I have been looking to get into auto x or road racing. Not to compete, just for the fun of it, but I also enjoy drag racing so I want long tube headers. I think with longtubes on an lt1 the y pipe hangs down too low to really lower the car. Will I be wasting my time trying to make this car turn with the stock springs? I am planning on installing a ST 35mm sway bar(if it ever comes off backorder ) and a set of bilsten HD shocks. Is this enough to have some fun on an auto x course or should I go buy a neon or crx for a few hundred bucks and bolt on a set of coilovers?

 

Once you get into autox or roadracing, you'll find you have very little enthusiasm for drag racing anymore.

Seriously though, if you want to do it right, get the coilovers. The Bilstein HD shocks will work with the stock springs, but it will definitely not be the best setup. Actually, I wouldn't even go with the Bilstein HDs on the stock springs, I'd probably get the SLP valved Bilsteins instead. Or get the SLP Level I kit, it will only drop your car maybe 1".

 

FS cars do very well at autox on stock springs. They are a little soft for RR however. A comperably driven FS Camaro will be faster than any any stock class FWD car, including the Type R.

If you are wanting to retain the stock ride height, you might consider 1LE springs up front.

 

The biggest problem with the stock springs is that your ride height is too high to get a decent amount of negative camber with the stock control arms and bushings. If you are competing in ESP, then install offset bushings in your front control arms to gain more negative camber. If you are in SM, then you can get aftermarket a-arms (I like GW) that will increase your negative camber despite your stock ride height. All that being said, a good driver in a stock car will smoke a so-so driver in a well prepared ESP car with lowering springs, lots of negative camber, etc.