how do i improve handling? ive checked out global west's website and seen some nice stuff on there. but what do i need to greatly improve handling? will the tubular upper and lower a arms help out a lot?

any affordable brake upgrades out there? also rear disc conversion?

should i lower it? if so by how much?

im fairly new to the 2nd gen so please bear with me


BTW its getting a LT1/T56 conversion with it

 

http://www.nastyz28.com/pthandle.html#roadrace

 

thank you for the link Erik. that will also help me just a tiny(i am setting mine up more for drag but i may be able to use that info elsewhere).

Also the August issue of Chevy High Performance has a nice article about replacing brakes(i think they upgrade them too), and throwing new high performance shocks from Edlebrock.

There are a ton of places that do rear brake conversions. You will just have to search right now. I'm in the process of finding the best one for my 79.

 

Roy- It all depends on how much "handling" you want. Global West sells everything. You can get various spring rates front and rear as well as perfromance shocks and swaybars. Del-alum bushed tubular upper and lower A-arms if you want the best in strength and weight reduction.

I'm going the same route with my 81 and want to put in an LT1/T56 eventually when I've done the suspension/wheels. I'd start off with making the car "tight" and install some solid body mount bushings along with SFCs. Then do the front and rear springs alomg with the steering and components and rear bushings/spring pads/shackles etc.

I'd like to take a look at you project one day and maybe we could trade ideas on making the LT1/t56 swap easy.

 

thanks guys.

mike i think the lt1 swap is going to be easy, motor mounts the same. the only thing that would get deleted is the ac. im going to be using the accel dfi i didnt sell so that makes wiring a breeze. the only thing im confused on is the t56, since its a th350 car i dont know how and where to mount the pedals etc.


i would like it to handle as good as the 4th gen if its possible

what peices would you suggest?

 

try the complete Hotchkis setup.....

comes with frt/rear springs, frt/rear sway bars, and asst. other peices...add to that the global west frt upper and lower control arms, some subframe connectors, and you should have a sweet handling car....

thats the plan for my 81 anyways.....

I too, am going to do an LT1/T56 swap....but with a minor difference.....Twin Hairdryers..

 

It could even handle better if you want.

I myself am looking at GW's S-7 or S-8 front lowering springs. They lower 1" and spring rates should go over 600in/lb on the S-8
Rear will be the L-3 also 1" lower. You can go lower but I want as much wheel travel as I can get and anything more than 1 1/2 in doesn't have enough travel IMO. A larger front bar as well and some Konis or Bilsteins. New solid body mounts ( I know af a company in Port Coquitlam that sell em and they're just like the GW ones) and new bushings in the A-arms either alum or rubber...stay away from poly if you like to corner as they bind. Add some sticky 16s or17s and she'll handle better than a 4th gen.

For pedals use factory 79 four speed stuff. Look at Todd80Z28's website on the 2nd gen board and he'll show you how to mod the pedals for the hydraulic hookups. If you have a 4th gen t-56 crossmember you can may get that to fit or I've heard guys taking a th350 crossmember , cutting off the mounting tab , turning it 180 deg and rewelding the tab. Basically put in the tranny and get your proper tailshaft angle then slide the th350 crossmeber so it is right where it needs to be. If the holes in the frame don't line up then just redrill and bolt it. Bolt the tab to the tranny and where it meets the crossmeber tack weld it then take it off and finish welding and add gussets for strength if need be.

I have more info for easy intank fuel pump setups (that use the factory 2nd gen tank) and fuel rail answers as well.

Good luck!

 

You just modify the standard T350 crossmember mount tab and redrill some new holes. I am using the stock 70 pedals with the T56 master and slave.

My 70 plan:

SFC
Solid subframe bushings
B-body spindles and 12" 1LE front brakes, LS1 12" rear disk
Polyurethane bushings in every control arm and rear spring mounts
525 in/lbs front springs, 1" shorter than stock
1-1/4 front bar, 3/4 rear
Edelbrock IAS shocks
17x8 rims (thinking about going wider on the back and minitubs)
275/40 RE71 Bridgestones (already had them on the rims)
seats out of a 96 TA (better side bolsters to stay in place)
quick ratio box out of a 86 Monte SS
battery in the trunk, fiberglass hood and aluminum radiator to help out the weight distribution

I may build some braces from the upper control arm mounts to the firewall, depending on how it all feels...

 

which b body spindles? the later years? will they bolt up? and how woudl you use the ls1 rear brakes? how would you mount the calipers etc? and quick ratio box out of a monte ss? i thought g body guys use the third gen f body ratio box? so would a third gen quick ratio box work too then?

 

where woudl i find the hotchkis kit? and are you building the twin turbo setup your self?

 

try:
http://www.hotchkis.net/cgi-bin/EDCs...ro%3B1977-1981

direct link for 77-81 Hotchkis parts....

yes, building it myself, not sure which turbos yet, but a local shop has sbc turbo manifolds for a late model IMP SS LT1 car that I can borrow to mock up my own system, and a friend has a tubing bender to fab plumbing....

I plan on running the factory LT1 OBD1 pcm with tuning, and low boost, until I can afford a FAST system, then crank up the boost...

 

Yes, the later (early 90's) B-bodies, the spindles bolt up, but to get the correct wheel bolt pattern you have to use 3rd gen 1LE rotors. The bearings are the same.

I am welding my own mounts for the rear disc brakes.

Only the 86/87 Monte SS had the quick ratio box, and you have to change the pitman arm and also the p/s hose connections. I parted out a Monte so I already had the box in good shape
3rd gen should work, with the same changes.

Between car mags, the web, and the 2nd gen site, there is a wealth of info if you do a little research.

 

My setup is on my website. It handles extremely well- and everything was bolt-on (except for the subframe connectors which were weld-on).

 

thanks guys