SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
I'm using the C5 because I'm widening the wheelbase - if I was going to use stock width, then the grand am for sure.
Plastic Fantastic 2
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SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
I got a stack of parts.... early, but not all correct
this one is correct (under the bubble wrap) it's a front sway bar for a C5/C6
rotors from a 2010-2015 Camaro was good too - though I need to do a bit of opening on the spindle
and they sent me the rear calipers rather then the front.... whoops.edited editedI sent the seller (ebay) a note, crossing my fingers he has the right ones.edited These use a 2" wide pad rather then a 2 1/2" wide along with the front rotor is thicker....
There is good news, though, making a bracket to make those fit the Corvette spindles should be child's play.edited Fortunately, I don't think there will be a run on these front end parts because this is not as plug and play as the rear..... of course, if it was easy....edited
I'm starting with a used C5/C6 front rack.... I'll make it manual, but it will give me the option of power if I don't like it... read, it makes me faster.
this one is correct (under the bubble wrap) it's a front sway bar for a C5/C6
rotors from a 2010-2015 Camaro was good too - though I need to do a bit of opening on the spindle
and they sent me the rear calipers rather then the front.... whoops.edited editedI sent the seller (ebay) a note, crossing my fingers he has the right ones.edited These use a 2" wide pad rather then a 2 1/2" wide along with the front rotor is thicker....
There is good news, though, making a bracket to make those fit the Corvette spindles should be child's play.edited Fortunately, I don't think there will be a run on these front end parts because this is not as plug and play as the rear..... of course, if it was easy....edited
I'm starting with a used C5/C6 front rack.... I'll make it manual, but it will give me the option of power if I don't like it... read, it makes me faster.
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
in other news, I used my lathe to open up the rotors
it feetz
it feetz
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
slowly the pieces are coming in... c5 rack
rtj
Well-known member
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- Nov 5, 2011
- Messages
- 3,231
Pretty amazing that you are calling the rear swap “plug and play!”
The search for a improved, economical replacement rear end for C3’s was sort of a holy grail.
I envision someone offering a no-brainer kit with instructions. Not me, but I bet it would sell a few.
For the right price point, it would be well worth it.
And, it’s a modern irs package, which the aftermarket supports.
Edit: oh, I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a bigger lathe. Pretty much sold me with you’re “new” CL score.
The search for a improved, economical replacement rear end for C3’s was sort of a holy grail.
I envision someone offering a no-brainer kit with instructions. Not me, but I bet it would sell a few.
For the right price point, it would be well worth it.
And, it’s a modern irs package, which the aftermarket supports.
Edit: oh, I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a bigger lathe. Pretty much sold me with you’re “new” CL score.
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SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
some parts arrived today....edited
the correct calipers
(there may be a very simply way to make these work without any cutting)
the issue is the rotor needs to move out on the hub or take material off one or the other (or both - hub and caliper)
that said, about a 1/4" is what would put it about perfect.... just shush and don't tell anyone in the C5 world that 14" Camaro rotors and SS calipers can fit on their hubs...edited
what I bought was the c5 cradle so that I could copy it
that said, I may simply use as-is.... dunno at this moment but the temptation is there (and there are substantial benefits)
It is 64" wide hub-to-hub* (compared to 58.7 stock).... which incidentally is the same width as the panther platform front suspension I put in the 50 Buick.... it's almost like I was planning this when I put the flares on.... there will be some who believe that, most won't
basically it's 3" from the edge of the flare to the hub
*to be sure we're all speaking the same language - track width is the center of the wheel to center of wheel.edited On cars like the C5 which put the hub well past the centerline of the wheel, that number is going to be a different point.edited The C3 has a centered hub, so the 59.7 is the hub face to hub face dimension.edited The C5 gets trick because there are 2, standard and Z06.edited The 'stated' track width is 62".edited The hub face to hub face is roughly (depending on alignment) 64 inches.edited the Z06, reportedly, is 66 inches
the correct calipers
(there may be a very simply way to make these work without any cutting)
the issue is the rotor needs to move out on the hub or take material off one or the other (or both - hub and caliper)
that said, about a 1/4" is what would put it about perfect.... just shush and don't tell anyone in the C5 world that 14" Camaro rotors and SS calipers can fit on their hubs...edited
what I bought was the c5 cradle so that I could copy it
that said, I may simply use as-is.... dunno at this moment but the temptation is there (and there are substantial benefits)
It is 64" wide hub-to-hub* (compared to 58.7 stock).... which incidentally is the same width as the panther platform front suspension I put in the 50 Buick.... it's almost like I was planning this when I put the flares on.... there will be some who believe that, most won't
basically it's 3" from the edge of the flare to the hub
*to be sure we're all speaking the same language - track width is the center of the wheel to center of wheel.edited On cars like the C5 which put the hub well past the centerline of the wheel, that number is going to be a different point.edited The C3 has a centered hub, so the 59.7 is the hub face to hub face dimension.edited The C5 gets trick because there are 2, standard and Z06.edited The 'stated' track width is 62".edited The hub face to hub face is roughly (depending on alignment) 64 inches.edited the Z06, reportedly, is 66 inches
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
Pretty amazing that you are calling the rear swap “plug and play!”
