Some Questions About Pro-Touring

[rowdy51]

I was watching Horsepower TV and they had a deal on Pro-Touring cars. They looked cool as hell I'd like to go that route with my car. I have a '74 nova with a 69 front cap. What are these cars and what engines, trannys, rearends, and suspension do these cars generally use. I have a TON of questions so any help would be great.

[Tom Welch]

The current hot setup would be something like a 5.3litre ls motor from a salvaged truck, a rebuilt or new trans that can handle how you plan to drive, good wheels and tires, Vintage Wheel Works comes to mind, there are many to choose from. the usual good flowing exhaust system, suspension upgrades there are many choices here, too. Do a search on this site for Nova builds theres a bunch of em. Use your imagination, we do.

[zbugger]

First off, welcome to the site Rowdy. There as MANY ways to go about building one of these cars. You can go simple and low buck, or go all out and break the bank. Check out the projects section to get an idea of what you can do.

[SparkyRnD]

There are a million ways to get there. Pro-Touring is an overall look and performance aspect, and not necessarily a specific combination. Small wheels or very large wheels tend to go outside the majority. Wide front and rear tires to help add grip during cornering, a better overall stance (lower center of gravity) and proper corrected suspension geometry, but still being streetable are the main points. That, and a good healthy engine.

[PT Sportwagon]

You may want to pick up Tony's book, Building GM pro-touring cars. It is a great referance and information about pro-touring cars.

Tim

[rowdy51]

Thanks for the response. I'm getting the jest, lowered muscle cars with modern racing suspension and "no drum" brakes. Here are just a couple more questions. 1. The engine I have is a 360 chevy it has a midrange cam coming in at like 3500 to 7000, DART heads, etc. Is the point more to have a lower stall converter since these are for highway and 4.11 gear or the higher stall like for dragging? 2. Do people usually put cages in these cars?

[Bill Howell]

Thanks for the response. I'm getting the jest, lowered muscle cars with modern racing suspension and "no drum" brakes. Here are just a couple more questions. 1. The engine I have is a 360 chevy it has a midrange cam coming in at like 3500 to 7000, DART heads, etc. Is the point more to have a lower stall converter since these are for highway and 4.11 gear or the higher stall like for dragging? 2. Do people usually put cages in these cars?

1. Lowered because set up that way, not cut springs.
2. Correct, disc brakes are a better choice if you want real brake performance
3.Your motor sounds like it is set up for drag racing. Several cars here drive to the track @ 25mpg, race and then drive home. So I think a different cam may be in order.
4.Manual 5 or 6 speed gives you option for decent cruise speeds and low in grunt if you want a 4.11 gear.

Just curious, what did you see on hotrod TV that tweaked your interest?
Welcome to the world of Protouring, make your self at home.

[1981silverz28]

Bill,Horepower TV had the RTMC event on weekend before last....Dang good coverage!

[GeoffP]

I still have it on my DVR - it was great!!

[sr73bu]

I still have it on my DVR - it was great!!

LOL...I watched it last night....


Pro-touring is whatever your take of improving your car on ALL functions is.... cornering, cruising, braking, staight line and even comfort....

Some guys build track cars that can drive on the street, some guys build street cars that can drive on the track, and some guys (like me) are on a budget and build a car that is slightley better than what the car originally was (lol)... either way, like every hot rod... improvements can always be made.

good luck with your build and welcome to the site

-Sean

[rowdy51]

What salvage yard 5 or six speed tranny am I looking for that will bolt to a SBC. I'm sorry guys I just can't bring myself to go fuel injected yet, muscle cars should have carbs LOL!!!!! By the way my name is Chad.

[andrewb70]

What salvage yard 5 or six speed tranny am I looking for that will bolt to a SBC. I'm sorry guys I just can't bring myself to go fuel injected yet, muscle cars should have carbs LOL!!!!! By the way my name is Chad.

Welcome Chad. There is a wealth of information on this forum. Before you start asking questions that have been asked a thousand times before, look through the various sub-forums and read what has already been discussed.

Andrew

[tazzz25906112]

Welcome Chad, as many have pointed out there os a wealth of info here on the site and make sure to ask questions...... I'm sure you will soon find out that this board is like a family and will help where possible....

