New to F-body's, looking for tips on setting it up to auto-x.

[Formula218]

Platform is a '94 formula V8. It already has Bilsteins, lowering springs, and sway bars from Strano Performance. Wheels are 17x9/17x11 with 275s/315s. EBC green break pads, the car is completely gutted other than seats and dash and a 4pt roll bar. All heater, blower motor ect and wiring to it has been removed.

My question to you all is what other things should I look into? What bracing is most beneficial? What stuff isn't worth the cost at all? Any must have pieces?

[MeanTA]

3 point SFC. And if you can swing it a watts link. they tightin the car up like crazy. i got one and love it. at the very least an adjustable panhard bar. to remove some slop and center the rear.

main thing take it out and learn the feel of the car.

[Formula218]

Thanks. I have my first auto-x with it Saturday. I plan to run it as is for the rest the season and work on picking up some parts over winter.

A panhard bar was already on my list as I noticed the bushings on mine where pretty cracked up. I was looking at the adjustable panhard bar/ tubular rear LCA combo.

[MeanTA]

here is my setup:
BMR upper/lower A-Arms(adjustable bottom with rod end poly on upper)
3 point sfc
adjustable billet rear control arms with rod ends
Watts link
hellwig cromoly hollow front
hellwig adjustable rear(similar to stranos sways)
BMR springs/ kyb adjustable shock
umi trans mount/ torque arm
Wilwood brakes front and rear
275/315 tires

i have a M6

the car handles awesome and does very very good on track days.

[BLK95-Z]

Those staggered wheels are hurting your turning. You need to by 2 more 9" rims and put 275/40s all the way around.

I didnt build it but here is the setup on my car. Its on rails compared to any other f-body ive ever owned.

Front
Hotchkis 36.5mm front sway bar
Koni SA shocks
Ground Control coiloversleeves, 600# Eibach springs
Global West upper control arms
Moog suspension bushings
Moog ball joints upper & lower as well as Moog tie rod ends
UMI 2-POINT SFC'S


Rear
Koni 30-series mono-tube rod ended race shocks rear 30-6325's
Unbalanced Engineeing De-coupled Torque Arm
Unbalanced Engineeing Panhard bar lowering brackets with multiple heights drilled
6061-T6 LCA's with QA1 XM rod ends and Howe bushings
6061-T6 PHB with QA1 XM rod ends both ends
ST 25.4mm rear sway bar
250# rear springs, Allstar rear spring jacks

[popo8]

Why will staggered wheels hurt turning... Dont corvettes all come with staggarded wheels, and since the intro of the C4, they have been pulling 1g turns....


I would be more concerned with what type of tires....

[MeanTA]

Why will staggered wheels hurt turning... Dont corvettes all come with staggarded wheels, and since the intro of the C4, they have been pulling 1g turns....


I would be more concerned with what type of tires....

thats a good question. ive ran 275 on all 4 corners and now i run 315's in the rear. and my rear now seems more stable and less likely to kick out on me.

[BLK95-Z]

My car was built by a mod on FRAAX as his personal race car (he was also an engineer).... when I asked about putting my CCWs on the b4c he told me staggered wheels on an f-body causes lots of push/understeer and would render my suspension mods useless. Is it true? I dont know..... I took his word for it since those guys race their f-bodys competitivly every season. There is a girl on there with an 94 LT1 camaro shes autocrossed since it was new and still racing it with over 300k miles.


Why will staggered wheels hurt turning... Dont corvettes all come with staggarded wheels, and since the intro of the C4, they have been pulling 1g turns....


I would be more concerned with what type of tires....

I asked the same thing and was told......Yes they do...but an f-body isnt a Vette

[Formula218]

if anything i'd find 2 more 11s and run 315s all around.

i would like to trade my wheels for some ZR1 wheels or reps over the winter. currently has BFG KDWs in the front and crappy sumitomo tires in back. those will be getting swapped out by spring for sure.

[BLK95-Z]

if anything i'd find 2 more 11s and run 315s all around.


THAT is exactly what I was advised to do...

[Formula218]

thanks for the rundown of both of your setups.

[MeanTA]

i compete in the scca based out of the salina chapter. and i out lap most other f bodies. except for a 91 formula. that car is just a monster. but he runs a staggered setup as well. and he is a national champion.

[MeanTA]

thanks for the rundown of both of your setups.

not a problem. any more question please ask. its what were here for:)

[BLK95-Z]

thanks for the rundown of both of your setups.

Anytime. Like I said I didnt build it nor do I race it. This is all info Ive researched or heard from local guys who race. Good Luck

[BLK95-Z]

i compete in the scca based out of the salina chapter. and i out lap most other f bodies. except for a 91 formula. that car is just a monster. but he runs a staggered setup as well. and he is a national champion.

