For those of you who have built your cars up for road racing and or Autocross , I'm trying to figure out some rough budgets . Assume that I'm starting with a clean car to start . Any and all relative information will be appreciated . Including some cost for labor for those DIY projects , approx what have you spent to upgrade / fabricate . I have a motor so thats looked after . This isn't an SVRA Group 6 build , but want to do it once and do it right ..... or just buy one thats built (or almost built)

Roll cage to meet SCCA regulations
Front suspension
Rear suspension
Clutch / driveline
Interior seats/belts
Glass/lexan
misc

 

My advice is to get online and find out what old race cars are for sale. I've seen real just roller fully caged C-3 vettes with log books of racing history for $5 - 15 K. My friend years ago found a real Gt1 72 vette raced through the 70's with a blown 496 ci. that had been parked next to a barn for 25 years.

There are so many cars out there that are fun, fast , and cheap. I spent a lot to race my vette and when I collected debris on the track and took out my front end it really soured me for the last time. My buddy owns a nationals SCCA winning 72 240 Z E class that has set some class track records around the USA. He competes in historic racing and SCCA.

It's not cheap to roll cage a vette. Then I have a $15 motor, $5k tranny, 5k rear end assembly, $5k in brakes. and then add sets of wheels I was buying sets of 8 slicks at a time because they only last a couple of hours on the track each set. The fiber seats, belts and fire system and I ran a 4 quart accusump system to keep oil pressure in the turns even with the best 8 quart road racing pan which took up the passenger side. All without a sponcer other than Tire Rack after winning a VP3 championship in SCCA. I bought a light weight 81 twin turbo front end to help get down to the 3000 lbs min class weight with driver.

My other friend picked up a C6 ZR1 for $40K and had a shop roll cage and fire system it and does the T1 racing with something like 650 hp with just a tune and long tube headers. Street legal and really fast.

Racing at temporary Trans Am road racing weekend course in Reno Nevada in the 90's





GT1 Wilwood brakes with 3 inch air ducking

 

Thanks for your input. All valid points .

 

Get Chevy power book

 

I would definitely agree with GKull and go that route. It’s like buying a house with a swimming pool already put in versus putting one in afterwards.

However, let’s play devils advocate. If you build it yourself you can build the car with the latest and greatest parts. Better brakes, C7 suspension pieces, modern shock valving, stronger differential/axels. But, one…. A full Ridetech suspension with all these goodies is $18K, a custom chassis is at least $25K, but once you put on all the fun stuff they get to mid 30’s. We haven’t addressed body work (wide body kit), interior, cage, transmission, cooling and wheels/tires. For me it would be hard to nail down a number because there are too many variables.

And two, not trying to offend, but what is your driving skill? I’ve seen fast cars driven slow and slow cars driven fast…

 

yes , finding a somewhat proven car would definitely be the desired way to go . Where do you find these ? or where are the best places to look ?

 

This will give you some ideas. The dates are old, but prices have come somewhat down, so they should still be relevant.

 

Several C3’s listed here as well…

https://svra.com/race-car-marketplace/

 

really appreciate the info fellas , I'm going to keep an eye on the aforementioned websites and the usual places . If you come across something , feel free to post it here or send a PM if you like . I'm not in a hurry , will wait for the right car to come along .
Thanks again , Mike

 

There is a 71roadracer on eBay.

 

I think you need to decide on either road race or autocross cuz autocross would be a more street legal set up and not so extreme and road race would be way more extensive , there's a guy that I see a lot at the auto cross events with a 83 corvette with a few mods and does very well and that year is cheap to buy compared to a chrome bumper .

 

Would most likely be 98% track car 2% autocross

 

Dang, that's a super rare Corvette!

 

And to think the 83 models are cheap to buy!

 

you guys....

 

He can't be having too much fun, it's an automatic.

Does the NCM know he's putting track miles on their 1 of 1 car?

 

OK, your right. I'm sure it was a typo. We're just having a bit of fun!

 

The guy put a t56 in it , and if not a 83 then run any non chrome bumper way cheaper on the wallet .and 1 off 1 what stock 190 hp car not a bad *** car in my book sorry guys .

 

84 vettes were very low on power, but z51 equiped with wider tires than a c-3 and ABS would have some advantages in parking lot SCCA Solo racing. especially on slower top speed tracks. I think that the c-4 were able to almost do "1 G" turning. C-3 would require suspension , tires, and good aligment specs to get to 1 G lateral.

 

Pedantically speaking: There was no 1983 Corvette. It went from '82 to '84 without a car in the middle. (So all of the anniversary models afterwards are actually a year off, stricktly speaking.)

Decades ago, a friend allowed me to autocross his stock '84. I had only driven my stock '67 and '72 in autocross events and was thoroughly impressed with the '84. I could just stab the steering this way and that in the chicane and the car danced from pylon to pylon - it felt wonderful!