The search for a improved, economical replacement rear end for C3’s was sort of a holy grail.
I envision someone offering a no-brainer kit with instructions. Not me, but I bet it would sell a few.
For the right price point, it would be well worth it.
And, it’s a modern irs package, which the aftermarket supports.
Edit: oh, I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a bigger lathe. Pretty much sold me with you’re “new” CL score.
as far as far better suspension install, it really is because you've only got to be able to read a tape measure to get it centered in the space.
as far as I'm concerned, the I put under my FJ40 was difficult because everything had to be calculated. Here - it's all GM's design.....
inexpensive, as I feared when I started - the moment I started this, the prices on the assembly went up substantially... the people I bought it from want 3k for what I paid 750 to my door.
I found the lathe on Facebook marketplace, same type of place like CL, but it's a good option too
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bobs77vet
Well-known member
it looks great....I have C5 zo6 springs from an 04 17k mile car. I bought the shocks and springs together at a really good deal and paid $200 for the springs. they are yours for that price plus shipping if you want them, I am not going to use them the roads are too crappy around here.
and the there are lowering bolts I think for the rear in this picture
and the there are lowering bolts I think for the rear in this picture
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
maybe.... I was looking at coilovers, but I'm not convinced that GM isn't correct with the cross spring - so I'm going to do a bit more researching, because I hate getting a gift then not using it.... if you have any bolts hanging about - those I could use. What is it with ebay sellers - is there like a place that pays top-dollar for used bolts?
in response to RTJ - I may be convinced to do something to make the install easier, but I do this for fun (granted, I'm going to SEMA this year, so there is possibility of me monetizing stuff) and post to entertain and convince others that it's really not that hard to do.
I've had a couple different things copied and sold and I'm pretty happy with them making money off them. My entire point is to get people to just do it - nothing in building cars is impossible to learn, just be willing to say awfuxit and do it. What does annoy me is the profit-taking on these Camaro rear assemblies - but eventually the prices will come back down, not just that but without the flares the SS setup would have the hubs outside the wheel-wells on a C3.
What I do suspect is going to happen next will be the C5 guys upgrading with SS Brembo brakes. 14", the hot version have 6 piston fronts. You'll hear it here first..... I just need to cut the tabs off and redrill the spindles then bolt them on. I may need to do a 1/16" spacer behind the rotor but outside of that, you're looking at 14" brakes all the way around for about $500-$700.
in response to RTJ - I may be convinced to do something to make the install easier, but I do this for fun (granted, I'm going to SEMA this year, so there is possibility of me monetizing stuff) and post to entertain and convince others that it's really not that hard to do.
I've had a couple different things copied and sold and I'm pretty happy with them making money off them. My entire point is to get people to just do it - nothing in building cars is impossible to learn, just be willing to say awfuxit and do it. What does annoy me is the profit-taking on these Camaro rear assemblies - but eventually the prices will come back down, not just that but without the flares the SS setup would have the hubs outside the wheel-wells on a C3.
