79 Camaro build update

[silver63c10]

Quickie update, it's on the ground!

In the process of powdercoating suspension parts and re-assembling everything. The race is on for NOLA April 14-15!

Also put together a new video showing the process of installing the Speedway Engineering swaybar.

[silver63c10]

Been a busy month, and we are back in business! Have a few more videos that tell the story, but here's the short version.

The swaybar build from the last update was the final major fabrication item on the list (major being the key word, plenty of stuff left to build, modify, or otherwise cut and grind on).

As we got ready for final assembly, I had to go to Las Vegas for the Mint 400 for work (had to, I promise). I helped get the motor and trans in, and over the time I was gone Dad was able to knock out a ton of the major re-assembly.

But first.. Who wore it better?


Back on the ground so we could roll it out for a wash


Then right back apart for some paint


That's better


Some Eastwood bronze powder coat to get everything looking good


Skipped a few steps (covered in the video below..) but back together!


Coming together under the hood


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Brake flush and bleed through the new lines


Quickie alignment and corner weight


Another quick wash before race day #1..


..which comes the morning after Racecars for Ransom


One of my racing buddy's nephew's 4th birthday party. Super fun evening.

Videos from this stage that fill in the gaps.

Continued..

[silver63c10]

With this many changes, the first trip out was always going to be a crap shoot. After one run, it become obvious that a quickie modification made to the rear shock mounts to extend them wasn't nearly up to the task, and we had to call it a day.

Disappointing, but the car felt reasonably good (in hindsight, nothing was very positive to me that afternoon..) and in one piece at the end of the day.

An auspicious debut to running in the 'X' class..

Next up was a fresh hood. We've lived with the 4" cowl for years, but it was never ideal. We still need a cowl for carb clearance, but Harwood's 3" has a much lower overall profile. This necessitated going to an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap to gain more clearance, and this piece was ported to flow within a few points of what the old one did.

Initial impressions, I can't tell a difference and it feels even beefier in the mid-range.

Color matched fantastically by the awesome guys at Heritage Collision Center


Seriously, they kicked all kinds of butt on this thing, and turned it around quick


Take 2: shock mounts fixed, let's do this thing


Successful day with 8 runs and the biggest problem being those pesky cones

The car is light years ahead of where we were. The surface at Mineral Wells absolutely kicked our butts last year, and it was predictable and controlled and planted right out of the gate. It tends toward a push as it is right now, but that is easily solved with subtle doses of throttle, making it easy to rotate the car exactly where you want it pointed. Before, the car would start to push and just never recover without either scrubbing speed or tapping the brake.

The new shock package also deals with the rough sections beautifully. The new springs have the wheel rates at nearly twice what they were, yet the car is mild-mannered thanks to having a matched overall package with custom valving by Penske in the shocks.

The morning runs were a learning experience, gathering up trust in the car and getting myself to not do the same crutches I did previously to account for the shortcomings of the old setup. Where transitions used to mean big braking to settle the front end down, now it can be a lift off. Or sometimes not even that.

It will take a few more trips out for us to fully get on the same page, but I'm super excited about the potential it has shown already.

10th quickest of the day, with a coned away run that would have been good for 5th. Me likey.

Finally, a few videos to get caught up.

NOLA coming in hot, and we've got another surprise or two in store before then.

[Gscherer78ta]

Go get 'em at NOLA! I think we are going to be there... Provided we get the clutch parts in time and get the whole clutch thing worked out.

[SSLance]

Car looks great Dusty! The paint looks a lot better than I remember, did you do a respray on it at some point that I missed? Love the work-in-progress videos.

It also looks very settled on course, I bet you'll just get faster and faster in it as the driver adjusts to the car's new abilities. Go get 'em in NOLA!!

[silver63c10]

Originally Posted by SSLance

Car looks great Dusty! The paint looks a lot better than I remember, did you do a respray on it at some point that I missed? Love the work-in-progress videos.

Thanks Lance. No re-spray except what's new on the hood, but we did wax it for the first time in quite a while heading into SEMA last year, lol.

So, on to NOLA.

But first, a few details to wrap up.

I've been wanting a set of AeroCatches for basically forever, and had even bought a set of them last year only to find that our old hood and pin configuration wouldn't work with them. New hood, new opportunities - let's nut up and rip into this fresh paint!

We've also been skating by on a Bluetooth speaker between the seats the last few years, and decided it was finally time to put something permanent in. Fabbed up a box out of aluminum, sprayed some insulation on the inside, and picked up a marine receiver/amp setup with dual speakers. Also put a phone mount on it so I don't have to chase it around anymore. Light, functional tunes: success.

Finally, the last piece of the 60-Day Camaro Makeover - a fresh set of shoes from Race Ready Motorsport.

On to NOLA!

..continued.

[silver63c10]

It's finally time. Got all packed up and hit the road to Louisiana with one event on the new setup. I said last year that seat time was the absolute key to improving..and here we are.

But first, another one of these just because..


Lots of water, lots of bridge, that's how you know you're close


Battle paint: activated


Saturday was a race..against rain. Our class got 3 dry runs before the bottom fell out.


Yo, we heard you like GoPros..


D&E Judging while the rain poured down outside.


In a mind-boggling turn of events, we ended up 3rd in D&E

When the dust settled on Sunday, we came up 2 points shy of CB Ramey and his wicked C4 Corvette. The shortened autocross session had me being a little conservative, and that cost us in the end. Super encouraged by the performance of the car, and we have a list of tuning to do over a few events before we head off to Bowling Green the first weekend of June for round 2.

Finally, new video, and a few action shots from the weekend.

Just act natural..




That hook!

Back to the grind, the clock's ticking on NCM.

[SSLance]

Car looks great!! Man, what a transformation from what it was when you started this adventure. Good luck with the fine tuning...

[WSSix]

Lifting the inside front, too. Good job, Duston. Glad the car's working for you

[flatoutz]

Dustin,

Love the wheels.Whats the width & backspacing on them?