Ultimate RestoMods with STOCK Chassis Thread
#1
Ultimate RestoMods with STOCK Chassis Thread
Hi guys,
I'm relatively new to this forum but wanted to start this thread for those of us that want to share info on the best ways to upgrade/restore/mod our Vettes but sticking with a stock chassis...
I know there are a lot of amazing threads out there on cars with tubular frames like the one made by SRiii that use c4 or later suspension and a couple of years ago faced with a severely rusted frame I very nearly went that route... But for several reasons I decided instead to have a new stock frame built instead using all the original tooling and had the frame seam welded, boxed and gusseted as recommended by chevy for C2 race cars to add strength and stiffness.
I'd like to know what people think are the ultimate upgrades to a C2 Vette... Best steering, suspension, tranny, engines, etc, etc!
It would be great to build this thread as a resource for this, descriptions of what you've done, future upgrades and loads of useful links and pictures would be great!
I'll start things off...
1964 Coupe
Frame - Stock (seam welded etc)
Steering - Steeroids power rack
Wheels - Original knock off
Suspension - Stock springs with Bilsteins
Engine - 380hp 350 cuin SB
Brakes - Power discs all round
Tires - Avon CR6 zz road legal historic racing tires
Steering wheel - 14" motolita
Future plans...
Steering - Borgeson Steering with Turnone adjustable flow valve (in the process of ordering now)
Suspension - Vansteel dual adjustable full coilover suspension package with offset trailing arms and tubular control arms
Engine - Shaffiroff Racing all aluminium 525 hp 427 SB.
Tranny - Kiesler SS700
So that's kind of where I am so far and my current plans for the future... I'm kind of doing this in stages when I have the cash and making sure I drive my car as much as possible over the summer!
Hope this is the start of a useful and interesting thread, I can't wait to hear about some of your mods/ideas!
Luke
I'm relatively new to this forum but wanted to start this thread for those of us that want to share info on the best ways to upgrade/restore/mod our Vettes but sticking with a stock chassis...
I know there are a lot of amazing threads out there on cars with tubular frames like the one made by SRiii that use c4 or later suspension and a couple of years ago faced with a severely rusted frame I very nearly went that route... But for several reasons I decided instead to have a new stock frame built instead using all the original tooling and had the frame seam welded, boxed and gusseted as recommended by chevy for C2 race cars to add strength and stiffness.
I'd like to know what people think are the ultimate upgrades to a C2 Vette... Best steering, suspension, tranny, engines, etc, etc!
It would be great to build this thread as a resource for this, descriptions of what you've done, future upgrades and loads of useful links and pictures would be great!
I'll start things off...
1964 Coupe
Frame - Stock (seam welded etc)
Steering - Steeroids power rack
Wheels - Original knock off
Suspension - Stock springs with Bilsteins
Engine - 380hp 350 cuin SB
Brakes - Power discs all round
Tires - Avon CR6 zz road legal historic racing tires
Steering wheel - 14" motolita
Future plans...
Steering - Borgeson Steering with Turnone adjustable flow valve (in the process of ordering now)
Suspension - Vansteel dual adjustable full coilover suspension package with offset trailing arms and tubular control arms
Engine - Shaffiroff Racing all aluminium 525 hp 427 SB.
Tranny - Kiesler SS700
So that's kind of where I am so far and my current plans for the future... I'm kind of doing this in stages when I have the cash and making sure I drive my car as much as possible over the summer!
Hope this is the start of a useful and interesting thread, I can't wait to hear about some of your mods/ideas!
Luke
#2
Dr. Detroit
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: New Braunfels Texas
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The single best upgrade to my 66' was the Fiberglass rear spring...
It is the "Middle" lbs./sq. inch one...I believe 315?
That and the KYB shocks and Urethane sway bar bushings made this a different car to drive.
Jebby
It is the "Middle" lbs./sq. inch one...I believe 315?
That and the KYB shocks and Urethane sway bar bushings made this a different car to drive.
Jebby
#3
Burning Brakes
I approached the stock car with the following in mind. An updated ride and lighten the car up while improving reliablility.
Engine: 327/350 Mass Flo EFI, Edelbrock alum heads, water pump, brackets Mini lite starter, headers
Suspension: Van Steel tubular a arms, QA1 coilovers on all 4 wheels offset trailing arms
Steering: Steeriods R&P
Brakes: Wilwood mini lites and alum master cly
Trans: Keisler 5 speed Hays alum flywheel
Wheels: 17 inch alum AR
Tires: Kuhmo ESCTA Sport 235/50 rear 225/50 front
Interior Fiero seats, Vintage air Grant wheel
Pulled front bumper
Estimated about 300 pounds taken out
Much of the work done by Xplosive Performance in Orlando
Engine: 327/350 Mass Flo EFI, Edelbrock alum heads, water pump, brackets Mini lite starter, headers
Suspension: Van Steel tubular a arms, QA1 coilovers on all 4 wheels offset trailing arms
Steering: Steeriods R&P
Brakes: Wilwood mini lites and alum master cly
Trans: Keisler 5 speed Hays alum flywheel
Wheels: 17 inch alum AR
Tires: Kuhmo ESCTA Sport 235/50 rear 225/50 front
Interior Fiero seats, Vintage air Grant wheel
Pulled front bumper
Estimated about 300 pounds taken out
Much of the work done by Xplosive Performance in Orlando
#4
Thanks for that Jebby, i've heard great things about the composite rear springs but am yet to drive a car with one to test it out...
RJ1, i like you're approach! adding lightness is definitly the best way to add speed!
The of your cars sounds awesome... can you share some pics with us?
