Buy Stielow's Pro Touring book directly from him

[Track Junky]

I bet we see an IRS build for the next one.

Congrats on the book. I'm a cheap SOB and I dont even buy magazines so I wont by the book but congrats on the book and as I said before, Mark is the one that got me started in all of this back in 2000.

With all the money Mark has made me dump into my car I think I should get a free-bee

Just kidding and once again congrats on what I am sure is an awesome book

[Van B]

Originally Posted by Track Junky

I bet we see an IRS build for the next one.

Shouldn't be long before we find out. The car has to be to that stage if not further already.

[Stielow]

Originally Posted by Van B

Shouldn't be long before we find out. The car has to be to that stage if not further already.

Thanks for the positive feedback on the book. I have had fun with the book.

I will not be using an IRS on my next project. An IRS can work given enough development time. A solid axle is 3 things I like: relatively cheap, durable and developed.

Things that worry me about an IRS are power hop, strength, mass and durability. I have pounded on my Currie / DSE 4 link and have had no issues once I made it into a floater with the ZR-1 bearings.

I have worked with a number of IRS rear suspensions and they are superior to a solid axle for ride, weight transfer, rear camber gain and putting power down on rough corners. I have also seen how much development work was required to make them live and work with an engine making 550 ft*lbs of torque. My new car is way North of that number around 800++ ft*lbs.

Part of the way I’ve been able to build as many cars as I have is to not put too much reach in each one of my projects. I’m an evolutionary builder vs. a guy that makes each car revolutionary. Keeping with the same basic car has allowed me to evolve my projects to the point the Red Devil is. The Red Devil was nothing really trick it was just the accumulation of the all projects I have done to date. So now that I’m doing my 13th Camaro I’m picking and choosing the stuff I liked and getting rid of the stuff I did not like. The Red Devil it a direct descendent of the Mule. When I was at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals it was fun to look at the Mule then the Red Devil and remember what I kept that worked and what I changed that did not. Today with all the aftermarket parts available it is much easier to build a Pro-Touring car than ever. Just have a purpose or vision of what you want your car to be.

Not to plug my book, but a lot of what I did on the Mule is still very relevant today even though that car was started almost 10 years ago. If the Mule was a fresh build today I’m sure it would make a splash at most car shows……. It stopped traffic all weekend at MCACN.

Mark

[fleetus macmullitz]

Mark,

Good argument for not using an IRS.

That being said, if you were to use an IRS, would you adapt a lot of the ZR-1 set-up since it is proven to work at power levels beyond the 550 fwtq you referenced, or would you go in a different direction?

Thanks.

[rrunner68]

Just out of curiosity, how non-camaro friendly is this book?

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by rrunner68

Just out of curiosity, how non-camaro friendly is this book?

One thing that applies to any car build is the great organizational and management techniques Mark shares in this book. It really is full of interesting and yet useful tools and advice beyond just Camaro parts. I think you would find it a rewarding book, Dan.

[OLDFLM]

I'd still love to see Mark do a 2nd Gen... am I the only one???

[Scorpner]

Awesome!

[wiedemab]

I've been meaning to buy it - - thanks for the reminder. I'm happy to buy it directly from Mark too!

[BODYSHOPMARO]

love it!