New Project - 1989 Players Series Z28 - 1LE R7U

[James OLC]

cool toy!

are you going to keep it class legal?

Short term probably yes... long term probably no... is that enough of a non-answer?

There is not enough class specific racing around here to really worry about and, in all honesty, I would prefer to run Solo 1 and Solo 2 with the car than race door to door. My personal POV has always been that if I (or a co-owner/driver of the car) wad it up - that's life but if some idiot driving with the red mist punts me off the track and wipes me out then I'm irritated. I may race door to door with this car (because it's not irreplacable yet) but I doubt I would be 100% comfortable doing it.

Besides, I can already see where this deal is heading... LS something, T-56 magnum, 18 x 10.5's with Baers... maybe a Speed Tech tweak here and there... fun

[Neil B]

There is not enough class specific racing around here to really worry about and, in all honesty, I would prefer to run Solo 1 and Solo 2 with the car than race door to door. My personal POV has always been that if I (or a co-owner/driver of the car) wad it up - that's life but if some idiot driving with the red mist punts me off the track and wipes me out then I'm irritated. I may race door to door with this car (because it's not irreplacable yet) but I doubt I would be 100% comfortable doing it.

IMO, once you get to a certain level of skill on the road course, the only way to get faster is to be chased....

This car is perfect for that. A few races in A-Sedan and/or NASA American Iron with this car and you'll see what I mean. These cars are way faster than most people think in it's current configuration. There's no need to get crazy with suspension mods.

[CurtiSS 69]

Short term probably yes... long term probably no... is that enough of a non-answer?

There is not enough class specific racing around here to really worry about and, in all honesty, I would prefer to run Solo 1 and Solo 2 with the car than race door to door. My personal POV has always been that if I (or a co-owner/driver of the car) wad it up - that's life but if some idiot driving with the red mist punts me off the track and wipes me out then I'm irritated. I may race door to door with this car (because it's not irreplacable yet) but I doubt I would be 100% comfortable doing it.

Besides, I can already see where this deal is heading... LS something, T-56 magnum, 18 x 10.5's with Baers... maybe a Speed Tech tweak here and there... fun

Before you do all the mods the car would be a perfect measuring device for driving development, as there are documented professional driver lap times from the circuits it has run. All you need to do is to HPDE at those circuits and see how close the times are to the documented ones. Once you close in on the known times -within .2 seconds- in its current configuration then start the mods.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

[subtlez28]

I love this!

And I'm with you, LS1/T56... that makes nearly every cool car cooler!

Question is destroke to stay under 5.0 liter... or huge cubic inches?

[James OLC]

IMO, once you get to a certain level of skill on the road course, the only way to get faster is to be chased....

This car is perfect for that. A few races in A-Sedan and/or NASA American Iron with this car and you'll see what I mean. These cars are way faster than most people think in it's current configuration. There's no need to get crazy with suspension mods.

You're right although I find that you can pick up as much being the chasee as the chasor... regardless I need to pick up my game before I hit the track and be "that guy".

I'm pretty happy with the suspension setup that is under the car right now - it's not fancy but it's been competitive for 21 consecutive years now. The weakest link - the rear end - has been changed out for a complete Currie unit so anything that we would do would be optimization for strength and reliability. Until I get it on the track though it's really hard to say.

Before you do all the mods the car would be a perfect measuring device for driving development, as there are documented professional driver lap times from the circuits it has run. All you need to do is to HPDE at those circuits and see how close the times are to the documented ones. Once you close in on the known times -within .2 seconds- in its current configuration then start the mods.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

That's more or less the plan Curtis. Right now the only parts of the car that I am not happy with is the fuel system plumbing and the carb (I miss my LS7). The fuel system goes from the cell into Fram canister filter into Carter electic pump mounted in the back of the car into Holley (?) mechanical pump on the block and then into the 600 DP (all done with steel braided line that is smelling it's age). There isn't much need for big suspension changes from a driving POV although bigger tires would be nice and although the factory PBR brakes are nice something a little bit bigger would be welcome.

[James OLC]

I love this!

And I'm with you, LS1/T56... that makes nearly every cool car cooler!

Question is destroke to stay under 5.0 liter... or huge cubic inches?