[MonzaRacer]

Chad, as for a cheaper beginning set up, take a look at ridetech Coilovers as you can go with anything from non adjustable up to triple, brakes the cheap one, if I remember that car runs GM tall spindle but dont hold me to that, would be take a look at Kore 3 adapters, ebay has some great deals on C5/C6 Corvette calipers that fit 17" wheels.
Yes here are cheap wheels like Cragar Soft 8s, www.finishlinewheels.com also have certain wheels you can swap in.
So a good fit with good heads would be looking at a GM LT4 HOT cam, you can run it in older blocks, use a timing set for a roller cam block and either use a roller thrust bearing or take the thrust plate for one of those engines, cut off the ears and use a roller cam button. Dont forget to also use a GM mellonized distributor gear,,and with mechanical fuel pump us a bronze tipped push rod, Comp, Lunati, Isky and many others make retrofit hydraulic roller lifters, swap in a good torque intake like an Air Gap or similar and as for a converter , honestly I have had several people use the TCI Saturday Night Specials with great success, i personally have two.
Oh and a good 750/780 vacuum secondary carb works well.
If you ever want to discuss what could be done, on low budget and high , give me a shout, I have been trying to do this stuff on no budget for last 5 or 6 years,,still trying to get all my ducks in a row. But I have helped plenty of people. Just gotta think of making turns left and right, and if you search out article for Bad Penney and Ridetechs Velocity Camaro those may have big money in them, but can show you what can be done and how versatile these cars are over straight up drag cars.

[rowdy51]

Man that is exactly what I'm looking for, just a starting point. But I still have a ton of questions and I could bore you to death with all of them. All I have ever done was race circle track and I get the feeling alot of the stuff changes over but more like a road course car. Classic Industries has a set of camber spindles but they go to a '72 model. Anyways, I would like to run a standard and I can't find anything but a 4 speed sag and we ran 3 speed sags on the dirt but we didn't shift. So like I said many many many questions I have.

[rfalker1]

Welcome... and I think you need to make some decisions in general before you jump into your build. Because the pro-touring world is fascinating. Like as said before do you want a car that is made for the track, cruising, shows or all 3. The more information on ur desires you give to the guys on this site. The more they can point you in the right direction.

Good luck. and do you have any pics of your car?

[tommycomfort]

Welcome Chad,
Pro-Touring means something different to everyone. There might be 50 things I consider pro-touring, but not one car has them all. Some cars only have five of those things and are still absolute pro-touring. I think most people will agree that using your car is what it's all about. Just make some initial mods to be usable and start coming to some P-T events. Or even go to an SCCA autocross. Our local SCCA is all sports car guys, but they love it when we bring our old stuff out. Once you start carving corners and spending way too much time on here you will get the idea of what you need/want to improve next. My wife runs that beat up Chevelle wagon that they mentioned in the Horsepower coverage. It's not a $100K build, but definitely Pro-Touring.
Where are you from? There might be some cool stuff going on in your backyard that you could be part of.
Tom

[coolwelder62]

P-T is up grading your ride to proform as well as new car's of today do.Just keep surfing this site along w/lateral-g.net.By asking the right questions and reading threads on these two web sites you will soon learn about the mods you need and want to do to your ride.Good Luck.Scott M.

[SicMonte]

Welcome to the site!!

Cruise around the site...check out the project builds...look at the multimedia forum...and don't be afreaid to ask questions! There are many many many very knowledgeable people on this site!!

But be warned...you can be consumed by the pro-touring way of life very fast!!

[MonzaRacer]

Man that is exactly what I'm looking for, just a starting point. But I still have a ton of questions and I could bore you to death with all of them. All I have ever done was race circle track and I get the feeling alot of the stuff changes over but more like a road course car. Classic Industries has a set of camber spindles but they go to a '72 model. Anyways, I would like to run a standard and I can't find anything but a 4 speed sag and we ran 3 speed sags on the dirt but we didn't shift. So like I said many many many questions I have.

If your going pro touring, think one of the of saving for a Keisler Road and Track 6 speed, and teamed up with a properly set up kill switch to do a momentary kill upon each shift, clutch would depend on the engine used.
Again as for me I would look at ridetech for a coil over set up, it depends on control arms and such. air ride would be Upgrade to give it more adjustability.
Brakes are simple, at least 17s, you can use 340 mm C5 Corvette brakes up front, use S10 rear disc brakes on rear .
Safely and ability to stiffen it up a Tiger cage might be in works, subframe connectors a given.
Strip out the interior, give it a good coating of sound deadener and insulating products from Second Skin.
also give the trans tunnel a good working over for 6 speed.
On the suspension a ridetech 4 link or a three link/fays2 Watts link and dump leafs.
I my self am loving the Nitto line of tires.
Oh and dont forget some looking around www.theturboforums.com for some ideas on extra ooommpphhh.
I have seen and helped several people use ebay turbos to get a set up in and plumbed,,, and danged if they arent living so far!
As for camber spindles give a call to Marcus over at SC&C and and talk to the man, he is a suspension GOD for what inherent issues you need to work on.