Ciro Racing C3-R - 1968 Corvette for Street/Autocross

[rjsolo]

Went with a smaller steering wheel to replace the large thin-rimmed stocker. Almost got a direct bolt-on Grant wheel that I put on my first car in the late '70s. But instead found this nice suede race wheel, that has some needed dish, and a yellow indicator line for when you get sideways.





Stock



Corvette bolt pattern actually matches modern aftermarket wheels, although the holes are clocked at the wrong angle. So didn't even need to pull the hub. Drilled 3 horn holes.



I cleaned, painted and adapted the stock horn button. The horn did need to be modded to allow it to be rotated correctly.



Finished install feels much better. Also was able to line it up from being 1/2 hole angle off, when we installed the Borgeseon box.

[lvrpool32]

Looking good!

[rjsolo]

Looking good!

Thanks Nick, been jammin' on the front suspension to try to make 2 events this weekend, but the shock parts were delayed at the builder.

[rjsolo]

This is a good time to post about the shocks, since they will be arriving in a days.

I went with aluminum bodied ASN Bilsteins, they have external threads for direct coil-over use. It uses the same valving found on their high-end $10K LeMans race shocks. The ASNs are probably one of the best values out there for a proven performance shock,. at a reasonable ~$235 each. Bilstein also makes a steel body SN model for less $. The SNs have a snap-ring groove, so coil-over sleeves can be added.

The ASNs have large digressive pistons. Large pistons are a good thing on our older muscle car suspension geometry. Since the shocks are set inboard from the wheels, the pistons have a short range of travel, and is under more force. The large pistons have more control with the car's poor motion ratios.

The digressive valve allows the shock force to blow off at high shaft speeds, like seen when hitting bumps. This supple valving has a couple of advantages. One, for racing it allows the tires to follow the surface for more traction. The other is it allows the use of stiff spring rates, and have a good ride on the street. Many mistake ride harshness due to springs, but it's usually from too much high-speed valving. A few years ago I drove my car 5 hrs with my family in it, to drop it off for SEMA, at that was with 1000lb springs.

Available in a variety of sizes, include the short 4" versions I needed.



Very light weight, under 2 pounds each (w/o fluid). Precision solid rod end mounts.