Help with vintage race info - Trans Am

[1cerberus4u]

Hey all!

I know this may be a bit off topic for all the 1/4's out there, but I have decided to convert my 67 Barracuda Coupe into a vintage SCCA Trans-am race car (I race other vintage stuff, but I'm looking for something different)

Does anyone know who I can turn to in an effort to put together a competitive A Body suspension and braking package.

I don't want to go as far as some of the E body guys did (cutting off the front of the car and re welding it at a -6 degree angle or acid dipping it until the roof fell in - true stories....)

The challenge is the parts have to be vintage or at least be able to pass as such.

So I am looking for parts, suspension geometry tricks an such to make the car turn and stop

Any help in this process will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

Andy

 

[hemicop]

There are guys that race vintage E-bodies, as I 'm sure you're aware and at least that's a start. You might want to look for some old copies of "Mopar Muscle" or "Mopar Action " magazine" as I believe one of them built an "A" body for the RACE ACROSS AMERICA & they did quite a bit of suspension mods which may be applicible. MOpars chssis manual may help as it does go into some suspension info other than drag cars.

 

[LS-300]

One of the first things you should look into would be adding a sway bar. Unless you have a Formula S version I'd bet you don't have one. Since they were available as an option this would be allowed without putting you in a "Pro" class.

 

[1cerberus4u]

Thanks guys. I actually do have bars on the car now, but to be competitive in racing , it will require a full re-assessment of the suspension.

to start with, I'll have to either reinforce or gusset every suspension pickup point, add sub frame connectors, 8 point cage, change all rubber bushings to either delrin or better roller bearings, add adjustable shocks, adjustable sway bars, (ideally add coil-overs, but that my eliminate me from some sanctioning bodiesif not, bigger T bars).

ideally I'd like to find out if anyone makes raised spindles or if I will have to raise the pick-up points in the car. I also don't know if anyone has used a Pan-hard bar in the back....

so finding someone or a shop who has experience with A bodies (there are several E body shops, but it's a different chassis and as such, different pickup points) and this type of event

 

[nothingbutdarts]

Over on BBD.com I think Jim Lusk has raced an "A" body on road courses.

 

[1cerberus4u]

what is bbd.com nothing comes up

a

 

[jaws]

That would be bigblockdart.com

Also might try
http://www.svra.com/




http://www.historictransam.com/home.htm

 

[WyKev]

Check in the susp thread here. I asked similair questions there and got some great info. Title was Autox/ road race in a Dart.

 

[1cerberus4u]

Thanks!

 

[GTXperience]

You will want to contact a friend of mine, Mike Ritz (owner of the Team Starfish Barracuda). He is a great guy and will share his insight into building an A-body for road racing.

 

[65 Dartman]

There's a guy over at slant6.org (Dart270) that road races a 64 4 door Dart and is quite competitive I understand. You might check in over there and see what he has to say.

 

[1cerberus4u]

Thanks Guys, will do