1976 corvette autocross project
05-15-2019, 11:03 PM
#1
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1976 corvette autocross project
Hi guys I’m new to this forum. Currently have a 76 Vette I’d like to make a street/autocross car. I’ve got a new 750 Holley carb, 4 bolt main cammed 355. Is really appreciate some input on upgrading the still stock suspension. I don’t wanna go cheap at all but I’d like to do the project little by little without making the car unusable and without completely breaking the bank. Any info is appreciated. Let her rip!
05-16-2019, 11:54 AM
#2
Does the autocross group you run with have any restrictions on modifications that wont effect what class you run in?
Do you have a maximum dollar amount to invest?
A cheap place to start is front and rear sway bars and shock absorbers.
Beyond that increasing wheel and tire width.
Going further would be front and rear spring changes.
Still further would be complete changes to the type of front and rear suspension.
Do you have a maximum dollar amount to invest?
A cheap place to start is front and rear sway bars and shock absorbers.
Beyond that increasing wheel and tire width.
Going further would be front and rear spring changes.
Still further would be complete changes to the type of front and rear suspension.
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Dbcrusader36 (05-16-2019)
05-16-2019, 01:42 PM
#3
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I’m not sure . I’m located in CT and I have Limerock and stafford springs as local race tracks but I am willing to travel within New England to go to events. I am new and just getting into the sport so any recommendations are welcome .
05-16-2019, 02:51 PM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '05
Id find these places and see what their class rules are before you start spending money
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Dbcrusader36 (05-16-2019)
05-16-2019, 03:37 PM
#6
Race Director
Before deciding on what modifications you want to do, you really should reach out to some of the local SCCA Regions, and/or other sports car clubs, such as Porsche Club of America (PCA), to see what classes they run, and what modifications are allowed.
Your best bet might be to show up at an autocross, watch, ask questions of the organizers and participants, and maybe even enter your car in it's current stock condition, to get a feel for what it's like and to have a baseline for the future.
I did a lot of autocrossing in the 70's and 80's, in Corvettes and other cars, and really enjoyed it. My avatar picture is me autocrossing my 62, around 1978.
This website will give you a calendar of events in the Northeast, and a little background on autocross. https://www.autox4u.com/
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Dbcrusader36 (05-16-2019)
05-16-2019, 04:19 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Something to keep in mind is that in autocross, aside from seat time, tires are the most critical element to making the car turn respectable times. It's important to understand that the best tires for autocross are not manufactured in 15" sizes appropriate for Corvettes, the 15" sizes are all very small for Miata's and such. The various organizations that host autocross have unique rules to allow 1" upsizing or downsizing the wheel diameter to open up tire options (SCCA, while NCCC allows +/-1" on diameter and width) and still stay in stock class. Going to 17's or bigger will bump you out of stock into a modified category, which is fine if that is what you want to do. If you run SCCA and plan to upsize wheels to 17" or more, you might want to look into the CAM-S class (Classic American Muscle-Sports), which allows for almost any modification but is restricted to high performance street tires (200 TW such as BFG Rival S or Bridgestone RE-71R). The drawback to CAM-S is that it allows Corvettes all the way up to current models.
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Dbcrusader36 (05-16-2019)
05-17-2019, 08:50 AM
#10
Melting Slicks
Just make sure your tires are in good shape, maybe add a few psi to keep them from rolling over. Fresh fluids and you should be in good shape. Have a good attitude going in, realize that you'll more than likely be humbled by somebody in a grocery getter Honda or Mini Cooper. Other than that, focus on seeing the course, don't get lost and improve your times run over run. And have fun!
05-17-2019, 01:22 PM
#11
05-20-2019, 02:42 AM
#16
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '15- '16-'17-'18-'19, '21
THESE ARE NOT GLOBAL WEST A-Arms. They are aftermarket A-arms that fit early model full size Chevy cars. They can be bought for less than $200 thru Jeg's, Summit, ebay, etc.
Check out our thread on these and what it takes to make them fit.
Posted same info on the guy's Facebook page.
Buyers beware.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ar-a-arms.html
23 pages of information in this thread here......
Better have some skills to make them work. Welding, machining and re-coating all needed.
Bman
Last edited by bmans vette; 05-20-2019 at 02:50 AM.
05-20-2019, 02:49 AM
#17
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '15- '16-'17-'18-'19, '21
THESE are what the real Global West look like.
Notice the Global West label, the different ball joints and the real giveaway......the cross shaft on the real ones are a direct bolt on. The ones on the FB guy's need serious machining.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/g...model/corvette
Notice the Global West label, the different ball joints and the real giveaway......the cross shaft on the real ones are a direct bolt on. The ones on the FB guy's need serious machining.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/g...model/corvette
05-20-2019, 05:02 AM
#18
Melting Slicks
In addition to reading the rules, before you start throwing money at mod's I recommending reading up on these suspensions. They are unique and the more you learn, the less chance for making huge errors. This is a very good article to start with Vette Improvement Program (VIP).
Other good articles can be found here http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/
You don't have to spend a ton of money to get C3's to handle quite well if you can turn a wrench and do some light fabrication.
Other good articles can be found here http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/
You don't have to spend a ton of money to get C3's to handle quite well if you can turn a wrench and do some light fabrication.
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Metalhead140 (05-20-2019)
05-20-2019, 02:37 PM
#19
Drifting
THESE are what the real Global West look like.
Notice the Global West label, the different ball joints and the real giveaway......the cross shaft on the real ones are a direct bolt on. The ones on the FB guy's need serious machining.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/g...model/corvette
Notice the Global West label, the different ball joints and the real giveaway......the cross shaft on the real ones are a direct bolt on. The ones on the FB guy's need serious machining.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/g...model/corvette
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bmans vette (05-21-2019)
05-21-2019, 08:21 AM
#20
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Thread Starter
In addition to reading the rules, before you start throwing money at mod's I recommending reading up on these suspensions. They are unique and the more you learn, the less chance for making huge errors. This is a very good article to start with Vette Improvement Program (VIP).
Other good articles can be found here http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/
You don't have to spend a ton of money to get C3's to handle quite well if you can turn a wrench and do some light fabrication.
Other good articles can be found here http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/
You don't have to spend a ton of money to get C3's to handle quite well if you can turn a wrench and do some light fabrication.