Schwartz chassis for 82-92 Camaros?

[BADcarma]

I have been building a 87 Camaro with mostly bolt on suspension parts. While much better than stock there is a limited amout of options. I was thinking that a Schwarts Performance chassis system would be a great addition to that platform and maybe help bring that generation some respect. What are your thoughts about this idea?


Greg Dorris

[LS1-IROC]

Waste of time and resources.

[GregWeld]

I think you need to add some detail and reasoning behind statements like this... since I'm confused.

Is adding bolt on parts to his car a waste of time or is the Schwartz chassis a waste of time? And if so -- why?

[JsTA]

I think he might have meant its a waste because the car doesn't really need a better chassis. It already had a well supported chassis and a torque arm 3 link setup has been proven to work well. Its done everything from run in the 8s in the quarter to run over 300mph on the Bonneville flats (with a stock aeroed body btw) and its been well proven in SCCA competition over the years as well. As much as I would love some shiney new designs for my 91 I can't really ever reason why I need them.

What it DOES need is more LSx swap support. There are all the parts needed to do the swap but only a handful of companies make them so they run a monopoly on the prices. We need better swap longtubes for decent prices. Nearly $1000 for a set of 1 3/4 primary/ 3" collector headers is crazy. $1200+ if you want to run 1 7/8 like I would want to. And those prices are without a midpipe..

[LS1-IROC]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I think you need to add some detail and reasoning behind statements like this... since I'm confused.

Is adding bolt on parts to his car a waste of time or is the Schwartz chassis a waste of time? And if so -- why?

First off...3rd genner's are inherently cheap by nature. I have been part of the 3G society for 20 years and I see it all the time. They bitch about not having alot of high dollar items made for their cars, and then as soon as a company steps up and offers something really nice, they bitch about how expensive it is. Put it this way, I have more money invested into my wheels and tires than 95% of 3rd gens are worth. There are not alot of us out there willing to step up to the plate to build a high quality (expensive) 3rd gen car. What I'm getting at it's a small market segment. This may, and I hope, change in the future as more people see how great these cars can be when built right.

Second...there is already enough good products out there to make a 3G car handle exceptionally well that are ALOT cheaper than bolting on a complete full frame chassis (band-aid) underneath.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing all the cool widgets the older cars have on the market, and would like to see more for 3G cars. But, for instance, I also take alot of pride in building or making something for my car that's not on the market. IE, the minitub I fabbed up this year. It helps set my car apart from the crowd because no one has a kit for it yet.

[JsTA]

Originally Posted by LS1-IROC

First off...3rd genner's are inherently cheap by nature. I have been part of the 3G society for 20 years and I see it all the time. They bitch about not having alot of high dollar items made for their cars, and then as soon as a company steps up and offers something really nice, they bitch about how expensive it is. Put it this way, I have more money invested into my wheels and tires than 95% of 3rd gens are worth. There are not alot of us out there willing to step up to the plate to build a high quality (expensive) 3rd gen car. What I'm getting at it's a small market segment. This may, and I hope, change in the future as more people see how great these cars can be when built right.

Second...there is already enough good products out there to make a 3G car handle exceptionally well that are ALOT cheaper than bolting on a complete full frame chassis (band-aid) underneath.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing all the cool widgets the older cars have on the market, and would like to see more for 3G cars. But, for instance, I also take alot of pride in building or making something for my car that's not on the market. IE, the minitub I fabbed up this year. It helps set my car apart from the crowd because no one has a kit for it yet.

I will agree with him almost completely. I've owned s 3rd gen for the better part of 15 years and know most all of them are very cheap people or have champagne taste on a bottled water budget. But having said that, on some of the parts we absolutely DO get raped on pricing.

[214Chevy]

I think that alot of these chassis shops have done some sort of market analysis on what the industry wants and needs. At least a good company would do that in order to keep turning out great products. With that being said, I'm pretty sure Schwartz, Roadster Shop, Art Morrison, etc realize it's probably not enough of a market demand to put the time and R & D into doing an 82-92 Camaro chassis. Now finally, with all that being said...if your pockets are deep enough, Roadster Shop or any chassis shop for that matter will build you anything you want. You know, that big money word called "one off".

[Rybar]

There WILL be a big market demand for 3rd gens and Fox Body Mustangs once those people who had them when they were younger want to re-live thier youth. They are rare and hard to find in decent shape and IMO will be the next 1st gen Camaro/Mustang/Mopar of the future.

When I was a teenager everybody and thier dog had a fox body Mustang. They were my nemesis. But all those people are going to want one again, trust me.

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by Rybar

There WILL be a big market demand for Fox Body Mustangs once those people who had them when they were younger want to re-live thier youth. But all those people are going to want one again, trust me.

A no I won't And mine was pretty fast for a street car in 89' and into the 90's! Went mid 11's on motor Never sprayed! Oh and mine was one of those slow automatics That always got me some good races.

[LS1-IROC]

Originally Posted by Rybar

There WILL be a big market demand for 3rd gens and Fox Body Mustangs once those people who had them when they were younger want to re-live thier youth. They are rare and hard to find in decent shape and IMO will be the next 1st gen Camaro/Mustang/Mopar of the future.

When I was a teenager everybody and thier dog had a fox body Mustang. They were my nemesis. But all those people are going to want one again, trust me.

I agree.

I had a Fox body pull up next to me today at lunch (I was in the IROC)...boy did that get the blood flowing again...it was like the 90's all over again. LOL I think the blower whine scared him off though