Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block

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Oct 20, 2002 | 07:01 PM

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block

Boy did I have a fun time :D Once I figured out the course on my 3rd run (got there late so didn't walk the track). The car did great :D I'm so happy with her right now I could give her a big hug if my arms were long enough :lol: My brakes even performed better then I expected, I thought my suspension was set up pretty good for what I had and it really exceeded my expectations of it, it was controlable to the limit and even fairly easy to catch if pushed beyond. Now traction out of the hole is another story but I never got this Rat to hook worth a darn when pushed so I did a smoke show out of the gate on the first run but I got better as I ran and feathered the clutch a gas a little better. All in all I had a great time, every vette owner should try this at least once, thanks again to the Route 66 Corvette Club for hosting this event :cheers:

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 20, 2002 | 07:05 PM

gdh

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2000

Posts: 8,721

Likes: 108

From: Canada

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

I did this a number of weeks ago myself and had a great time. Had the same problem with trying to hook up as well.

Oct 21, 2002 | 12:45 AM

a454corvette

Racer

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 285

Likes: 1

From: Edmond Oklahoma

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

Pat, it's a good thing I already comitted to orange on my '74, because if you had posted that sig pic before I comitted, I'm afraid I'd have to use the yellow on your car on mine. Simply beautiful!

Wondered if you've made any 1/4 passes, and what kind of times you laid down if so.

Oct 21, 2002 | 01:13 AM

GrandSportC3

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 182,997

Likes: 88

From: Lakeland, FL

Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran

St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Oct 21, 2002 | 06:05 AM

'79ProwlerOrange

Safety Car

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 3,556

Likes: 0

From: Seattle WA

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (GrandSportC3)

that sounds fun. id like to try it someday!

Oct 21, 2002 | 11:19 AM

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (a454corvette)

Quote:

Thanks for the compliment, It's strange that so many people repainted their original 73's from yellow mettalic to some other color, it's very rare for me to see any others this color and even very large vette shows, even though I've seen the 953 paint code (yellow Metallic) on quite a few door jam plates. Guess the color went out of favor at some time, strange since I get a lot of compliments on the color now, but I do think it's one of those colors you either love or hate.

No I haven't run the 1/4 with it yet, but I'm sure I will. Work and little carb problems seem to get in my way every time I make plans for the track. If I were to guess what it would run I'd say something around a 13.5 on my street tires. I have yet to figure out how to launch this thing worth a darn.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 21, 2002 | 11:23 AM

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block ('79ProwlerOrange)

Quote:

that sounds fun. id like to try it someday!

If you get the chance deffinitly do it, I liked it a lot better then drag racing since it tests the whole car, and my goal was to build a well balanced vette. Just make sure your suspension and brakes are up to par, I'm sure my brakes and suspension took a good beating yesterday.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 21, 2002 | 12:22 PM

SmokedTires

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 7,562

Likes: 9

From: B'Ville NY

Cruise-In III Veteran

St. Jude Donor '05

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

Quote:

I whole heartedly agree Pat. While drag racing is both fun & challenging, nothing beats an autocross for me, it just gets the adrenaline flowing so much more :D . A must do for any Corvette owner :yesnod: !

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Oct 21, 2002 | 01:48 PM

Turbo-Jet

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 3,052

Likes: 0

From: Vancouver BC, Canada

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (gdh)

Quote:

I did this a number of weeks ago myself and had a great time. Had the same problem with trying to hook up as well.

Me too. Hard to keep up with the Datsuns and other new imports, but it was so much fun. I was able to show them how to steer with the rear wheels (well sorta…;)). My car has crappy tires, worn tie rods, cracked bushings and too much power, but it was one of the crowds favorites, even thought my times weren’t very competitive.

[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 9:49 AM 10/21/2002]

Oct 21, 2002 | 01:53 PM

#10

Mark70

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 1,207

Likes: 1

From: Atascadero CA

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (Turbo-Jet)

I went to autocrossing school this weekend, and had a lot of fun! I would also like to try drag racing, but for right now I'll stick with autocross. I have so much to learn......check out my pics at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=416020

Oct 21, 2002 | 08:02 PM

#11

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (Mark70)

Mark, I'd love to go to a school like that, If I may ask what would something like that cost?

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 22, 2002 | 07:53 AM

#12

MARKUS_P

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 1,067

Likes: 2

From: near VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

I just read in your signation that you have the edelbrock IAS shocks.
I thought there weren´t available for our C3s! :reddevil
How do you like them?
Do they work as described in edelbrocks homepage?
Smooth on rough roads and hard on racetracks?
Give me some info - P L E A S E
I´d buy a shock like this if it´s available.
Where did you buy it from?
And where are the noticeable differences between bilsteins and edelbrock
Thanks for any info

Oct 22, 2002 | 09:47 PM

#13

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (MARKUS_P)

Quote:

I put this set on this summer, I love them. As you can see from my sig the 86 has them as well, i was so happy with them on the 86 after the install that I wanted a set for the 73, but they weren't available till this last year for them. Do they work as described? well they don't go from cadillac to go cart, but they are semi firm to firm, on the highway they are semi firm but not unpleasant by any means and not near as bad as the 86 is in this respect. Now on the autocross course they acted like fairly stiff shocks and as you read above I was very happy with the car. I bought them from E-shocks.com, at least I think that was the address, do a search on IAS shocks and you should come across it if that is wrong. I can't really compare them to the bilsteins on this car, but I can with the 86 which originally had them. In that case I think the IAS ride better on the highway and don't give anything up to the bilsteins when pushed, in fact the IAS's are more forgiving in a corner if there's a bump there, it won't jar the suspension as hard thanks to the inertia valving, which softens if you jar it hard enough, so it helps keep the tire in better contact, now on a completely smooth hard corner I'd put them about equal.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 23, 2002 | 02:26 AM

#14

MARKUS_P

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 1,067

Likes: 2

From: near VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

Thanks for your information.
I´ll do a search about the IAS shocks.
Maybe I´ll switch over to this product if I´m not pleased with the bisteins.
:cheers:

Oct 23, 2002 | 12:08 PM

#15

Mark70

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 1,207

Likes: 1

From: Atascadero CA

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

Hey Pat,
The school was offered through the local California Sports Car Club (CSCC), and the 2-day course was $90.....a great deal, and well worth the money.

Oct 23, 2002 | 10:55 PM

#16

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (Mark70)

Quote:

Hey Pat,
The school was offered through the local California Sports Car Club (CSCC), and the 2-day course was $90.....a great deal, and well worth the money.

That does sound like a great deal. I'll have to keep my eyes open for anything like that here in the St. Louis area.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Oct 24, 2002 | 10:19 PM

#17

73 LS-4

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,340

Likes: 2

From: Moro IL

Re: Just got back from autocrossing the Big Block (73 LS-4)

To the person who just e-mailed me about autocrossing a 73 smallblock. Please send me another e-mail. I'm in the middle of moving and your e-mail is actually on the old computer now. I apologize for the inconvenience of this.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

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