Plastic Fantastic 2

Today's news, no pictures. I sent the wheels back to Apex. To trade them for a wider front and a 19" rear. I really wanted the 18s around it but they simply don't have the tire selection available now.... The fronts, I didn't like the offset so basically I'm using a rear "stock Corvette" dimension for the front - which will give me a 295 front tire and 325 rear. Will still need to modify the front flares but not as drastic - add 1/2" or so per side.

Next up, install the gears, port EFI and new sidepipes. along with everything else I'm doing. Will be a busy off-season but hopefully next year I'll meet my goal of being competitive....

and, I was 'competitive' this year and did pretty well for a wet-behind-the-ears-rookie. What I did do this year was make some really good acquaintances who are really helping behind the scenes....


and I smile at the thought that it seems just yesterday (10 years ago) that I was arguing with a german on here about cars.... thanks for putting up with me, your help has been invaluable.
 
boxes
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winning
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basically, I'm using rears from a basic C6 on the front and a GS C6 on the rear
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11" fronts, they 'just' clear on the inside on the upper control arm
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I may have to do some work on the front flares to make it perfect but I can run it like this... we will see once I put the 295s on the front... I'm stoked. Next up is the headers and port efi....time to make this fast...
 
more updates, the much anticipated Global West suspension upgrades arrived.... why did I wait when I could have paid less for others? well, glad you asked
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this changes how you adjust the front suspension - it also allows you to narrow the track by 1/2", a real benefit if you're already considering whether or not you will have to reflare the car to fit better front tires.
But I digress, these are the upper bushings, they're basically lubeable heims
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also the way they go together makes it impossible for the upper control arm to move fore and aft (which they can in the stock setup)
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they also allow you to adjust camber by simply flipping the bit that bolts to the frame (the flats are ground off center)
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they also eliminate the lower control arm cams (and replace the bushings with a lubeable delrin bushing)
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to remind, last time out, I pushed hard enough on the 340 tread wear tires to change the camber... and now I'm going 200 tread wear and 1" per side wider contact patch

first step,
picture for posterity
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push out the upper bushings
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then realize I don't have green threadlock

so take pictures of 7 month old, 87 lb bloodhound puppy and her sidekick, Luigi
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easiest way to get the upper ball joint off
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drill and tap for grease zerts
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upper assembled
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and installed
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and then onto the lower control arms
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so I remember where it was set (it doesn't set on the lower control arm when this is done but this helps me align it later
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remove bushings
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bushings removed
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no more rubber, delrin
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nicely machined so they get fully lubed
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a 'while I'm there' shaving just a bit off the new sway bar gives me clearance I need
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I really like the quality of the Global West parts.
 
Had to build a gate so got delayed on working on the car
hard to believe it's $1600 if someone else builds it for you
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In other news... mounted the tires to the track wheels, I'll have to weight them, they're substantially lighter
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the rears are the same size as what's already on there but the fronts
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275/35zr18 v. 295/30zr18 - so shorter and wider.... but I think the same offset so, crossing fingers, no need to cut the flares and widen them
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anyway, got onto the car - should have taken more pictures
and hit a slight snag.... I need it to go into the innermost 'spot' but something is preventing that from happening...
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so I'll take it apart again and see what's up....
and the new rear end is ready to be picked up
to be continued....
 
to remind... these weren't fitting
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they do now
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the problem (basically a burr)
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after a bit of love with a die grinder
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ages ago I bought dies to port heads, I may have used them once for that but they are handy for things like this
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much much better
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with the new wheels on it
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and they fit!!!! 1" wider tire - these rims - well all the rims are for the back tires of a C6. The front are stock C6, the rear are GS C6
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these fit better then the GS wheels which are 1 1/2 inches narrower
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tire/wheel weights
stock GS front
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race GS about 4lb savings per wheel - granted, it's also a wider tire....
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rear GS stock wheels
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the most amazing, 10 lbs savings on each rear wheel
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tomorrow
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That's a serious footprint! With the new shoes and the Del-A-Lum bushings it should be really interesting to see how the car responds to your inputs and changes your track times.
 
didn't get much time to work on it today, however, did get to checking the alignment.... 6* castor, 1.5 camber. great for a street car, I can flip the shims on the lower control arm to gain 1 degree of camber - which is about perfect for an autox
I'll take it

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I should use dzus fasteners to install this.... what is this, rear diff number 3?
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bright side is if I do the Silver State Challenge, I have the rear diff with the right gears as spare
 
yay practice
nothing left to do but to do it
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my 'stock' C3 rear suspension :)
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old ready to drop
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empty hole
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getting back together
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oil is in it, tomorrow I'll tighten everything back up - I also want the rear up about an inch...

the 'to do' list:
replace inside mirror with one that doesn't move
oil catch can
do something about the center console - it's dropped and now is hit by the shifter

put it away - then collect parts for the port EFI, better headers and maybe build a spare motor.
 
and back on the ground.... I may have tightened the rear coil overs a bit too much but past experience says drive it a few times
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I ordered a very cheap set of 304 stainless 16g shorty headers.... next up is build new headers. I also ordered a port efi intake manifold. I'm going to assemble it myself. I don't trust FiTech and the Holley does give enough fuel at full song.

With that said, I may put this in its box after putting a solid heat cycle or two in the differential (and reset the speedo)
 
note, when adjusting the e-brake, be sure you put the handle down before you do so. Ah well, I wanted to put it up on the lift again... well, no I didn't, but I get to anyway.

with that said, this drives amazing. Next weekend is a local autox, the last of the season, this should be fun.
 
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