Does this seem like a good combo?

[formula]

I'm getting ready to do my first brake swap on my firebird, and therefore figured I would look to you guys for more information and advice on what I've been looking at... If anybody can offer me tips on what I should add to this setup, what alternatives I should look into, or anything else, please, let me know!

-Baer sport rear conversion kit #1302041
Cross-drilled, slotted, zinc coated 12" rotors, single piston caliper w/ built in parking brake

-Baer GT front brake kit #1301057
Cross-drilled, slotted, zinc-coated 13" rotors, twin piston calipers

both kits claim to include all lines, mounting hardware, pads, etc.

-Hydroboost and their reccommended master cylinder

And then, other stuff that I'll be doing at the same time to accomodate the brakes or just because it's a good idea...

-bfgoodrich gforce t/a kdw2
275/40 front and 285/40 rear on 17x9's all the way around

-Detroit trutrac--anybody got a part number for a '78 10-bolt?

-ring and pinion set--is richmond gear good stuff? I have 3.08s now and am thinking of stepping up...would 3.23's be noticeably stronger without sacrificing too much highway rpm? I have a tko, so it won't be terrible, I know...but it is nice to cruise at 80mph at 2000 rpm...

[MrQuick]

You can do better on the brakes. Kore3 or http://www.engineeredvelocity.com/ should be able to help you with a cheaper alternative. I recommend the 99-02 Camaro rear set up. Nice parking brake and an easy swap. You can still get used full sets for under $200.
Baer puts a nice kit together but the prices are still high.

With the TKO i'd go with 3:42's not much difference but price.
Tru trac summit pn is DTL-913A481
tire choice is good, 2nd gen?

[ZZ4Blazer]

With such a small, and probably unnoticeable difference between the 275 and 285 tires, Id just do one or the other all around. Least that way you can rotate them.

[Apogee]

Baer Sport = C4 Corvette rear
Baer GT = C5 Corvette front

X2 shopping around. If you want the C4 rear, Touring Classics (sponsor-->) offers kits. Mr Quick pointed you in the right direction for C5/C6 fronts on the second gen F-bodies.

Eliminate the tire size stagger. I doubt you would visually notice a difference anyway, especially mounted on the same size wheel. Also, if you're running the KDW2 directional tire, you can only rotate front to back on the same side without dismounting the tires.

Richmond makes decent stuff. The step from 3.08 to 3.23 is somewhat minor. Away from a drag strip, it'll be tough to tell the difference IMO. It depends on how and where you drive though. If you need the top end, 3.23 could be the perfect gear for you to gain a little on the bottom without sacrificing too much on top. I'd personally be looking at something more in the range of 3.73 though for what I do.

[O'Neall]

There's also the "complete" Wilwood kits that Frank (Prodigy) offers... I'm looking at getting the 12" kit, but I think he sells a 13" kit too. I checked into the Engineered Velocity kits too... seemed good and reasonably priced, and I haven't ruled them out yet either.

As for tires... I was going to stagger and go with 275/285 f/r but have changed my mind and will be going 275/40ZR17 all around on my 17x9s. I'm going to run the BFG g-Force T/A KDW (traditional tread) because the KDW2s aren't available in either 275/40ZR17 or 285/40ZR17 (255/40ZR17 is the largest 17" KDW2).

Also, keep in mind that you're going to a smaller diameter tire, so your "effective" rear end ratio will go up numerically from the 3.08s. Not sure exactly how to figure it, but maybe someone else can. 275/40ZR17s are 25.66" tall (stock tire size is 27.4" for your car) so it may be fairly significant and may accomplish your desire for more gear without having to actually swap (and spend money!)

BTW... these 17x9s you're talking about wouldn't happen to be YR1 Flakes would they?

[formula]

You can do better on the brakes. Kore3 or http://www.engineeredvelocity.com/ should be able to help you with a cheaper alternative. I recommend the 99-02 Camaro rear set up. Nice parking brake and an easy swap. You can still get used full sets for under $200.
Baer puts a nice kit together but the prices are still high.

With the TKO i'd go with 3:42's not much difference but price.
Tru trac summit pn is DTL-913A481
tire choice is good, 2nd gen?

Wow, thanks a ton for the tips on the brakes! Their stuff looks great...Thanks for the p/n too, and I'll have to whip out my rpm calculator and figure out how big of a difference 3.42's would actually be...hmmm.

Affirmative on the second gen--this is all going on the formie in my sig.