....a third gen is a little bit different chassis. They have a narrower rear to

[MeanTA]

....a third gen is a little bit different chassis. They have a narrower rear to

true. hes running a 315/275 like me. and he gots about 10 years on me doing this. his name is Trent. he actually took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. he is an amazing driver. car sounds like a fing demon when hes out there. he stomps on f-bodies,vettes,mustangs. like no bodies business.

[Formula218]

any stores/website you guys recommend for ordering this stuff? thinking of doing some 3pt subframe connectors after i get a shifter.

[MeanTA]

i get most of my stuff from ws6store.com and summit. ws6store has sales pretty often so you can pick up the sfc for about 15% off.

[Formula218]

awesome, that's the site i was browsing as i posted that lol.

i plan on getting the 3pt ones, because why not lol, i assume that the weld in ones are better than bolt in?

[Badbird_96]

If you buy bolt ins you will be welding them later anyways from what I've heard

[MeanTA]

if you got access to a welder its the best choice.

[popo8]

If you buy bolt ins you will be welding them later anyways from what I've heard

Badbird is right u want them welded in... even if they are bolted...

Musclecar (back when lou santiago was the host) did a great show on an ls nova clalled project blue hair on installing subframes on a car to take out the sag from the aged unibody...


jack stands placed in the rite areas to flex the car back and obviously a jack were all u needed


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Formula218]

I should be ordering some tubular weld in ones within a few weeks.

[Formula218]

http://youtu.be/ke1tYz_Ptwo

best pass from my first auto-x. my time was a 62.3 and the fastest car of the day was a 52.7.




after watching it the videos of my runs, i realize that i need to accelerate way more through the corners. i wasn't really able to do that much because the rear stepped out any time i gave it much throttle. i think it will need better tires for the rear before next season.

[popo8]

Gotta tell you... it looked like lots of fun... the car sounds healthy and CRISP!!!!


I always get worried I would get confused with all these cones everywhere, and Id end up going the wrong way.... lol

[Formula218]

It was a lot of fun, deferentially wont be my last one!

I DNF'd my first pass for missing a gate :(

[Formula218]

It was a lot of fun! I can't wait till next spring to do more. I ordered an aluminum intake elbow after finding mine had the silencer removed and duct tape wrapped around it to plug the hole lol. Also bought a G2 intake piece from ZMM95 and it should be shipping today.

[firebird_1995]

"Its not a mouse, its a walrus you asshole"..... love that part

[BLK95-Z]

Id love to try it but I dont want to burn up my tires. Them things are spensive

[popo8]

Id love to try it but I dont want to burn up my tires. Them things are spensive

lol.... screw it... thats what ur b4c is made for


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[MeanTA]

the tires are expensive. i spent 1,500.00 on tires this year. and didnt compete in all the events i could have.

[Formula218]

for a panhard bar, what is really needed? adjustable? double adjustable? on car adjustable?

[Badbird_96]

Personally I vote watts link

[MeanTA]

for a panhard bar, what is really needed? adjustable? double adjustable? on car adjustable?

double adjustable with rod ends or roto joints. it wont have any deflection. and will be more predictable over poly ends. You will have more road noise but its not bad at all and worth it.

on car adjustable ones aint really needed. once its set your good

[rocky]

I thought about staggering my wheels for autox I just couldn't seem to keep the rear behind me at all. I don't think I could have been any easier on the throttle. Then again I think I suck at autox lol but its too much fun not to do. On a road course the car felt great. I know people say they are kinda similar but we all know it's 2 different worlds. The tight autox course is hard for me. everytime I go I think I am going to get lost too. I had 275 falkens on all four corners. If you go to a 315 on all 4 you may have hubs wear out on you. I vote try it and see what happens it may work for you

[Formula218]

Forgot about this post.

I ended up measuring the rear end and it is still centered with the minor drop so I decided to go with a non adjustable panhard. Also grabbed some control arms too both from Founders Performance. Huge improvement! The back end is much more planted and doesn't like to slide out if I give it throttle in the corners any more.
12636
12637

Also grabbed some subframe connectors from Midwest Chassis & Performance.
12638

I have decided I will probably keep my wheels. While I don't really care for the style of the wheels, I like the width of the rears and won't go smaller.

She got parked for the winter this week, kinda sucks I only got to drive it a handful of times since I got it :( I bypassed the TB yesterday and have a couple other small projects for winter. I'd like to get my V1 hardwired in (easy to do, just gotta get my lazy ass out there in the cold to do it) and I'd really like to piece together a C5 Z06 front brake kit.

Maybe a mod can move this to the project section and I'll just keep it going there?