yow

I love my c6 on track days and am trying to talk my friend into getting one. However, he's looking at getting a 100k mile z28 camaro from mid to late 90s for about three grand. He thinks he can get one cheap enough and put little enough in it to make it a cheap track toy. (He's never been on a road course, coming from the drag racing scene.)

Is he barking up the wrong tree? I've always heard they're heavy garbage. Seems like it would take a lot of suspension, brakes, tires, and weight reduction to make it tolerable. And, that ignores the fact that the old worn out sluggish v8 (lt1?) has probably been abused by previous owners along the way.

If I'm wrong about all that, it may prove worthwhile for him. In that case, I might do it too!

jcsperson

He'd be better off with something like this.

spazegun2213

I agree, old CMC/AI cars are a good bet, 100% prepped and will set you back 3-10k normally.

AU N EGL

wish I had the old 1968 camero that I raced on Road America back in '75

moespeeds

I met a guy running one a few months back, i believe he races it in the American Iron series? Anyway he said it's a labor of love and wouldn't be his first choice knowing what he knows now. Having said that, I think he should take a close look at this car right here...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...repped-c4.html

Everett Ogilvie

Then you should like this pic Tom - Road America last month;

yow

A well sorted CMC car would be good and cheap. He wants something he can buy on the cheap, beat the snot out of, then sell and recoup some of his money - to then move up to a c5. A craigslist z28 might serve that purpose but I've always heard they're junk.

shakedown067

I have to vote no and give the C4's here for sale a push! An absolute blast to drive. Sometimes a handful, but just pure fun!

Way better than just about any Camaro!
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bosco022

If he is gonna cage it, fuel cell, suspension, brakes,clutch, tranny, plus make the engine live under road race stress, that old street rat Z28 will go screaming past 15,000 dollars towards 20,000. It will still be slow, junk.

Not a wise investment of time or dollars. Look for an already built C4 or road race stock car, either will smoke the Z28.

AU N EGL

Works for me. Paint it red and white and I am good

John B

This sounds like a better plan to me also.

Flash68

If you raced one, then you know it's CAMARO.

That is absolutely wicked. Got any more info on it?

I agree that an old 1st gen Camaro is not the best bang for buck choice, but for me there's just something about driving an old muscle car on the track at speed that a newer modern car can't give ya.

Here's mine.

Kubs

Those would be the best options. For the right price mine could be for sale too (some assembly required).

Timz06

I have done this-it will cost you about 10k-15k in mods to get the car to perform roughly at the level of a c5z. Not worth it. Plus it is a bitch to work on, with the engine shoehorned under the windshield.

Tim

AU N EGL

1975 was a long time ago and I was 18. It was not my car, but a good friends. Think he totaled it two years latter.

I would like to have one. But a solid rear axle going through corners not my idea of fun.

yow

My buddy really just wants to do a few hpde's in a cheap car, then buy a c5. He's not looking at putting much, if any, money into the camaro. I wish he'd drop more money on the table and buy one of those c4's though.

bosco022

In that case, he should just pick up a mid 90's 1.8 L Miata for about 2000- 3000. They were very competent racers in SCCA showroom stock B and will be about as reliable as you can get in a 17 year old car. Probably lap most tracks faster than an old Z28. With nothing more than a good set of brake pads and maybe some good used race rubber he could have some thrills and learn a lot. Later he could sell it and get most his money back.

shakedown067

racerns

No, a Miata might be faster around an autocross but not most roadcourses. The LT1 F-body is not as bad as some of you are making it out to be. The biggest issue is the stock brakes, they are horrible. The +98 Fbody brakes are much better and bolt on the the earlier 4th gen with an upright swap. The suspension design/geomerty is very sound and does not need much to be made to handle really well. If he is interested, I would have him check out http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/ for details for tracking a F-body.

The Camaro in my sig has shown its tail lights to many a Vette on the roadcourse in its day.

bosco022

A good running mid 90's 1.8 Miata with comp pads and spec miata rubber would give a similarly prepped 3000 dollar mid 90's Z28 a fit at Roebling Road, Palm Beach, CMP, lime rock, Sebring short and others. It would be better under braking, across the apex, off the corner and not lose as much down the straight as one might think.

After 5-6 laps the Z's lap times would be falling off quickly, not so much with the Miata.

I know the F body can be prepped to be competent, but that is not what he appears to be talking about.

If we are talking about 3000 dollar HPDE learning tools, I think the Miata is easily superior.