[formula]

With such a small, and probably unnoticeable difference between the 275 and 285 tires, Id just do one or the other all around. Least that way you can rotate them.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think you're right. i was just trying to give myself a little more room in the front.

Baer Sport = C4 Corvette rear
Baer GT = C5 Corvette front

X2 shopping around. If you want the C4 rear, Touring Classics (sponsor-->) offers kits. Mr Quick pointed you in the right direction for C5/C6 fronts on the second gen F-bodies.

Eliminate the tire size stagger. I doubt you would visually notice a difference anyway, especially mounted on the same size wheel. Also, if you're running the KDW2 directional tire, you can only rotate front to back on the same side without dismounting the tires.

Richmond makes decent stuff. The step from 3.08 to 3.23 is somewhat minor. Away from a drag strip, it'll be tough to tell the difference IMO. It depends on how and where you drive though. If you need the top end, 3.23 could be the perfect gear for you to gain a little on the bottom without sacrificing too much on top. I'd personally be looking at something more in the range of 3.73 though for what I do.

I dunno what the deal is with touring classics, but it seems like their website is no longer working...anybody know?

I drive my car like 75% on the highway back and forth from my hometown to school or from school to a friend's school, so I'm definitely concerned about sacrificing top end.

Maybe I just need more gears...hmmm...

[formula]

There's also the "complete" Wilwood kits that Frank (Prodigy) offers... I'm looking at getting the 12" kit, but I think he sells a 13" kit too. I checked into the Engineered Velocity kits too... seemed good and reasonably priced, and I haven't ruled them out yet either.

As for tires... I was going to stagger and go with 275/285 f/r but have changed my mind and will be going 275/40ZR17 all around on my 17x9s. I'm going to run the BFG g-Force T/A KDW (traditional tread) because the KDW2s aren't available in either 275/40ZR17 or 285/40ZR17 (255/40ZR17 is the largest 17" KDW2).

Also, keep in mind that you're going to a smaller diameter tire, so your "effective" rear end ratio will go up numerically from the 3.08s. Not sure exactly how to figure it, but maybe someone else can. 275/40ZR17s are 25.66" tall (stock tire size is 27.4" for your car) so it may be fairly significant and may accomplish your desire for more gear without having to actually swap (and spend money!)

BTW... these 17x9s you're talking about wouldn't happen to be YR1 Flakes would they?

I hadn't even thought about giving frank a call! I'd love to give him my business...I'll try and get ahold of him monday.

That sucks about the tires! BFG's site lists them as available in both sizes....jerks.

Since I'm going to be pulling the axles in the back to do the brake swap, I figured, hey, why not go ahead and make sure my center section is solid and done the way I want it to be? So that's where the thinking on that comes from. Good call on the smaller tire diameter upping the ratio--hadn't considered that.

As for the wheels...they'll be year ones, but I still just CANNOT decide if I want to do flakes or rallye IIs. The wheels are going to be a bit of a christmas present, though...so maybe snowflakes would be more appropriate...

[O'Neall]

I hadn't even thought about giving frank a call! I'd love to give him my business...I'll try and get ahold of him monday.

That sucks about the tires! BFG's site lists them as available in both sizes....jerks.

Since I'm going to be pulling the axles in the back to do the brake swap, I figured, hey, why not go ahead and make sure my center section is solid and done the way I want it to be? So that's where the thinking on that comes from. Good call on the smaller tire diameter upping the ratio--hadn't considered that.

As for the wheels...they'll be year ones, but I still just CANNOT decide if I want to do flakes or rallye IIs. The wheels are going to be a bit of a christmas present, though...so maybe snowflakes would be more appropriate...

The BFG site is a bit confusing when it comes to the KDW tires. They list both the NT(NewTread) and the TT(TraditionalTread) all in one list, so it does kinda look like all sizes are available with in both treads, but if you look clear to the right you'll see either "NT" or "TT" designating which tread it's available in (the DIR means Directional and both the NT and TT are directional tire). Confusing yes, but both are good tires.

You know I'm a fan of the YR1 flakes... but 17" RallyIIs are super cool too and would look awesome on your car... especially since it originally came with factory RallyIIs. Honestly, if it was me I'd probably be leaning toward them to keep it looking "original-ish" while still custom!

[formula]

yeah, i was thinking along the same lines, till i saw this car...



and did this chop....

[O'Neall]

Yeah, that's cool... either way you can't go wrong! How about RallyIIs up front and Flakes out back!?!?!? Just kidding!!!!

[formula]

heck, at this point i might as well buy both and put r compounds on one set!

[O'Neall]

Now you're talkin'!!!!!!!!!!