Project Bad Penny - more changes because done is boring

[Steve1968LS2]

Hey, what fun would it be if our cars were ever actually done?
We built it, wrecked it, re-built, flogged it - we know what works, what needs work, and what sucks.

I have a feeling the competition is going to keep getting faster, so an attempt to make the mousetrap a little better we will initiation a string of upgrades to orange '68.

Most of these will entail suspension changes.

1. Address lower control arm angle when car is at prefered ride height.
2. Add rear adjustable sway bar.
3. Calculate spring rates and adjust if necessary.
4. Revalve Bilstein shocks to new suspension.
5. Install proper breather system that still looks nice.
6. Install oil cooler system.
7. Rework gauge system with new units from STACK.
8. Finally finish installing Safecraft fire system.

The list will most likely grow, but this is a good start. In addition to getting her ready for all the autocross and open track junk later this year I will also be hitting the track more to get some much needed practice. Somebody else can take the damn pictures. lol

So, to start it off here's my favorite picture from last year. She did good, but she's got a lot more in her.

[Steve1968LS2]

The first item up for some lovin are my C5 uprights.

Penny suffers from two problems. The first is that the best looking front ride heigth is NOT the best for the geometry. At that heigth the lower control arms don't sit level.

The other problem is that I could use more shock travel.

To fix both of these issues we will be bolting on a set of billet C5 uprights. They have a 1.25-inch drop, a much needed extra degree of camber, and a much improved upper ball joint.

The are from Raceeng Design and they are sweet. They took the normal unit they sell to race teams and modified it to work on Penny or any other musclecar using a C5/C6 based suspension.

http://www.racesengdesign.com/c5c6lowrights.php

Jarrett over there was a pleasure to work with. I told them they could just cut off the stock steering arm, but they went through the trouble of reprogramming thier mill to delete it. Heck, they even custom engraved the first set.

With this done I will be working with Dave and Mary Pozzi to get the rest dialed in proper like.

The uprights are on the way, but Jarrett sent me this teaser shot:

[zbugger]

Very nice. Hopefully I can stop by Dave and Mary's place to check out what's going on with Penny. I can't wait to see if the improvements make the difference it needs.

[Steve1968LS2]

Very nice. Hopefully I can stop by Dave and Mary's place to check out what's going on with Penny. I can't wait to see if the improvements make the difference it needs.

She will be there late tomorrow.

I don't how the changes couldn't help. Hell, just getting more camber is a big deal. The rear bar should be a huge benefit as well. I would rather have more bar and less spring, but to do that I need to at least have a darn bar. lol

[MuscleRodz]

Those uprights are sick. Is there any upgrade available for bearing packs that is not STUPID money?

[Steve1968LS2]

Those uprights are sick. Is there any upgrade available for bearing packs that is not STUPID money?

Not that I know of, but I will ask Jarrett since he deals with race teams all the time.

[rat_rod_russell]

PFADT has some that aren't stupid expensive

http://www.pfadtracing.com/catalog/p...roducts_id/125

-R^3

[Steve1968LS2]

PFADT has some that aren't stupid expensive

http://www.pfadtracing.com/catalog/p...roducts_id/125

-R^3

$760 a pair is better than some I've seen.. I can't imagine a downside for the street.

They also have so killer sperical upper control arm mounts but $2k is way big money..

Oh well, nobody said racing was cheap. lol

[rat_rod_russell]

Aaron has been helping me with some of my C5 C6 conversion parts. His Coilovers are killer and he'll custom build sway bars for corvette suspension cars for your width or sway them for clearance around parts. I've been in the one vette with his coils and street sway bars and the car felt solid all over the track then the owner cranked a few knobs and went home. He's also making a set with in car adjustable controls that I want for the shop A body project. Make a lap and not need to pit to adjust the shocks before you go into the next corner.

[CarlC]

"SKF Asymmetric - Roll formed design."

I'd like to get a look-see at a cross-sectional drawing. Sounds like it may be a large-small ball design. SKF makes nice parts.

Going to get it all done for March 14-15 Steve?

[HectorM52]

Sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing it run even better.

[Steve1968LS2]

"SKF Asymmetric - Roll formed design."

I'd like to get a look-see at a cross-sectional drawing. Sounds like it may be a large-small ball design. SKF makes nice parts.

Going to get it all done for March 14-15 Steve?

Damn straight skippy...

Or at least that's the plan. The spindles, bars and shocks are on the HOT list. The breather system should be cake.

The fire system, gauges and cooler will be after. Might get the cooler done but it's not critical for an autox.

You can come down and check out the EFI tank for TR and the spindles whenever you want next week.

[Vegas69]

I heard a rumor but I don't want to give away your secrets to those watching.

[MuscleRodz]

Does the 21st century sub not use the stock vette steering arms? What is going in their place?

[Steve1968LS2]

Does the 21st century sub not use the stock vette steering arms? What is going in their place?

Nope.. they are hacked off and in seperate arms are bolted to the back of the spindle using factory holes. Like this:

[James OLC]

Those spindles are awesome - I can't wait to see how this plays out for you.

Now hurry up and get that rear bar sorted out... I'ma coming...

[Damn True]

No kidding. I mean, if it's adjustable David might as well make three of them right?

[Steve1968LS2]

Those spindles are awesome - I can't wait to see how this plays out for you.

Now hurry up and get that rear bar sorted out... I'ma coming...

No kidding. I mean, if it's adjustable David might as well make three of them right?

Leeches! lol

It would be a little different on mine since my rear frame rails are moved in a touch, but doing mine should make doing one for you much easier.

I will see if I can get a cross-section drawing of that slick upper ball joint.

[Steve1968LS2]

Hmm.. might be good to pick this up for the control arms.. better than the rubber and WAY cheaper than the sperical. So long as they aren't noisy and squeeky..

http://www.pfadtracing.com/catalog/p...products_id/43

[rat_rod_russell]

Hmm.. might be good to pick this up for the control arms.. better than the rubber and WAY cheaper than the sperical. So long as they aren't noisy and squeeky..

http://www.pfadtracing.com/catalog/p...products_id/43

Just call PFADT and ask Robin (Aaron's wife) to sell you just the front spherical bearings. There both ridiculously nice and will bend over backwards for you at the drop of a hat.

Check this out, Aaron's New Z06 Corvette rear suspension driving with a camera mounted under the car. The amount of deflection on those rubbers is stupid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkrH4...e=channel_page

With your numbers so well worked out this would just make your calculations more lethal knowing that nothing is moving too much more than when it was sitting on the alignment rack.




-Russell