jpatt87

hey guys im new to this site, i have 79 camaro. It is being changed over to all drag race. 383 with th350 behind it. I bracket race it and need help with some questions. I am adding 8 point cage and dont want to slow down from added weight, what are some ways i can loose it, i dont have money for glass doors yet but have a glasstek hood already on it. I am removing inner fenders, and i was told to remove bumper brackets or supports. Is that right. Getting rid of stock seats and putting in a race seat cause stock seat are heavy. Any more ideas. Also i have stock springs and shocks up front and leafs and air shocks in back, running 26 inch slicks i have cut 1.6 60ft. Will getting rid of air shocks and getting drag shocks help me

EddieB

Suspension is a huge part of racing. Those air shocks are killing you. A good set of adjustable coil overs will help a lot. With removing all that excess weight you should be able to even out the extra weight of the cage. I lost a lot of weight getting rid of my stock drum/disk brakes. I went with the wilwood drag brakes and lost a ton. Good luck and have fun.

bubba4

I've had good luck with drag shocks. I would recommend them front and rear also caltrac bars. Dont foget to check your pinion angle. I would concentrate on the suspension first , then the weight. Good Luck!!

Steve69SS396

With an 8 point cage your car should not gain that much weight. I put a 10 point in my car. At the same time I replaced the front seats with aluminum Kirkey seats and removed the rear seat. Net weight increase was 50 pounds.

Loosen up the front suspension first. Remove the front swaybar if it has one and try to maximize front suspension travel. Cut the bump stop in half. Then add Caltracs with split monos in the rear.

jpatt87

yeah i have a front sway bar, so remove it. I was told a 8 piont cage shipping weight was 110, so about 100- 105 would be my guess. I i dont take weight off wont that slow me down a second. What about bumper brackets

Steve69SS396

Each 100 pounds is worth about a tenth of a second.

joelster

The bumper and bumper supports on a 2nd gen '79 are huge up front. You can remove them and then re-install the rubber bumper cover. The bumper cover on your car is held in place by about 40 small bolts. I don't remember the exact weight when I took off mine on my '79 but i'd say right around 35-40lbs total.

jpatt87

yeah i looked at the front bumper, looks like alot of headache just to take that off. Well first i am pulling my rear and putting in full spool and c clip eliminators, then my cage and also replacing my 16 gallon fuel cell with a 5 gallon. Then i will start looking to shed some weight. Wish i had money for gass doors and fron end but thats 2000 bucks and i woul rather spen that on some profiler heads and a new aed carb.