Also i'm in the process of ordering the Borgeson Steering, i'm currently running the steeroids rack but i just don't like it... too over-assisted, twitchy and constant problems with the u-joint setup...
While i'm doing the steering i'm seriously considering going with the Vansteel full coilover front suspension... How good is it? Can you tell me about it? any tips?
Is the general consensus at the moment that the Vansteel coilover setup is the best bolt on C2 suspension out there?
Thanks, Luke
RJ1, i like you're approach! adding lightness is definitly the best way to add speed!
The of your cars sounds awesome... can you share some pics with us?
Also i'm in the process of ordering the Borgeson Steering, i'm currently running the steeroids rack but i just don't like it... too over-assisted, twitchy and constant problems with the u-joint setup...
While i'm doing the steering i'm seriously considering going with the Vansteel full coilover front suspension... How good is it? Can you tell me about it? any tips?
Is the general consensus at the moment that the Vansteel coilover setup is the best bolt on C2 suspension out there?
Thanks, Luke
#5
In the process of having mine finished now. 64 Stock frame, Ls3, front runner vintage air. Ac Vintage air. G-force 5-speed (yes they will handle the HP and as its a t5 shifts like a stock trans). VBP discs all around. You may get better handling with the SRiii frame with C4 or 5 suspension but then I use mine as a cruiser.
Last edited by Comp Cam 1; 09-05-2013 at 09:48 AM.
#6
Burning Brakes
SilverBullet64 the Van Steel front is great. Brings you up to C4 level. The rear Van Steel to me was even better in ride quality and took the bounce out of the rear over speed bumps and bad raods. And the offset training arms allow a little wider tire with out interfernce. This set up allows you to change ride height and QA1 allow ride quality adjustments. I will try to get some pictures up later.
#7
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 5,656
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St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Stock frame on the 65. I have a 78 frame to put under it. Will perform the mods listed in the power manual before replacement. Thinking of having it galvanized as well.
Suspension is VBP dual mount rear spring, offset rear control arms, currently shortened 460# front springs with offset upper control arms, steroids r&p, 1 1/8 front sway bar, spax external adj shocks, ft spreader bar. Richmond 5 sp, 3:08 rear, 17 x 8 front 255/50 17 x 9 rear 275/50 nitto tires. 350/350 with hookers and 3 deuces.
I like the dual mount rear spring. I do some traveling and I jack up the spring rate when the car is loaded and drop it back for regular load. The spreader bar is the best bang for the buck. Really stiffens the front end.
Tom
Oh yeah. Wilwood calipers, drilled/slotted rotors. C3 front spindles, bearings and hubs.
Suspension is VBP dual mount rear spring, offset rear control arms, currently shortened 460# front springs with offset upper control arms, steroids r&p, 1 1/8 front sway bar, spax external adj shocks, ft spreader bar. Richmond 5 sp, 3:08 rear, 17 x 8 front 255/50 17 x 9 rear 275/50 nitto tires. 350/350 with hookers and 3 deuces.
I like the dual mount rear spring. I do some traveling and I jack up the spring rate when the car is loaded and drop it back for regular load. The spreader bar is the best bang for the buck. Really stiffens the front end.
Tom
Oh yeah. Wilwood calipers, drilled/slotted rotors. C3 front spindles, bearings and hubs.
Last edited by Sky65; 09-05-2013 at 11:14 AM.
#8
Wow! Some great feedback and info on this thread already!
RJ1 - Thanks for the info on the Vansteel coilovers, while I'm doing the steering I think I'm going to go for that... And yes pls do post some pics when you have time!
Sky65 - that sounds like a pretty mean setup you got there, thanks for the tip about the spreader bar, I've been meaning to get one... Where did you get yours from? I think I saw that guldstrand makes one... Any pics of it? Details of install!?
Anyone else out there running vansteel full coilovers?
And what about some ideas for weight saving!?
Cheers, Luke
RJ1 - Thanks for the info on the Vansteel coilovers, while I'm doing the steering I think I'm going to go for that... And yes pls do post some pics when you have time!
Sky65 - that sounds like a pretty mean setup you got there, thanks for the tip about the spreader bar, I've been meaning to get one... Where did you get yours from? I think I saw that guldstrand makes one... Any pics of it? Details of install!?
Anyone else out there running vansteel full coilovers?
And what about some ideas for weight saving!?
Cheers, Luke
#9
Burning Brakes
pictures
I will post a few paictures in a row. Can't get mulitple pictures on one reply Fiero seats saves 32 pounds
#10
Burning Brakes
Aluminum heads, water pump brackets about 60 pounds
#11
Burning Brakes
#12
Burning Brakes
Rear coilover offset trailing arms replace the leaf
#13
Burning Brakes
Wilwood lite weight calipers saves 24 pounds
#14
Burning Brakes
mini starter saved 11 pounds headers not sure if they save weight with long tube to side pipe
#15
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 5,656
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St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showth...t=spreader+bar
Tom
#16
Premium Supporting Vendor
#19
Van Steel tubular a arms, QA1 coilovers on all 4 wheels offset trailing arms. The guys at Van Steel are awesome. They went out of their way for us. We even purchased our Wilwood brake package from them. We ended up going with their lowest coilover in the front, medium in the rear for a killer stance.
This picture is before we were able to drop the car 1.5 inches in the front and the rear with the "lowered" Van Steel springs. Dan was good enough to swap out some springs so we could get the car lower.
This picture is before we were able to drop the car 1.5 inches in the front and the rear with the "lowered" Van Steel springs. Dan was good enough to swap out some springs so we could get the car lower.