What I do suspect is going to happen next will be the C5 guys upgrading with SS Brembo brakes. 14", the hot version have 6 piston fronts. You'll hear it here first..... I just need to cut the tabs off and redrill the spindles then bolt them on. I may need to do a 1/16" spacer behind the rotor but outside of that, you're looking at 14" brakes all the way around for about $500-$700.
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
Most of my day was thisedited
but I did get a few moments to plan
first of all.... I am leaning toward it's only going to need cut the original holes off then redrill the spindles.edited Once done, it'll need about 1/16" spacer behind the rotor
you can almost see the line
the yellow
is roughly where that rear hole isedited
I think the hardest part of this will be the radiator because the outlet and the front hole seem to occupy about the same space.edited Not a huge problem, but still fitting will be necessary
The oil pan, upon first measurement seems to clear - why reinvent the wheel? I'll use the cradle if it makes sense (meaning, takes less work).
I still have to build upper a-arm mounts but that seems to be the extent of the fab...edited
but I did get a few moments to plan
first of all.... I am leaning toward it's only going to need cut the original holes off then redrill the spindles.edited Once done, it'll need about 1/16" spacer behind the rotor
you can almost see the line
the yellow
is roughly where that rear hole isedited
I think the hardest part of this will be the radiator because the outlet and the front hole seem to occupy about the same space.edited Not a huge problem, but still fitting will be necessary
The oil pan, upon first measurement seems to clear - why reinvent the wheel? I'll use the cradle if it makes sense (meaning, takes less work).
I still have to build upper a-arm mounts but that seems to be the extent of the fab...edited
bobs77vet
Well-known member
whats the frame for?
I don't have any extra bolts for the cradles, only the two lowering bolts for the rear springs.
I don't have any extra bolts for the cradles, only the two lowering bolts for the rear springs.
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
the frame is what holds up the motor and attaches the lower half of a C5 front suspension
I suppose I should occasionally show the bit of leg-work I doedited
under the stack is a printout from Mitchells that gives the data points to align a C5 Corvette
then I needed to measure and translate the numbers to make a drawing to install the new cradle and suspension
that is what the paper on the left then right are.... dimensions
as an aside, in searching for the drawings, I found there is a shop that installs the C5 stuff on C3s using the cradle like I'm doing.... my install will have a bit more detail than theirs did.... nice to know it's doable, though.
I suppose I should occasionally show the bit of leg-work I doedited
under the stack is a printout from Mitchells that gives the data points to align a C5 Corvette
then I needed to measure and translate the numbers to make a drawing to install the new cradle and suspension
that is what the paper on the left then right are.... dimensions
as an aside, in searching for the drawings, I found there is a shop that installs the C5 stuff on C3s using the cradle like I'm doing.... my install will have a bit more detail than theirs did.... nice to know it's doable, though.
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bobs77vet
Well-known member
very nice, to me it looked much larger in the photos then i guess it actually is
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
I was pleasantly surprised that it looks like it will work.... still a long way, though, from saying it does work:banghead:
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
Most of my day was thisedited
..........
I think the hardest part of this will be the radiator because the outlet and the front hole seem to occupy about the same space.edited Not a huge problem, but still fitting will be necessary
The oil pan, upon first measurement seems to clear - why reinvent the wheel? I'll use the cradle if it makes sense (meaning, takes less work).
I still have to build upper a-arm mounts but that seems to be the extent of the fab...edited
Just curious what the bare cradle weighs. If you get a future opportunity to put it on a scale I'd appreciate the info. Thanks.
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
34 lbs.
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
as we all know, stock is WAY too reliable for my tastes.... so we remove this
GM really should have put them on better... they just fell off
a bit of centering
all it needs to do is go straight up 5"
anyone needs a new brake system...edited
GM really should have put them on better... they just fell off
a bit of centering
all it needs to do is go straight up 5"
anyone needs a new brake system...edited
SRountree
Well-known member
What kind of break system? $$?
69427
The Artist formerly known as Turbo84
SuperBuickGuy
Well-known member
2010 Camaro SS - more specifically, 14" disks and Brembo calipers