It would be cool to build a small displacement LS and wind it up but for the OLoA and Silver State there is no replacement for displacement. I want to keep an eye on the overall balance of the car - the LS7 is great in the OLC but it comes close to overpowering the car in a lot of circumstances. If we can keep the '89 lighter and a little bit nimbler I think we can be really quick with a more conservative combination. Or I could put the LS7 in it and look for something else for the '67.... lol

[406 Q-ship]

A fun track Camaro to be sure. I was involved in more than my share of 3rd gens when I was at Guldstrands, even with a 305 and a 5 speed they are a barrel of fun to throw around a race track. As long as the 2 weakest links have been addressed, the rear axle and the brakes.

Instead of putting in an LS engine (not as easy for the 3rd gen), why not fuel inject the SBC in it. I would build a nice 350 (drop in a ZZ4?) with one of the fuel injection system on the market today......then run the wheels off the car.

[James OLC]

A fun track Camaro to be sure. I was involved in more than my share of 3rd gens when I was at Guldstrands, even with a 305 and a 5 speed they are a barrel of fun to throw around a race track. As long as the 2 weakest links have been addressed, the rear axle and the brakes.

Instead of putting in an LS engine (not as easy for the 3rd gen), why not fuel inject the SBC in it. I would build a nice 350 (drop in a ZZ4?) with one of the fuel injection system on the market today......then run the wheels off the car.

We're looking at FI alternatives now - maybe a FAST deal or something similar...

[Neil B]

The worst part about these cars is finding room for the headers and exhaust. Most long tube designs leave very little ground clearance and you pretty much have to run a single exhaust system with a transverse muffler (if you run it out back over the axle). I'm curious how the race setup looks under there, but even at a reasonable ride height the side-exit is usually way too low for the street.

[monza]

Cool just saw this thread. Where do I pick it up for my next track day? HA HA

[Chevrolaine]

Sweet! Watching anxiously so I can incorporate some of your trial and errors into my 92.
It's a restored show car now that I promised to give to my son but I think I've got him talked into the two of us autocrossing it.

[James OLC]

The worst part about these cars is finding room for the headers and exhaust. Most long tube designs leave very little ground clearance and you pretty much have to run a single exhaust system with a transverse muffler (if you run it out back over the axle). I'm curious how the race setup looks under there, but even at a reasonable ride height the side-exit is usually way too low for the street.

This car has the 305 in it with hedman shory headers on it. While they are not my first choice (not really my choice at all) they are probably helping a bit with the TQ and they fit "ok". The exhaust isn't really low (neither is the car) with the flowmasters being the lowest point. I'm going to tweak it in a couple of weeks - it still has cats on it (which I don't need here) and I'd like to tuck it up a bit higher. I'll try to find some shots of the factory GM race exhaust and post them - it's pretty cool - complete with the Chevelle tips...

[James OLC]

Cool just saw this thread. Where do I pick it up for my next track day? HA HA

and that would be when?

[John Wright]

Did you get a chance to look at the tune in the computer yet? Just wondering what all they may have done to those factory race cars, that I can use on my TPI350.

[James OLC]

Sweet! Watching anxiously so I can incorporate some of your trial and errors into my 92.
It's a restored show car now that I promised to give to my son but I think I've got him talked into the two of us autocrossing it.

I'm trying to get the car ready for an autocross this weekend but the tune up is kicking my butt... big altitude and humidy change would be bad enough but the electric pump at low rpm is blowing past the needle/seats and washing the plugs out. Learning my lesson one set of plugs at a time. If we do make it we'll be running in C Prepared so it should be interesting.

[James OLC]

Did you get a chance to look at the tune in the computer yet? Just wondering what all they may have done to those factory race cars, that I can use on my TPI350.

This one is carb'ed John. The factory race chips were a bit funny - there was one for the east coast and one for the west coast series' (west coast is 4000 feet elevation, east was 500 feet) and the ture up was for longevity as well as power (the race engines were sealed). In Theory the chips were supposed to be returned to GM by all of the race teams at the end of the season but there are a few still in the ether. I had a guy over last night who has one and he's going to try to look at the program 'soon'. If he does I'll let you know...

[John Wright]

the electric pump at low rpm is blowing past the needle/seats

LOL...I didn't read very close before my last post...did I?

[slowcamaro]

If and when you put it on scales post up the corner weights, as well as the spring rates the car is running.

[Yelcamino]

So James, how are things going with the Z28?