[Kirt Adams]

I'm attempting to turn my 79 T/A into an SCCA Solo Hillclimb Racer. I'm removing the 403 auto in favor of a 350 4-bolt chevy motor to lighten the front end and get cheaper horsepower. Now I need to address the handling issues. Are there specific suspension parts I should use? Shocks, swaybars, bushings, etc.? Do the disc brake rears make a real difference in stopping power?
Is there a place of business that caters to Road Racing? Does anyone have a link to it?

Thank you,
Kirt Adams

[Kirt Adams]

I'm attempting to turn my 79 T/A into an SCCA Solo Hillclimb Racer. I'm removing the 403 auto in favor of a 350 4-bolt chevy motor to lighten the front end and get cheaper horsepower. Now I need to address the handling issues. Are there specific suspension parts I should use? Shocks, swaybars, bushings, etc.? Do the disc brake rears make a real difference in stopping power?
Is there a place of business that caters to Road Racing? Does anyone have a link to it?

Thank you,
Kirt Adams

[Will]

Kirt,

I'm not familiar with the requirements of hillclimb racing, but it has always been one of my dreams to build a 2nd gen. f-body for competition in SCCA club racing (roadcourses) so have amassed a fair amount of data on what's out there and am always looking for more.

Disc brakes are definitely preferable to drums in stopping power and in simplicity so an upgrade to rear discs is a great idea. There are lots of ways to upgrade your front brakes to, depending on how much you want to spend.

When upgrading one of these cars, truly the sky is the limit.

Here are some links to some manufacturers you may want to check out:
www.globalwest.net www.vettebrakes.com (bitchin' front suspension setup) www.hotchkis.net www.fatmanfab.com www.lefthanderchassis.com

For brakes you can go aftermarket: www.baer.com www.wilwood.com www.mpbrakes.com www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com www.vettebrakes.com

Or you can upgrade using factory GM parts. Try this recipe for the front:

'78 - '9? Front spindles from B-bodies with heavy duty braking or towing packages. These spindles accept 12" rotors and are a bolt in with the right tie rod ends. They will accept the '88 - '92 Camaro/Firebird 1LE option 12" brake rotors which have the correct wheel bolt pattern (the big cars used a 5x5" bolt pattern). Combine with carbon metallic pads or composit pads and you've got 12" brakes on the cheap.

There was even a company that offered a complete bolt in tubular subframe assembly that accepts C4 Corvette suspension components called Art Rasmussen Design & Fabrication. They were located out here near Seattle, but unfortunately Art passed away last winter. The company announced that it would continue on with his partner and his wife continuing to run it but their website is down and I don't know whether they're still in business or not. Website address was www.hotroddingtoday.com

Lots more stuff can be done, just use your imagination (and a rulebook) to guide you.

Cheers,
-Will