Pro-touring, form or function?

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

If the competetion is annual, I'm down for 2010 probably with my Riviera. Its a colaboration of mostly OEM parts with custom built adapters. I'm waiting rather patiently for someone to release a dang plug-n-play kit for a CO/NPI for the L67 DIS system to ditch the wastespart or atleast get all the plugs firing in the right direction.

[milner351]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I wonder what the guys at TRC in Ohio would charge us to take over the Dynamics area for a Saturday.....

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

dang....I've been driving around on old used hand-me-down tires.

[dieselgeek]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

The intrinsic problem Scott is that you can't get any advertising revenue from junkyards, so magazines have to push the expensive nice new parts.

yep, but then the problem becomes, and you can see it in posts here, "sorry, I can't compete, I can't afford all that badass stuff"

so the marketing people are killing the spirit of the hobby. marketing sucks!

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

But there is still the internet for us die-hards.

btw, what are you driving lately?

[dieselgeek]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

But there is still the internet for us die-hards.

btw, what are you driving lately?

4 days a week, 2005 Honda Civic. Driving like a grandma I am logging 37mpg! (almost all highway driving though)

1 day a week, the trusty old 1998 Dodge/Cummins, right at 20mpg (again driving like a grandma).



but I have at least decided on a powerplant for my project. Me and a pal picked up a couple 2.2 Ecotec engines from the salvage yard... I should start another thread. I am trying to decide what to put it in!

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Sounds like fun! How about a Pro Touring Chevette? (yes, I'm kidding...but you get the idea)

[dieselgeek]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Sounds like fun! How about a Pro Touring Chevette? (yes, I'm kidding...but you get the idea)

ideas so far:

-240/260/280Z Datsun (but, they all need more bodywork than I am willing to perform)

and I am totally open to suggestions. Would like it to be a fun street/strip car. shooting for 30mpg and 500+hp (turbocharged)

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I think my neighbor still has one, but it will have been sitting in his yard collecting rodents for 15 yrs

[Loren]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Me and a pal picked up a couple 2.2 Ecotec engines from the salvage yard... I should start another thread. I am trying to decide what to put it in!

Fiat X1/9. Do a really crazy original thing that makes no sense and combine domestic...and Fiat ;)

[bnjny]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I think like anything, it has gone from fun and functional to show and no go... I have yet to see any big buck Pro Touring ride show up at the local autocross... I do see them at the local shows...

However there are those who do drive their rides hard... There is a guy who runs locally in ESP in a 70 Camaro that is to die for and he drives it hard... Almost always trophies...

[autoxcuda]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I agree on some level. The trend toward big wheels came from the need to clear big brakes, but has turned into a style more than anything. Most of the cars that do have all the good handling parts, big brakes, power, etc. don't use them EVER. HR and several manufacturers had discussions for the past several years about doing a shootout much like a Drag Week event but for Pro Touring/ Handling cars. They don't have the time or the budget to do it.

We don't have the time, but I can get the support. Is anyone interested in something like that? I know you are interested in the coverage, but would anyone participate?

Let's go. I'm ready.

I did mine mostly with junkyard, swap meet parts. Just adapt factory stuff from other cars and keep it simple. KISS: increase roll rates, increase grip (tire patch and construction), increase rotor diameter.

1 1/8 front sway bar -Madera mopar show swap meet $35
3/4 rear sway bar - Tom Hand of STL $45 and another at Spring Fling $25
73-76 K-member, LCA with sway bar tabs, 11.75 Disk brake swap: various Pick A Parts around So Cal
.99 Torsion Bars - $119 new Westoaks MP ~14 years ago
Aluminum Master Cly - ~$50 new Westoaks MP ~14 years ago
Adjustable Prop Valve - $40 new Westoaks MP
Remanufactured Mopar Steering Box - $160 David Ellis C-P
Welding reinforcement on K-member and LCA's - free from friend
QA1 front shocks $80/pr at Long Beach swap meet last year
15x8 widened junkyard rallies $60/ea from Boltons in Gardena (before repros)
245/50/15ZR - widest tire to fit in front with 15" rim. Only need 15" rim to clear 11.75 disks.

Spring Fling Speed Festival had many low buck cars and we had a great time. Tim Herren and myself came up with the idea of an older cars track day tied into the Spring Fling car show event. Next year will be our 3rd annual. And for next year we're trying to pool together a commerical hauler to bring cars out from the East Coast to save gas:

Pics:

http://www.carjunkietv.com/watch-shows/wide-open/22nd-Mopar-Spring-Fling/22nd-Mopar-Spring-Fling-gallery.html

Video

http://www.carjunkietv.com/watch-shows/wide-open/22nd-Mopar-Spring-Fling.html

[CDMBill]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I think I'm jumping into the fire here, but here goes. I always liked the PT concept and tried to build my own since 2000. Of course it ridiculous to start with a heavy convertable and trying to stop, go and corner means absurd compromises, but I'm happy. I've had 18's on this thing now for seven years and yes that was to clear big brakes which are worth it if you want to stop hard more than once like at an open track day or a Silver State deal. I still love drag racing so I do that too knowing that I give up a bunch of ET by keeping the 275/45-18s on the front with 720 in./lb springs and 1.125 sway bar. I can swap rear tires and calipers pretty fast to do the full on MT drag radials in the back, but I've run 10.69/131 with the five year old Nitto 305/45-18's in as I drive it condition. I've found the the handling with Cal-trac springs, modified Slide-a-links and double adjustable shocks covers a lot of ground from cones to quarte mile traps.

It will stop hard enough to scare you and I love to pull around guys in expensive imports on curving on ramps. Just lights them up when you go by.



I won't say my deal is low buck, as I have waayy too much in the drive line, but I've fabbed everything I can from chassis to roll cage to headers, and done most of the wrenching. It's possible to have some degree of all around performance as long as you're willing to flog it and find out what doesn't work and try again. I am always up for one of these go stop turn deals, if I don't break something the week before, that is.

Thanks to DF for the DW 07 pictures.

[CDMBill]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Did I mention that I love that Barracuda? I was jonesing for the Fontana open track day on the 18th but I'm in the middle of rethrash and couldn't quite get it done in time.

[autoxcuda]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Did I mention that I love that Barracuda?

Thanks!. It's a super low budget deal.

I ran out of concentration and talent here. Same session DF lost an air line in the crew cab Chevelle.