WildBlue goes RideTech

[Quickboat]

At least you are getting to use your car. Mine just got on the road last weekend and I am also ironing out the bugs.
Here is how she looks

[GeoffP]

Wow Jim! It looks amazing! I'm happy for you to get it on the road! How's that rear axle working out for you so far? I don't get to use mine as much as I'd like. I'm not driving it much until I can get the more pronounced issues addressed (vibrations and noises that shouldn't be there).

What I can't believe I didn't mention is that my car got some ink in the recent issue of Camaro Performers in the coverage of DSE's Southern Slam. It's a small pic but any ink is good ink! Nick Licata even sent me a copy of the mag when I couldn't find a copy on any local news stand (and I looked hard) plus some stickers, tags and some other small marketing stuff - very unexpected considering I just thought it would be a mag with a mailer tag on it. It came in a manilla envelope and was in perfect shape. I'm thinking of framing it and hanging it in my garage. What's funny is that my wife's Tahoe has now been in the mag twice. It's in the picture of Michael Tucker's car in the background. Thanks to Nick Licata! I realize you didn't have to do that - I appreciate it very much!

[Quickboat]

The rear axle is working perfectly. No vibrations at all. I noticed the four link does transfer some sound though. There is some singing at cruise throttle but none under load or deceleration. I really like the look 2 inches of narrowing each side made.

Wow getting a write up is sweet. Def frame that copy! Love to see a copy of it, your wifes too. I hesitate to race this car with the rear tires being $450 each, but I guess you pay to play.

[BuddyP]

Keep it up Geoff!! Only a few more days to RTTH!

[GeoffP]

Jim I wish I had your skill to build an axle. Mine needs serious attention.

I really like how your car turned out...so nice! I saw your car posted on Facebook by Forgeline earlier and was like, "Hey I know that car!" you surely have to come out to some events and enjoy it! Hope to meet you one day!

I've already got it set out to frame - just have to buy a frame for it.

Buddy...I'm driving to go pick up the straps tomorrow after work. Gonna make for a late night but it's worth it! I am NOT missing RTTH as this will be the last event for me as a participant for what could be a long while. Family first...no money for the hobby.

[Quickboat]

Gosh Geoff, I wish it was skill. You know how long on here I looked for advice..lol I have been in fab work most of my life so I do have a bunch of equipment to use. Makes it nice. But if I had it to do over, I might just go with a complete Moser unit. If I calculate the time and effort (cursing), the cost savings was a wash. I was hoping to make the RTTH but I am still working on the front end. Just about got it right. I am hoping my brother wants to run his 67 F100 too. He went with me for the MWMC last year.

[rchaskin]

Gosh Geoff, I wish it was skill. You know how long on here I looked for advice..lol I have been in fab work most of my life so I do have a bunch of equipment to use. Makes it nice. But if I had it to do over, I might just go with a complete Moser unit. If I calculate the time and effort (cursing), the cost savings was a wash. I was hoping to make the RTTH but I am still working on the front end. Just about got it right. I am hoping my brother wants to run his 67 F100 too. He went with me for the MWMC last year.

Make sure you come by the "Team Dumpy" pit if you are there.

[GeoffP]

All I can say is that I am thoroughly impressed with how my car did this past weekend. I let a friend, Brian Clark, drive my car some this weekend and he posted times good enough to get into the finals. I told him to drive because I knew I don't have the wheel time nor skill to do well and because I wanted to see how far we'd make it into the finals on Sunday. We got all the way into 6th or 7th place (not sure which - lost count) but we had a GOOD run! We ended up paired against the Jet Hot 2nd gen with Tim driving and we actually hung with him and supposedly we were within a car length of winning the round! I have no confirmation other than what I was told but talk about an experience - I am STOKED my car did so well!!! This should prove that you don't have to have a ton of money in your car to make it competitive - look how well it did with someone behind the wheel that can actually drive!!!

[Quickboat]

Nice! Wish I could have been there. I am now working on my interior and small bugs in the suspension. Mine is very fun to drive. Love the four link!

[makoshark]

Hey Geoff, I'm curious as to what your front and rear wheel backspace is. Would you mind sharing?

