AutoX'd my car today
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
AutoX'd my car today
Wow, what a handful! Lots of RWD horsepower, plus old hard 235 tires are not a good combo for a technical course. I loved getting on the power, but the car would break loose and become out of control too easy, and I hit a few cones. I really appreciate the skill of the experienced drivers. They were so smooth, and either lack horsepower or exhibit great right foot restraint. Everyone out there loved to watch my car oversteer through the course, and I was told it sounded awesome. It was an easy crowd to please of Hondas and Datsuns though…
I wonder how well a slalom prepped C3 could do? I was riding on 30 year old parts (original), and with old but proven suspension technology. I want to get another 68-72 C3, install a ZZ4 with EFI, and use one of VB&P high-end suspension kits, plus modern 16" or 17" sticky tires. How good can a C3 do? What are the weak points?
I bet a proper alignment and new tires would be the first place to start. :smash:
I wonder how well a slalom prepped C3 could do? I was riding on 30 year old parts (original), and with old but proven suspension technology. I want to get another 68-72 C3, install a ZZ4 with EFI, and use one of VB&P high-end suspension kits, plus modern 16" or 17" sticky tires. How good can a C3 do? What are the weak points?
I bet a proper alignment and new tires would be the first place to start. :smash:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: AutoX'd my car today (Turbo-Jet)
Negative tire camber is our biggest killer.
17" tires on a decent setup will 9 times out of 10 outhandle a good setup with 15s.
Get Smart Struts, or better yet, an aftermarket six-link setup like Stingy74 is running.
After that, do your best to cut weight. (Aluminum heads, remove spare tire and carrier, fiberglass spring, front transverse spring, aluminum rad, aluminum water pump, aluminum intake manifold. ...aluminum block, if you're running a big block. An aluminum small block would shift way too much weight to the tail. With a SB car, lightening everything but the block and taking about 80 or so lbs of the rear will keep the weight balance pretty tightly in check.)
Run good springs and experiment with sway bars.
Rack and pinion will aid with precision and driver confidence.
-Steve
17" tires on a decent setup will 9 times out of 10 outhandle a good setup with 15s.
Get Smart Struts, or better yet, an aftermarket six-link setup like Stingy74 is running.
After that, do your best to cut weight. (Aluminum heads, remove spare tire and carrier, fiberglass spring, front transverse spring, aluminum rad, aluminum water pump, aluminum intake manifold. ...aluminum block, if you're running a big block. An aluminum small block would shift way too much weight to the tail. With a SB car, lightening everything but the block and taking about 80 or so lbs of the rear will keep the weight balance pretty tightly in check.)
Run good springs and experiment with sway bars.
Rack and pinion will aid with precision and driver confidence.
-Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: AutoX'd my car today (Pacin'California)
Pacin - What are you saying about camber????? You need neg. camber to get the same heat across the face of the tires. Maybe your statement would be clearer if you said a change in camber during the tires full range of verticle travel. Which is correctable with Smart struts and better yet 6 link.
To the auto-Xer. You have to be careful on the rules. Once you modify the motor, suspension, wheel size you get places in higher classes. Years ago I would drive my car to the track and have to compete against race tires, trailored cars in BSP
[Modified by gkull, 9:14 AM 8/26/2002]
To the auto-Xer. You have to be careful on the rules. Once you modify the motor, suspension, wheel size you get places in higher classes. Years ago I would drive my car to the track and have to compete against race tires, trailored cars in BSP
[Modified by gkull, 9:14 AM 8/26/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: AutoX'd my car today (gkull)
Cam, congrats for even trying it! :) I am actually kind of afraid to try autox. I feel like I would be more likely to break something as I stress the steering, suspension, on and off the brakes and clutch, not to mention the engine and trans. I am much less worried about drag racing. You have to try that too!!! :) MJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: AutoX'd my car today (Turbo-Jet)
Congrats on going for it :yesnod: , I wouldn't have tried it on my stock suspension, I hated the way my car handled stock. I was all set to do it last weekend here in St. Louis but they cancelled it :mad , Especially bad since I worked real hard to get my smart struts and realignment done especially for the event. Oh well next one is in October and I think I can get my brakes upgraded for that one as well by then. By the way, what gears were you even using, 1st and 2nd or just 1st, I think if it was a tight course I probably could leave it in first the whole time if I stay below 45mph.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Re: AutoX'd my car today (Turbo-Jet)
That's were the corvette do their best. It would be hard to find a 30 years old car that handle like your car. These car are amazing. Read the Vette improvement program on Corvettefaq.com and you'll find some interesting ways to improve your car. The 17 inch with nice tire are sure the biggest way since 20-30 years old tire technologies are well surpass by the new rubber. A good alignement with a 1/2'' spacer (I think) under the strut rod support would greatly help too. On an 1980 you have to change the bracket for the smart strut one.
I did these mods and this summer I gain about 8 seconds on a 1-1/2 minute course compare to the stock set up I ran last summer.
Stephan
[Modified by American Boy, 3:19 PM 8/26/2002]
I did these mods and this summer I gain about 8 seconds on a 1-1/2 minute course compare to the stock set up I ran last summer.
Stephan
[Modified by American Boy, 3:19 PM 8/26/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: AutoX'd my car today (American Boy)
I have to compete against race modified cars (though mine may not be far off from one ;) ). I drive my car to & from and love autocross. Having just driven Watkins Glen with my car, I like autocross better :yesnod: . Things just happen so much more quicker and you have to react to so many things, auto-x is much harder than it looks & I love it.
I have built my car towards auto-x and it is very capable now competing against C4's & C5's :D .
I have built my car towards auto-x and it is very capable now competing against C4's & C5's :D .
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Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,432
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: AutoX'd my car today (Turbo-Jet)
there is a saying in auto-x that there are three ways to go faster: tires, tires, and tires. with our cars i would modify that slightly to read: wheels, tires and tires. that will give you the biggest advantage for the money. it's also the biggest improvement for the compromise. after that, i suggest what ever you can do to tighten up the frame. you can do all the suspension stuff in the world (although smart struts are a must) only to find out the frame is the "springiest" part of the suspension. just my $.02.
oh yeah, to answer that other question, a c-3 can surprise alot of c-4 and c-5 owners when it's set up right, and driven right.
[Modified by clutchdust, 7:57 AM 8/27/2002]
oh yeah, to answer that other question, a c-3 can surprise alot of c-4 and c-5 owners when it's set up right, and driven right.
[Modified by clutchdust, 7:57 AM 8/27/2002]