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Whats up Nick. You can catch the autoX bug really quick. A ton of fun. I know I have. as you know I'm going threw about the same upgrades as you.
if you get a chance to do an open track day do it.
I work for a well known car museum. And most of the cars in the collection are vintage race cars. We still race most all our cars. When we travel I'm part of the pit crew. I was lucky enough to get to do some laps a Laguna Seca last year in our Porsche 910. Awsome but a bit unnerving at the same time.
Just wow! I thought I’ve driven some cool Porsche’s but that is something else. I’d honestly be to nervous to give it all the berries. That Corvette is sublime as well. Thanks for the sways! Looks like they’re arriving Monday. Silvers next and I’ll be set for the year outside of maintenance. Going to take the car to DTM in Columbus next week to have retune done as well. The place that did my first tune was a joke.
Im going for adjustability at this point plus my magnetic suspension is on its way out. Same price as coilovers to replace so I’m just going to take care of it now. Now that the car is lowered on aftermarket bolts it’s become slightly wobbly at times of hard cornering. I’d blame it on the failing suspension and old transversal leaves. I drove a c5z on coils and it was way easier to drive hard. The sway bars were just as while were in here type purchase plus I scored them cheap.
Mag ride getting worn out can be problematic, but so can't lowering the car too far. In hard cornering you can be bottoming out the shocks and for an instant you have a glorified solid bar in there as a shock.
Realistically a good rule of thumb is a tire to fender gap of 2 fingers in the front and 3 fingers in the rear is as low as you SHOULD go to keep the stock geometry working right. If you get "lowering spindles" then that's a different story but $$$$. That keeps proper wheel travel and rake front to back.
I've heard Akron has started running...too far for me for just one day autocross (about 3-4 hours). Danny Popp has been running up there with his son Nathan. Pick his brain if you see him up there.
Whats up Nick. You can catch the autoX bug really quick. A ton of fun. I know I have. as you know I'm going threw about the same upgrades as you.
if you get a chance to do an open track day do it.
I work for a well known car museum. And most of the cars in the collection are vintage race cars. We still race most all our cars. When we travel I'm part of the pit crew. I was lucky enough to get to do some laps a Laguna Seca last year in our Porsche 910. Awsome but a bit unnerving at the same time.
Wow That's so sick!! Would love some time in that!
To the OP it's a slippery slope as we all know, you'll wake up one day and you'll have over a 100k in parts and your C5 will look like this
Wow That's so sick!! Would love some time in that!
To the OP it's a slippery slope as we all know, you'll wake up one day and you'll have over a 100k in parts and your C5 will look like this Attachment 48309850Attachment 48309851
I love seeing people actually using their cars
I dont see a problem with that. 😆 Great looking car
Before you would get too far along in your mods, I would suggest you get the rule book on the group you want to run with. In you area you have the choice of SCCA and NCCC. While there are many similarities, the differences can put you in a higher class when from one group to another. After you determine what group you will spend the most time with you would be well advised to contact Stanos Performance in Brookville, PA and follow his advice. Sone of the most frustrating people are those who added performance parts and then found out they were running against the Danny Popps of the world and 2-3 seconds slower than the rest of the group they were placed in. For Autocrossing your ride height might be higher than a dedicated road car, corner balancing, alignment, and tires become very important to the cars handling. In you area both groups are very active. Welcome to the club.
Before you would get too far along in your mods, I would suggest you get the rule book on the group you want to run with. In you area you have the choice of SCCA and NCCC. While there are many similarities, the differences can put you in a higher class when from one group to another. After you determine what group you will spend the most time with you would be well advised to contact Stanos Performance in Brookville, PA and follow his advice. Sone of the most frustrating people are those who added performance parts and then found out they were running against the Danny Popps of the world and 2-3 seconds slower than the rest of the group they were placed in. For Autocrossing your ride height might be higher than a dedicated road car, corner balancing, alignment, and tires become very important to the cars handling. In you area both groups are very active. Welcome to the club.
The suspension is being replaced due to the factory stuff failing. I don’t want to purchase the magnetic ride as it will cost more than a quality set of coilovers. After these mods I’m done until I’ve gotten better. I’m the only one in my class currently so I’m using this time to better myself.
Are coilovers legal in SSR? If not your looking at SSM, either way race tires are the norm. If your close to the PA border and get a chance you can autox with the North Hills Sports Car Club as well as Steel City SCCA.