[GeoffP]

Sure I'm glad to share - I'm running an 18x9.5...the offset is ET15. It works out to right at 5.8" backspacing according to this calculator: http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

[32deucecoupe]

Geoff,

Quick question, when mounting the 4 link, does it use the factory leaf spring perches or did you use new weld on perches? The reason I ask is that the factory perch location doesn't leave a whole lot of room between the outside edge of the factory perch and the housing flange for narrowing the rearend. Looks like maybe 1" at most. I am thinking about adding ford ends to the existing housing to eliminate the c- clips and thought maybe I would narrow it at the same time since we have to cut the old ends off any way. Any advice you can provide is appreciated.

[GeoffP]

Yes the lower link bar uses the front leaf spring mount. As far as I know pretty much all of the aftermarket suspension kits use this for their lower link. It doesn't appear to be a problem to get 335's to fit with the right tub setup. I think some of the companies even make a special lower link bar to get additional clearance for 345's but don't quote me on that.

[32deucecoupe]

Perfect, that is what I needed to know...by the way great car and great write ups, I learn a lot from members who take the time to walk thru their builds and trial and errors.

Thanks,

[Quickboat]

Geoff,

Quick question, when mounting the 4 link, does it use the factory leaf spring perches or did you use new weld on perches? The reason I ask is that the factory perch location doesn't leave a whole lot of room between the outside edge of the factory perch and the housing flange for narrowing the rearend. Looks like maybe 1" at most. I am thinking about adding ford ends to the existing housing to eliminate the c- clips and thought maybe I would narrow it at the same time since we have to cut the old ends off any way. Any advice you can provide is appreciated.

32, The spring perch that comes with the Ride Tech kit uses the stock differential mount, but I believe will not allow as much in the way of narrowing of the rear and brake clearance. You will have to check with them. I narrowed mine 2 inches per side and used the weld in mount they supply, which eliminates the stock spring perches on the diff. I set the width of those by measuring the distance between the front mounting points of he lower links keeping them perfectly parallel when mounting the differential brackets. The lower links in the RT kit utilize an offset to allow for better tire clearance.

[GeoffP]

You've got some skills there Jim! I love looking at your welds! Thanks for chiming in!

[GeoffP]

I'm starting to plan a few minor changes for 2014. Starting in January I am going to pull the front wheel wells and cut them so I can unload the front coil overs and hopefully get rid of the push problem the car has. This will lower the car probably 2" in the front so the rear will have to come down too. Also, thanks to a fellow forum member I have a ridetech rear sway bar on loan that I'm going to try at a few events. Plus I have to fix the power steering. I burned the pump up this year due to my own stupidity thinking one event without a steering cooler wouldn't hurt the pump. (live and learn)

I think the combination of the front changes and the rear sway bar will get rid of the pushing problem and give me some room to tune the shocks. I hope I can start really learning and feeling the difference little changes make to the way the car turns and feels. Last thing is I'm going to have an aggressive alignment on the front -2 deg camber and hopefully 5+ degrees of positive caster. Maybe I'll buy my own alignment tools one day so I don't have to pay the local shop $50 every time I have them change it. SO that's my plan for seasonal prep! Hopefully I'll see/feel a good bit of difference - time to learn!

[GeoffP]

Nothing done yet but I did want to share - I won $1000 gift certificate from Holley Performance through the ASCS Team T/A Contingency program! Looks like I may be redoing my fuel system with all new Holley parts! I haven't decided fully yet but I am thinking about Holley's billet fuel system kit and their accessory system power steering pump since my car needs a new pump. I am 99% sure that Holley's accessory drive bracket design uses the same exact pump as LS equipped Corvettes so it should work great. I'm so excited to be able to upgrade something on my car and fixing something without it costing me anything other than the time to install the new parts!!!

Thank you to Bill Howell and all the guys with ASCS - this wouldn't have happened without the great events you guys put on!

[Rod]

Nothing done yet but I did want to share - I won $1000 gift certificate from Holley Performance through the ASCS Team T/A Contingency program! Looks like I may be redoing my fuel system with all new Holley parts! I haven't decided fully yet but I am thinking about Holley's billet fuel system kit and their accessory system power steering pump since my car needs a new pump. I am 99% sure that Holley's accessory drive bracket design uses the same exact pump as LS equipped Corvettes so it should work great. I'm so excited to be able to upgrade something on my car and fixing something without it costing me anything other than the time to install the new parts!!!

Thank you to Bill Howell and all the guys with ASCS - this wouldn't have happened without the great events you guys put on!

your like a pro driver now getting paid for racing and getting free parts!!! DANG!

[GeoffP]

LOL Rodney! Next thing you know Rust-eze will be sponsoring me!