cheap using drum spindles and hubs.

Bilstein for shocks.

[autoxcuda]

Mines a budget build.

You can do 98 up camaro LS1 brakes for cheap using drum spindles and hubs.

Bilstein for shocks.

I just googled that and founds this from the Pozzi's site. (very cool of them to post this info)

http://www.pozziracing.com/12_corvette_brakes_on_fgen.htm

Some install pics from a dude that says he did front and rear for $500!?!: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273099

[ProTouring442]

I would think that a very nice car, built in the pro-touring style, could be built for a very nice budget. The secret would be to start with a platform for which there will be a number of used parts available.

One example would be a Ford Fox-body car. Fox-Mustangs can be picked up pretty cheaply, while Fox-body cars other than a Mustang can be purchased for peanuts. Brake upgrades on a Fox are quick and cheap, and there are around a billion used upgrade and replacement parts out there.

I am sure there are other platforms with similar attributes out there, I only picked the Fox because I know about them.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/06/29435265592-1.jpg

Here's my Fox-body Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. It's not Pro-Touring, more like Pro-Daily Driver, but when finished I will have less than 5K in it including upgrading the exhaust, struts and shocks, and installing a very nice sound system.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[Nessumsar]

I got my wheels of of ebay, but I did a search and couldn't find them. I think I paid $540 shipped for them. As far as tire fitment, I will be purchasing 275s for the rear when these are worn; I have about 1/2" clearance in the shock, and maybe 3/8" on the fender lip(which is rolled, and I will cut off). On the front, a 275 would fit, and wouldn't rub any worse than the 255 that is there now. The front rubs where the middle inner-fender mounting bolt is, where it bulges down for a flat surface; I have the bolt removed right now, and will probably "massage" it up with a hammer.

I bought my front sway on Ebay. From a store for $100 buy it now. It is an Addco solid.

I got the leafs from Summit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HSS-2407C/

QA1s can be had for $140 on Summit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HAL-TC1661P/

I you have anymore questions ask away, or if you need some pictures I can snap some for you.

Oh yea, don't forget the Poly bushings...