Since you are already a SSP/SSM car pick you class and make the mods. Remember to get the rule book first so you do not get butted up to the Prepared class. In Autocrossing, it is "Level of Preparedness" that separates the winners from the losers. Pick you group you want to run and call Sam---you will not go wrong.
Are coilovers legal in SSR? If not your looking at SSM, either way race tires are the norm. If your close to the PA border and get a chance you can autox with the North Hills Sports Car Club as well as Steel City SCCA.
You are correct. I was just reading the rule book. I might just run this suspension until the end of the season then seeing it’s going to be a short season. As far as being competitive I’m also a rookie so I do not qualify for the challenge round. Really just taking this year to learn driving technique. Or I could just change everything and learn the car completely for next year.
If you have a worn suspension now you will "learn" things and drive around it. Braking, steady state cornering, overall grip etc.
Going to a good shock and or coilovers and spring rate change will let you do more which means a potential change in driving style. Some may agree to "run what you bring" for this season since it is going to be short and you are just getting started, but come next season don't be surprised if "what you could do before" no longer applies. But the good thing is that you will have forgotten most of it over winter, then new suspension and start fresh lol.
I'm looking forward to trying the Ridetech coilovers out I put on before the season. I went from stock 50k mi 03 C5Z suspension to Koni SA shocks (used them for a season) and then to Ridetech Coilovers. I can tell you, the Koni/Ridetech shocks make the stock shocks feel like a floating uncontrolled boat of a car lol
Last edited by smitty2919; Jun 1, 2020 at 09:12 AM.
OP have you thought of getting C5Z leafs, a set of either Johnny O’Connell shocks or the Bilstein models for our cours, along with the sways you bought? Maybe add some urethane bushings in?
I would love to try AutoX, my wife just ordered me a helmet for Father’s Day, but I told her to cancel it since I just found my trans has now started a small leak and prob wouldnt pass the inspections or whatever.
my car is on C5Z leafs with the Johnny O’Connell shocks and sways and lowered all the way on factory bolts.
OP have you thought of getting C5Z leafs, a set of either Johnny O’Connell shocks or the Bilstein models for our cours, along with the sways you bought? Maybe add some urethane bushings in?
I would love to try AutoX, my wife just ordered me a helmet for Father’s Day, but I told her to cancel it since I just found my trans has now started a small leak and prob wouldnt pass the inspections or whatever.
my car is on C5Z leafs with the Johnny O’Connell shocks and sways and lowered all the way on factory bolts.
If you have a worn suspension now you will "learn" things and drive around it. Braking, steady state cornering, overall grip etc.
Going to a good shock and or coilovers and spring rate change will let you do more which means a potential change in driving style. Some may agree to "run what you bring" for this season since it is going to be short and you are just getting started, but come next season don't be surprised if "what you could do before" no longer applies. But the good thing is that you will have forgotten most of it over winter, then new suspension and start fresh lol.
I'm looking forward to trying the Ridetech coilovers out I put on before the season. I went from stock 50k mi 03 C5Z suspension to Koni SA shocks (used them for a season) and then to Ridetech Coilovers. I can tell you, the Koni/Ridetech shocks make the stock shocks feel like a floating uncontrolled boat of a car lol
Exactly why I want to make the change I drove a c5x with coilovers and it was a completely different car. I know I’ll be told a million times take your time but I’m not new to driving high performance vehicles on a track just new to autocross. Now if I never drove before I’d agree but I’ve been racing since 14 and I know suspension has been some of the best improvements we did to all of our cars.
It’s also to the point where replacing everything with stock stuff is just gonna be a waste of money because I’ll end up making the change in the future regardless so I might as well do it now. I know I’m changing my class and everything but it’s my rookie year so my points don’t matter. I’d rather do it now learn it and be competitive next year. Just going to do it and learn. I’m doing this all for fun I just want to improve the car the stock stuff is done.
[QUOTE=dskinsler83;1601605823]OP have you thought of getting C5Z leafs, a set of either Johnny O’Connell shocks or the Bilstein models for our cours, along with the sways you bought? Maybe add some urethane bushings in?
I would love to try AutoX, my wife just ordered me a helmet for Father’s Day, but I told her to cancel it since I just found my trans has now started a small leak and prob wouldnt pass the inspections or whatever.
my car is on C5Z leafs with the Johnny O’Connell shocks and sways and lowered all the way on factory bolts.
[/
Good looking car! Going through that route would run me as much as a set of coilovers. I just want to do it once and be done. I’m not going to be competitive for awhile might as well learn my car in its future direction instead of making multiple changes. Love those wheels
