Your wisdom wanted

[johnny_k]

Thank you for the responses all. I also really appreciate the warm welcome. I have a few answers for some of your questions, and a couple of comments.

In response to MATT@RFR:
I just find it hard to believe that with the amount of resources we seem to have at our fingertips that someone hasn’t created a solution to having a stronger car structurally without making it so that you have to crawl in and out of the vehicle. One of the big things I read about the pro-touring definition is that you take an older car and make it perform at the same level as new age exotics, without sacrificing too much the drivability of the car.

On another note, I completely understand the safety factor when introducing something that is at a race car level to the urban streets of America. I would hope that all here never unleash their beasts in a manner that would endanger other people on public streets.

To give you a general understanding of my mentality, let me give you a little info about me. I grew up not performance driven; I was into loud. In high school I was one of those kids that got ridiculous car stereos. Each time I got a new stereo, I thought that would be the last one, but then after a while, I would feel this burning desire for more. After my third one, I finally realized what it was that kept me changing things. I wanted to be the limiting factor. I wanted music that would play louder than any volume I would ever actually want to listen to. It was the feeling of disappointment in those first stereo’s when I would turn it up, and then reach the distortion level before I got to the max volume level I wanted. I wanted pure, perfect quality music at any volume I would so choose to listen to. It was this mentality that has found itself in my new project. I want a car that will go faster than I am willing to, that will corner harder than I want to; a car that will exceed me. I want to be the limiting factor in this car. I want a car to scare me with its capabilities. I know that I will go through many more rebuilds and cars if I “settle” somewhere. That is why I am going overboard with everything from the very beginning.

In response to Andrew McBride:
Thank you for your heading me in the right direction.

In response to Ralph LoGrasso:
Once again, thanks to you too for the insight. I would say that right now everything is in the research stages, but here are some general answers to your questions.

2. I had heard on another forum (a different site) that the Wayne Due subframe had been giving some guys grief (alignment issues I believe). I had been leaning towards the DSE one that is coming out because of that. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t out of line, or missing something.



7. I know it is asking for a lot, but in terms of suspension, I was hoping for something that does it all. That being said, I would realistically want something mainly that would hold in the corners, but wouldn’t die if I decided to get on the gas hard.

8. In terms of wheels and tires. I was planning on 17 inch Torq Thrust II’s all the way around. I don’t know specifically what tires would fit in front, but for the rear wheels I know that with the DSE mini tub I can fit up to 335’s underneath the rear. So I was figuring that somewhere between 315 and 335’s for the rear. I had no idea what brand of tire to go with, so was hoping for suggestions.

About brakes, I wanted to do a lot more research on that before I started asking for recommendations. I have manual drums all the way around right now. I wanted to see what kind of conversion kits there were out there. My general feeling though is that the system of choice is a Baer system, and would not be surprised if I go that way in the end, but don’t feel I know enough yet to even be very good at taking recommendations.

Thanks once again for the input.

In response to ProdigyCustoms:
Thank you for the information. I have a couple more questions for you though. Quote, “but you will spend some serious money on bolt ons though” Like what, and how much is serious money? I will look into your cage, I think I have been convinced at this point that there is simply no way around getting a cage. Thanks for the heads up on making sure I have a “guy” in a shop that I can trust. I do indeed have a “guy” who is going to help me out. I just want to make sure I have tapped everyone possible, for all the information possible before I go to him. I figure he will ask me if I have any preferences when I go to him for advice. If I give him a list of main parts I am interested in, like engine, transmission, and rear end for example, then he will help me fill in the gaps with the small stuff I’ll need in conjunction to that.

Once again, thanks to all for your input. I am eagerly listening to what anyone has to say at this point.

John