smallblock87

Hi Everyone, hopefully I'm posting in the right section now...:o. I've adored corvettes all my life and I finally just bought my first Corvette, an '86 coupe. I plan on turning it into a track car for road racing. I was hoping someone might have some advice as to where to start. Are there any essentials that I should know about? I realize this is a pretty expensive hobby but I'm trying not too spend too much money. I figured I could do my first couple events with the car relatively stock. I'll be getting some nice General Exclaim UHP tires and Carbonetic pads. Afterward I'm thinking polyurethane suspension bushings, kill some weight (AIR system, carpet, etc.), exhaust, and intake. Also, the car didn't come with the Z51 package. I'm doing this for fun and more importantly to learn A LOT so does anyone have any good advice? Thanks!

1lapRacer

Braking work should include fresh track pads along with an upgrade to good fluid. Lots of threads about the best fluid have graced this forum but synthetic and Dot4 are a good starting point. I have broken several rotors on my 91 during track days so check them and replace if necessary

Power steering can be a problem, good fluid is essential. If you still have an issue upgrade to a better pump.

Safety equipment comes before performance in my opinion.

If the bushings and shocks have not been replaced an upgrade to poly bushings will make it feel more solid.

C4's are fun and reasonably priced to play with on track!

smallblock87

Awesome advice, exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks.

eogel

1lapracer provides excellent information. This includes your personal safety equipment as well as making the car safe. Also, keep tight the wheel bearings.

Ed

jaa1992

When is your first / next event?
Where is it?
Right now with NASA SE there are only a few of us with C4's.

Is this going to be a dedicated track car or a weekend toy?
Are you going to do 10+ events a year or 1-3?

I do 10+ events a year and this winter the modifications will be a proper seat and harnesses, a head and neck restraint, and if I have any money left over rebuild the spare motor.

My 92 is built to NCCC group II specs also fits NASA TTB specs.
Yes I've rebuilt the suspension, replaced hubs, opti, radiator, etc.
After the fiasco with the last set of rear hubs I keep a spare set on the shelf.
I gots lots of wheels and tires as well.

Run away now before you get in too deep

The Panther

Lots of good info here.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...-now-what.html

Rob31

Street pads /fluid will last bout three sessions on a decent road course before the pedal goes to the floor .
You might get two turns warning , then , well, if your lucky you just throw alot of sand in the air .
All the moving parts in the suspension if original are done , might as well change them now .
Valve cover gaskets ... I blew out the gasket on the distributor on mine at Gingerman . ( small leak)

Aardwolf

Click my name and then the link for threads I've started. I've made some threads as I finished projects on my track car. Drop as much weight as you can, and sell the parts. Under drive pulleys helped my stock non-cooled power steering system live a long life. Definitely get track pads.

Rob, might want to do a compression test.

Rob31

Its fine .. Gasket just let go because of age 160 k on it , could use some valve seals .
New motor/trans this winter

Aardwolf

Sounds good! Mine started having more and more blow by, ended up with 70 PSI on #7. It had cracked rings.

jaa1992

Thats why there is a camaro LT-1 short block in the shed. I'm going to at least get it stripped down and cleaned up this winter. I know the original 115k bottom end will have problems sooner rather than later.
5k RPM for 80% of a 15 min session, 5 sessions a day can't be good for longevity. Plus I want more power - 383 time, I'm gunning for the spec c5z guys next year

0Paul Ruggeri

Brake cooling ducts are a must on a C4. Real track tires like Hoosier A6 or R6 or Kumho 710s will make a big difference too. Have fun

jaa1992

Cooling ducts - yes, can be in the "after the first few HPDE's" category
Not having cooling ducts improves the remembering of "Brake Hard, short time, stay off them if you don't need them" lessons.

Track tires - NOT until you can make your street tires sing the entire session, each and every session.

Just my $0.02 and what I tell all my students

smallblock87

Awesome stuff guys, thanks for all the suggestions.

@jaa1992 - my first event will be w/ NASA-SE at CMP in November. See you there? This will be my dedicated track car but I want it to be street legal enough to drive to the track. I plan on doing as many events as I can afford and attend! So I'm shooting for 3-5 maybe?

I was looking into those cooling ducts for my wish list. I wasn't sure how much they would help but i guess that answers my question.

Any suggestions on power steering fluid?

Aardwolf

Very similar to what I'm doing. I had to add Redline synthetic fluid right away to the PS system. Search my threads for making brake ducts, they are easy.

jaa1992

CMP is hard on brakes, I won't be there in Nov. My neice decided she was getting married that weekend. I'll be at Road Atl in Dec.
Look for the C5 mafia - Jeff, Jason, Scott, Mark, etc. They will keep you safe and tell you more stories . . . . . . .